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.
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The Paur Report
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 3
Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine is likely to see an increased workload during the Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The Chiefs are expected to go with a running back by committee approach with Isiah Pacheco (leg) sidelined. The assumption is that rookie Carson Steele is going to be the primary back, but Perine should mixed in as well. The veteran back will probably take over the receiving duties in the backfield, which could be good news for fantasy managers in PPR formats. However, it's unknown exactly how the Chiefs plan to split up the workload on Sunday. That being said, Perine shouldn't be trusted as anything more than a low-end flex option in PPR formats.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (quad) was removed from the injury report on Friday. The superstar wideout was dealing with a quad issue, but appears to be fine after getting in a full practice session on Friday. It sounds like Jefferson is a full-go for Sunday and won't have any lingering effects from his quad issue. That is great news for fantasy managers after Jefferson went down mid-way through Week 2. Fantasy managers should feel confident with Jefferson as a WR1 for Week 3 against the Houston Texans.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington is expected to see more involvement during Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The sixth-round rookie opened the season as depth, but now could be asked to possibly start. The Rams are without Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) for multiple weeks, which is a huge blow. That means, Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson figure to be the primary passing options. Tutu Atwell and Whittington could split up the third wideout role. Whittington hauled in both his targets for 22 yards last week. He's too risky to start in Week 3, but is worth stashing in deep leagues and dynasty formats.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (knee) is expected to play during Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Wilkins has been limited in practice all week due to a knee issue he picked up last week. The former first-round pick signed a hefty contract with the Raiders over the offseason. Wilkins and Maxx Crosby (ankle) are expected to dominate this defensive line. Wilkins is still seeking his first sack as a Raider, but has nine tackles through the first two games. The absence of either Wilkins or Crosby would be a significant blow to this d-line.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Wanya Morris has been named the starter ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. This is noteworthy due to the fact the Chiefs have decided to bench second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia. The rookie tackle was pulled from last week's game after failing to contain pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who recorded two sacks. It's unlikely that the Chiefs are giving up on the 21-year-old tackle, but have decided to make a change for at least this week. Morris is a second-year tackle and will be in charge of blocking the blindside of Patrick Mahomes on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants defensive end Brian Burns (groin) is expected to play in Week 3 versus the Cleveland Browns. He had been listed as questionable after the Giants added him to their injury report late in the week. Nevertheless, he's going to suit up against the Deshaun Watson-led Browns on Sunday. Burns has seven tackles through two games but is still looking for his first sack as a member of the Giants.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) is expected to play in Week 3 versus the Green Bay Packers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Spears had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction heading into the weekend. Tony Pollard remains the top running back in this Tennessee offense, but Spears has still been able to carve out a role this year. Through two games, he has 10 carries for 41 yards on the ground, plus six catches for another 22 yards through the air. He ranks as the overall RB42 in fantasy football so far.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young will likely be re-installed as the team's starter later this season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The former No. 1 pick was benched earlier this week, but the team views the decision "as a break or timeout more than anything." Carolina reportedly still has confidence in Young, who has completed 55.3 percent of his passes for 245 yards, zero passing touchdowns, and three interceptions so far. He does also have 18 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to his name. Fantasy managers should hold Young in dynasty leagues but can drop him in single-QB redraft formats.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (hamstring) is expected to be active for Week 3 versus the Detroit Lions, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Dortch caught six of eight targets back in Week 1 but commanded just two targets on a 35 percent snap share last weekend. He is Arizona's No. 3 wide receiver behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, and he also has to compete with tight end Trey McBride and running back James Conner. Dortch can be left on waivers in most fantasy leagues this week.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) is preparing as though he will play in Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. However, Herbert is still viewed as a game-time decision as the Chargers want to evaluate him further during pregame warmups. The former first-round pick has completed 31 of 46 passes for 274 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception this year. He also has 24 rushing yards and a lost fumble. Herbert ranks as a mid-to-low fantasy QB1 if he suits up. In the event that his high-ankle sprain is too much to play through, the Chargers would turn to either Easton Stick or Taylor Heinicke.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (rib) is expected to be active for Week 3 versus the Los Angeles Rams. He had been listed as questionable entering the weekend. Having Bosa available is terrific news for the 49ers, who will be shorthanded at other positions on the field. Offensively, George Kittle (hamstring) is doubtful while Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) has been ruled out. Bosa's presence on defense will give the 49ers an extra boost as they look to overcome their numerous injuries in this divisional game. He has seven tackles and two sacks so far this season.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle George Fant (knee) was placed on injured reserve Saturday ahead of the team's Week 3 home matchup against the Miami Dolphins. In a corresponding move, the Seahawks signed tackle McClendon Curtis off their practice squad and to the active roster. Fant suffered a knee injury in Seattle's victory over the Denver Broncos back in Week 1. Last Sunday, he did not suit up for the matchup against the New England Patriots and was a limited participant in all three Seahawks practices this week. Now, he'll miss the next four games, with the team's Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons as his earliest possible return date. Stone Forsythe will hold down the starting RT job protecting quarterback Geno Smith's front side in his absence. Despite the minimal sample of 13 snaps, Fant is Seattle's second-highest-rated offensive lineman per PFF (65.8).
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back, calf) is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Bears. The wideout didn't practice on Friday and currently holds a questionable tag. However, all signs are pointing toward his availability for Week 3. Pittman has gotten off to a slow start this season, catching seven of his 15 targets for 52 yards in the Colts' first two contests. Without question, his ceiling is higher than most. Still, his outlook versus Chicago isn't as promising, considering the injuries could limit his abilities on the field. Although fantasy managers can keep Pittman in the starting lineup, nobody can blame anyone for playing it safe by keeping him on the bench.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, several teams around the National Football League have "expressed an interest" in acquiring Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. However, head coach Dave Canales has stated the team doesn't have plans to trade him. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick didn't have a memorable rookie season. Unfortunately, Young's struggles have carried into the 2024-25 campaign, with the signal-caller throwing three picks and completing 55.4% of his attempts in the Panthers' first two games. As a result, he won't be under center when Carolina meets the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3, with veteran Andy Dalton taking over. At any rate, there are questions concerning Young's potential at the professional level. But now isn't the time for dynasty managers to sell low, especially since Young has time to turn things around.
From RotoBaller
According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) isn't expected to play against the Titans. The signal-caller is trending in the right direction, with the team planning for his return for the Week 4 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, Malik Willis is anticipated to remain under center versus his former team. Willis got the start for the clash with the Indianapolis Colts. He finished that one by throwing for 122 yards and a touchdown off 12-for-14 passing, adding six carries for 41 yards. While the 2022 No. 86 overall pick looked decent in Week 2, he's not someone fantasy managers can depend on to fill the void left by Love's absence.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III will look to continue his modest production when the team squares off against the Kansas City Chiefs in a Sunday night home tilt. The sixth-year veteran has been more involved in Atlanta's offense than initially anticipated in 2024. He's recorded the third-most snaps of any Falcons wideout (91) -- behind Drake London and Darnell Mooney -- and leads all Atlanta pass-catchers with 12 targets. McCloud is also just nine yards behind Mooney in receiving yardage for the team lead (94). The 27-year-old is unlikely to continue leading the team in such categories as the season churns on. However, he should remain involved and will become a more intriguing option in deeper leagues as Kirk Cousins continues to shake off the rust and recovers from his 2023 Achilles injury. The Falcons will have their work cut out for them this week against a tough Chiefs defense, but McCloud looks like a decent WR4 for now.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Kameron Johnson (ankle) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's Week 3 home matchup against the Denver Broncos. Johnson started the week with a limited practice on Wednesday before downgrading to a DNP on Thursday and Friday. In anticipation of his absence, Tampa Bay has elevated wide receiver Sterling Shepherd off its practice squad for depth at the position. The 22-year-old rookie has been a distant option for the Bucs so far in 2024, recording the fewest snaps of all wideouts (11) and failing to earn a single target in the passing game. His lone touch on the year was a carry he advanced for no gain. Chris Godwin and Mike Evans will remain the de facto top two targets for Baker Mayfield, with Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer picking up the scraps in a smash spot for the team this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett (feet) is working 'around the clock' to treat his injured feet, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, and Fowler believes the Browns could keep Garrett on a snap count against the New York Giants in Week 3.
From TheHuddle
The Miami Dolphins placed wide receiver Grant DuBose (shoulder) on injured reserve Saturday due to a shoulder injury. DuBose popped up on the Dolphins' injury report this past Wednesday as a limited participant in practice. He then proceeded to miss Thursday and Friday before a trip to IR was determined as his best course of action. He'll now miss at least the next four games. The 23-year-old has recorded just one catch for 13 yards across three targets thus far and has logged the fourth-most wide receiver snaps for the team (39) behind Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Braxton Berrios. With DuBose on the shelf, expect Robbie Chosen to absorb his snaps. However, it is difficult to recommend any Miami wideout with quarterback Skylar Thompson filling in for an injured Tua Tagovailoa (concussion). The Dolphins will take on the Seahawks in Seattle this Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell grabbed just one of his four targets for 30 yards in the team's Week 2 loss. Now he and the Colts gear up to host the Chicago Bears in a Week 3 matchup on Sunday. Despite not stuffing the stat sheet, Mitchell has racked up nine targets in his first two games, nearly connecting with QB Anthony Richardson on multiple deep passes. Despite the favorable usage, the Colts will welcome back WR Josh Downs (ankle) back into the rotation, and it's unclear how affected Mitchell's snap share from the first two weeks will be. On top of that, Chicago has done a decent job of quieting down receivers, allowing the 12th-least fantasy points to the position. Fantasy managers might want to keep Mitchell on the bench in Week 3, waiting to see how the playing time splits up between the receivers now that Downs is making his season debut.
From RotoBaller
