QB Strength of Schedule
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.
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Cutdown Day Fallout
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Auction Strategy
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Preseason News and Notes: Week 3
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: The Weekly Bender: Bender's Favorite Picks
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: ADP Thoughts
- Bucs bring back WR Sterling Shepard, place him on practice squad
- 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk remains out amid contract dispute
- Jets coach: WR Mike Williams to be 'available' for Week 1
- Raiders confident TE Brock Bowers (foot) will play Week 1
- Chiefs' Rashee Rice not expected to land on commissioner's exempt list
- Colts TE Kylen Granson to keep wearing Guardian Cap
- Eagles' James Bradberry (leg) out 6-8 weeks
- NFL limits Tom Brady's TV access due to Raiders role
- NFL owners vote to approve private equity investment
- NFL cuts: Patriots waive QB Bailey Zappe, Chiefs cut WR Kadarius Toney
- Kelce brothers land podcast deal worth reported $100M
- NFLPA vetoes emergency 3rd QB rule
- NFL roundup: Titans upend Saints on late TD
- Cardinals rookie DL Darius Robinson (calf) to miss multiple weeks
- Bucs likely to place RB Chase Edmonds, WR Rakim Jarrett on IR
- NFL roundup: Jack Plummer, Panthers outlast Bills
- Cowboys All-Pro CB DaRon Bland out 6-8 weeks with broken foot
- QB Deshaun Watson won't play in Browns' preseason finale
- Bears acquire DT Chris Williams from Browns
- MRIs set for 49ers' Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos
- Fantasy Six Pack: 2025 NFL Draft Big Board
- Fantasy Six Pack: 160 Of The Best Fantasy Football Team Names For 2024
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football WR Projections
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football QB Projections
- Fantasy Life: ADP vs. PSA: What the most popular trading cards can teach us about fantasy football
- Fantasy Life: An Early-Round Fantasy Football Landmine?
- Fantasy Life: Guillotine League Mock Draft: Tweaking your strategy to fit a unique format
- Fantasy Life: NFL Futures Bets: Geno Smith Over and Other Odds Outliers
- Fantasy Life: NFL Preseason Recap: Optimistic Fantasy Football Outlooks for Backup Players
- Fantasy Life: NFC South Betting Preview: Will the New-Look Falcons Fly High?
The Paur Report
New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas said that nothing has changed on the team's end regarding the situation with defensive end Haason Reddick. Douglas said the team has been "clear and direct" in their communication and said the ball is in their court. "I have faith that this will all get resolved," Douglas said. With just over a week left until the start of the 2024 regular season for the Jets, the 29-year-old Reddick hasn't been with his new team at all this offseason or summer. Reddick, who was traded from the Eagles to the Jets early this offseason, subsequently requested a trade from the Jets, with Douglas saying the organization has no plans to trade him. If Reddick doesn't get a new long-term contract that he desires, it's possible that his holdout could spill over into the regular season. The situation has made him one to avoid in IDP fantasy leagues for now.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys signed wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to a four-year extension this week, and with that situation taken care of, all eyes shift toward quarterback Dak Prescott. The former fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State is entering the final year of his current deal, and time is running out to reach an extension before Week 1 of the regular season. However, team owner Jerry Jones said the situation remains unchanged, and Todd Archer of ESPN reports the two sides don't appear to be close to a deal. This will be a situation worth monitoring, but there is no indication Prescott will miss any game action if he heads into the season without a long-term contract. With the Cowboys' rushing attack likely to be downgraded this season, Dallas could have a pass-happier offense in 2024. Prescott could be a value pick as his QB10 ADP, especially if he sees additional red zone carries and pass attempts.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has signed a four-year extension with the team, ending his long holdout.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has signed a four-year extension with the organization on Thursday. Finally, the drama is over as Aiyuk will be tied to the team for the next five seasons. The 49ers were forced to open their wallet as they will give Aiyuk $120 million over the next four seasons. Fantasy managers can now safely draft Aiyuk without any worries of him sitting out or a trade happening. Last season, Aiyuk finished with 75 receptions for 1,342 yards, and seven touchdowns in 16 games. The 26-year-old keeps getting better and should remain a focal point in this offense for years to come. He should have enough time to get ready in time for the regular season, so fantasy managers should have Aiyuk in their lineups for Week 1.
From RotoBaller
The Miami Dolphins have decided to sign quarterback Tim Boyle to their practice squad on Thursday. Boyle was released by the Houston Texans after they opted to keep C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills as their two quarterbacks. The 29-year-old journeyman has appeared in 20 games with four different teams over the last five seasons. During that time, Boyle has thrown for 934 yards with four touchdowns and 12 interceptions, so don't expect any fantasy value for Boyle if he's asked to take over under center at some point. He figures to serve as depth on the practice squad and will be the third option behind Tua Tagovailoa and Skyler Thompson.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent WR Tay Martin, TE Mason Pline, WR Trent Taylor and TE Brayden Willis were signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad Wednesday, Aug. 28.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Chargers running back Jaret Patterson has been released by the organization on Thursday. This is a tough break for Patterson who was trying to catch on as a backup in camp. The organization decided to go a different route by claiming fellow back Hassan Haskins off waivers on Wednesday. They also decided to keep sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal who impressed them in camp. Patterson really hasn't done anything since his rookie season in 2021. He ran for 266 yards and scored two touchdowns in 17 games with the Washington Commanders that season. He'll look to catch on as depth elsewhere, but Patterson probably won't have fantasy value on any roster.
From RotoBaller
The Miami Dolphins have decided to bring in veteran wide receiver Robbie Chosen on Thursday. The 31-year-old will head to the practice squad where he can be claimed by another team at any point. Chosen hasn't made much noise on the field in a few years. He finished with four receptions for 126 yards and one touchdown in nine games with the Dolphins last season. He was in camp with the San Francisco 49ers, but Chosen was unable to make the 53-man roster. This is a depth move in case of an injury, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect Chosen to contribute much in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune is set to be the second string option behind Kyler Murray to start the season. This news was expected after quarterback Desmond Ridder was cut by the team earlier this week. Ridder was later signed to the practice squad, but it appears the Cardinals feel comfortable with Tune as the second option going forward. The fifth-round pick completed 12-of-21 passing attempts for zero touchdowns and two interceptions in seven appearances last season. If Murray goes down, it's tough to imagine Tune having any kind of fantasy value as the starter.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers practice squad TE Jordan Matthews was signed to the 53-man roster Thursday, Aug. 29. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent WR Kevin Austin, TE Michael Jacobson, RB Jacob Kibodi and WR Equanimeous St. Brown were signed to the New Orleans Saints practice Wednesday, Aug. 28.
From TheHuddle
Buffalo Bills WR Deon Cain was released from the practice squad on Thursday, Aug. 29.
From TheHuddle
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce has been receiving high praise from head coach Shane Steichen regarding his consistency through training camp, according to Nate Atkins of the Indy Star. In addition, general manager Chris Ballard has also expressed praise for the third-year wideout. In the final preseason game, Pierce caught both of his targets from quarterback Anthony Richardson and is currently listed as the No. 3 option on the depth chart. If Josh Downs (ankle) is not cleared to play in the season opener, Pierce could see a significant uptick in work along with rookie wideout Adonai Mitchell. If Pierce can establish himself as a reliable No. 3 pass-catcher in this offense, he could be worth stashing in deeper leagues.
From RotoBaller
Free agent running back Zach Evans was released from the Los Angeles Rams practice squad on Thursday afternoon, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. The 23-year-old finished the preseason on a high note by running for 45 yards and scoring two touchdowns but was unable to crack the final roster. Fantasy managers should now expect 25-year-old Ronnie Rivers to serve as the No.3 option behind Kyren Williams and rookie Blake Corum. Evans was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft but saw only nine carries in his rookie season. Dynasty managers should feel confident about cutting ties with the Ole Miss product as he hits the free-agent market.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent QB Tim Boyle, WR Robbie Chosen and WR Dee Eskridge were signed to the practice squad of the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, Aug. 29.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Chargers RB Jaret Patterson was waived on Thursday, Aug. 29. The team also signed TE Eric Tomlinson to the practice squad.
From TheHuddle
Updating a previous report, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) remained sidelined during the portion of practice that was open to the media, according to John Machota of The Athletic. Head coach Mike McCarthy expressed earlier in the week that the veteran was scheduled to return to the field on Thursday, but he may need some more time to get ready. Cooks has been dealing with a lingering knee injury through most of August but is nearing the end of his rehab process. Fantasy managers should continue to pay close attention to his status prior to the season opener next week. The 30-year-old saw an uptick in touchdowns (eight) last fall compared to the three he caught in 2022 but continued to see a drop in yards, posting only 657. This was his second straight season falling under the 1,000-yard mark. Cooks remains a solid depth option in all leagues, as he should serve as the No.2 receiver in a high-octane Dallas passing attack.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (thumb) remained sidelined during Thursday's practice, according to David Furones of the Sun Sentinel. Hill has been wearing a brace on his right hand for the past few weeks, but Head Coach Mike McDaniel stressed that the star wideout could practice if needed. While the 30-year-old has yet to return to full practice activities, fantasy managers should not be overly concerned with the superstar's status. The Dolphins will lean on the side of caution to ensure that Hill is ready for their season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars in just over a week. Last season, Hill eclipsed the 1,700-yard mark for the second straight year while scoring 13 touchdowns. Given his elite speed and consistency, Hill remains a safe pick at the top of all fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers S Tony Jefferson was released on Thursday, Aug. 29. Jefferson is expected to join the team on the practice squad soon, however.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was a full participant in practice today, and he is "ready to roll," according to Head Coach Sean McVay. The sophomore wideout suffered a knee injury earlier this month but has avoided a significant injury and should be ready to suit up for next week's season opener. Last season, the former fifth-round selection caught 1,486 yards, which was the fourth-highest at his position. He also caught 105 passes and scored six touchdowns. The 23-year-old was very impressive down the stretch as he scored the third-most PPR points from Weeks 13-17 among wideouts. Nacua will be a popular pick toward the back half of the first round in all remaining drafts, as he should finish near the top among all pass catchers this coming season.
From RotoBaller
