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FFL: Week 2 | NFL: Week 2

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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 2

Player Notes
Darnell Mooney Sep 17 1:10am ET
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney delivered a standout performance in the Falcons' win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Mooney recorded 88 receiving yards on three catches, including a 41-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Kirk Cousins. He shared the team lead in targets with Drake London and led the team in receiving yards. Mooney added receptions of 21 and 26 yards on consecutive plays during Atlanta's game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, setting up the decisive touchdown by London. After a disappointing season with the Chicago Bears, where he managed just 414 receiving yards and one touchdown, Mooney is making significant strides with his new team and quarterback. His growing chemistry with Cousins suggests a promising future, and he enters Week 3's matchup against the Chiefs with solid momentum. He is a viable flex option in deeper leagues moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Sep 17 12:50am ET
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London delivered a standout performance in the team's narrow victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. London finished the game with 54 yards on six receptions, including the crucial game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Before the Falcons' decisive drive, London had managed only four catches for 42 yards. With the Eagles adding a 28-yard field goal to take a six-point lead, the Falcons faced a critical situation with just 1:39 left on the clock. Atlanta orchestrated a drive from their own 30-yard line to the Eagles' end zone, thanks to quarterback Kirk Cousins completing 4-of-5 passes. London contributed with a five-yard reception to set up a first-and-goal at the seven-yard line, and he secured the game-tying touchdown with a 7-yard catch from Cousins. Although London and Cousins are still building their chemistry, Monday's performance marked a significant improvement from Week 1. London is expected to see ample opportunities in the upcoming Week 3 matchup against the Chiefs, where the Falcons will likely need to stay aggressive in the passing game to keep up with Patrick Mahomes.

From RotoBaller

Bijan Robinson Sep 17 12:40am ET
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson had an impressive performance in the Falcons' narrow win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Robinson was a key contributor, carrying the ball 14 times for 97 yards, averaging an impressive 6.9 yards per carry. He also added 25 yards on four receptions. In the first half, Robinson was particularly effective, rushing for 72 yards on 10 carries against the formidable Eagles front seven. He was then slowed down more by the Eagles defense in the second half. Robinson has seen a big workload so far in 2024, even as backfield mate Tyler Allgeier saw only five fewer carries Monday. Robinson is set to play a significant role in the Week 3 Sunday night game against the defending champion Chiefs.

From RotoBaller

Kirk Cousins Sep 17 12:30am ET
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins led a thrilling comeback to secure a 22-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. Cousins completed 20 of 29 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns. While the offense struggled in the first half, Cousins found his rhythm in the third quarter, connecting with receiver Darnell Mooney for a 41-yard touchdown to give the Falcons a 15-10 lead. Although the Eagles briefly retook the lead with a Jalen Hurts touchdown and a late field goal, Cousins orchestrated a decisive drive in the final 1:39. Starting from their own 30-yard line, Cousins completed 4 of 5 passes, culminating in a 7-yard touchdown pass to Drake London to tie the game. Cousins will look to build on this performance when the Falcons face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3. With his current form, Cousins remains a matchup-dependent fringe QB1.

From RotoBaller

Cooper Kupp Sep 16 11:13pm ET
Cooper Kupp

Dynasty | Rams Head Coach Sean McVay announced Cooper Kupp will be out for an extended period of time following an ankle injury suffered in Sunday's game. Dynasty Analysis: He also said Kupp is a candidate for injured reserve. This has all the looks of a high ankle sprain for Kupp, who is quickly garnering a reputation for ankle ailments. It seems as if him going on IR may be a foregone conclusion and dynasty managers shouldn't be counting on him for the next month or longer. This is a major short-term blow to Kupp's value as he honestly looked like he could make a run at being the overall WR1 yet again this season. Instead, his dynasty value is going to start sinking again as the veteran seemingly can't stay healthy at this point in his career. Kupp remains a hold in dynasty leagues but the quick "sell" window just shut.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Bryce Young Sep 16 10:09pm ET
Bryce Young

Dynasty | The Panthers have benched quarterback Bryce Young. Dynasty Analysis: Andy Dalton will start this week's game and possibly beyond. Young has been an abject disaster through the first two games, throwing for just 245 total yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. His QBR is 8.9, dead last in the NFL by a country mile. The Panthers paid through the nose to acquire him (a deal that ended up being wide receiver DJ Moore and this year's #1 pick, Caleb Williams). This is likely a short-term benching for Young to get right, but it also could be the beginning of the end for his short tenure. This is life in the NFL but if the Panthers throw in the towel after 18 games, this trade could go down as one of the worst in NFL history, considering the entire franchise will have to hit reset yet again. Young's dynasty value is on life support.

Justin Jefferson Sep 16 10:09pm ET
Justin Jefferson

Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (quad) is considered day to day with a quad contusion, head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters Monday, Sept. 16.

Nico Collins Sep 16 10:08pm ET
Nico Collins

Dynasty | Texans wide receiver Nico Collins had eight catches for 135 yards and a touchdown in Houston's win against Chicago. Dynasty Analysis: There seems to be little doubt who is the top target in this offense after two weeks. Collins now has 18 targets and 252 receiving yards through two games. His yardage total is tops in the NFL and his targets rank him seventh overall. In other words, the Texans may have talented players like Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs, but this passing offense is seemingly going through Collins. He's a WR1 moving forward.

Tyler Huntley Sep 16 10:08pm ET
Tyler Huntley

Dynasty | The Dolphins have signed quarterback Tyler Huntley off the Ravens practice squad. Dynasty Analysis: Huntley has bounced around the league a bit after failing to really impress during his short starting stints with the Ravens in place of Lamar Jackson. Still, he gives Miami another veteran presence behind Skylar Thompson while we await the return of Tua Tagovailoa. He doesn't belong on rosters at the moment.

Jordan Whittington Sep 16 10:00pm ET
Jordan Whittington

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington looked to be settled in as the fifth or sixth option to start the season. Now, Whittington might find himself with an every week role. The Rams are expected to be without both Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) for multiple games. That being said, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, and Tutu Atwell figure to be the starters heading into Week 3. Whittington figures to be the primary backup receiver and should see some action as well. He hauled in both his targets for 22 yards in the Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The sixth-round rookie isn't a must-start option, but could be worth holding in deep leagues or dynasty formats with the Rams shorthanded.

From RotoBaller

Tutu Atwell Sep 16 9:40pm ET
Tutu Atwell

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell entered the season as depth, but now could be a starter heading into Week 3. The Rams are without Puka Nacua (knee) and fellow wideout Cooper Kupp (ankle) is expected to miss an extended period of time. That being said, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, and Atwell figure to be the starting wideouts against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3. On Sunday, Atwell hauled in three of his four targets for 48 yards in the loss. He doesn't have great fantasy value but could be a deep league option for fantasy managers in desperate need of help at wide receiver.

From RotoBaller

Taysom Hill Sep 16 9:33pm ET
Taysom Hill

New Orleans Saints QB Taysom Hill (chest) checked out fine after suffering a chest injury in Week 2, per source on Monday, Sept. 16.

From TheHuddle

Carson Steele Sep 16 9:30pm ET
Carson Steele

Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele is expected to have an increased role in the offense going forward. This news comes after fellow back Isiah Pacheco (leg) suffered a significant injury during the Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Chiefs are expected to be without Pacheco for at least a month or two. Head coach Andy Reid said on Monday that Steele needs to step it up in the absence of Pacheco. The rookie back rushed seven times for 24 yards in Week 2. The Chiefs have faith in the long term potential of the 21-year-old back. However, Steele is unlikely to be the only back in the mix as Samaje Perine and Clyde Edwards-Helaire should also be in the mix. It's also worth noting that the Chiefs are reportedly interested in free-agent back Kareem Hunt. Despite that, Steele remains a top waiver wire addition for RB-needy fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Jimmy Garoppolo Sep 16 9:23pm ET
Jimmy Garoppolo

Los Angeles Rams QB Jimmy Garoppolo and OT Alaric Jackson had their two-game suspensions lifted on Monday, Sept. 16.

From TheHuddle

Ricky Pearsall Sep 16 9:20pm ET
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest) appears to be making progress in his recovery process. The rookie wideout is only a few weeks removed from being shot during a robbery attempt. Despite that, Pearsall has started training again as he prepares to get back on the football field. This is great news as Pearsall could be back on the field as early as Week 5. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has stated that Pearsall remains week-to-week. The expectation is that Pearsall could be immediately utilized once he's cleared to play football again. The 49ers are going to be without wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) for at least a couple of weeks. His absence means an increased usage for Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and probably tight end George Kittle. Pearsall should be in the mix as well, but remains out until at least Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Alex Anzalone Sep 16 9:13pm ET
Alex Anzalone

Detroit Lions LB Alex Anzalone (concussion) is day-to-day after suffering a concussion but 'felt pretty good today,' head coach Dan Campbell said on Monday, Sept. 16.

From TheHuddle

Amon-Ra St. Brown Sep 16 9:13pm ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (leg) is dealing with an unspecified lower leg, soft-tissue injury but is expected to be fine, head coach Dan Campbell said on Monday, Sept. 16.

Fantasy Spin: It didn't look good for St. Brown during the game, but it appears he's not dealing with anything serious. St. Brown is one of the toughest players in the NFL and should be viewed as likely to suit up in Week 3. He's a locked-in WR1.

From TheHuddle

A.J. Brown Sep 16 8:40pm ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) told ESPN's Lisa Salters that he expects to miss a couple of weeks due to the hamstring injury that he suffered in practice last Friday. Brown was ruled out of the Monday night contest against the visiting Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 and could also end up missing the Week 3 showdown in New Orleans against the 2-0 Saints. With Brown out, DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson will be Philly's top two receivers, with tight ends Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra also seeing more targets from quarterback Jalen Hurts in the passing game. We'll have a better idea of Brown's status for Week 3 when the Eagles return to practice on Wednesday, but fantasy managers should already be looking for a replacement. Browns is a must-start, high-end WR1 when healthy. He caught five of 10 targets for 119 yards and a TD in the Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers.

From RotoBaller

Zane Gonzalez Sep 16 8:23pm ET
Zane Gonzalez

Free-agent PK Tanner Brown (Rams), PK Randy Bullock (Giants), PK Zane Gonzalez (49ers) and PK Riley Patterson (Commanders) worked out for the New York Giants Monday, Sept. 16.

From TheHuddle

Isiah Pacheco Sep 16 8:10pm ET
Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) will undergo surgery in the middle of this week on the fractured fibula that he suffered in the Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and he's expected to miss at least six weeks, according to sources. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that a six- to eight-week timetable is probably a best-case scenario, so the Chiefs will eventually place him on Injured Reserve, which will put him out for at least four games. If doctors find more ligament/tendon damage in Pacheco's leg when they open him up, it could be a longer road back for one of the best young RBs in the NFL. Fantasy managers obviously will want to stash Pacheco everywhere, while rookie Carson Steele immediately becomes one of the top waiver-wire targets this week. Samaje Perine should have an elevated role in KC's backfield as well and is worth a look in deep PPR formats with Pacheco injured.

From RotoBaller