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 18
New York Jets running back Breece Hall carried the ball 12 times for 57 yards and caught three of his five targets for 15 yards and a touchdown while rushing for a two-point conversion in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Hall's late-season struggles on the ground continued as he failed to top 60 rushing yards in five straight games to close out the year. That being said, he salvaged his afternoon with a six-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. Hall finishes his 2024 season with 876 rushing yards while catching 57 passes for 483 yards and scoring eight all-purpose touchdowns. He will be back as the Jets' lead running back heading into the 2025 season, although rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis both flashed at various points throughout the season.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Braelon Allen carried the ball four times for 15 yards and caught two of his three targets for eight yards in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Allen mixed in behind starter Breece Hall, per usual, in the high-scoring win. While he didn't hold much standalone value in fantasy this season, Allen flashed his talent at times and appears to be slated to remain a quality backup running back in the NFL moving forward. He is a solid player to roster in dynasty leagues moving forward as he is just one injury away from a big role in the New York offense.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis carried the ball four times for 41 yards in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Davis was impressive in a backup role behind Breece Hall, ripping off a 20-yard run and averaging 10.3 yards per carry. While fellow rookie Braelon Allen got most of the attention this season, Davis quietly carved out a role in the New York offense as the year went on. He remains blocked by Breece Hall and Allen on the Jets but he is a good player to stash in dynasty heading into the offseason.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle rushed 22 times for 72 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders. He also caught two of his three targets for an additional 12 yards through the air. Dowdle was quite impressive throughout the 2024 season, supplanting Ezekiel Elliott as the Cowboys' undisputed No. 1 running back. He finished the campaign with 1,079 rushing yards, 249 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns through 16 games, ranking as a low-end RB2 in fantasy football. There has been plenty of speculation that the Cowboys could take an aggressive approach with their pursuit of a running back this offseason, such as drafting Ashton Jeanty. However, there's also a real possibility they feel confident in Dowdle and don't take as big of a swing for a backfield addition within the upcoming months. The 26-year-old currently still has appeal as a mid-range RB3 option heading into the 2025 campaign, and until Dallas brings in competition, this backfield belongs to Dowdle.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of his 36 passes for 274 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Rodgers set a record by becoming just the fifth NFL quarterback to throw 500 touchdown passes in his career, joining Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Brett Favre in the exclusive club. The veteran quarterback finishes his second season with the Jets with 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while appearing in all 17 of the team's games. It was a rocky season for Rodgers and a Jets team that had playoff aspirations in the preseason, only to fire head coach Robert Saleh in October and ultimately go 5-12 on the season. Rodgers is under contract for another season but the Jets could choose to part ways with the future Hall of Famer after the two sides appeared to have some issues throughout the season. After the game, Rodgers was not ready to state whether he would return for the 2025 season or retire. Stay tuned.
From RotoBaller
Per Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard will continue to operate in their roles next season. Irsay took to X (Twitter) on Sunday evening following Indianapolis' 26-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars to express his frustration over not making the playoffs. However, he gave his head coach and GM a vote of confidence heading into next season. "I've been evaluating our entire operation, and I believe in Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen and our collective ability to make the improvements needed to take us to the next level in 2025." Steichen has coached his way to a 17-17 record since taking over in 2023, while the Colts have seen just four winning seasons since Ballard got the GM job during the 2016 playoffs. There is plenty of talent on this squad -- particularly on the offensive side. Still, as of now, the team's success hinges on the development of quarterback Anthony Richardson. Fortunately for Ballard and Steichen, they'll get at least one more go.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Payne Durham saw increased playing time for the third straight week with Cade Otton (knee) inactive during the regular season finale. Durham hauled in both his targets for 16 yards and a touchdown during the victory. This marked the second straight game that Durham has been able to find the end zone. The hope is that Otton will be able to return to the field for next week's playoff game. Otherwise, Durham and Devin Culp will remain the primary options at tight end. Durham might be worth a dart throw in DFS contests for the Wild-Card round.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr caught six passes for 63 yards and a touchdown in the season finale. Dynasty Analysis: Harrison ends the season with 63 catches, just under 900 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. It was a solid season by most measures, but Harrison was overshadowed by the likes of Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr, and even Ladd McConkey this year. The future is bright for Harrison, but the thoughts of him being "the next big thing" at the position have certainly cooled over the course of the year as he's looked more like a WR2 than an absolute superstar. He could be a "buy low" candidate moving forward.
Dynasty | Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 23-of-36 passes for 274 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in a win against the Dolphins. Dynasty Analysis: Rodgers waited until the last possible moment to have his best game as a Jet. He finishes the season with just under 4,000 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Speculation will only intensify now as Rodgers decides if he wants to retire or keep playing. He really wasn't great this season and was more of a problem than a solution for the Jets, but his history of greatness makes this a tough situation. Rodgers remains a hold in dynasty leagues as a bye-week fill-in or QB2, but it seems his days as a QB1 are all but over. Congratulations to Father Time, who remains undefeated.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan posted another strong performance during Sunday's regular season finale against the New Orleans Saints. The rookie wideout hauled in five of his six targets for 74 yards and a touchdown in the win. It's also worth noting that McMillan rushed the ball once for six yards. That score was his seventh touchdown over his last five games. McMillan has come out of nowhere and become an elite red-zone threat for the Bucs down the stretch of the season. The rookie wideout will look to extend his five-game touchdown streak during next week's playoff game.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving finished his rookie campaign on a high note during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. Irving rushed the ball 19 times for 89 yards and scored a touchdown during the win. He also added two receptions on five targets for -5 yards during the division clinching victory. The 22-year-old has literally run his way with the lead back job in Tampa Bay. Fellow back Rachaad White didn't even log in a touch during Sunday's win. Irving should remain a focal point of this offense heading into the postseason.
From RotoBaller
While being interviewed by reporters after their 32-20 loss to the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill insinuated that he'd prefer to play elsewhere moving forward. "I just gotta do what's best for me and my family. If that's here or wherever the case may be...I'm out. At the end of the day, I need to do what's best for my career." Whoah. 2024 marks the first season since his rookie year that Hill had played at least 15 games and not reached 1,000 receiving yards. Additionally, it was the first time since then that he'd failed to finish as a top-ten fantasy wideout under those same parameters. The 30-year-old was visibly frustrated after the game and noted he won't be in the playoffs for the first time in his career. It's a bad look for his future prospects with the team. Still, the off-season is young for him and the Dolphins, and there will be plenty of time to speculate on where he might play in 2025. As of now, he's on contract with the team through 2026.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs caught 10 of his 13 targets for 94 yards during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts' passing attack has seen a significant boost ever since quarterback Joe Flacco took over for the injured Anthony Richardson (back), but Downs truly took his productivity to the next level during Sunday's season finale. He finishes the 2024 campaign with 72 catches, 803 yards, and five touchdowns. Each of these three marks represented season-highs, topping the totals he delivered as a rookie last year. Downs has firmly established himself as an appealing 1B option with the Colts, pairing nicely alongside their 1A receiver, Michael Pittman Jr. The UNC product will rank as a high-end WR3 when 2025 fantasy football drafts kick off next summer, and he has even greater appeal in dynasty leagues.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas caught three of his four targets for 34 yards during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills. The second-year slot receiver finishes his 2024 campaign with 66 catches, 621 yards, and three touchdowns. Although he technically out-produced all other Patriots receivers this season, he lost significant ground to Kayshon Boutte as soon as Drake Maye took over as New England's starting quarterback. Heading into 2025, both Boutte and Douglas can expect to face competition as the Patriots bring in a new coaching staff and look to bolster their offense with a big-name wide receiver addition.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee scored his second touchdown of the season and caught a season-high five passes for 46 yards in the team's 30-25 loss to the Seahawks. Higbee returned from a knee injury in Week 16 and scored a critical touchdown against the Jets. He had two catches in Week 17 against Arizona, but the veteran played his most involved role of the year in Week 18 despite the Rams resting most of their regular starters. Higbee had seven targets, which was just one short of Tutu Atwell's team-high. He tied with Atwell for the team lead with five catches and added his second score of the year. Higbee looked healthy and ready to contribute for the Rams as they start the playoffs with a home game next week.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce did his usual thing on Sunday, catching a deep 40-yard touchdown pass on the team's opening drive and adding another 17-yard catch in the 26-23 win over the Jaguars. Despite only 37 receptions on the season, the 24-year-old finishes as the Colts' receiving leader with 824 yards and seven touchdowns. With blazing speed, he led the league in average depth of target (aDOT) which helped him rack up the yardage. The former second-round draft pick will likely fill a similar role in 2025 but, unless he can garner additional targets, it's hard to envision outpacing this season's production. Nevertheless, he should be worthy of at least a bench spot in next year's drafts, as he can be a viable (yet volatile) fill-in when the bye weeks hit.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet did not deliver for fantasy managers in Week 18. He ran for 59 yards and gained 32 yards on a lateral from wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Charbonnet was in a great position to succeed as the starter. However, Seattle rotated running back Kenny McIntosh into the lineup consistently. As such, Charbonnet did not have the same volume he has enjoyed in his other starts this season. Charbonnet's future in fantasy is interesting. The Seahawks seem very committed to starting running back Kenneth Walker III (ankle). However, Charbonnet has shown this season that he can carry the load when called upon and Walker has proven himself to be injury prone throughout his career. At the very least, Charbonnet has proven himself to be an excellent complimentary piece to Walker. Charbonnet should have a chance to be a consistent contributor next year. His eight rushing touchdowns were excellent this year. Time will tell what Seattle decides to do with their offense.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught four passes for nine yards in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. Smith-Njigba was invisible in a game in which quarterback Geno Smith threw four touchdown passes. What's worse, JSN had a chance to break wide receiver Tyler Lockett's single-season team receptions record. He fell one reception short of breaking the record. Overall, Smith-Njigba had a great season. He will finish with 1,130 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 100 receptions. Fantasy managers should be ecstatic about Smith-Njigba heading into next season. He is clearly Smith's No. 1 target, and he has displayed that he has the talent to be a high-end producer for fantasy. While his Week 18 was disappointing, the future is bright for JSN.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty made all four of his field goal attempts against the Seahawks in Week 18 and converted his only extra-point attempt as well. The sixth-round pick from Stanford finished the regular season 29-of-34 on field goal attempts and 32-of-36 on extra-point tries. He made all 13 of his field goal tries over the last four weeks, which should give him a big confidence boost going into the postseason. He also made field goals of 57 and 58 yards to finish the season six-of-seven on kicks from 50+ yards. After an inconsistent season, the rookie finished strong and will look to keep rolling next week as the Rams host a Wild Card game, which means he'll be kicking indoors again as a solid option against the Vikings or Lions.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf caught three passes for 53 yards and a touchdown in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. Metcalf was tied for second on the team in targets with five on Sunday. Metcalf's three receptions were still concerning considering he has not caught more than four passes since Week 11. Metcalf will finish the season eight yards shy of the fourth 1,000-yard season of his career. Metcalf began 2024 on fire, but he did not have the same production after returning from an MCL sprain halfway through the season. With Seattle headed into their offseason after missing the playoffs, they will look to retool their roster. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Seattle's personnel moves and the evolution of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. Hopefully, Metcalf can bounce back for fantasy managers in 2025.
From RotoBaller