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 Starts/Sits: Week 16
Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) suffered a dislocated kneecap and torn ACL in Saturday's 27-19 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Oof. The second-year wideout was off to a ripping hot start in Week 16 with six receptions, 98 yards, and a touchdown before he got folded up on -- again sustaining a gruesome leg injury. Dell will now begin the long road to recovery. It's unfortunate news for the 25-year-old and the Houston Texans offense. With fellow wideout John Metchie III (shoulder) dealing with his own injury, Houston will deploy WRs Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson, and Jared Wayne at an elevated clip if Metchie can't suit up again in Week 17. Tight end Dalton Schultz should also pick up some more work with the offense down another pass-catcher.
From RotoBaller
The Green Bay Packers are activating tight end Luke Musgrave (ankle) from Injured Reserve on Monday, and he will play against the New Orleans Saints, according to a source. Musgrave underwent surgery on his ankle in October and hasn't played since Week 3, so the Packers will ease him back in. The 24-year-old caught 34 of his 46 targets for 352 yards and one touchdown in his first 11 NFL games (nine starts) in Green Bay last year. In four games before injuring his ankle this year, Musgrave was barely involved behind Tucker Kraft, catching five of seven targets for 22 yards. He probably won't be all the field that much on Monday night in his first game back after a long layoff, and Musgrave will be a low-upside deep sleeper in DFS formats for the final three games of the regular season and in the playoffs for the Packers.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion), who has missed the last four games due to a concussion, is still making his way through the league's concussion protocol. The second-year wideout suffered a concussion in the Week 12 win over the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers and hasn't played since. The 24-year-old had a productive three-game stretch from Weeks 7-9 in which he caught 21 of his 32 targets for 255 yards and three touchdowns with Jameis Winston at quarterback. He was becoming a weekly flex option for fantasy managers right before suffering a concussion. Now, with fantasy championship matchups in most leagues coming in Week 17, you can't trust Tillman in a lineup spot if he clears concussion protocol and is active against the Miami Dolphins this Sunday. It's especially true with Dorian Thompson-Robinson now at QB.
From RotoBaller
After the Dallas Cowboys' win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football in Week 17, owner Jerry Jones praised head coach Mike McCarthy but also declined to comment on his future after this season when asked. The praise for McCarthy is notable since his contract expires at the end of this season, and the Cowboys' late-season surge without quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) could buy the head coach more time with the organization. Dallas has won four of its last five games. "All I can say is what a good job, how good a job he's doing," Jones said. "Don't have thoughts that I would share as to anything about what we do ... after we're through playing this year." Already eliminated from postseason contention, Dallas has two division games remaining -- at the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17 and home versus the Washington Commanders in the Week 18 regular-season finale.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson voiced his frustration after being targeted just three times in the first 55 minutes of the game by quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the Week 16 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. "I'd like to be involved, love to make an impact on the game, but people see it differently," Wilson said. "That's out of my control." Wilson praised passing-game coordinator Todd Downing for trying to get him the ball, so the pass-catcher could really be taking a shot at Rodgers. In the last five quarters, Wilson has only been targeted five times. In the same span, Rodgers' buddy, receiver Davante Adams, has been targeted 17 times. Even Allen Lazard (seven) saw more targets than Wilson. He finished with six catches for 54 yards on Sunday thanks to a late comeback attempt, but it wasn't enough to make Wilson happy. He's on the verge of his third 1,000-yard season, but there has been speculation that he could ask for a trade sooner than later.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (shoulder) is getting an MRI exam on his shoulder on Monday, according to head coach Brian Daboll. It means the Giants' QB situation is once again up in the air heading into their Week 17 contest against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Dec. 29. Even if Lock's shoulder ends up being OK, the Giants could make the move back to Tommy DeVito under center for the penultimate game of another lost season for the G-Men after Lock threw two more pick-sixes in a Week 16 blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 28-year-old went 22-for-39 for 210 yards, one touchdown and the two interceptions while also fumbling. Lock just hasn't been good in limited duty for New York since the team parted ways with Daniel Jones, as he's completed just 52.7% of his passes for 624 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions in six games (three starts).
From RotoBaller
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said on Monday that rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle) aggravated a previous ankle injury he was dealing with in the Week 16 blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Tracy was questionable to play in Week 16 against Atlanta but suited up anyway and didn't do much on the ground, gaining only 26 rushing yards on seven carries. However, the 25-year-old rookie salvaged his day for fantasy managers by catching all four of his targets for 43 yards and the team's only touchdown of the game. It's unclear if Tracy's aggravation will keep him from playing in the Week 17 contest against the Indianapolis Colts in what is a great matchup, but fantasy managers will want to monitor his status closely this week. Backup Devin Singletary would at least be an intriguing RB3/flex option in fantasy if Tracy is ruled out.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker was a non-factor in the Week 16 victory against the Arizona Cardinals, registering two catches for eight yards. He was targeted five times, which tied for second on the team, but he finished sixth on the team in receiving. Carolina tied a season-best with 36 points and resurgent quarterback Bryce Young played his best game of the year, yet Coker wasn't really part of the action. For managers who advance to their fantasy Super Bowls, the rookie is a massive gamble with a great matchup in Week 17 against Tampa Bay.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (elbow) said after the Week 16 win over the division-rival New England Patriots on Sunday that his arm is fine after he suffered a right-elbow contusion in the second half. Allen said his elbow got hit, which caused him to lose feeling in his throwing arm. The loss of feeling in his arm contributed to a wobbly pass after he took the hit, and he was seen shaking his hand trying to get feeling back. "Just hit the funny bone nerve and went to throw the ball and just had no feeling in the hand," Allen said. He worked with trainers on the sideline to get heat applied to his arm and went back into the game for the next series. The 28-year-old is the front-runner for the MVP award in 2024 despite throwing for 154 yards, one touchdown and a pick in the win over the Pats. Look for Allen to bounce back as a high-end QB1 in Week 17 against the division-rival New York Jets at Orchard Park.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert carried the ball eight times for 31 yards and caught both of his targets for 15 yards in their 29-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. The 32-year-old has started seeing more carries in the last several games, but fellow backfield mate De'Von Achane will continue to see most of the work. Ever since he fumbled against the Buffalo Bills in Week 9, Mostert seems to be in the doghouse with head coach Mike McDaniel. He has not seen 10 carries in a game since then. His next opportunity will come next Sunday at the Cleveland Browns in a game where the offense might need to lean on the running game in the cold weather.
From RotoBaller
Wide receiver Rome Odunze of the Chicago Bears ended with a respectable 77 receiving yards on four catches in a 34-17 loss to Detroit on Sunday. The rookie was targeted seven times, which was third on the team, and was second only to receiver Keenan Allen in yards. Though this season has been a major dud for Chicago, Odunze has shown some late-season promise with a two-touchdown performance in Week 14 and his third-highest yardage total of the season on Sunday. The Bears will continue playing out the string with a Thursday matchup against Seattle in Week 17.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland had an excellent game Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, converting all three field goal attempts and all three extra points in the 36-30 overtime defeat. The kicker was one of the few Cardinals who outperformed expectations, nailing field goals of 48, 30, and 58 yards, the last of the which sent the game to an extra period on the last play of regulation. The second-year man has done well with his chance in Arizona and could be a plausible streaming option with a plus matchup in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Rams.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride had his least productive receiving day of the season during a 36-30 overtime loss to Carolina on Sunday, finishing with just three catches for 20 yards. The tight end phenom was targeted only four times, which was fewer than journeyman running back Michael Carter and No. 2 receiver Michael Wilson, and the same as running back James Conner. McBride has been great this season, but Sunday was a brutal time for a dud in the fantasy playoffs. The Cards were officially knocked out of the playoffs with the loss, so managers who survived will hope for McBride to rebound in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Rams.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington caught three of four targets for 28 yards in the 29-17, Week 16 win over the San Francisco 49ers. With Jaylen Waddle (knee) sidelined for this game, the rookie could not take advantage of more snaps. The Miami passing attack struggled somewhat and leaned more on the ground game. Waddle could miss more than just this game, making his status something to be monitored throughout this week. Washington will look to bounce back next Sunday when he and Miami hit the road to take on the Cleveland Browns in a game that will possibly be in freezing temperatures.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson finished with two catches on five targets for 44 yards in a 36-30 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. It was an all-around poor day for Arizona's passing game, as tight end Trey McBride had his worst receiving day of the year and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. failed to hit 50 receiving yards for the third straight game. The loss officially bounced Arizona from playoff contention, so the Cardinals are down to playing spoiler next week against the Los Angeles Rams. Wilson will be a highly risky bet for standard-format managers in fantasy Super Bowls.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals running back DeeJay Dallas turned his only involvement of the game Sunday against Carolina into a one-yard touchdown catch. The 26-year-old had no carries and only one target, but made it count for his first touchdown of the season. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, it wasn't enough in a 36-30 overtime loss that knocked them out of playoff contention. Starting running back James Conner (knee) departed the game, Trey Benson (ankle) was out, and Emari Demercado (back) is on injured reserve, leaving a possible opening in the Arizona backfield. Based on Sunday's game, however, it would appear as if journeyman Michael Carter would be the preferred streaming option over Dallas.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders made 5-of-5 field goal attempts and 2-of-2 extra points in their 29-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. His longest came from 54 yards out. Sanders continued to stay hot and has now made his last 23 field goal attempts. As the Dolphins offense has looked more formidable, he continues to get more opportunities than almost anyone in the league, and his conversion rate has been phenomenal. The 29-year-old is now the sixth-ranked kicker overall in fantasy football and should be a weekly start for anyone still in the playoffs. He will have a challenging task traveling to take on the Cleveland Browns in likely freezing conditions in Week 17.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. finished with a forgettable Week 16 against Carolina, catching four passes for 39 yards on eight targets. The rookie has had a rough stretch after the Cards' bye, finishing outside the top 40 at his position four times in the past five weeks, which has been disappointing given his early-season draft hype. Sunday's 36-30 overtime loss knocked Arizona out of playoff contention, leaving the team to play out the string during the final two weeks. Harrison will be a risky play for managers in fantasy Super Bowls during a Week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell indeed worked as the deep threat in the absence of Alec Pierce (concussion), however, the 22-year-old was targeted just one time in this contest. The rookie wideout hauled in that one target for a big gain of 36 yards, but that was midway through the second quarter and the speedster did not receive another look for the rest of the game. Not that he was the only one who put up disappointing receiving numbers, as Josh Downs "led" the corps with three catches while Michael Pittman Jr. corralled just two. Jonathan Taylor ran all over the Titans, so there was no need for the Colts to ask Anthony Richardson to throw up a lot of passes, completing just 7-of-11 attempts on the day. Assuming Pierce can play next week, Mitchell will again work as the fourth option in a feeble passing attack and should not be trusted in fantasy championships.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill caught three of his seven targets for 29 yards and a touchdown in their 29-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Hill could've had a much bigger game if not for a few dropped passes, one of which could've been another touchdown. With Jaylen Waddle (knee) out in this game, this wasn't exactly the level of production fantasy managers were hoping for. This is the fifth time this season that the 30-year-old had 30 yards or less, and the 11th time he has failed to reach 15 PPR fantasy points. At this point in the season, it's safe to say that Hill was one of the biggest busts of the 2024 season. His next opportunity comes next Sunday afternoon at the Cleveland Browns in Week 17.
From RotoBaller