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FFL: Week 11 | NFL: Week 11

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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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 11

Player Notes
Tyreek Hill Nov 16 7:00pm ET
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) was a full participant in Friday's practice and is not on the final injury report for their Week 11 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. Hill has not been the WR1 fantasy managers were hoping for when they drafted him. This week's matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders has the potential for a breakout game. Overall, the Raiders have been relatively good this season against wide receivers, but their start cornerback Nate Hobbs (ankle) has been ruled out. They also rank 26th in pressure rate and 18th in yards per play on the road, which could give quarterback Tua Tagovailoa more time for plays to develop down the field. This looks to be the perfect matchup; start him as a WR1. Hill comes in as RotoBaller's WR8 in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Waddle Nov 16 7:00pm ET
Jaylen Waddle

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is tough to trust in Week 11 despite a decent matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Other than Week 1, the only performance in which he eclipsed 46 receiving yards was last week against the Los Angeles Rams, when he had 57. He has only one touchdown on the year and hasn't received more than six targets in a game since Week 5. Overall, he has been one of the biggest disappointments of the 2024 season. The Raiders have allowed the seventh least receiving yards in 2024, but their star cornerback Nate Hobbs (ankle) will not be in the lineup. There isn't any justification to have him in your lineup; avoid him at all costs. He ranks as RotoBaller's WR33 in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Curtis Samuel Nov 16 7:00pm ET
Curtis Samuel

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel is coming off a game where he saw a season-high eight targets last week. The 28-year-old figures to once again see an increased workload heading into the Week 11 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bills are without wideout Keon Coleman (wrist) and Amari Cooper (wrist) is questionable to suit up. The absence of both receivers should mean plenty of targets for Samuel on Sunday. Samuel hasn't done much this season, but his 89 percent snap count does give him more appeal. Fantasy managers should consider Samuel a low-end streaming option for Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Schultz Nov 16 7:00pm ET
Dalton Schultz

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz continues to be a TE2 option as Houston takes on his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, in Week 11. The 28-year-old is coming off a season-best 66 receiving yards last week, but volume remains an issue, and now the Texans are slated to get top receiver Nico Collins back in the lineup. The veteran tight end has been one of the more frustrating fantasy holds on the season: he's starting in a good offense, but not trustworthy enough to start confidently. Against a bad Dallas defense, he's a touchdown-dependent play.

From RotoBaller

Brock Wright Nov 16 6:50pm ET
Brock Wright

Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright will be the next man up with Sam LaPorta (shoulder) ruled out ahead of the Week 11 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Wright has only seen two targets over the last four games. He has been on the field for over 55 percent of the snaps over each of the last two contests. He figures to see more involvement in the passing game with LaPorta unable to play. Wright hasn't done enough to be trusted in most fantasy formats. He could be a dart throw in DFS contests, but is nothing more than a desperation streaming option.

From RotoBaller

Dameon Pierce Nov 16 6:40pm ET
Dameon Pierce

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (groin) has been removed from the injury report ahead of the Week 11 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Pierce is set to get back on the field for the first time since Week 8. He has been banged up this season and has only played in four games, but is expected to be the primary backup to Joe Mixon. The return of Pierce should take some of the workload off Mixon, but Pierce is unlikely to play enough to warrant starting in fantasy formats.

From RotoBaller

Will Anderson Jr. Nov 16 6:30pm ET
Will Anderson Jr.

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 11 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Anderson suffered an ankle injury in Week 9 and hasn't been able to suit up since then. The 23-year-old has 7.5 sacks and 27 tackles through his nine games this season. His absence is certainly going to be a hit to this defensive unit heading into Monday's game. The absence of Anderson should mean more snaps for Jerry Hughes and Derek Barnett.

From RotoBaller

Anders Carlson Nov 16 6:20pm ET
Anders Carlson

New York Jets kicker Anders Carlson has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 11 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Carlson is now the fourth kicker for the Jets this season, but will hopefully be a long term solution. He is 5-for-5 on field goal attempts during his two games with the San Francisco 49ers earlier in the season. Carlson struggled as a rookie, but is worth a look as a streaming option for fantasy managers needing an option for Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Trevon Diggs Nov 16 5:40pm ET
Trevon Diggs

The Dallas Cowboys have yet again deemed cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) inactive ahead of Monday night's road tilt against the Houston Texans. The team also ruled out defensive back Jourdan Lewis (neck) for the game. Bland has not logged even a limited practice session since Week 6 and hasn't appeared in a game this season while tending to a foot injury. On the other hand, Lewis is the Cowboys' second-leading snap participant in their defensive backfield. He will miss his first outing of 2024 after apparently picking up a neck injury in their 34-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 10. Fortunately, teammate Trevon Diggs (calf) was a full participant all week and carries no designation for Dallas' matchup against the visiting Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Devon Achane Nov 16 5:20pm ET
Devon Achane

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane has an excellent opportunity for a good showing in his Week 11 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. Last week against the Los Angeles Rams was somewhat of a letdown compared to the previous two outings. The Raiders defense has been torched by running backs all year, ranking 26th in fantasy points per game allowed, allowing 104.1 rushing yards a game, and is eighth-worst in red zone points per game to running backs. According to Pro Football Focus, the Raiders have faced the seventh-highest rate of running back targets, and Achane is one of the best-receiving backs in the league. Achane is primed for an RB1 workload; he's a surefire start in every lineup. He comes in as RotoBaller's RB4 in the Week 11 RB rankings.

From RotoBaller

Russell Wilson Nov 16 5:20pm ET
Russell Wilson

The Baltimore Ravens defense/special teams put up a fantasy stinker in Week 10 after allowing 34 points and 470 total yards. Their one saving grace has been that they've forced at least one turnover in every week but Week 6. On the flip side, they only have one game with double-digit fantasy points and seven games with five or fewer. The Ravens have the worst pass defense in the league while Russell Wilson has led the Pittsburgh Steelers to 26 or more points in each of the three games he's started. At this stage of the season, the Ravens defense is better left on the bench or waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Raheem Mostert Nov 16 5:20pm ET
Raheem Mostert

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert comes into Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders after an alarming performance against the Los Angeles Rams last week. He did not log a rushing attempt and only caught two of three targets for 34 yards. The 2023 rushing touchdown leader has also not scored a touchdown in his last two games. Mike McDaniels is not pleased with the costly fumbles, and due to Miami's (3-6) record, the margin for error for the rest of the season is minimal. While the Raiders defense has given up the seventh most points per game to opposing running backs and allowed 1,007 total rushing yards on the season, it isn't easy to imagine Mostert getting enough touches to justify starting him. Be cautious if starting him this week; he could be very touchdown-dependent. Mostert is this week's RB35 in the Week 11 RotoBaller rankings.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Nov 16 5:10pm ET
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has an excellent matchup in a Week 11 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. Last week's performance against the Los Angeles Rams left fantasy managers much to be desired. Since returning from a concussion in Week 8, Miami has averaged 25.6 points per game. The Raiders defense allows the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks and ranks 26th in pressure rate. This should lead to many clean pockets and time to throw for Tagovailoa. Just in their last two games, Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes have thrown seven touchdowns against them. Las Vegas will also be without their top cornerback, Nate Hobbs (ankle), which could spell big trouble for their secondary. He's a solid start in any format and comes in at No. 13 on this week's RotoBaller QB rankings.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Boyd Nov 16 5:10pm ET
Tyler Boyd

According to Ben Arthur of Fox Sports, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tyler Boyd (back) has been added to the team's injury report and is officially questionable for Week 11. The ninth-year wideout is a late addition to Tennessee's report, putting his status for their home tilt against the Minnesota Vikings in question. Due to the timing of the injury, the decision of whether he'll be active could go right up until game time. The Vikings and Titans will square off at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday. Even if Boyd is active, he will not be a recommended option for fantasy, with just 21 receptions and 184 receiving yards through nine appearances in 2024. Moreover, the veteran has not recorded a single target in his prior two contests.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Nov 16 5:00pm ET
CeeDee Lamb

Per the NFL's Ian Rapoport, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (back) was limited in the team's Saturday practice with a back injury. The 25-year-old is officially questionable for Dallas' home tilt against the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. Rapoport also noted that Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said he's "not of high concern" regarding Lamb's injury. It's encouraging to hear McCarthy's positivity toward the superstar wideout's affliction, but that he's suddenly popped up on Dallas' injury report is mildly concerning for fantasy managers. The former Oklahoma Sooner's value has taken a significant hit with the loss of quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) for the remainder of the season, so an injury doesn't exactly help his case. Lamb's owners will need to temper expectations if they're relying on him against a Houston defense letting up just 5.2 yards per pass attempt to their opponents -- the second-lowest mark in the league. Keep an eye on his status over the next 48 hours.

From RotoBaller

Nico Collins Nov 16 4:40pm ET
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is without a designation heading into Week 11's matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. The 25-year-old wideout has been shelved since he picked up a hamstring injury while scoring a 67-yard touchdown in Houston's 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills back in Week 5. He'd miss the ensuing five contests but will make his return this Monday against the team's in-state rivals. Before sustaining the ailment, Collins was on fire, racking up at least 78 yards in all five of his appearances. He should immediately slot back in as the preferred option in the Texans' passing attack. The former Michigan Wolverine is averaging 113.4 receiving yards per game and is a strong WR1 play for Week 11's outing. Collins is RotoBaller's PPR WR9 for Monday night's matchup.

From RotoBaller

Justin Tucker Nov 16 4:40pm ET
Justin Tucker

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has been quite the boom-or-bust fantasy option this season. He's registered five weeks as a K1, three weeks as a K2, and two weeks outside of the top 24. In Week 10, Tucker only managed to make three of his four extra points and didn't attempt any field goals. He'll go up against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11 who give up the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing kickers. Tucker has the talent to deliver K1 results, but the big question is whether or not the offense will be able to get into field goal range and stall out enough for him to collect more fantasy points.

From RotoBaller

Diontae Johnson Nov 16 3:30pm ET
Diontae Johnson

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson has yet to find the amount of success he enjoyed when catching passes from Andy Dalton earlier this season. Head coach John Harbaugh did say that Johnson's involvement would be ramped up, but the Ravens have a tougher matchup in Week 11. They take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson's former team, who are one of the tougher defenses against opposing passing games. Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, and Rashod Bateman have all been big pieces to this offense, so it's still unknown how Johnson fits into the mix. He could be a flex play in very deep leagues, but he's not much of a trustworthy option.

From RotoBaller

Mark Andrews Nov 16 3:10pm ET
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews delivered a vintage performance in Week 10 while Isaiah Likely was sidelined. He finished as the TE1 on the week and had an 87% snap share. In Week 11, Likely has been cleared to return and the Ravens take on their long-time rival the Pittsburgh Steelers. Andrews has gone up against the Steelers nine times in his career and has yet to find the end zone. He averages 50.7 yards and just shy of five receptions per game. The Steelers are currently around the middle of the pack against tight ends and allow 8.5 fantasy points per contest. Andrews' biggest question mark will be his snap share with Likely back which is why he hovers around the lower part of TE1 territory.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Mason Nov 16 2:50pm ET
Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason will back up All-Pro Christian McCaffrey in a Week 11 home date with the Seattle Seahawks. Mason was found money in fantasy in the early part of the year, performing like an RB1 with McCaffrey (Achilles) sidelined. That was until Mason struggled with a shoulder injury of his own and ceded snaps to rookie Isaac Guerendo. Last week as predicted, the return of McCaffrey was near-absolute, even in his first game back. Mason and Guerendo each received one carry and no targets. It was proof that head coach Kyle Shanahan's idea of easing his starter back from a lengthy absence doesn't include significant involvement from his other running backs. CMC is the bell cow, making Mason no more than a bench stash in Week 11.

From RotoBaller