Guest of the League
USFFL Est. 2015
FFL: Week 8 | NFL: Week 8

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 8

Player Notes
Jameis Winston Oct 28 2:20pm ET
Jameis Winston

According to head coach Kevin Stefanski, the Cleveland Browns will continue to roll out quarterback Jameis Winston. Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram reported the news. It's of little surprise, considering the effectiveness Winston displayed in his first start since 2022. The 30-year-old tossed for 334 yards and three touchdowns in Cleveland's 29-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens -- two benchmarks that Deshaun Watson (Achilles) never hit in his Browns tenure. In fact, Watson had not eclipsed even 200 passing yards in any of his 2024 appearances. The former first-overall pick did an excellent job moving the Browns' offense, and he'll get a chance to build on his performance in Week 9 when Cleveland hosts the visiting Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Oct 28 2:10pm ET
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) is out of the hospital and defensive back Denzel Ward (concussion) is currently in concussion protocol according to Kelsey Russo. Koramoah left Sunday's game on a cart after enduring a collision and went to the hospital out of precaution. Thankfully, the 24-year-old was discharged and did not suffer any serious injuries. Ward suffered his second concussion of the 2024 season on Sunday and will likely miss at least one game as he progresses through the league's protocol. The Browns are slated to face the Los Angeles Charges next week. If both players are unable to suit up, the Browns defense should not be considered as a potential streaming option without two of their top starters.

From RotoBaller

Frankie Luvu Oct 28 2:00pm ET
Frankie Luvu

Chicago Bears offensive tackle (knee) avoided a serious injury and may only be sidelined for a week or two according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Jones was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders early. He was replaced by third-round rookie Kiran Amegadjie who struggled to contain Washington edge rusher Frankie Luvu as quarterback Caleb Williams was under pressure all afternoon. In this game, Williams threw for a mere 131 yards and completed just 41.7% of his passes. As a result, the Chicago offense was unable to find much rhythm. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Jones' status throughout the week as his absence would weaken the Chicago line and limit Williams' weekly upside.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Oct 28 1:50pm ET
CeeDee Lamb

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb finally put together the performance that fantasy managers have been waiting for. The fifth-year receiver was targeted 17 times on Sunday night in the loss to San Francisco. He caught 13 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns with both scores coming late in the fourth quarter. The outing was just Lamb's second WR1 weekly finish of the season but with an astounding 45% target share, fantasy managers can expect more of the same in the future.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Tolbert Oct 28 1:50pm ET
Jalen Tolbert

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert was targeted three times in the comeback loss against San Francisco on Sunday night. Tolbert caught all three targets for 44 yards, making minimal fantasy impact. With CeeDee Lamb (45%) taking a massive target share, Tolbert will likely remain a touchdown-dependent deep flex option going forward.

From RotoBaller

Jake Ferguson Oct 28 1:50pm ET
Jake Ferguson

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson worked in the short field on Sunday night in the loss to San Francisco. The 25-year-old averaged just 3.8 yards per reception despite being targeted eight times. He caught six passes for 23 yards, failing to make much of an impact in the box score. The receptions were encouraging for PPR formats and the 21% target share remains encouraging, but Ferguson has still failed to find the end zone in 2024 after leading all tight ends in red zone targets in 2023. He will remain a TE1 option heading into next week's matchup with Atlanta.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Oct 28 1:40pm ET
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (knee) is optimistic he will be able to return in Week 9 to face the Los Angeles Rams according to Gregg Bell of the News Tribune. Metcalf was held out of action this past Sunday due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 7 and was unable to practice all week. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression this week as a return to practice could suggest he will be able to suit up this weekend. Metcalf has been very productive through the first half of the season as he has totaled 568 yards and three scores on 35 receptions. After scoring just 5.9 PPR points in Week 1, Metcalf has gone on to average 17.3 PPR points since Week 2. Fantasy managers should lock the 26-year-old into their lineup as a high-end WR2 if returns this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Dak Prescott Oct 28 1:40pm ET
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott struggled for most of the night on Sunday against San Francisco. It wasn't until halfway through the fourth quarter when Prescott and the Cowboys' offense came to life, pushing too little too late. Prescott's two touchdowns both came with under eight minutes remaining in the game. He finished the night 25-for-38 for 243 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The 31-year-old will be back in action next week with a slightly easier matchup against Atlanta.

From RotoBaller

Ezekiel Elliott Oct 28 1:40pm ET
Ezekiel Elliott

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott drew the start on Sunday night with Rico Dowdle (illness) being a late scratch. The veteran led the rushing attack with 10 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown. He added a reception for four yards in what turned out to be his best fantasy outing since Week 1. With Dowdle likely to be back next week, Elliott's fantasy relevance was likely short-lived.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Oct 28 1:40pm ET
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (hamstring) will test out his hamstring during pre-game and remains questionable for Monday's game against the Giants. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network noted that if there are any issues with Fields, the team may opt to lean on the side of caution with the bye week coming up. Fantasy managers should expect Fields to serve as the No.2 option behind Russell Wilson if he is able to suit up. During his six starts this season, Fields averaged a solid 21.4 PPR points per game due to his elite rushing upside. Last weekend, Wilson looked quite sharp in his 2024 debut as he threw for 264 yards and two scores against the Jets. Wilson should be viewed as a QB2 this evening and a solid flex option in DFS facing the Giants who have the 20th-most points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

From RotoBaller

Dalvin Cook Oct 28 1:40pm ET
Dalvin Cook

Dallas Cowboys running back Dalvin Cook was elevated from the practice squad on Sunday night with Rico Dowdle (illness) missing the game as a late scratch. The veteran rushed six times for 12 yards and added a ten-yard reception, totaling 22 yards in his Dallas debut. He is not currently in the fantasy picture, especially with Dowdle expected back next week, but his usage going forward could further muddy the backfield should he be elevated again.

From RotoBaller

Diontae Johnson Oct 28 1:30pm ET
Diontae Johnson

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson is expected to be traded before the trade deadline according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Schefter reported this on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday afternoon. The veteran wideout was held out of action this past Sunday due to a rib injury. However, he has performed very well at times this season in Carolina. During Weeks 3 through 6, Johnson averaged an impressive 18.3 PPR points after struggling during the opening two weeks of the campaign. Johnson remains an intriguing buy-low candidate for redraft purposes as he will likely join a much more positive fantasy environment during the stretch run of the season. Fantasy managers who currently roster Johnson should continue to hold him on their roster as better days are likely ahead.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Oct 28 1:20pm ET
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (chest/ribs) could miss 2-4 weeks due to a chest and rib injuries he suffered in their loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon according to Jeremy Fowler. Fowler noted that the young wideout will undergo further scanning to determine the full extent of the injuries. Fantasy managers should expect the standout rookie to miss at least two weeks of action with the potential to miss a longer period of time. The LSU product has enjoyed an impressive start to his NFL career as he has averaged 15.2 PPR points per game with 573 total yards and five scores. The Jaguars also lost Christian Kirk (collarbone) for the remainder of the season on Sunday. This will leave Trevor Lawrence with a depleted wide receiver room consisting of Parker Washington, Gabe Davis, and Tim Jones in their Week 9 tilt against the Philadelphia Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Mason Rudolph Oct 28 12:20pm ET
Mason Rudolph

Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph had his team looking competitive early on in Sunday's matchup with the Lions, leading two touchdown drives with the score knotted at 14 apiece a minute into the second quarter, but ultimately lost 52-14 after failing to score the rest of the game. The 29-year-old finished 22 of 38 passing with 266 yards, one TD pass, and two interceptions, plus he added four rushes for 29 yards and a rush TD of his own. Much to Calvin Ridley's delight, Rudolph gave him 15 looks and was able to connect on 10 of them for 143 yards. The Titans have a winnable matchup at home versus the Patriots in Week 9, but it is uncertain whether Will Levis will be ready or not by then. Neither one would realistically be a viable streaming option, but for Ridley managers at least, it seems Rudolph would at least be a slight upgrade for his fantasy prospects.

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Oct 28 12:10pm ET
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze had a modest performance against the Washington Commanders in Week 8, finishing with three catches for 41 yards and no touchdowns. It's challenging for any receiver to shine when the quarterback manages only ten completions for a total of 131 yards. Odunze's 41 yards unfortunately led all Bears receivers, highlighting the limited offensive production. He was targeted six times, indicating that quarterback Caleb Williams views him as a go-to option, even if some passes were off-target. Odunze will aim to bounce back next week in a favorable matchup against the weaker Arizona Cardinals defense.

From RotoBaller

Cole Kmet Oct 28 12:10pm ET
Cole Kmet

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet had a tough outing against the Washington Commanders in Week 8, finishing with just one reception for 14 yards and no touchdowns. It's challenging for a tight end to have a productive game when the quarterback completes only ten passes for a total of 131 yards. After some strong performances recently, it was disappointing to see Kmet's lack of production. He was even out-targeted by backup tight end Gerald Everett, who had two targets compared to Kmet's one, which is discouraging for fantasy owners who expected Kmet to dominate the tight end targets. On National Tight End Day, when many tight ends across the league excelled, the Bears unfortunately fell short. Kmet will aim to bounce back next week in a favorable matchup against the weaker Arizona Cardinals defense.

From RotoBaller

D.J. Moore Oct 28 12:00pm ET
D.J. Moore

In Week 8, Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore had a quiet performance against the Washington Commanders, finishing with just two catches for 27 yards and no touchdowns. It's tough for a receiver to shine when the quarterback completes only ten passes for a total of 131 yards. Moore also contributed with two rushes for seven yards as the Bears tried various ways to get their star wideout the ball in space. He briefly left the game due to pain after a hard landing while making a catch but fortunately returned. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his injury status this week. Moore aims to rebound next week in a promising matchup against the weaker Arizona Cardinals defense.

From RotoBaller

Keenan Allen Oct 28 12:00pm ET
Keenan Allen

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen had a lackluster outing against the Washington Commanders this Sunday, finishing with just two catches for 39 yards. It's challenging for any receiver to excel when the quarterback completes only ten passes for a total of 131 yards. Coming off his best performance of the season in Week 6 against the Jaguars, it was disappointing to see Allen unable to build on that momentum. Quarterback Caleb Williams did target Allen a team-high seven times, but many of those passes needed to be more on-target or uncatchable. Allen will aim to rebound next week in a promising matchup against the weaker Arizona Cardinals defense.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Oct 28 11:40am ET
Caleb Williams

This Sunday, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams struggled in his game against the Washington Commanders. In Week 8, he completed just ten of 24 passes for 131 yards without any touchdowns. It was disappointing to see him regress after a productive recent stretch and following the bye week to prepare. While it seemed like Williams and the offense were starting to find their rhythm, they instead took a step back this week. He had some inaccurate throws and was also hampered by an injury to his left tackle, which led to poor offensive line performance. On a positive note, Williams added 41 rushing yards on ten attempts, demonstrating his ability to evade defenders and pick up first downs when given the chance. Fans hope Williams and the Bear's offense can bounce back next week against a more favorable matchup with the Arizona Cardinals defense.

From RotoBaller

D'Andre Swift Oct 28 11:40am ET
D'Andre Swift

On Sunday, Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift had an outstanding game against the Washington Commanders, recording 18 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown. He made a game-changing 56-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, sparking a stagnant Bears offense at a crucial moment. Swift demonstrated his ability to create explosive plays when provided with solid blocking and space to operate. Although it was disappointing that he finished without any receptions, given that Caleb Williams only completed ten passes overall, there's optimism that Swift will see more opportunities in the passing game moving forward. Additionally, it was concerning for Swift's fantasy owners to see Roschon Johnson take goal-line carries, which must be monitored. Swift will aim to maintain his momentum against a vulnerable Arizona Cardinals defense next week.

From RotoBaller