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.
Bender's DFS Pickem Plays: Divisional Round
Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Byron Young (hamstring) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's Divisional round matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. The 24-year-old has been shelved since picking up a hamstring injury and being placed on injured reserve in late October. Young returned to practice last week and was a full participant each day before being ruled out for their 22-10 Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers. He logged three full sessions again this week but is evidently not ready to return to game action. For now, teammates Jalen Carter and Milton Williams will lead the charge for the Eagles' defensive front, with Moro Ojomo and Jordan Davis working in behind them.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley faces the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in the Divisional Round, a team he torched for 255 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Week 12. The NFL's rushing champion has been the centerpiece of Philadelphia's offense, logging over 20 touches in eight of his last nine games. The Rams allowed 4.52 yards per carry during the regular season and struggled to contain Barkley's downhill running style, as 162 of his 255 yards in their last matchup came after contact. While the Rams' defense has tightened recently, Barkley remains a near-lock for high-volume usage behind one of the NFL's best offensive lines. Expect him to dominate touches and provide the usual production as the Eagles aim to punch their ticket to the NFC Championship.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith heads into Sunday's Divisional Round matchup against the Los Angeles Rams as a pivotal part of the Eagles' passing attack. Smith led the team in receiving during last week's Wild Card victory, catching all four of his targets for 55 yards. This came on the heels of an impressive close to the regular season, where he averaged 79.3 receiving yards per game and scored three touchdowns over his last three contests. With Jalen Hurts now fully recovered and the Eagles facing a Rams defense that has struggled against top-tier wideouts, Smith could be poised for another strong outing.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans tight end Teagan Quitoriano (calf) was downgraded to out for Saturday's road outing with the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round. The 24-year-old was placed on injured reserve in late November and has not returned to the field since picking up a calf injury in Week 12's loss to the Tennessee Titans. Quitoriano appeared in seven games during 2024 but eclipsed 20 snaps in a game just once and did not record a target. Despite logging a week of full practices, he'll garner a questionable tag yet again. If he's not ready to go, fellow tight ends Dalton Schultz, Irv Smith Jr., and Cade Stover will continue to lead the Texans' TE room against the reigning Super Bowl champions.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will look to exploit the Los Angeles Rams defense on Sunday in the Divisional Round. Hurts delivered a solid performance in last week's Wild Card win over the Packers, completing 61.9% of his passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns while adding 36 rushing yards. However, his output was tempered, in part, by the Eagles' reliance on Saquon Barkley. Hurts struggled in the Eagles' Week 12 matchup with the Rams, finishing with just 15 fantasy points as Barkley stole the show. Despite completing 68.2% of his passes, Hurts managed only 179 passing yards and one touchdown while rushing for 39 yards. Facing a Rams defense that allowed one of the league's lowest QB rushing averages, Hurts must lean on his dual-threat ability to deliver a strong playoff performance.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Deonte Harty (knee) is officially questionable for Sunday's road meeting with the Buffalo Bills. The seventh-year pro was designated to return from IR last week. However, he was inactive for Baltimore's 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers -- garnering a questionable tag after two DNPs and a full practice session. Harty participated fully in all three team practices this week, so he may get his first in-game action since Week 6 in the Divisional Round. Even if the 27-year-old suits up, he'd likely operate as a kick returner for the Ravens. Though, with fellow wideout Zay Flowers (knee) stringing together three consecutive DNPs and deemed doubtful -- he may get some reps out wide if he plays. Harty did not command a target across his six total snaps through the season's first four weeks.
From RotoBaller
The Buffalo Bills announced on Friday that they signed tight end Armani Rogers to a Reserve/Futures deal. Rogers, a former undrafted free agent, hasn't appeared in the NFL since 2022 when he played in 11 games (three starts) for the Washington Commanders. The former quarterback was with the Atlanta Falcons on their practice squad during the 2024 season but wasn't active for any regular-season games. The 27-year-old tore his Achilles in the offseason of 2023. In his 11 games with the Commanders in 2022, he caught five of his six targets for 64 yards and no touchdowns while carrying the ball twice for 26 yards. Rogers now latches on with the Bills but won't be eligible to play at all this postseason. He will continue his development as a pass-catcher into the offseason and will hope to remain with Buffalo through training camp this summer.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos rookie outside linebacker Jonah Elliss (shoulder) suffered a fractured scapula bone in his right shoulder in the wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills last Sunday, but the good news is that he's expected to be recovered in time to participate in the team's offseason workouts in April. Elliss suffered the injury in the first quarter when he was hit by Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins. His father said that the Broncos are getting second opinions on Elliss' injury to see if he'll need surgery. Elliss also had a partially torn labrum in 2023 while playing at Utah, but this injury isn't related. The 21-year-old third-rounder played in all 17 regular-season games in 2024 and played a big role on a strong Broncos defense, tallying 38 tackles (24 solo), five sacks, seven tackles for loss and six QB hits. He's the younger brother of Kaden Elliss and Christian Elliss, who also play in the NFL for the Falcons and Patriots, respectively.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Adam Schefter said on the Pat McAfee Show that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will be a head coach somewhere in 2025, but it won't be for the Dallas Cowboys. Most speculation around the league is that Johnson will join the Las Vegas Raiders, but Schefter says he's "not in that camp right now." Schefter's reasoning for why he's not sold on Johnson going to Vegas is that Johnson has been very selective in where he wants to become a first-time head coach. Not only do the Raiders not have a top pick in the 2025 NFL draft, but they don't have desirable quarterback situation, and they also reside in a division with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix. Johnson's name has been connected with the Chicago Bears often. The NFC North was the toughest division in the NFL this year, but they do have last year's No. 1 overall pick in QB Caleb Williams.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (thigh) and nose tackle Bobby Brown III (shoulder) are both listed as questionable to suit up on Sunday in Philadelphia against the Eagles in the Divisional Round of the postseason. Despite the questionable tags, head coach Sean McVay said he expects both Witherspoon and Brown to be available to play this weekend. Witherspoon is up in the air after injuring his thigh in Monday night's wild-card win over the Minnesota Vikings. The 29-year-old defensive back was a DNP on Wednesday but was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday. Witherspoon's presence will be good news for a Rams secondary that will be trying to slow down receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Despite not practicing all week, Brown should be available as well after injuring his shoulder on Monday against Minnesota.
From RotoBaller
The Minnesota Vikings signed wide receiver Jeshaun Jones to a Reserve/Futures deal on Friday, the team announced. Jones was with Minnesota for much of the 2024 season on their practice squad but never appeared in a regular-season game. The 25-year-old pass-catcher from Fort Myers, Florida, will now be hoping to continue his development with the organization this offseason and into training camp in the summer. Jones went undrafted out of Maryland. In addition to Jones, the Vikings also signed offensive tackle Trevor Reid, defensive tackle Travis Bell, guard Henry Byrd, defensive backs Kahlef Hailassie and Reddy Steward, defensive end Jonathan Harris, wide receiver Lucky Jackson, tackle Marcellus Johnson, linebacker Gabriel Murphy, quarterback Brett Rypien and running back Zavier Scott to Reserve/Future contracts on Friday.
From RotoBaller
The Washington Commanders announced on Friday that they signed wide receiver Mike Strachan and cornerback Allan George to Reserve/Futures deals. Strachan, a former seventh-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2021 NFL draft out of Charleston, spent the first two years of his NFL career with the Colts before playing in four games with the Carolina Panthers in 2023. The 27-year-old will not be eligible to play with Washington in the Divisional Round playoff game on Saturday versus the Detroit Lions, but he'll be hoping to stick around with the organization beyond training camp next summer. He did not appear in any NFL games in 2024. In his three NFL campaigns, Strachan has only produced six receptions on 15 targets for 130 yards and no touchdowns in 23 games (one start). He'll merely serve as receiver depth heading into training camp.
From RotoBaller
The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Friday that they activated cornerback Jaylen Watson (leg) from Injured Reserve. In corresponding moves, the team also activated linebacker Swayze Bozeman and safety Deon Bush to the active 53-man roster ahead of the Divisional Round game on Saturday against the visiting Houston Texans. Although Watson was activated from IR, he's not guaranteed to play on Saturday and was listed as questionable on the final injury report on Friday. The 26-year-old defensive back had been on IR since Oct. 22 after suffering a fractured left leg in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers, so even if he's active this weekend, expect the Chiefs to keep his snaps limited in his first game back after a long absence. In six games in 2024 before his injury, Watson had 32 tackles (21 solo) and six pass breakups for the Chiefs.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Troy Reeder (hamstring) and defensive end Larrell Murchison (foot) were both ruled out for Sunday's Divisional Round playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles despite practicing in full on Friday. In addition, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (thigh) and nose tackle Bobby Brown III (shoulder) are questionable, but head coach Sean McVay expects them both to suit up in Philadelphia. The 30-year-old Reeder was just designated to return from Injured Reserve on Thursday, so it's not much of a surprise that he won't be available this weekend. And if the Rams pull the upset against the Eagles, Reeder still wouldn't be a lock to come off IR to play in the NFC Championship next weekend. He has not played since Week 7 due to his hamstring injury. In six games before getting hurt, Reeder had 46 tackles (26 solo) in his sixth year in LA.
From RotoBaller
The Kansas City Chiefs officially ruled out wide receiver Mecole Hardman (knee) on Friday for the Divisional Round contest on Saturday against the Houston Texans. Hardman remains on Injured Reserve but will not be activated for the team's first game of the playoffs as they seek an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title. The 26-year-old was designated to return from IR back on Jan. 1 but did not play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Denver Broncos. The Chiefs were on bye last week during the wild-card round of the playoffs. If the Chiefs advance to the AFC Championship next weekend, it remains to be seen if Hardman will be available to return after he was limited in practice this week. He has been out since Week 13, so even if he were to return if KC advances, it's unlikely Hardman would have a very big role on offense.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely will regain a big role in the offense as they head to Buffalo to take on Josh Allen and company in the divisional round. Likely was tied for the most targets against the Steelers last week, and led the wide receivers and tight ends in receptions and yards. In Week 4, the running backs dominated both on the ground and through the air for the Ravens, but the Bills have changed considerably since then. Likely will probably take on a bigger role as a pass-catcher with Mark Andrews helping on the offensive line and Zay Flowers (knee) listed as doubtful. Likely could be a sneaky option in DFS tournaments.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman scored his first career postseason touchdown in the big win over the Pittsburgh Steelers during the Wild Card round. It's likely going to be a bit more difficult against the Buffalo Bills as they roll into freezing cold weather with a chance of a bit of snow. Derrick Henry and company dominated in Week 4 while Bateman saw just one target and caught it for 23 yards. That seems to be all Bateman needs, however, as he had two catches for 24 yards and the touchdown last week. With Zay Flowers (knee) listed as doubtful, Bateman could serve as the outlet outside of the backfield and tight ends.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews will have to step up yet again in both the blocking game and through the air as the team travels to Buffalo in freezing cold weather. He only received one target in Week 4 against the Bills because the ground game went wild and they coasted to a win. While they'll look to get going with Derrick Henry, the game won't likely go the same way which means Andrews will have to step up with Zay Flowers (knee) listed as doubtful. Isaiah Likely and Andrews led the team in targets against the Steelers, and they're headed for more of the same in the divisional round.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has produced his best season yet and goes into Buffalo to take on the other MVP candidate in a rematch from Week 4. In that first matchup, Jackson posted 156 yards and two touchdowns on 13-for-18 throwing, and six carries for 54 yards and another touchdown. Both teams have changed considerably since then, but the Ravens' run game definitely hasn't slowed down. The game is supposed to be one of the coldest that Jackson has ever played in which means it could turn to more of a running script again, but it's hard to get better than Jackson in DFS formats. The option should be featured quite heavily while Rashod Bateman can find himself open for a deep strike.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry is fresh off of a ridiculous 186-yard game with two touchdowns in the Wild Card round, and he sets his sights on the Buffalo Bills. The last time these two teams faced off was in Week 4 when Henry registered 199 yards and a score on 24 carries to go along with three catches for 10 yards and another touchdown. He had a ridiculous 8.29 yards per carry average, and he'll likely be heavily involved once again in a freezing game in Buffalo. At kickoff, the temperature should be around 19 degrees Fahrenheit with a windchill that could reach the single digits. Everything about it signals a heavier ground game where Henry can dish out punishment.
From RotoBaller