Guest of the League
USFFL Est. 2015
FFL: Week 11 | NFL: Week 11

QB Strength of Schedule

Thu May 23 11:12am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

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.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 11

Player Notes
Roquan Smith Nov 18 3:40pm ET
Roquan Smith

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said there are currently no updates on the status of linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) after he injured his hamstring in the Week 11 loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. "No updates right now. Just monitoring it as we go," Harbaugh said. Smith injured his hamstring early in the fourth quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the game shortly after. Before leaving, the 27-year-old was busy, collecting 13 tackles (two for loss) against the Steelers. We'll have a better idea on Smith's Week 12 status once the Ravens resume practicing on Wednesday, but if he's unable to play, it will be a big loss for Baltimore's defense next Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. Smith currently checks in as the No. 3 fantasy linebacker in IDP leagues in overall points.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Nov 18 3:30pm ET
Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that the team's short turnaround this Thursday night against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12 played a role in running back Nick Chubb only playing 22 snaps on offense on Sunday in the Week 11 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Chubb finished with 11 carries for 50 yards and was not targeted through the air for the first time since making his 2024 debut on Oct. 20 in the loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. The limited workload on Sunday was disappointing with the Browns coming off their bye, but the good news is Chubb should be more involved out of the backfield this Thursday, albeit in a tough matchup against one of the best defenses in the NFL. The 28-year-old has a career-low 3.1 yards per carry on 53 rushing attempts in four games so far in his return from a serious knee injury in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Nov 18 3:30pm ET
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (concussion) is officially in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the Week 11 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Spears was forced to leave the game late in the fourth quarter. He finished with a disappointing three carries for no gain while catching two of his three targets for just eight yards in the 23-13 defeat. The 23-year-old will now have to pass through the NFL's concussion protocol this week in order to gain clearance to play in Week 12 versus the division-rival Houston Texans on Sunday. Already a low-upside, low-floor RB3/flex in deeper fantasy leagues, Spears is shaping up as a depth RB to avoid going into Week 12. If he is unable to clear the concussion protocol, it would give Tony Pollard RB2 upside, while Julius Chestnut's role would expand behind Pollard.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Nov 18 3:10pm ET
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. hauled in 5-of-7 targets for 82 yards in the team's 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. The rookie wideout was the only Jaguars player to record more than 28 receiving yards on a day when quarterback Mac Jones tossed for 138 yards. His target and reception total tied tight end Evan Engram for the highest marks on the team. BTJ recorded three receptions of at least 20 yards and could have had an even bigger day if a late 33-yard reception wasn't overturned. Despite the woes of the Jags' offense, the sensational 22-year-old continues to perform, though it's worth noting that he did appear to get injured on the overturned reception. Fortunately, he'll get a bye in Week 12 before a divisional clash against the Houston Texans in Week 13.

From RotoBaller

Mac Jones Nov 18 3:00pm ET
Mac Jones

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones completed 17-of-29 passes for 138 yards and one interception in Sunday's 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. He rushed for seven yards on his two carries. Yikes. The Jags recorded just ten first downs to the Lions' 38 and were overmatched from the start. Jones wasn't much better than his performance against the Vikings the week prior, as he has yet to throw a passing touchdown in either of his starts. In his defense, he's faced quite the gauntlet of defenses in his first taste of action since Week 12 of 2023. Still, he's averaging an abysmal 4.88 yards per attempt in his two outings. With the Jags on bye in Week 12, the door is open for QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) to make a return against the Texans in Week 13 if he can heal up enough over the week off.

From RotoBaller

Antonio Pierce Nov 18 2:40pm ET
Antonio Pierce

Per head coach Antonio Pierce, the Las Vegas Raiders are sticking with quarterback Gardner Minshew for at least one more week. Paul Gutierrez of ESPN reported the news. The 28-year-old has been fine this season, albeit unspectacular, as the Raiders attempt to figure out their long-term quarterback solution. Las Vegas will line up against the Denver Broncos this Sunday in a divisional clash, and it could be Minshew's last week as the starter, with QB Aidan O'Connell (thumb) eligible to return from IR the following week. It will be interesting to see if AOC slots back in as the team's starter upon his return, but Minshew will get one more crack at the starting job against a stout Denver Broncos defense at home in Week 12.

From RotoBaller

Younghoe Koo Nov 18 2:30pm ET
Younghoe Koo

Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts in Week 11, hitting from 41 and 51 yards out and restoring some semblance of confidence in his abilities after missing three of four chances in Week 10. Unfortunately for the Falcons, Koo's two field goals were the totality of the scoring for Atlanta, losing 38-6 on the road in Denver. Between missing seven field goals this season and the Falcon offense sputtering as of late, Koo is looking like somewhat of a risky play for the rest of the season. If you're a streamer, look to use him in more favorable matchups, and Week 13 versus the Chargers may be a decent one as L.A. has been fairly good at holding opponents out of the end zone.

From RotoBaller

Dak Prescott Nov 18 2:30pm ET
Dak Prescott

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Dallas Cowboys have officially placed quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) on injured reserve. The move was merely a formality, as it was expected that he'd miss the remainder of 2024 after suffering an avulsion fracture in his hamstring. In his absence, Dallas will continue to roll with quarterback Cooper Rush as their starter, though for how long remains to be seen. Rush didn't have a particularly encouraging outing last weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles when he completed 13-of-23 passes for 45 yards. With fourth-year player Trey Lance the only other active quarterback on the roster, it might be worth it for the Cowboys to see what they've got in the 24-year-old.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Allgeier Nov 18 2:20pm ET
Tyler Allgeier

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier did not receive a single carry in Sunday's 38-6 loss to the Broncos but caught a pass for the first time in four weeks, although it was for a one-yard loss. The Falcons fell behind quickly and trailed the entire game, so the running game suffered, but even when many of the starters came out of the game in the fourth quarter, it was not Allgeier who entered for Bijan Robinson, but rookie Jase McClellan, who received eight carries in garbage time. Had the game been closer, Allgeier likely would have been more involved, so the 24-year-old will look to get back on track in Week 13 against the Chargers. Los Angeles has been good against the run, though, so the former fifth-round draft pick will likely be in the RB3/4 range for fantasy purposes.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Nov 18 2:20pm ET
Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will decide on running back Isiah Pacheco's (fibula) status for Sunday's matchup against the Carolina Panthers after this week of practice. Reid was discussing Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu (knee) when he noted they'll "just have to see how each player does in practice this week." It's encouraging that the head coach didn't outright rule out the 25-year-old. Still, it would be nice for him to exhibit more confidence regarding the third-year back's status. Pacheco, who has been out since fracturing his fibula in Week 2, would immediately boost the Chiefs' offense and fantasy manager's lineups when he's healthy. Keep an eye on his practice participation over the next few days, as that will likely be telling of his status for Sunday's outing.

From RotoBaller

Gabriel Davis Nov 18 2:00pm ET
Gabriel Davis

Per head coach Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) will miss the remainder of 2024 after sustaining a meniscus tear in the team's 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. Ian Rapoport reported the news. It's an unfortunate turn of events for the Jaguars, who are already without wide receiver Christian Kirk (collarbone) after losing him for the season. Davis, who was in his first year with the Jaguars, will finish his season with 20 receptions, 239 yards, and two touchdowns on 42 targets. Fellow wideouts Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, and Devin Duvernay project to run in three-wide-receiver sets, while tight end Evan Engram will likely see an increase in usage.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Nov 18 1:50pm ET
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts faded into obscurity again in Sunday's 38-6 loss to the Broncos, catching just one of his three targets for a paltry nine yards. No one stood out on offense in Denver so it is not entirely on Pitts, but so much for having a regular role in the 2024 version of this offense. Just when it looked like he was on a bit of a roll in Weeks 5 through 8, the 24-year-old has posted two one-catch performances in the last three weeks. As inconsistent and frustrating as it has been to have him in fantasy lineups, believe it or not, the former first-round draft pick is still well within the top 12 in fantasy scoring at the position, so he likely warrants a starting role going forward as painful as it may be from week to week. After the Falcons' bye, Atlanta will face the Chargers who have been pretty good at defending the tight end position, even limiting the Bengal TEs on Sunday night to just three catches for 22 yards. Pitts likely finds himself as a volatile back-end TE1 that week.

From RotoBaller

DJ Turner Nov 18 1:30pm ET
DJ Turner

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DT Turner II (clavicle), who has taken over a starting role this year, is feared to have suffered a fractured clavicle in the Sunday night loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, according to sources. Turner is getting a second opinion on Monday, but he'll likely be forced to miss the rest of the season. The 24-year-old defensive back came down hard on the turf at SoFi Stadium while breaking up a pass on Sunday night and stayed down before trainers came out to check on him. He was questionable to return to the contest but never made it back in the seven-point loss. Turner, a second-rounder last year out of Michigan, will finish his second year in the NFL with 29 tackles (24 solo) and eight pass breakups in 11 games (six starts). It's a blow to an already shaky Bengals secondary that has been dominated the last two weeks by the Ravens and Chargers.

From RotoBaller

Jameis Winston Nov 18 1:30pm ET
Jameis Winston

Cleveland Browns left tackle Dawand Jones (ankle) will miss the rest of the 2024 season after fracturing his left ankle in the Week 11 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, according to a source. Jones is expected to make a full recovery for next year, where he'll be looking to build on what has been a strong 2024 campaign. The 23-year-old had his left leg put in an air cast on Sunday before he was carted off the field in New Orleans. The fourth-rounder last year will need surgery. Jedrick Wills (knee) was inactive for the Week 11 contest, but with Jones now out for the season, Wills is expected to reclaim his starting job at left tackle if he's able to play in Week 12 against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. If Wills is not ready, expect Germain Ifedi to protect quarterback Jameis Winston's blind side. It's more bad news for a bad Browns offense.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Nov 18 1:20pm ET
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) was seen on the practice field on Monday morning for a bonus practice with the team coming out of their bye in Week 11. Evans said he could have tried to push through and play in Week 10 against the San Francisco 49ers, but Week 12 against the New York Giants after the bye was his target all along. Barring a setback once official practices begin on Wednesday, it looks like Evans will be back this Sunday for fantasy managers. A right-hamstring strain kept the 31-year-old future Hall of Fame pass-catcher out of action for the team's last three games. With Chris Godwin (ankle) done for the year, Evans will operate as Tampa's clear-cut WR1 the rest of the way. Evans will draw more attention from opposing defenses, but he should receive plenty of volume to make him a must-start in fantasy once he's back.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Nov 18 1:00pm ET
CeeDee Lamb

According to a team source, "everything right now is pointing for him to play" in reference to Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb's (back, shoulder) status for Monday night's contest against the Houston Texans. Lamb was already dealing with a shoulder injury but also popped up as questionable for the Week 11 game after suffering a back injury in practice on Saturday. Barring a setback with his back during pre-game warmups, the 25-year-old should be active against Houston, where he should serve as quarterback Cooper Rush's top target in the passing game. In the first game without Dak Prescott (hamstring) in last week's blowout loss to the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, Lamb had six catches for just 21 yards on 10 targets. He has seen double-digit targets in each of the last four games, but with Prescott done for the year, Lamb's rest-of-season fantasy upside will take a big hit.

From RotoBaller

Tommy DeVito Nov 18 12:52pm ET
Tommy DeVito

Dynasty | The Giants are turning to Tommy DeVito to replace the benched Daniel Jones instead of Drew Lock. Dynasty Analysis: The logic here seems pretty simple - Lock isn't going to be on the roster next season and the Giants want to see if DeVito could possibly become a bridge quarterback to a rookie they inevitably draft this Spring. It's also fair to wonder if they believe Lock gives them a better chance to win, something the team will want but management may not. The Giants are looking at a massive rebuild at this point and Lock just isn't in their plans. He's not roster-worthy in dynasty leagues at this point.

Miles Sanders Nov 18 12:40pm ET
Miles Sanders

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle, foot) is likely to be out for the team's Week 12 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday after injuring his ankle/foot in the Week 9 win over the New York Giants in Germany. It's a bad sign for Sanders, as the Week 10 bye didn't provide him with enough time to recover from the injury. On top of it, Sanders' already limited fantasy appeal in 2024 is taking another hit with rookie second-rounder Jonathon Brooks (knee) on track to make his NFL debut against the Chiefs. The 27-year-old lost the starting job to Chuba Hubbard last year and will likely find himself third on the RB depth chart in Carolina by season's end. In his second year with the Panthers, Sanders has 38 carries for 139 yards and one TD, averaging 3.7 yards per carry in his 10 games played. Sanders has also caught 21 of 26 targets for an additional 98 yards.

From RotoBaller

Jonathon Brooks Nov 18 12:30pm ET
Jonathon Brooks

Carolina Panthers second-round rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is expected to make his NFL debut in Week 12 on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to head coach Dave Canales. Brooks was close to making his NFL debut in Germany in the Week 10 win over the New York Giants, but the Panthers ultimately decided to hold him out through the Week 11 bye. The 21-year-old was the first RB taken in this year's draft but has been recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in his final year in college in 2023. Brooks has intriguing qualities as a runner and figures to be the team's long-term answer at the position in the long term, but he'll surely be eased in for his debut this weekend behind Chuba Hubbard, who has had a fantastic year as Carolina's lead RB. Brooks won't be a recommended fantasy starter in Week 12, but he deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Ray-Ray McCloud Nov 18 12:30pm ET
Ray-Ray McCloud

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III caught the most passes of any Falcon receiver in Sunday's 38-6 loss to the Broncos, hauling in all six of his targets for 46 scoreless yards. McCloud recorded two consecutive six-catch games in Weeks 4 and 5, but caught no more than three passes or surpassed 30 yards receiving in five straight contests coming into Sunday. With just one touchdown on the season, he's not a great fantasy option unless you're in a deep PPR league, however, Darnell Mooney went down with a hamstring injury during Sunday's contest and if he were to miss time, then McCloud could see a small increase in production. The Falcons have a bye in Week 12, so Mooney has time to recover, and McCloud figures to be a WR5 come Week 13.

From RotoBaller