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 2
Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill can be left out of fantasy managers' lineups for the team's Week 2 home matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Hill took just one carry for three yards in Baltimore's Week 1 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also added 52 yards on six catches and eight targets. The fifth-year RB was heavily involved in the Ravens' passing game while tying for second in the team lead in targets and with the third-most receptions and yards. He was clearly the first up in passing situations for the Ravens, but will be challenging to project for such a role weekly. With backfield mate Derrick Henry to take most of the early-down work -- and project for most of the goal-line carries, too -- the 26-year-old RB will be a volatile, game-script-dependent play. He'll be tough to trust in Baltimore's home opener this Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase stated he has no plans to negotiate a long-term deal with the team this season. The news comes after Chase felt slighted when the Bengals did not sign him to an extension this offseason after they told him repeatedly they would do so. The 24-year-old participated in 84% of Cincinnati's snaps this past weekend in their shocking 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots, catching all six of his targets for 62 yards. The LSU product was featured on the Bengals' injury report in Week 1 during his partial holdout. However, he seems to be putting negotiations behind him for the remainder of the season. The former Tiger has reportedly taken out a $50 million insurance policy on himself ahead of the rest of the 2024 season. He was solid last week, and Chase can be trusted as a WR1 moving forward as Cincinnati's offense attempts to get back on track after a so-so Week 1 performance.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney is a potential WR4 play when the team squares off against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. Mooney registered a snap on 53 plays for the Falcons in their Week 1 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, reeling in 1-of-3 targets for 15 yards. He tied for third on the team with three targets and matched wide receiver Drake London's receiving total of 15 yards. This is likely one of the few times the 26-year-old ties Atlanta's WR1 in total yardage and targets. However, he'll be an imminent threat for a deep ball or two when the Falcons take on the Eagles on MNF. He's a nice flier in an Atlanta offense that projects to pick it up over the next few weeks, with Kirk Cousins working his way back to full health after a 2023 Achilles injury. For now, though, Mooney can be avoided until his production ticks up and the Falcons get on track.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III is an intriguing option ahead of the team's Week 2 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. McCloud hauled in 4-of-7 targets for 56 yards in last Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, with an additional 56 yards on two kickoff returns. The 27-year-old wideout played the fourth-fewest snaps of any Falcons skill player in Week 1 while recording a target on an impressive 46.7% of his routes. He also registered an other-worldly 3.47 yards per route run. It will be tough to trust him moving forward with Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson to compete with for targets. However, McCloud will be a player to monitor in the coming weeks. His work in the return game and high YPRR make him an exciting player to watch. Aside from the Falcons' superstars, there isn't much regarding depth aside from wide receiver Darnell Mooney.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor underwhelmed fantasy managers last week, totaling just 48 yards on 16 carries with no action in the receiving game. He was able to find the endzone, which helped boost his fantasy performance. Although inefficient, he received every running back carry, which should come as encouraging news to fantasy managers. He now gears up for a Week 2 matchup with the Green Bay Packers, a team that allowed RB Saquon Barkley to total three touchdowns in the two teams Week 1 matchup. On top of that, the Colts are favorites in Sunday's matchup with the likely absence of Jordan Love (knee), creating a favorable game script for Taylor. Fantasy managers in all formats can consider Taylor a strong RB1 option in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson impressed in Week 1, totaling three touchdowns with just nine total completions. Despite his low passing volume, Richardson remains a strong fantasy quarterback with his rushing upside, shown last week with his six attempts for 56 yards and accounting for one of his touchdowns. He now gears up for a Week 2 clash with the Green Bay Packers, a team that allowed 34 points last week to the Eagles as well as 270+ passing yards and two touchdowns to QB Jalen Hurts. As will be the case for most of this season, Richardson makes for a strong start and should be prioritized in almost all/leagues and formats.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | 49ers running back Jordan Mason will presumably be the team's starter while Christian McCaffrey recovers from his Achilles injury. Dynasty Analysis: And just like that, we could have a league-winning dynasty asset come out of nowhere. Mason was huge for the 49ers last week, rushing for 147 yards and will now likely be asked to be the workhorse for one of the league's friendliest offenses. While expecting McCaffrey-like numbers from him would be foolish, it's not unrealistic to expect him to post RB1/2 numbers each week until CMC returns.
Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo managed only one extra point and one field goal attempt in the team's Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This week, Koo plays on Monday Night football outdoors against the Philadelphia Eagles, who could be out in front in this one often, potentially taking Koo out of the game script early, just like the Niners took Greg Zuerlein out of last week's Monday night matchup. Many kickers have a much more positive outlook this week. It's best to leave Koo on the waiver wire for another week, as he is currently 16th among all kickers in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts will be looking for more volume in Week 2 heading into Monday Night's football game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Although he did find the end zone on broken coverage in Week 1, the volume was not what fantasy managers were hoping for with new quarterback Kirk Cousins under center. Pitts only saw three targets and caught all three for 26 yards beyond the lone touchdown. If the Falcons can make the adjustments they need in Week 2, Pitts remains a crucial weapon in this offense and should muster up more than the three targets he received in Week 1's underwhelming performance by Kirk Cousins and the rest of Atlanta's offense. His versatility between lining up as a tight end and as a wide receiver should make it difficult for the Eagles secondary to cover him. Despite the lack of targets in Week 1, Pitts remains a must-start and is currently TE6 in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons third-year wide receiver Drake London will look to bounce back in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles after a brutal Week 1 performance. Fantasy managers hoped for a step forward in production with newly signed quarterback Kirk Cousins. Still, London could only muster up three targets against a defense more known to be vulnerable through the air than the ground attack. Ray-Ray McCloud III ended up being the Falcons' No. 1 receiver in Week 1, but don't expect that trend to continue. The former USC Trojan is the No. 1 receiver for this team, and you can expect him to receive more than three targets in a game so that the Falcons could be down early and often. The Eagles allowed 260 passing yards and two receiving touchdowns, along with multiple big plays from the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, making London a prime candidate to have a solid bounce-back game in Week 2
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins had an underwhelming debut for his new team in Week 1. He has an equally tough, if not more challenging, matchup this Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. It's not necessarily due to the Eagles' defense, who allowed 280 yards passing to Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers the week prior, but because of the high expectations and the pressure to perform to a much higher standard than his Week 1 showing. The Falcons could be down early and often, providing value for fantasy managers this week. Still, it is not wise to start Kirk Cousins in any lineups in any 10 or 12-team leagues until we see the camaraderie and potential this team could truly have. Cousins is mainly an option in superflex or 2QB leagues, ranking 21st among all quarterbacks in the latest RotoBaller Week 2 rankings.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson finally got the usage fantasy managers have been begging out of him since his debut in Week 1 of last season. He logged 23 touches in a low-scoring affair against the Pittsburgh Steelers' strong defensive line. This week, Robinson faces the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. The Eagles allowed 5.3 YPC to Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs in Week 1 and two receptions for 20 yards. The Falcons could be trailing early and often in this one against the Eagles, potentially leading to more targets and receptions coming Robinson's way. The 2023 first-round pick is a must-start and is RB3 in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) is reportedly likely going to be sidelined for the entire 2024 season. This has escalated quickly after Brown was originally only supposed to miss a game or two. Then on Friday, Brown was placed on the injured reserve because of a shoulder injury that requires surgery. That being said, Brown was expected to be out for at least four games, but was hopeful to return mid-season. Now, Brown is reportedly done for the entire season, which is a tough blow to the Chiefs offense. That means, Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, and rookie Xavier Worthy are all going to be asked to carry a heavier workload on offense. All of them should be viable fantasy options with Brown out of the picture.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (ankle) is currently listed as questionable ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite that, Williams will reportedly suit up and play on Sunday. This is great news for the Lions offense after Williams went off for five receptions and 121 yards with a touchdown in the Week 1 win. He should once again be heavily involved against a shaky Bucs secondary this weekend. Fantasy managers should be able to trust Williams as a low-end WR2 for what looks like a shootout with the Bucs.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick has been elevated from the practice squad on Saturday. That means, Patrick will be on the active roster for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Patrick was surprisingly cut by the Denver Broncos in late August. This comes after he hauled in 53 receptions for 734 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games with Denver last season. The Lions quickly scooped him up on their practice squad. Fellow wideout Isaiah Williams (abdomen) has been ruled out, which opens up a window for Patrick. However, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams remain the primary passing targets in this offense. Patrick will likely serve as depth, but will hopefully be given a chance to prove himself as a viable depth option.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Myles Gaskin has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Gaskin is back on the active roster for the second straight week. Last week, Gaskin served as the third string back during the win over the New York Giants. He only played seven snaps and rushed for negative yardage on his lone carry. That being said, Gaskin can be avoided in fantasy formats while Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler are healthy. Gaskin has proven to be a viable option during his days with the Miami Dolphins. However, there isn't much of a role for him with two healthy backs ahead of him on the depth chart.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Johnny Wilson (hamstring) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Wilson seemed fine all week until he popped up on the injury report on Saturday due to a hamstring issue. The absence of the rookie wideout won't make a huge impact on the Eagles offense. Wilson only played 17 snaps in Week 1 and failed to haul in his lone target. His absence could mean that Parris Campbell gets elevated from the practice squad. However, neither player should be considered a viable fantasy option heading into Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The 49ers have placed running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve. Dynasty Analysis: CMC will miss at least the next four weeks and will be eligible to return in week six. San Francisco also has a bye in week nine, leading to speculation they could keep him out even longer. This is a huge development in dynasty leagues as McCaffrey is simply the biggest weapon in fantasy football. CMC's short and long-term value is going to take a hit as the 28-year old could be starting to show his age just a touch.
Baltimore Ravens DB Ka'Dar Hollman and RB John Kelly were elevated for Week 2 on Saturday, Sept. 14.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Chargers LB Shaquille Quarterman and S Tony Jefferson were elevated from the practice squad for Week 2 on Saturday, Sept. 14.
From TheHuddle