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FFL: Week 1 | NFL: Week 1

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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Starts/Sits: Week 1

Player Notes
Devaughn Vele Sep 9 12:30am ET
Devaughn Vele

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele made a statement in his NFL debut on Sunday in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Vele didn't have a banner day by any means with just 39 receiving yards, but his eight receptions (on eight targets) surprisingly led the team on a day in which the Broncos offense couldn't really move the ball at all consistently in rookie first-round quarterback Bo Nix's NFL debut. Vele caught all eight of the balls thrown his way in this one and was tied for second in targets with Josh Reynolds, behind Courtland Sutton's 12. Vele, a seventh round pick this year, wasn't targeted very far beyond the line of scrimmage with his eight receptions, but just that fact that he commanded that much attention from Nix is notable. The 26-year-old seems to have developed some good chemistry with his QB and is worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues as a waiver pickup.

From RotoBaller

Josh Hayes Sep 9 12:30am ET
Josh Hayes

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Bryce Hall (leg) was carted off the field in an air cast during Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders. He has been diagnosed with a dislocated right ankle and fractured fibula. It's a crushing blow for the Buccaneers, their secondary, and Hall. The 26-year-old is likely headed for an extended absence, and there's even a possibility that the Buccaneers could shut him down for the rest of the season. Hall doesn't have a very lengthy injury history, but he did suffer a season-ending ankle injury during his final collegiate campaign in 2019. The Buccaneers suddenly find themselves incredibly shorthanded at cornerback with Hall sidelined, Zyon McCollum (head) concussed, and Josh Hayes (ankle) at risk of missing time.

From RotoBaller

Josh Reynolds Sep 9 12:20am ET
Josh Reynolds

Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds had a positive debut with the Broncos in their Week 1 loss on the road at Lumen Field against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday by a score of 26-20. Nobody in the Broncos offense really had a great game, but Reynolds caught five of his eight targets for a team-high 45 yards receiving. His eight targets were tied with rookie Devaughn Vele and were second on the team behind Courtland Sutton's 12. Nothing about Denver's offense under rookie first-round quarterback Bo Nix was really that impressive, and the young signal-caller spread the ball around, which is mostly bad news for all of Denver's pass-catchers. For now, Reynolds should remain on the waiver wire in standard-sized 12-team leagues as he battles for targets as the WR2 in Denver with Vele, Marvin Mims Jr. and Lil'Jordan Humphrey.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Sep 9 12:20am ET
David Njoku

The Cleveland Browns fear that tight end David Njoku (ankle) suffered a high-ankle sprain during Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The 28-year-old had caught four of five targets for 44 yards prior to his departure. Cleveland suffered a brutal loss at the hands of the Cowboys, so this latest news about Njoku adds insult to injury. Assuming this initial diagnosis is confirmed, Njoku will be looking at an extended absence (typically a month or more) followed by a significant performance dip once he returns. Until he gets back on the field, Jordan Akins will operate as the Browns' top tight end. He remains off the fantasy radar for the time being.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Sep 9 12:13am ET
Bo Nix

Dynasty | Broncos quarterback Bo Nix completed 26-of-42 passes for 138 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in a season-opening loss at Seattle. Dynasty Analysis: Nix actually led the Broncos in rushing with 35 yards and a touchdown but he really struggled, making a few other ill-advised throws that also could have been picked off. Nix looked like a typical rookie in his first NFL start, so there's no need to panic. Still, he should be firmly on dynasty benches until we see him string a few good games together.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Bo Nix Sep 9 12:13am ET
Bo Nix

Dynasty | Broncos running back Javonte Williams had 23 rushing yards on eight carries, while catching one pass for no gain in Denver's opening day loss at Seattle. Dynasty Analysis: Yuck. Williams was out-carried by Jaleel McLaughlin 10-8, though neither of them looked particularly effective on the day. It's way too early to throw in the towel on Williams but this is a red flag after his disastrous 2023 season. Williams belongs on fantasy benches until Bo Nix can do enough to keep defenses honest as this Denver offense looks anemic at the moment.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Sep 9 12:13am ET
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Dynasty | Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had two catches for 19 yards in Seattle's win against Denver. Dynasty Analysis: Sigh. Smith-Njigba is one of the most popular breakout candidates this year but today's game was eerily similar to many from last year. There's a long runway for JSN to make some progress but this wasn't what dynasty managers hoping for a year two breakout were expecting today. JSN should stay on fantasy benches until we see some positive signs moving forward.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Baker Mayfield Sep 9 12:13am ET
Baker Mayfield

Dynasty | Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 24-of-30 passes for 289 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in Tampa Bay's opening day win over Washington. Dynasty Analysis: Mayfield has had some serious ups and downs in his career but he sure has found a home in Tampa Bay. Fresh off signing a new contract, Mayfield shows he was worth the money (and more) in this one today as he routinely placed the ball wherever it needed to be, hitting seven different receivers on the day. While not a sure-fire "set it and forget it" option quite yet, Mayfield is looking like no worse than a high-end QB2 next week and possibly beyond this season.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jayden Daniels Sep 9 12:13am ET
Jayden Daniels

Dynasty | Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 17-of-24 passes for 184 yards and added 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Washington's opening day loss against Tampa Bay. Dynasty Analysis: Daniels clearly has room to improve but this is a very promising stat line if this indicates his floor, which it very well may. He looked relatively poised in the pocket and frankly, much better than any other rookie quarterback we saw at the helm today. While there are inevitably going to be some bumps in the road, Daniels looks the part of a future QB1 with a truly dynamic skill set.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jalen McMillan Sep 9 12:13am ET
Jalen McMillan

Dynasty | Tampa Bay rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan had one catch for 32 yards and a touchdown in the Bucs opening day win against Washington. Dynasty Analysis: McMillan only had three targets but made the most of a deep one he got late in the game. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin entrenched as the two top options, McMillan is going to fight for scraps this season. Still, today's effort shows he has real talent and dynasty managers have themselves a solid stash at the moment.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Rachaad White Sep 9 12:13am ET
Rachaad White

Dynasty | Bucs rookie running back Bucky Irving had 62 yards rushing, two catches, and 14 receiving yards in Tampa Bay's season-opening win against Washington. Dynasty Analysis: Rumors have been swirling about Irving eating into Rachaad White's workload this year and today's performance won't exactly throw cold water on that notion. Irving looked shifty and spry on the day and routinely made players miss throughout the contest. While White (15 carries) is going to remain option 1A, a few more performances like this could create a true timeshare in Tampa Bay. Irving is a solid rookie hold at the moment as he looks like a player who could pay quick dividends in dynasty leagues.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Brian Robinson Jr. Sep 9 12:13am ET
Brian Robinson Jr.

Dynasty | Commanders running back Austin Ekeler had ten rushing yards, four catches, and 52 receiving yards in Washington's season-opening loss to Tampa Bay. Dynasty Analysis: The concerning part here is the fact Ekeler had just six touches on the day and many of them came with the game far out of reach. Brian Robinson had 15 touches and seemed like the clear RB1 on this team today. If that continues, it's going to be very difficult for the former fantasy MVP to return to form or even provide any kind of value this season. At this point, Ekeler is looking the part of a roster clogger but we need to see this pattern to continue before putting that in stone.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Deshaun Watson Sep 9 12:13am ET
Deshaun Watson

Dynasty | Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson completed 24-of-45 passes for 169 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the Browns loss against Dallas. Dynasty Analysis: Oh boy. Watson's 3.8 yards per attempt is beyond anemic and he simply looks nothing like he once did in Houston. While this was his first game action in a number of months, this was still concerning, despite Watson complaining about arm soreness the past few weeks. In short, today's game did nothing to throw any cold water on the notion that Watson is simply cooked. He's a low-end QB2 at this point and one who likely shouldn't be in fantasy lineups.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dak Prescott Sep 9 12:13am ET
Dak Prescott

Dynasty | Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle had 26 rushing yards, adding one catch for another six yards in a Dallas road victory against Cleveland on opening day. Dynasty Analysis: The Dallas offense looked good today but that was really because of Dak Prescott and the receiving corps more than Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott or anyone in the running game. Elliott out-touched Dowdle 12-9, but neither was particularly good on the day. This has the looks of a frustrating committee, at least at the beginning of the season.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Javonte Williams Sep 9 12:10am ET
Javonte Williams

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams had about the worst start his fantasy managers could have asked for in the 26-20 Week 1 loss at Lumen Field on Sunday to the Seattle Seahawks. Williams only saw eight carries for 23 yards (2.88 yards per carry) while catching one of his two targets for no gain in the passing game. In addition to his poor performance, Williams was out-touched 15 to eight by backup Jaleel McLaughlin and out-gained in total yardage 28 to 23. The Broncos offense wasn't moving the ball at all in rookie first-round quarterback Bo Nix's NFL debut, and the Denver ground game was especially poor against a Seahawks defense that was very generous against the run in 2023. Williams should lead the Broncos backfield in touches on most weeks, but he faces another difficult matchup in Week 2 against the Steelers, where he should be considered an RB3/flex.

From RotoBaller

Jaleel McLaughlin Sep 9 12:10am ET
Jaleel McLaughlin

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin actually out-touched backfield mate Javonte Williams 15 to eight in the 26-20 Week 1 loss on Sunday to the Seattle Seahawks out Lumen Field, but he did very little with his touches and also lost a crucial fumble. The Broncos offense couldn't really sustain any drives all day. McLaughlin finished with a team-high 10 carries for 27 yards (2.7 yards per tote) while catching all five of his targets for just one yard while also losing a fumble. It wasn't a great day for anyone in the Denver offense, but fantasy managers stashing McLaughlin in deeper leagues have to like the fact that he out-touched Williams and potentially could be the team's preferred third-down back this year. It would be a reach to consider him worth a starting lineup spot in Week 2, though, as the Broncos head home to face the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Sep 9 12:00am ET
Bo Nix

Denver Broncos rookie first-round quarterback Bo Nix predictably struggled in his NFL debut in a hostile environment at Lumen Field in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks in the team's 26-20 loss. Nix went 26-for-42 for 138 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran the ball five times for 35 yards and the first touchdown of his NFL career. The 24-year-old Oregon product had a couple of careless throws that cost him in this one, but he did show a nice ability to make plays outside of the pocket with his legs. His rushing score came late in the game to draw the Broncos to within six, but they couldn't pull off the comeback. Not many people were expecting Nix to go into Seattle and put up big numbers in his first NFL start. Nix has intriguing athletic ability but should be only considered a QB2/3 in superflex leagues heading into Week 2 against a strong Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

From RotoBaller

Puka Nacua Sep 8 10:30pm ET
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) was officially ruled out in the third quarter of Sunday night's game against the Detroit Lions. He'll end his night having caught all four targets for 35 yards. Nacua went down -- without contact -- after catching a Matthew Stafford pass halfway through the second quarter. He was initially ruled questionable to return and made his way back to the field in the waning seconds of the first half before being carted to the locker room and deemed out. It is certainly concerning to see him hit the turf without effort from a defender, especially considering he missed several weeks during training camp after hurting his knee at a joint practice. Expect an update from Sean McVay -- presumptively after some diagnostic imaging -- in the coming hours.

From RotoBaller

Sean Payton Sep 8 10:20pm ET
Sean Payton

Denver Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles (ankle) exited Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter and did not return. Bolles took a trip to the locker room to undergo an MRI, but the results did not find any significant damage. Denver's offense combined for 231 yards in the loss and would be dealt a massive blow if Bolles were to miss extended time. His head coach, Sean Payton, seemingly does not believe that to be the case. "I think he's going to be fine," said Payton. "He had an MRI and I think the evaluation was fine. He has a bruise." The 32-year-old veteran is the Bronco's longest-tenured player and has never graded poorer than 72.8 per Pro Football Focus. Expect an update on his status over the coming days as the Broncos prepare for their home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Sep 8 9:50pm ET
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) was spotted with a walking boot on his right foot after the team's 33-17 defeat at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys. Before his exit, Njoku amassed 44 yards on 4-of-5 receiving. Not many things went right for Cleveland on Sunday, and just when it looked like they were turning it around, disaster struck. In the middle of the third quarter, the eighth-year TE took a Deshaun Watson pass for a 29-yard catch and run but came up hobbling after the play and was escorted to the blue medical tent on the sideline. The severity of his injury is unclear at this time, but his reportedly being in a walking boot is not a positive development for his outlook. With any luck, Njoku might have avoided a high-ankle sprain, but he'll be someone to monitor over the coming days. Veteran Jordan Akins is the only healthy tight end on Cleveland's roster. He'll receive all the work he can handle in Week 2 when the Browns take on the Jacksonville Jaguars if Njoku is unable to suit up.

From RotoBaller