Thu May 23 11:12am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Prescott setup for big success
Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the quarterback position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the quarterbacks with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the quarterbacks that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.
QB SOS | ||
1. | Miami Dolphins | 313.6 |
2. | Cincinnati Bengals | 314.77 |
3. | Los Angeles Chargers | 317.32 |
4. | Denver Broncos | 317.38 |
5. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 320.33 |
6. | Houston Texans | 320.74 |
7. | Buffalo Bills | 321.01 |
8. | Philadelphia Eagles | 323.71 |
9. | Kansas City Chiefs | 325.08 |
10. | Washington Commanders | 325.12 |
11. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 326.4 |
12. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 328.45 |
13. | New York Jets | 329.06 |
14. | New England Patriots | 329.64 |
15. | Cleveland Browns | 330.31 |
16. | Los Angeles Rams | 330.72 |
17. | Arizona Cardinals | 331.54 |
18. | Indianapolis Colts | 331.69 |
19. | Seattle Seahawks | 332 |
20. | Atlanta Falcons | 332.73 |
21. | Baltimore Ravens | 333.05 |
22. | San Francisco 49ers | 333.05 |
23. | Detroit Lions | 334.13 |
24. | Las Vegas Raiders | 334.38 |
25. | New York Giants | 334.72 |
26. | New Orleans Saints | 336.27 |
27. | Minnesota Vikings | 337.2 |
28. | Dallas Cowboys | 339.64 |
29. | Chicago Bears | 340.70 |
30. | Tennessee Titans | 343.69 |
31. | Carolina Panthers | 345.54 |
32. | Green Bay Packers | 349.53 |
The Packers have the easiest fantasy schedule for quarterbacks. Jordan Love already had a breakout season last year and could take his game to an even higher level this season. Love is shaping up to be a really intriguing QB1 this season. He is a player on the rise and seems setup for even more success this year.
A couple second-year quarterbacks have really favorable schedules, Will Levis and Bryce Young. Both seem like good No. 2 fantasy quarterbacks to take a chance. Their teams did well in upgrading the talent around them this offseason and a favorable schedule bodes well for them to take some steps forward this year.
Caleb Williams was the No.1 overall pick and the Bears gave him plenty of firepower to work with in year one. Williams has a lot of good going for him this year and could be the C.J. Stroud of this year’s rookie class. And having a favorable fantasy schedule helps Williams even more.
A couple veterans with favorable schedules are Dak Prescott and Derek Carr. Prescott is the one that stands out the most. The Cowboys are lacking top options at the running back spot, so it would not surprise if the Cowboys are really pass-heavy offensively. Prescott could really rack up the numbers this year.
There are some big-name quarterbacks on the opposite side of things, having very tough fantasy schedules. Tua Tagovalioa has the toughest schedule of all. He struggled a little down the stretch last year and now has the most unfavorable schedule for any fantasy quarterback. This is a little concerning.
Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and whoever is starting in Pittsburgh, likely Russell Wilson, are other veteran quarterbacks that have a top-five unfavorable schedule for fantasy quarterbacks. Burrow is not a huge concern for us because we think they will still have success throwing the ball and he has a ton of talent around him at receiver. Herbert is a concern. The Chargers lost their top two receivers and could be a lot more run-heavy with a new coach in place. Herbert has some red flags for him this coming year, making him a bit of a risky pick for fantasy teams. Wilson is another veteran with a tough schedule. He also has Justin Fields pushing him to play, so Wilson is going to be a boom or bust fantasy pick.
We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy quarterbacks. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the quarterbacks with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.
QB PLAYOFF SOS | ||
1. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 292.02 |
2. | Houston Texans | 299.33 |
3. | New York Giants | 301.93 |
4. | Miami Dolphins | 307.48 |
5. | Los Angeles Rams | 308.45 |
6. | Detroit Lions | 312.4 |
7. | Arizona Cardinals | 313.15 |
8. | Kansas City Chiefs | 313.45 |
9. | Buffalo Bills | 313.6 |
10. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 317.53 |
11. | Cincinnati Bengals | 318.03 |
12. | Baltimore Ravens | 318.25 |
13. | Green Bay Packers | 322.48 |
14. | Indianapolis Colts | 322.83 |
15. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 328.78 |
16. | Philadelphia Eagles | 331.23 |
17. | Cleveland Browns | 331.95 |
18. | Minnesota Vikings | 334.68 |
19. | Atlanta Falcons | 336.18 |
20. | Carolina Panthers | 338.62 |
21. | Seattle Seahawks | 338.65 |
22. | Las Vegas Raiders | 341.18 |
23. | Los Angeles Chargers | 341.22 |
24. | New York Jets | 344.3 |
25. | New Orleans Saints | 346.68 |
26. | Chicago Bears | 347.07 |
27. | Tennessee Titans | 348.42 |
28. | New England Patriots | 355.23 |
29. | Denver Broncos | 355.35 |
30. | Dallas Cowboys | 359.62 |
31. | Washington Commanders | 359.92 |
32. | San Francisco 49ers | 363.47 |
There is just a team that makes both the top-five favorable quarterback schedule for the regular season and playoffs. That team is the Cowboys. So Dak Prescott has the third easiest playoff schedule in addition to having the fifth easiest regular season schedule. Prescott was a player looking pretty good even before seeing these schedules, so you might want to bump him up a few spots in your rankings after seeing this. Prescott could be a league winner in 2024.
The 49ers actually have the easiest fantasy quarterback schedule for the playoffs. So Brock Purdy could have a great run during the fantasy playoffs. He always has a high weekly ceiling, so things are looking great for him this postseason.
Now some rookie quarterbacks round out the team of having top-five fantasy quarterback playoff schedules. Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix and Drake Maye are all likely starting for their teams later in the season, so they should help fantasy teams during the playoffs. They all have some question marks surrounding them but could be worth the gamble, especially if you have a dependable starter already on your roster. These rookies could make some noise late in the season.
On the opposite side of things, the Dolphins are the only team to have both a top-five unfavorable fantasy quarterback schedule for the regular season and playoffs. We already had a few concerns for Tagovalioa even before these schedules were released. And now seeing he has very challenging schedules for both the regular season and playoffs make him a player you might want to avoid come draft day.
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars have the toughest schedule for the playoffs. Lawrence has not lived up to expectations to date. He could have his best season to date this year, but his schedule during the playoffs is concerning. Lawrence could struggle when it matters most.
C.J. Stroud is the biggest name of any quarterback with a top-five unfavorable playoff schedule. We aren’t too concerned about this because some players can rise above the challenge. Stroud is one of those players. Things will be tougher for him in year two, but he will also progress and get better. Plus, he has Stefon Diggs added to the mix, which should improve that passing game even more.
Daniel Jones is another quarterback with a challenging playoff schedule. He is another fringe draft pick to begin with, so seeing him possibly have struggles down the stretch causes more trepidation when it comes to possibly drafting him. He might be another player to just steer clear of come draft day.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
When the Arizona Cardinals open their season on Sunday, it will mark running back James Conner's eighth as a pro, and his fourth with the team. Since joining the Cardinals in 2021, Conner has the eleventh-most carries in the league despite missing seven games due to injury over the last two seasons and starting only six games in 2021. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing recently told the media that Conner is "the bell cow in that room," signaling he will maintain his role despite rookie Trey Benson's presence on the depth chart. In 2023, Conner turned in his first 1,000-yard season and finished with the third-most rushing yards per game (80.0). The Buffalo Bills have a stout defense but last season had a weakness against running backs, allowing 4.4 yards per carry (eighth-worst in the NFL) and 6.33 yards per target (fourth-worst) to the position. Conner can be started as a solid RB2 option in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray won't have it easy in Week 1 when the team kicks off the 2024 season against the Buffalo Bills. Last season, the Bills limited opposing quarterbacks to just 215.2 passing yards per game and a total of 18 passing touchdowns, tied for the third-fewest in the league. However, they lost veteran safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde in the offseason, leaving room for fantasy managers to be optimistic about Murray's production. There's also the fact that Murray isn't shy about using his legs to make a play. Since his rookie season in 2019, he has averaged 37.7 rushing yards per game (fourth-most in the NFL in that span). Murray has a good track record and a stable of young pass-catchers headlined by fourth-overall draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr. Despite the tough matchup, Murray should be in starting lineups on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
The Chicago Bears defense and special teams look to continue the upward trajectory they showed toward the end of last season against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. After acquiring defensive end Montez Sweat (toe), the Bears improved significantly, moving from 28th to 20th in points allowed, 23rd to 12th in yards allowed, and 22nd to 3rd in takeaways. It is important to note that Sweat has shown up on the injury report for Sunday's game as questionable, with a toe injury. In their Week 1 matchup, they'll face a Titans offense featuring notable playmakers like Calvin Ridley, De'Andre Hopkins, and Tyler Boyd, with second-year quarterback Will Levis at the helm. Adding head coach Brian Callahan and new talent should benefit the Titans, but the significant scheme changes may lead to some growing pains. If you have the Bears' defense on your roster, feel confident starting them this week. Additionally, having Velus Jones Jr. returning kicks could provide added value.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos is a strong fantasy starter for Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans. Last season, the Titans allowed the most fantasy points to kickers, making Santos a promising option. The Bears value Santos, as evidenced by their four-year, $16 million contract extension with him last December, including $9.5 million guaranteed. Santos had an impressive season in 2023, attempting 2.2 field goals per game and converting 92.1% of his attempts. With the Bears favored in their Week 1 matchup and an implied point total of 24.75the sixth highestSantos is in a favorable position. The weather forecast is in the mid-70s and clear, making him a solid choice if you've drafted him.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers kicker Brayden Narveson made his NFL debut for the team in the Packers' 34-29 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. Narveson made three of his four field goal attempts from 31, 23, and 26 yards. The lone miss came from 43 yards out when Narveson hit the upright. He also made both extra-point attempts on the night. With the Packers offense moving the ball solidly, Narveson did look the part in a unique environment for an NFL debut in Brazil. The Packers' rookie kicker should remain on the waiver wire in fantasy, as Narveson is still a bit risky to trust in your lineups for Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts at home. Still, his fantasy outlook going forward has brightened a bit in a pressure-packed game with a national spotlight.
From RotoBaller
The New York Giants defense could be the surprise play of Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. With a formidable front seven (including pass rush specialist Brian Burns, stud players Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence) and a secondary brimming with high draft picks (such as 2023 first-round pick Deonte Banks), they're poised to challenge Sam Darnold early. While facing the daunting task of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, the Giants' defense managed to create 12 interceptions last season, showing their potential if they can pressure Darnold into mistakes. With new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, the Giants could see a significant resurgence on the defensive side of the ball, offering hope to fantasy managers.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert had a quiet night in Friday's win over the Packers. A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Saquon Barkley did most of the heavy lifting on the offensive end. As a result, Goedert finished with only four grabs for 31 yards. Without question, nobody is expecting the veteran to be a top fantasy tight end in 2024-25. However, fantasy managers are still hoping he'll play better than last season, especially under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. At any rate, the Eagles will get some rest before getting ready for the Falcons in Week 2. Goedert isn't a viable starting option outside deep, multi-tight end formats. Yet, the upside is still there for those who may be desperate.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers is poised for a potential fantasy breakout in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. Following an impressive preseason, the rookie has demonstrated his big-play potential and ability to stretch the field, which aligns well with the Vikings' vulnerability to passing yards. Nabers' speed and route-running could exploit this weakness, with the Giants likely to target him frequently to showcase his explosive plays. Nabers is a flex option at the very least, especially in deeper leagues, making him a player to watch this week.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft had a pretty quiet night in the stat sheet in the Packers' 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Sao Paulo on Friday night. Kraft caught 2-of-3 targets for 37 yards, but the story is that Kraft was the TE1 in snaps and routes well over presumptive starter Luke Musgrave. Per Nathan Jahnke of PFF, Kraft dominated routes per dropback 30-8 and also in snaps as Kraft ran all but three snaps. Even if Kraft's utilization going forward remains as it was in Week 1, Kraft is still a streaming option if you need a tight end, not as somebody you need to plug into fantasy lineups immediately. Of course, there's the Jordan Love aspect, as Love left the game with an undisclosed lower-body injury. If Love plays in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, Kraft is a mid-range fantasy TE2 with volume-based upside.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson has a chance to make noise in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. Robinson's versatility and knack for making plays in space as the slot receiver will be crucial for an offense that looks to exploit a vulnerable Vikings secondary. While Robinson is returning from injury, his target share in the Giants' short passing game should give him a decent PPR floor in deeper leagues. With Minnesota's secondary giving up an average of 234 passing yards per game last season, Robinson may be a sneaky flex option.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt has the potential to be a boom-or-bust flex option in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. Hyatt, who showcased his game-breaking speed as a rookie last season, could see a breakout opportunity this week. His deep-threat ability could be a nightmare for Minnesota's shaky cornerbacks, especially with Daniel Jones showing increasing trust in the young wideout downfield. With the Vikings struggling in pass coverage and the Giants' offense poised for more vertical attacks, Hyatt is a sneaky flex option in deeper leagues this week.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton lead the team in receiving yards for the fourth time in five years in 2023. Barring injury, that should change in 2024 as he heads into a Week 1 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday. With rookie phenom Malik Nabers now on the team and recent draft picks Jalin Hyatt and Wan'Dale Robinson pushing for more playing time, Slayton may see the least amount of snaps in his career. That being said, though he posted an inconsistent 2023 season, he still averaged 15.4 yards per catch and is the most veteran presence in the receiver room. Slayton could surprise all of the doubters once again, but at this time, Slayton is better left on the waiver wire.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano enters Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings as a sneaky yet reliable fantasy option. Despite only playing eight games last season, Gano is healthy again and has a career average field goal percentage of 83.7%, including an impressive 43-for-64 from 50+ yards. With the Giants offense projected to struggle to move the ball effectively, Gano could see few field goal opportunities on Sunday. Look elsewhere on the waiver wire until we get more answers about the Giants offense.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is set to exploit a favorable matchup in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings, who ranked 24th in defense against the pass in 2023, allowed an average of 234 passing yards and over 21.3 points per game. This sets the stage for Jones to build on his dual-threat success from 2022. Despite a challenging 2023 season due to injuries, Jones is now healthy and ready to return to fantasy relevance. With the Vikings' secondary still in question, Jones could capitalize on their weaknesses, offering fantasy managers a reliable QB2 option this week.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott overcame the horrid field conditions in Friday's win over the Green Bay Packers. The veteran made both field goal attempts, successfully draining kicks from 38 yards and 21 yards, respectfully. He also made all four extra-point tries. Elliott, who signed a four-year extension this offseason, was one of the best fantasy kickers throughout the 2023-24 campaign. That's not expected to change, meaning he should remain in all fantasy lineups heading into the Eagles Week 2 showdown with the Falcons.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson had a minor impact on the Packers' 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, as he caught just 3-of-5 targets for 13 yards, but hauled in a two-yard pass from Jordan Love in the third quarter to salvage his fantasy day. That touchdown was one of three red-zone targets on the night for Watson, but he was regularly involved in the offense throughout the night as he had multiple chances to score. Watson ran the third-most routes of the Packers' receivers and earned the third-most snaps at 63%, per PFF's Nathan Jahnke. As a wide receiver who is dependent on the big play, Watson is going to be more boom or bust as a fantasy asset. He's a low-end WR3 or flex play when the Packers head home to host the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, but that's if Jordan Love is good to go following Love's injury-related exit in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants running back Devin Singletary will be the uncontested lead back in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. While Singletary has shown flashes of efficiency, averaging 4.16 yards per carry in 2023, he has struggled to find consistent fantasy relevance as a lead back in his career (he has never hit the 1,000-yard mark in five seasons). This week's matchup against a Vikings defense that allowed the eighth-fewest yards to rushers last season (98.7 per game) doesn't bode well for Singletary's upside. With the Giants likely in a pass-heavy game script, he's a low-ceiling FLEX play in PPR formats at best.
From RotoBaller
The New England Patriots' defense falls outside the top-12 units in fantasy football for Week 1. The Patriots are set to kick off their season against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Cincinnati has an offense with plenty of firepower, but there are real questions about their pass-catching group this week with Ja'Marr Chase (personal) questionable and Tee Higgins (hamstring) doubtful. There's a chance that the Bengals could be without their top two receivers, leaving Joe Burrow with Andrei Iosivas, Jermaine Burton, and Trenton Irwin at his disposal. But even if the Bengals do find themselves short-staffed on Sunday, New England will still be difficult to trust in fantasy football. The Patriots have one of the worst offenses, which means the Bengals should win the time of possession battle and therefore be gifted extra opportunities to score. New England also suffered key losses this offseason, headlined by Matthew Judon being traded to Atlanta and Christian Barmore (blood clots) being sidelined until further notice. With a tough matchup and reduced playmakers, the Patriots' defense lacks fantasy appeal in Week 1. You can probably find better options on the waiver wire.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith looked good in Friday's win over the Green Bay Packers. Although A.J. Brown was more productive, amassing five grabs for 119 yards and a touchdown, Smith still finished the night by pulling in seven catches for 84 yards. Fantasy managers would have loved to see the wideout find the end zone. However, it was an acceptable showing, especially with the sloppy field conditions in Brazil. Nonetheless, the Eagles will head home for a few days off before meeting the Atlanta Falcons for Monday Night Football in Week 2. Managers should keep Smith starting in all fantasy setups.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots kicker Joey Slye should be left on the waiver wire in fantasy football ahead of his Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. There are a variety of reasons why Slye is avoidable, starting with the poor state of the Patriots' offense. New England is projected to finish with the NFL's worst record and might have the worst offense in the league. They will have trouble moving into scoring position this year, leaving Slye with reduced opportunities to attempt kicks. Furthermore, Slye himself has delivered questionable production in the past. He made just 19 of 24 field goals last year and also missed three extra point attempts. If the Patriots don't score many points and Slye can't be trusted to kick field goals, then he should be avoided in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller