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.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson will open the season as the third wideout in this offense. He's set to start behind Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua during the season opener against the Detroit Lions. The 29-year-old beat out Tutu Atwell for the third wideout spot in camp, but he probably won't have a significant role. Both Kupp and Nacua figure to see the bulk of the targets. Last season, Robinson finished with 26 receptions for 371 yards and four touchdowns. There is still some big-play potential here, which makes Robinson a possible WR4 in deeper leagues.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney will step into the WR2 role for this offense to open the season. The 26-year-old reportedly looked good in camp and continued to make plays when called upon. Drake London opens the season as the primary passing option, but Mooney shouldn't be far behind him on the depth chart. It's worth noting that tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson should also be involved in the receiving game. Mooney has spent the last four seasons with the Chicago Bears. His best season came in 2021 when he recorded 81 receptions for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns. He's worth stashing in most fantasy formats and should be on the WR4 radar heading into the opener.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (ankle) has been cleared to suit up for Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants. Nailor was able to log in a full practice to close out the week after being limited earlier in the week. He's expected to be the third wideout on this roster behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Sadly, there probably won't be a ton of targets left for Nailor with those two likely seeing the bulk of them. Nailor should be considered a desperation play in deep leagues heading into Week 1. The third-year wideout is unlikely to have a huge role while Jefferson and Addison are healthy.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent QB Ryan Tannehill (Titans) received interest from several NFL teams during the offseason, according to multiple sources. However, he would only be interested in returning to the league to play for a playoff contender with the need for a quarterback, a strong offensive line and multiple offensive weapons, if the money was right.
From TheHuddle
Buffalo Bills DE Dawuane Smoot (toe) has been downgraded from questionable to out for Week 1's game versus the Arizona Cardinals.
From TheHuddle
The Green Bay Packers are going to be without starting quarterback Jordan Love (knee) for a few weeks. Love suffered a Grade 1/2 MCL sprain, which could force him to miss three or four games. Malik Willis came into the game in the final seconds after Love went down during Friday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite that, the Packers haven't committed to Willis being the starting quarterback in Week 2. Willis has only been with the team for a few weeks, so he might not be quite ready for this type of role yet. Sean Clifford is currently on the practice squad and has been with the team since 2023. Those are two are their primary options unless they want to go outside of the organization. Free-agent quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been a rumored name, but wants to join a contending team and be paid well. Regardless of who starts, none of these players are going to be viable fantasy options in most formats.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) appears to have avoided a season-ending injury. Love went down in the final moments of Friday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He needed to be helped off the field and further evaluation revealed an MCL sprain. The Packers only expect Love to miss a few weeks, which could be three or four games. Fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief that it wasn't an ACL tear that would force Love to miss the entire season. The assumption is that Malik Willis will start for a few weeks, but free-agent quarterback Ryan Tannehill has also been rumored to be an option. Whoever starts is going to be a downgrade over Love under center.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Trenton Irwin could be in line for a heavier workload during Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the New England Patriots. Fellow wideout Ja'Marr Chase (illness) is trending in the right direction, but is still uncertain for the season opener. If he sits, Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas would move up the depth chart. Also, Irwin could be in line to be the third starter considering he was competing for the WR3 role in camp. His value hinges on the status of Chase, which might not be known until closer to game time. Irwin could be a desperation play in deep leagues if Chase does end up sitting out.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey (hamstring) will attempt to play in Week 1's game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to multiple sources. He had been listed as questionable on the injury report after logging just one limited practice session during the week. Ramsey will not be at 100 percent and is hoping to be able to play on a pitch count.
From TheHuddle
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Calijah Kancey (calf) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 1 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Kancey was a late addition to the injury report on Friday due to a calf injury. It looks like the Bucs are going to play it safe and hold him out of the season opener. The first-round pick from last year recorded four sacks and 10 tackles for loss last season. He was mostly a part-time player, but Kancey has a chance to be a real difference maker on defense. Kancey figures to start on the Bucs defense this season, but Mike Greene is likely to get the opening week start.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears WR Keenan Allen (heel) is expected to play in Week 1's game versus the Tennessee Titans, according to head coach Matt Eberflus.
Fantasy Spin: Allen had been listed as questionable on the injury report after logging two limited practice sessions and one full session during the week. He is expected to receive his normal workload and can be viewed as a WR3 or flex option in fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Detroit Lions DT D.J. Reader (quadriceps) is not expected to play in Week 1's game versus the Los Angeles Rams, according to multiple sources. He had been listed as questionable on the injury report after being a limited practice participant throughout the week but it is believed that he has a more realistic chance to play in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
From TheHuddle
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (illness) woke up ill on Saturday but started to feel better later in the day, according to ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler. Chase is currently listed as questionable for Week 1 versus the Patriots with his illness, but his availability could also be impacted by the absence of a contract extension. The star wide receiver has mentioned that he could skip or be limited during Sunday's game since he didn't accept an extension offer before his self-imposed Week 1 deadline. Based purely on health alone, it sounds like Chase is feeling better and could be well enough to play. Add in the contract factor, though, and this situation is incredibly murky. To further complicate matters, Tee Higgins (hamstring) is not expected to suit up. Therefore, we could see increased opportunities for Andrei Iosivas, Jermaine Burton, and Trenton Irwin against New England.
From RotoBaller
Free agent quarterback Ryan Tannehill is waiting for the perfect opportunity before signing with an NFL team, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. His ideal landing spot would be a playoff contender with a strong offensive line, significant offensive weapons, and the need for a quarterback. He has reportedly been staying in shape and throwing to local receivers, keeping himself ready in case he gets the call. Rapoport notes that there's been some interest in Tannehill around the league, but evidently, his desired opportunity hasn't presented itself yet. One team to keep an eye on is the Green Bay Packers, who are contenders but are also preparing for a multi-week absence from Jordan Love (knee).
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is "more likely" to start against the Atlanta Falcons than Russell Wilson (calf), according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Steelers will still evaluate Wilson prior to kickoff, leaving the door open for him to play. He believes he's healthy enough to suit up, but Pittsburgh may opt to hold him out. Specifically, Rapoport notes that the Steelers like to be cautious with calf injuries. In the event that Fields is confirmed as the starter, he'd rank as a mid-range QB2 with upside.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions defensive tackle D.J. Reader (quad) will be inactive for Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 30-year-old was activated from the PUP list a couple of weeks ago but isn't quite ready to return to game action. Once he does return to the NFL, he'll be making his Lions debut. He spent the last four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, finishing his stint with 34 tackles, seven quarterback hits, and one sack in 2023. Levi Onwuzurike should step up and earn more snaps in Reader's absence, even if it's just for one week.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears pass-rusher Montez Sweat (toe) is expected to play in Week 1 despite being listed as questionable, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Sweat had logged two limited practice sessions before participating in a full capacity on Friday. He's coming off a career year in which he logged 57 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. His presence will be valuable as the Bears look to slow down Will Levis and the Tennessee Titans' offense in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (thigh) is expected to play Sunday against the Denver Broncos. He is coming off a down year, having failed to reach 1,000 yards receiving and scored under eight touchdowns for the first time in five years. Lockett will join DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba as Seattle's clear top three wide receivers. It's unclear what Lockett's exact role will be under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, but Lockett still received a healthy 122 targets in 2023, so he's shown he has some left in the tank. Fantasy managers may be better off leaving him on the bench, though, as his injury could affect his play. Lockett is currently WR44 in the latest RotoBaller Week 1 rankings, making him a flex play at best for the season opener.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has a good matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, but the first-round receiver has never had a real chance to show how good he can be. Entering his third year, Williams only has 25 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns under his belt. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound receiver boasted over 1,500 yards in his final college season and is the WR2 on the Lions depth chart. Williams also has 4.4 speed and will be Jared Goff's favorite deep-threat target this season. With Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown being the biggest names on offense, Williams could fly under the radar and see some surprising productivity. That said, he has yet to prove himself and is still risky. Williams is a decent WR3/flex option and ranked as the WR46 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions Kicker Jake Bates will face the Los Angeles Rams at home in Week 1. Bates had a good season in the UFL earlier this year, kicking a 64-yard field goal and two other field goals of 60 or more yards. The 25-year-old had never attempted a field goal in his football career until earlier this year, but he proved during his time in the UFL that he could hang with the best. He signed a two-year deal with the Lions this offseason and could be considered to start just because of how high-scoring this matchup is expected to be. Bates is listed as K18 on RotoBaller's Week 1 Rankings.
From RotoBaller