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 Giants running back Devin Singletary had 22 yards off seven attempts in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. He added one catch for negative yardage. Singletary, who signed a three-year deal with the G-Men in March 2024, had a good start to the season, finding the end zone twice in New York's first three games. However, he eventually lost the starting job to rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. and has remained the backup ever since. With Tracy likely to remain the No. 1 option on the depth chart entering the 2025-26 campaign, Singletary will presumably continue to operate behind him. As a result, his fantasy value doesn't look promising heading into next season, although he'll likely draw interest for those looking for an insurance policy.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rushed 10 times for 28 yards and a touchdown in the team's 23-16 loss against the New England Patriots. The yardage was enough to push Cook over the 1,000-yard mark. His one-yard touchdown plunge tied the franchise's single-season record for rushing touchdowns (16) and placed him in a tie atop the NFL with Derrick Henry. Surprisingly, that score came in the third quarter in a game where starters played sparingly. Rookie Ray Davis led the team in carries (15). Cook and the Bills will host the Denver Broncos in the first round of the playoffs.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis picked up 15 carries for 64 yards in the team's 23-16 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 18. The rookie also caught a two-yard touchdown pass, his third receiving score of his debut campaign. Davis saw increased opportunities with Buffalo having clinched the second seed in the AFC playoffs before the game. Head coach Sean McDermott utilized reserves to keep his starters healthy for the postseason. He'll return to spot duty behind James Cook in the first round of the playoffs.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel caught seven passes for 52 yards in the team's 23-16 loss to the New England Patriots in the final game of the regular season. His seven receptions were a season-best mark. The 28-year-old has mostly been an afterthought in the Buffalo offense this season, so it makes sense that one of his best games came when the Bills rested some starters. Amari Cooper (family matter) was inactive. Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid were active but did not play a snap. Mitchell Trubisky quarterbacked the majority of the game. Samuel will return to a minimal role in the first round of the playoffs.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco wasted no time in getting the team on the board on Sunday, completing his first three passes of the game with the third being a 40-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce. The 39-year-old would go on to complete 23-of-40 passes for 264 yards, with just the one touchdown pass and no interceptions in the 26-23 overtime win over the Jaguars. Jonathan Taylor again did most of the heavy lifting, logging a whopping 34 carries for 177 yards and a TD. The veteran certainly made the Colt receivers relevant for the last few games, including Josh Downs -- who had been somewhat quiet the last four weeks -- busting out for 10 receptions and 94 yards on Sunday. Flacco has said he wants to play in 2025, and despite some turnover issues he can still sling it, so he'll likely be somewhat fantasy-relevant at some point next season once he's thrust into action.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman caught two of 10 targets for 31 yards in the team's 23-16 loss to the New England Patriots. He also rushed once for nine yards. Amari Cooper (family matter), Khalil Shakir, and Dalton Kincaid did not play, leaving several opportunities for the rookie. Four of his 10 targets came on consecutive plays on Buffalo's final drive. His targets came from backup quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky and Mike White. Josh Allen played one snap only to extend his consecutive starts streak. Coleman will be an integral part of the Buffalo offense when the team hosts the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card round.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson caught a game-high 10 passes for 43 yards in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. Although the wideout didn't find the end zone, he still had a quality end to the 2024-25 campaign. He'll finish the season by posting career-highs in receptions (93), yards (699), and touchdowns (three). While Robinson has a way to go before becoming a trustworthy fantasy option, his value could increase heading into next season if the Giants secure a quality quarterback moving ahead.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky completed 15 of 21 pass attempts for 101 yards and a touchdown in the team's 23-16 loss to the New England Patriots. He also rushed four times for 12 yards. The veteran's passing touchdown was a two-yard strike to running back Ray Davis. Starting quarterback Josh Allen played one snap to extend his consecutive starts streak. Then, Trubisky entered the game and played for about three quarters before third-stringer Mike White finished the action. The Bills had clinched the AFC's second seed before the game began and utilized the entire roster to keep their stars healthy.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore caught nine passes for 86 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Green Bay Packers. His score came on a big 32-yard pass from quarterback Caleb Williams. The 27-year-old finished his second season in Chicago with 98 catches, 966 yards, and six touchdowns, ranking as a high-end WR2 in fantasy football. Moore was the best wide receiver in the Windy City once again this season, out-producing both Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. He continues to trend upward, especially if the Bears decide to make improvements to their offensive coaching staff this upcoming offseason. The Maryland product will remain a high-end WR2 heading into 2025 fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had ten catches for 96 yards and a touchdown in the final regular season game. Dynasty Analysis: Just another day at the office for Chase, who ends the season with a whopping 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Bengals won't make the playoffs, so that's going to be it for Chase this year and what a year it was. Cincinnati is going to be forced to make him the league's highest paid wide receiver this off-season and Chase is likely going to enter (and leave) the off-season as the overall top player in all of dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | Russell Wilson completed 17-of-31 passes for 148 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in a loss to the Bengals. Dynasty Analysis: Wilson isn't what he used to be, but it's hard to look at him and say he was anything like he was in Denver (pretty bad) this season, either. He finishes the regular season with 2,482 passing yards, with 16 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 11 games. The Steelers will obviously be evaluating his play in the postseason, but it seems likely Wilson will be back in Pittsburgh next season on a team-friendly deal. Regardless, he's solidified his status as a decent QB2 in dynasty leagues moving forward.
Dynasty | Ravens running back Derrick Henry had 138 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the Ravens season finale. Dynasty Analysis: After a slow start to the season, Henry really cranked things up and finished with a ridiculous 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns, making his first year in Baltimore the second best season of his career. He should enter next season a solid RB1 again in dynasty leagues, though he'll need to finish out the playoffs healthy and not show any signs of his age moving forward.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee completed 27 of his 41 pass attempts for 269 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Sunday's Week 18 win over the New York Giants. He also rushed for one yard. The 24-year-old made his first career start with Jalen Hurts (concussion) inactive and Kenny Pickett (rib) also sidelined Sunday. After throwing for two touchdowns during last week's relief appearance, he came back out and added two more scores during the Eagles' regular-season finale. McKee will likely drop back down to No. 3 on the depth chart during the Wild Card Round, but at the very least, he has shown that he can be a solid fill-in quarterback in the NFL.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (back) and linebacker Alex Anzalone (forearm) will suit up for Sunday night's pivotal matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. With David Montgomery (knee) sidelined, Reynolds will back up Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 18. However, the 28-year-old has been sparingly involved since Montgomery went down, so he's not expected to provide any fantasy value. As far as Anzalone is concerned, he hasn't played since mid-November. Fortunately, the Lions will get back one of their captains versus a potent Vikings offense.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders rushed for 66 yards on 17 carries during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. He also caught three of his four targets for 50 yards through the air. Additionally, Sanders scored two touchdowns one on the ground and one through the air. The veteran running back delivered a major outing in his first game back from injured reserve, turning in his best fantasy performance (PPR) since Week 14 of the 2022 season. He remains under contract with the Panthers in 2025, making him an appealing fantasy handcuff behind Chuba Hubbard to open next season.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. rushed for 59 yards on 14 carries during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He also caught two passes for an additional seven yards through the air. The rookie out of Purdue was solid in his first pro season, but he did endure a rough stretch with just 3.9 yards per carry over his final five games. All in all, Tracy finished as a mid-range RB3 in fantasy football, amassing 839 rushing yards, 284 receiving yards, and six total touchdowns. The Giants may look to bring in some running back competition this offseason, but Tracy has an early leg up on the starting job for 2025.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers had five catches for 64 yards in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. He also found the end zone, bringing in a 45-yard toss from Drew Lock in the fourth quarter. The Giants are done until September. However, fantasy managers were likely satisfied with Nabers' overall statistical contributions, with the wideout ending his inaugural year by amassing 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. Without question, Nabers will see plenty of attention from fantasy managers heading into next season, although his outlook could improve even more if the Giants land a capable signal-caller during the offseason.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum (forearm) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Seahawks. He wasn't involved much, amassing two carries for 10 yard and adding one grab for 12 yards. With the Rams already locked into a postseason spot, there's a good chance Corum won't be back, even if he's healthy enough to return. If that's the case, Ronnie Rivers and Cody Schrader will remain the go-to options out of the backfield for the rest of Week 18.
From RotoBaller
According to Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, quarterback Jayden Daniels (leg) was held out for the remainder of Sunday's narrow win over the Cowboys due to "leg soreness." "It wasn't a plan going in," said Quinn. "But he had some mild soreness in his leg, I just kind of made the decision to honestly say, 'Let's go with Marcus.'" It doesn't appear as if the injury is anything serious, although Daniels' ailment will likely be a topic of conversation throughout the week heading into Wild-Card weekend. If he can't go, which will unlikely be the case, Marcus Mariota, who had a quality showing on Sunday, would likely get the start.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 21 of 32 passes for 221 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception during Sunday's Week 18 victory over the New Orleans Saints. He also took one sack and rushed nine times for 68 yards on the ground. The Buccaneers fell into an early 13-3 deficit with a playoff spot on the line, but Mayfield led three touchdown drives in the second half to vault Tampa Bay over New Orleans. Along the way, he added 89 yards to Mike Evans' ledger, bringing the veteran receiver over 1,000 yards for the 11th consecutive season. Mayfield was a top-five fantasy quarterback this season, cementing himself as a premier NFL starter despite his 18 turnovers.
From RotoBaller