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FFL: Offseason | NFL: Divisional

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.

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Bender's DFS Pickem Plays: Divisional Round

Player Notes
Quinyon Mitchell Jan 19 3:40pm ET
Quinyon Mitchell

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (shoulder) is officially questionable to return after exiting during the first quarter of Sunday's Divisional Round contest against the Los Angeles Rams. He made one tackle and defended a pass prior to his departure. The 23-year-old rookie spent significant time in the medical tent before the Eagles labeled him as questionable. Isaiah Rodgers will earn more defensive snaps at cornerback until Mitchell is able to return.

From RotoBaller

Dan Quinn Jan 19 3:40pm ET
Dan Quinn

Washington Commanders right guard Sam Cosmi (knee) has been diagnosed with an ACL injury and will not return during the playoffs, head coach Dan Quinn announced Sunday. Cosmi suffered the injury during Saturday's Divisional Round victory over the Detroit Lions. The 25-year-old was an anchor on the offensive line this season, playing essentially every snap while providing impressive protection and leadership. When confirming Cosmi's injury, Quinn noted, "That's a big deal, the ballplayer and the man." Trent Scott is expected to operate as the Commanders' primary right guard going forward.

From RotoBaller

Ainias Smith Jan 19 2:20pm ET
Ainias Smith

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Ainias Smith (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Texas A&M product was also a healthy scratch during the wild-card round when the Eagles faced the Green Bay Packers. During the regular season, Smith caught just seven passes for 41 yards and a score. Fantasy managers should expect A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jahan Dotson to lead the passing attack on Sunday afternoon.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Johnson Jan 19 2:10pm ET
Tyler Johnson

According to the team, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tyler Johnson (coach's decision) will not suit up on Sunday afternoon to face the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round. The 26-year-old also sat out during the wild-card round. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, and Demarcus Robinson to lead the passing attack in Philadelphia. Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington will operate as rotational pieces. During Week 18, when several starters rested, Johnson brought in four of his seven targets for 35 yards and a touchdown. Nacua carries an elite WR1 upside on this slate, whereas Kupp and Robinson carry flex value.

From RotoBaller

Bobby Brown III Jan 19 2:00pm ET
Bobby Brown III

According to the team, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Bobby Brown III (shoulder) and defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon (thigh) are both active for Sunday's playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Brown could not practice all week and is expected to return to his rotational role on the defensive line. Last week against the Vikings, Brown tallied one tackle on 13 defensive snaps. Witherspoon ended the week with a limited practice session and will return to his starting role in the secondary. Over his past five games, he has tallied 21 tackles, seven deflections, and one interception. He will be a key part of the defensive game plan to limit the potent Philadelphia offense.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Jan 19 12:20pm ET
Caleb Williams

According to FOX Sports' Jay Glazer, the Chicago Bears are scheduled to interview former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George for their head-coaching job on Sunday. George has been the head coach at Tennessee State for the last four years and was named the Coach Of The Year for the Big South in 2024-25 while leading his team to a co-championship. Before starting his coaching career, George won a Heisman Trophy in college. In his time at Tennessee State, he's gone 24-22, including 9-3 during the regular season this year. The Bears fired Matt Eberflus after their Thanksgiving Day loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions, with Thomas Brown finishing out the year as the interim head coach. The Bears are casting a wide net for their next head coach and are hoping whoever they choose will be able to get more out of No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.

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Raheem Morris Jan 19 12:10pm ET
Raheem Morris

The Atlanta Falcons hired former New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich as their defensive coordinator on Saturday night, according to sources. In addition to finishing the 2024 campaign as the Jets' interim head coach after the team fired Robert Saleh after just five games, Ulbrich played linebacker in the NFL. He will be reuniting with head coach Raheem Morris in Atlanta after coaching with him from 2015-20. It will be Ulbrich's second stint with the Falcons after Morris named him the defensive coordinator in 2020 when Morris became the interim head coach. Ulbrich will be replacing Jimmy Lake, who was fired after just one year in the role. The 47-year-old went 3-9 to close out the year with the Jets. Before that, he had been New York's defensive coordinator since 2021. The Jets defense was in the top five in defensive EPA in 2022 and 2023 under Ulbrich.

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Oren Burks Jan 19 9:33am ET
Oren Burks

Philadelphia Eagles LB Oren Burks was fined $8,333 by the National Football League for committing an act of unnecessary roughness in the team's Wild Card Game versus the Green Bay Packers. On the opening kickoff of the game, Burks used his helmet on a hit against KR Keisean Nixon, which caused a fumble. No flag was thrown on the play.

From TheHuddle

Mack Hollins Jan 19 9:33am ET
Mack Hollins

Buffalo Bills WR Mack Hollins was fined $11,255 by the National Football League for committing an act of unsportsmanlike conduct in the team's Wild Card game versus the Denver Broncos. He taunted DB Patrick Surtain II while stepping over him.

From TheHuddle

Patrick Mahomes Jan 19 4:00am ET
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 16 of 25 pass attempts (64%) for 177 yards and a touchdown in the 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in their Divisional Round matchup. Mahomes displayed his game-managing abilities as Kansas City ran only 50 plays in this contest compared to 65 for Houston. The veteran quarterback was not particularly impressive in this game but did manage to scramble away from a sack to deliver a touchdown pass to Travis Kelce in the fourth quarter. Mahomes and company will now play in their seventh-straight AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens or Buffalo Bills. The 29-year-old will face off against either Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen to determine who will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs have displayed their willingness to grind out low-scoring games, but a shootout is not out of the question, given the level of competition.

From RotoBaller

Travis Kelce Jan 19 4:00am ET
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught seven passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in the 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round. The 35-year-old broke his tie with Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice for the most playoff games with at least 100 receiving yards. All but 60 of Patrick Mahomes' 177 passing yards went in the direction of Kelce in today's contest. The veteran tight end also received Mahomes' lone passing touchdown in the game. Kelce will now play in the AFC Championship game for the seventh straight season. Kansas City will face either the Baltimore Ravens or Buffalo Bills in next week's matchup. Whoever the opponent is, look for Mahomes and Kelce to connect early and often.

From RotoBaller

Kareem Hunt Jan 19 4:00am ET
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt handled eight carries for 44 yards and a touchdown in the 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round. The veteran running back also caught one pass for two yards in this contest. Hunt led the backfield with more touches and total yards than Isiah Pacheco. The 29-year-old also averaged 5.5 yards per carry compared to 3.6 for Pacheco. Despite the latter starting the game, Hunt showed that he is the better back right now. Hunt will have the week to prepare for the team's AFC Championship matchup against the Baltimore Ravens or Buffalo Bills. The Ravens appear to be the tougher run defense of the two, but Hunt should be heavily involved regardless of the matchup.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Jan 19 4:00am ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy caught five passes for 45 yards in the 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round. Worthy finished the game second on the team in receiving stats behind Travis Kelce but was the only wide receiver to catch a pass for Kansas City. Worthy has blossomed into Mahomes' top option in the receiving corps despite being a rookie. Worthy even had a highlight over-the-shoulder catch in the first quarter. The 21-year-old will have a week to prepare for the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens or Buffalo Bills. Regardless of the matchup, Andy Reid and the Chiefs will find creative ways to get the ball into Worthy's hands.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Jan 19 4:00am ET
Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco handled five carries for 18 yards in the 23-14 win over the Houston Texans on Saturday. Despite being the starting running back, Pacheco lost work and ceded a touchdown to Kareem Hunt later in the game. Pacheco was stuffed on his first carry and dropped his only target of the game on the team's first drive. Despite having nearly three weeks to rest and prepare for this contest, Pacheco has not regained his pre-injury form. The explosive second-year back was held to just 3.6 yards per carry in this contest. Given how Hunt has performed, Pacheco will likely remain the backup for the AFC Championship game next week. The Chiefs will take on the winner of the Divisional Round matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. Regardless of their opponent, Pacheco's value will remain low as the RB2 on the team.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Jan 19 12:30am ET
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams caught just one of his four targets for 19 receiving yards during Saturday's Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders. However, he salvaged his fantasy performance with a 61-yard rushing touchdown on a trick play. Unfortunately, not all of Williams' trickery resulted in successful plays. He also attempted a pass in the contest and was ultimately intercepted. All in all, the speedy receiver's fantasy value was salvaged by the trick-play touchdown, which is a reflection of the explosiveness he showed during the season. He has a high ceiling and low floor in fantasy football, making him an appealing WR3/FLEX option with weekly WR1 upside. He actually came close to notching a second big touchdown on Saturday, but he wasn't quite able to haul in an overthrown pass from Jared Goff. Williams should remain the Lions' No. 2 receiver alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Jan 19 12:30am ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught eight of his 10 targets for 137 yards during Saturday's Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders. The 25-year-old put together an impressive showing, but it wasn't enough to fend off a relentless Washington team. St. Brown and his Lions will fall short of a Super Bowl for the second consecutive season, and preparation for the 2025 season will commence immediately. Those preparations could look a little different, though, if offensive coordinator Ben Johnson accepts a head coaching job elsewhere. A new offensive scheme could throw a learning curve at St. Brown, but he'll likely be able to adapt and remain a mid-to-high WR1 for fantasy purposes. Fantasy managers should anticipate St. Brown being selected in the first round of fantasy drafts next summer.

From RotoBaller

Sam LaPorta Jan 19 12:30am ET
Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught six of his seven targets for 51 yards and a touchdown during Saturday's Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders. His touchdown came at the end of an impressive offensive play in which Jared Goff scrambled, threw while being tackled, and connected with LaPorta, who used his left hand to haul in the football and secure the catch. It was a valiant effort to give the Lions their only receiving touchdown of the game, but it wasn't enough. Detroit fell to Washington by two scores, ending their season shy of a Super Bowl berth once again. With that said, this Lions team continues to show plenty of promise ahead of the 2025 campaign. LaPorta himself was riding a hot stretch when the season ended, catching 38 passes for 392 yards and five touchdowns over his last seven contests. He should continue to rank as a mid-range TE1 ahead of next summer's fantasy drafts.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Jan 19 12:20am ET
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery rushed seven times for 28 yards during Saturday's playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. He also threw a pass for 20 yards. Montgomery returned from a multi-week absence caused by a knee injury. As expected, he took a backseat to Jahmyr Gibbs, who had twice as many carries and also saw a whopping 11 targets. Montgomery's ability to convert in short-yardage situations makes him a special running back, but there's no denying that he lacks the shiftiness, receiving skills, and big-play upside of Gibbs. Nevertheless, the two continue to form the best running back duo in the NFL. Heading into 2025, Montgomery will have standalone value as a high-end RB3, and he'll also be a premier handcuff option in case Gibbs gets hurt.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Jan 19 12:20am ET
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 14 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's loss to the Washington Commanders. He also caught six of his 11 targets for an additional 70 yards through the air. Although the Lions' season ended in an upset loss, Gibbs played phenomenal football, demonstrating elite efficiency on the ground and an exceptional target share through the air. He has firmly established himself as the centerpiece of Detroit's offense despite competing for touches with players like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and David Montgomery. In case there was still any debate, Gibbs is clearly a top running back option in redraft and dynasty leagues for fantasy football. He should be one of the first few players off the board in 2025 drafts, and he could join elite company atop the scoring leaderboard next year. His rushing efficiency, pass-catching skills, and nose for the end zone are unmatched, and his role in a highly productive offense is just the icing on the cake.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Jan 19 12:13am ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff completed 23 of his 40 passes for 313 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions in a 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round. He also lost a fumble. RB Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 14 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns and caught six passes for 70 yards. RB David Montgomery added seven carries for 28 yards, and WR Jameson Williams had a 61-yard touchdown run to go along with one catch for 19 yards. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight catches for 137 yards, and TE Sam LaPorta added six grabs for 51 yards and a score. LB Jack Campbell finished with a team-igh 14 tackles, and LB Alex Anzalone logged 13 tackles, including 12 solo stops.

From TheHuddle