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.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (ankle) was limited at practice on Wednesday, according to Richard Silva of the Detroit News. The 23-year-old did not show any injury concerns earlier this week, so the Lions could be leaning on the side of cation with their former first-round pick. Williams saw very limited playing time throughout the first two seasons of his career but began to find some consistency late last season. In the season opener on Sunday, the Alabama product led all Detroit pass-catchers with 121 yards. This was highlighted by an impressive 52-yard touchdown catch. Fantasy managers should follow Williams' status prior to Sunday. The wideout is shaping up to be a high-end flex play as the Lions face the Buccaneers in a Divisional Round rematch.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders will again look to help his team to a victory when they face the Buffalo Bills in a Thursday Night Football divisional matchup. Sanders successfully converted both of his extra-point tries and 2-of-3 field goals -- including a 52-yard game-winner with time expiring -- against the Jacksonville Jaguars this past Sunday. His miss was a 42-yard attempt in the third quarter. The 28-year-old did not attempt a field goal in his matchups against the Bills last season and was just 4-for-4 on point attempt tries over the two contests. Buffalo's defense doesn't hold quite the star power it once did, so it's fair to expect Sanders to score more than two fantasy points -- his total in both matchups last season. Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater connected on both of his FG and XP tries last week in the team's 34-28 loss. The Bills will probably play the Fins tough, but Sanders should still have a nice game. He's RotoBaller's K8 in this week's rankings.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (knee) was held out of practice on Wednesday. The 25-year-old suffered an MCL sprain and a bone bruise in the season opener but has yet to be ruled out for Week 2. Earlier this week, head coach Mike McCarthy expressed that the tight remains "optimistic" about his chances to play on Sunday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Ferguson's practice status as he will need to log at least one session prior to the weekend to have a good chance to suit up on Sunday. Before the injury, Ferguson caught three of his five targets for 15 yards in Week 1. If Ferguson were to sit out on Sunday, Luke Schoonmaker will likely serve as the starting option and could be a sneaky play in DFS formats.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles/calf) will continue to practice in a limited fashion on Wednesday according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. McCaffrey was unable to play in the season opener due to a calf/Achilles issue. Inman further reported that the star running back has never been considered to be placed on the injured reserve as he "could have played last week" according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. While McCaffrey is still in a limited fashion, seeing him on the practice field is a good sign for his progress. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation as he could be nearing a return. If the 28-year-old does not suit up for their Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, Jordan Mason should be expected to lead the backfield once again and a be high-end RB2 on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith is not a recommended fantasy asset heading into the team's Week 2 Thursday Night Football matchup against the Buffalo Bills. He caught 1-of-2 targets for seven yards in his first game as a Dolphin. However, teammate Durham Smythe received one more target than him, and he was the third Miami TE regarding snap share. Smythe participated in 30 snaps (42%) for the Dolphins, while Julian Hill acquired one target on 42 snaps (59%). Smith -- the presumed starting option for the team leading into Week 1-- saw just 20 snaps (28%) and is listed as the third-string option on Miami's depth chart. It's an interesting development as it puts Smythe on fantasy managers' radars. However, with the team's target share highly concentrated between wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, it's tough to trust a third option in the passing game not named De'Von Achane (ankle) at this point. Even with Achane a game-time decision and Raheem Mostert (chest) ruled out, Miami's TE room can be safely avoided.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is an excellent play in Week 2 as the Fins face off against their division-rival Buffalo Bills on Thursday night. Waddle was briefly checked for concussion-like symptoms this past Sunday in the team's 20-17 defeat of the Jacksonville Jaguars but still finished the day with five receptions for 109 yards -- catching all five of his targets on 72% of his team's snaps. It took Miami's offense a bit to get on track, but quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hit his superstar wideouts for gains of 63 and 80 in the second half to lead the Dolphins to victory. In the past, Buffalo's defense might have been a death knell regarding matchups, but after several key defensive departures this offseason, they aren't the doom-and-gloom opponent we're used to. The fourth-year wideout is a good bet for a heavy workload, with running back Raheem Mostert (chest) officially ruled out and De'Von Achane (ankle) a game-time decision. He's RotoBaller's PPR WR12 heading into the second week of action.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill will be a must-start option as usual in Week 2 when the team takes on the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football. After being detained by police before kickoff this past Sunday, Hill caught 7-of-12 targets for 130 yards and scored a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was mostly locked down early in the game, but Cheetah shook free for an 80-yard score in the second half as the Jags would eventually fall 20-17. With running back Raheem Mostert (chest) ruled out and De'Von Achane (ankle) a game-time decision, expect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to lean on the veteran wideout and his running mate Jaylen Waddle to open the second week of NFL action. Aside from edge-rusher Greg Rousseau, no other Bills defender graded higher than 68.7 per PFF in Week 1. Hill is again RotoBaller's No. 1 PPR WR play this week.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers P Johnny Hekker (back) and LB Jadeveon Clowney (ankle) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 11. OT Robert Hunt (shoulder), OG Damien Lewis (groin), OT Yosh Nijman (leg) and TE Tommy Tremble (back, hamstring) were limited during practice.
From TheHuddle
The Los Angeles Rams placed offensive linemen Joe Noteboom (ankle) and Steve Avila (knee) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, meaning the pair of starters will not be eligible to return until after the Week 6 bye. This is a troubling development for the Rams, who also placed Paka Nacua (knee) or IR. While dealing with a banged-up offensive line against the Lions in Week 1, Kyren Williams could only produce 50 rushing yards on 18 carries. Until the Rams offensive line returns to health, there could be little running room to work with, which lowers Williams' floor and ceiling moving forward.
From RotoBaller
The Buffalo Bills defense/special teams travels to Miami to meet with the high-powered Dolphins' offense in Week 2. Wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle both had a reception of over 60 yards against the Jaguars. The Buffalo defense, introducing new faces in their secondary, struggled to slow down the Arizona offense in Week 1. The Las Vegas sportsbooks predict Thursday Night Football will be one of the highest-scoring affairs of the Week 2 slate. Starting a defense in a matchup where points will come easy isn't a smart strategy. The Bills D/ST can be left on waiver wires.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass was a perfect six-for-six on kicks during his 2024 debut against the Arizona Cardinals and now enters a matchup where points should come easy. Josh Allen rarely has difficulty moving the offense against Mike McDaniel's Miami Dolphins. That will set up Bass for several kicking opportunities. Fantasy managers will be hopeful that field goals come more often than extra points, but there's a great chance that Bass won't go scoreless. Bass is a safe option for fantasy football and is ranked among the top kickers in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will square off against the Buffalo Bills this Thursday night to open up the NFL's second week of action. Tagovailoa tossed just one score this past Sunday when Miami defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in what was a slow start for the Dolphins. However, his 338 passing yards were good enough to lead the league after the first week of action. Jacksonville's defense kept Tua and the Fins in check during the first half, but long completions of 63 and 80 yards to Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill in the second half were enough to flip the momentum in their favor. Leading into Week 2, running back Raheem Mostert (chest) has been ruled out, and De'Von Achane (ankle) will be a game-time decision. If Achane is deemed unfit to suit up, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Jaylen Wright will pick up the slack in the Dolphins' backfield, with Waddle and Hill projected for increased volume. Buffalo isn't the easiest matchup for Tua and Miami, but the fifth-year signal-caller is still a QB1 (QB11) in RotoBaller's Week 2 rankings.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman begins his second week of professional, regular season football leading the team in most statistical receiving categories. Unfortunately, his four catches and 51 yards aren't an amazing stat line. Josh Allen spreads the football around, connecting with nine different receivers in Week 1. That could be the story of the Buffalo season, especially if Dalton Kincaid doesn't command targets as expected. Coleman is the most intriguing prospect of the Bills' wide receivers but he's not ready to be in fantasy football starting lineups. The leading receiver could change every week. Like Week 1, Coleman could emerge as the top receiver or score his first touchdown. He could just as easily catch one or two passes on Thursday Night Football.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson (knee) returned to full practice on Wednesday following limited sessions on Monday and Tuesday with a knee injury. The 26-year-old was banged up in the Week 1 win over the Arizona Cardinals, but he is good to go for Thursday Night against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. Johnson saw two carries for seven yards and drew one target in the season-opener, so he's not on the fantasy football radar in traditional leagues unless James Cook or Ray Davis have to miss any time in the future.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir scored a touchdown in Week 1, but that's all he did to excite fantasy managers. Three catches (on three targets) won't cut it as a flex-worthy option every week, because the touchdowns won't stay consistent. That's the problem facing Buffalo wide receivers. Josh Allen will score a lot of fantasy points and throw the football up and down the field. The matchup against Miami is forecasted to be one of the highest-scoring games of the Week 2 slate. It's just difficult to predict who, if anyone, will command the lion's share of targets. Nine different receivers caught a pass from Allen in Week 1. If it's a winning formula, why deviate? Shakir is the safest of the Bills' wide receivers, but target distribution will likely cap his upside.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins caught two passes for 25 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. As was the case throughout his career, Hollins appears now and then with a double-digit fantasy football game. And just like his previous stops, Hollins is a part-time player who does the little things well. Interestingly, however, the Bills utilized Hollins far more than Curtis Samuel. The latter played 17 (27%) of the Bills' snaps in Week 1 and appeared to be the direct backup to Khalil Shakir. Hollins will be on the field for most three-receiver sets. That doesn't mean he needs to be on fantasy football rosters. He'll continue to be a low-target receiver who catches a touchdown or long pass from time to time. Keep Hollins on waiver wires ahead of the team's matchup with Miami on Thursday Night Football.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert (chest) and WR Malik Washington (quadriceps) did not practice on Wednesday, Sept. 11, and have been ruled out for Week 2. In addition, RB De'Von Achane (ankle) and DB Elijah Campbell (Achilles) were limited and are questionable, LB Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) was limited but carries no designation, and OT Liam Eichenberg (shoulder) and CB Jalen Ramsey (hamstring) practiced in full and were removed from the injury report.
From TheHuddle
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook may not get the red zone opportunities that fantasy managers love, but he'll get plenty of touches elsewhere on the field. Although on the field for just over 60% of Buffalo's snaps in Week 1, James Cook dominated backfield touches. He carried the ball 19 times and caught three passes. Rookie Ray Davis got four touches while veteran Ty Johnson (knee) received two. The latter has been limited in practice. With offensive coordinator Joe Brady's reliance on the running game since he took the helm, Cook is in line for another 15-20 touch game. Consider Cook a low-end RB1 against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football.
From RotoBaller
Tight end Dalton Kincaid, considered to be the top receiving option in the Buffalo Bills' passing game, caught one pass for 11 yards in his season debut. Josh Allen connected with nine different receivers in Week 1, leaving Kincaid's fantasy managers clamoring for more. There are encouraging numbers for the second-year tight end. Allen only threw 23 times in the win over Arizona. He averaged 34 attempts per game in 2023. Kincaid was on the field for over 80% of the snaps and ran a route on over 80% of passing plays. The volume will eventually come. Don't panic with Kincaid just yet. There should be plenty of passing and points in Miami, one of the highest over/under lines of the Week 2 slate.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington (quad) is officially ruled out of the Thursday Night Football contest against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. Washington didn't play last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars due to a quad injury, so he will have to wait at least one more week to make his NFL debut. It's unfortunate that Washington hasn't been able to play, especially while Odell Beckham Jr. is on the PUP list, requiring him to miss at least the first four games of the regular season. Washington was a sixth-round pick by Miami in the 2024 NFL Draft following a 1,400-yard season at Virginia in 2023. Braxton Berrios will continue to operate as Miami's WR3, but he has limited upside behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
From RotoBaller