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.
Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson will face the Seattle Seahawks in a road matchup this Sunday. The 25-year-old has been mostly quiet this season aside from a 13-target, seven-catch game in Week 5's 24-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He'll get a middle-of-the-road matchup in Week 9 against a Seahawks D that's letting up 6.1 yards per pass attempt to opposing offenses -- the twelfth-highest figure in the league. It's possible Parkinson sees more work than usual this week, with wide receivers Puka Nacua (knee) and Jordan Whittington (shoulder) questionable for the contest. Still, he'll be difficult to trust as a viable option due to his lack of consistency. The Stanford alum is RotoBaller's PPR TE27 in this week's rankings.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce will get a tough draw on Sunday Night Football when his team squares off against the Minnesota Vikings. Pierce has been the epitome of a boom/bust wideout this season, with three outings of at least 16 fantasy points and five others in the single digits, including a goose egg in Week 6 against the Tennessee Titans on 89% of snaps. With veteran quarterback Joe Flacco now in command of the offense, the outlook of all Colts pass-catchers is on the rise. Additionally, Minnesota has been one of the most stout units in the league this season against opposing rushing attacks, allowing just 3.9 yards per attempt. If they can be beaten anywhere, it's through the air. Still, the 24-year-old is little more than a desperation dart throw for the contest. Pierce is RotoBaller's PPR WR63 for Week 9's slate of action.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki could again see a large target share in Week 9 when his team lines up against the Las Vegas Raiders at home. The 29-year-old veteran hasn't been the most consistent option this season but has produced two useful spike weeks thus far in his first year as a Bengal, correlating with wide receiver Tee Higgins (quad) missing time. With Higgins listed as doubtful for Sunday, the door is again open for Gesicki to see an increased role in the offense. The Raiders have been decent against opposing passing attacks this season, so it isn't exactly the best matchup. Still, Joe Burrow and the Bengals throw the rock 61.4% of the time (sixth-highest in the league), so the opportunities should be there if Higgins fails to suit up. The former Penn State Nittany Lion is RotoBaller's PPR TE17 in this week's ranks.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton has seen his usage skyrocket lately. The 25-year-old has 17 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns over his last two games. The Bucs are banged up at wide receiver with Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) both sidelined. They've also got Sterling Shepard (hamstring) and Jalen McMillan (hamstring) on the injury report ahead of Monday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. That being said, Otton could end up seeing a ton of targets with the Bucs limited on options. Fantasy managers should continue to lean on him as a TE1 for Week 9. Otton has been an elite option over the last two games, so fantasy managers should ride the wave.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Rakim Jarrett made his season debut against the Atlanta Falcons last week. Jarrett hauled in all three of his targets for 58 yards in the loss. Normally, Jarrett would serve as depth, but the Bucs are extremely banged up at wideout. Both Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) are unavailable for Week 9. Also, Sterling Shepard (hamstring) and Jalen McMillan (hamstring) are listed on the injury report ahead of Monday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. That means, Jarrett and Trey Palmer could end up being the top wideouts for the Bucs this week. Jarrett only saw 27 percent of the snaps last week and still played fairly well. Fantasy managers who plan to start Shepard or McMillan might want to snag Jarrett just in case they sit out.
From RotoBaller
According to Adam Schefter, before Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk's (collarbone) injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a deal in the works to acquire him. Per Schefter, league sources told ESPN there was a "reasonable chance" that Kirk would be heading to the Steel City. However, that plan was derailed when the 27-year-old suffered a broken clavicle that effectively ended his season. The NFL Insider noted that Pittsburgh is still looking to upgrade their wide receiver corps before the Nov. 5 trade deadline and that they've been "making calls and checking on any and all available wide receivers." With the last call for trades quickly approaching, we'll know if they're successful or not over the next 36 hours. Stay tuned.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Trey Palmer wasn't able to do much damage during last week's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 23-year-old hauled in both of his targets for 29 yards and served as the punt returner as well. Palmer has moved up on the depth chart with Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) both sidelined. There is more bad news for the Bucs wideouts as Sterling Shepard (hamstring) and Jalen McMillan (hamstring) are both on the injury report for Monday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. If they both sit, Palmer will likely become the top wideout for this offense. His fantasy value would certainly increase in that case. For now, Palmer is nothing more than a risky flex option given the statuses of McMillan and Shepard are still unknown.
From RotoBaller
As reported by the NFL's Dianna Russini, the Los Angeles Rams expect wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) to play in Week 9. It's excellent news for the Rams and fantasy managers, as it appears Nacua's reaggravation of his preseason knee injury won't force him to miss Sunday's contest. The superstar wideout returned from a near-two month absence in Week 8 to post seven catches and 106 yards on just 57% of the team's snaps. He may see a diminished snap share again when LA lines up against the Seattle Seahawks on the road. However, he's already proven his effectiveness on limited snaps once. If he's active, fantasy managers should have no fears of firing him up. If not, wide receiver Cooper Kupp stands to see a ton of work, with fellow wideouts Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell picking up the slack.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker has been quiet since his 136-yard outburst in Week 6. However, Tucker could see more action against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday. The Bucs have gone to a committee approach in the backfield. Tucker is normally the third option, but he could see more chances with Bucky Irving (toe) questionable for Week 9. If he sits, Tucker would split up the backfield duties with Rachaad White who has struggled on the ground. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect another 100-yard performance from Tucker, but he might have some low-end flex appeal if Irving is unable to play.
From RotoBaller
Per Easton Freeze of the NFL, the Tennessee Titans are optimistic that running back Tony Pollard (foot) will play Sunday in Week 9. Pollard was a non-participant this week in Titans' practice and is officially listed as questionable for this weekend's home tilt against the New England Patriots. However, it appears the team is still hoping for him to be active. With backfield mate Tyjae Spears (hamstring) ruled out for the contest, third-year back Julius Chestnut will already be in line for an elevated role in Tennessee's offense. If Pollard can't go, Chestnut will get all the work he can handle, with teammate Joshua Kelley likely to rotate in behind him. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring the 27-year-old, as a decision may get made close to game time -- fortunately, the Titans and Patriots square off at 1:00 pm EST.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White hasn't found much success on the ground this season. He has fallen into a running back committee which has decreased his rushing attempts. However, fellow back Bucky Irving (toe) is listed as questionable ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. If Irving sits, White would likely see more chances on the ground but he hasn't done much with his chances this season. Luckily, White has been able to salvage his fantasy value in the receiving game. The Bucs are going to White more often with Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) sidelined. He has seen six targets in each of the last two games. That figures to continue happening with the Bucs limited on passing options. White should be a strong PPR option and a possible RB2 for this Monday Night matchup.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has been slinging the ball all season long. In fact, Mayfield has thrown for over 325 yards in each of the last three games. There was some concern that Mayfield would struggle without his top wide receivers in Chris Godwin (ankle) and Mike Evans (hamstring) last week. That was not the case as Mayfield tossed three touchdowns and exceeded 300 passing yards in what ended up being a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. However, Mayfield will head into a tougher matchup against the Chiefs on Monday. A defensive unit that has allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards this season. Despite that, Mayfield continues to prove the critics wrong, so ride with him as a QB1.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants kicker Greg Joseph (abdomen) has been placed on the injured reserve ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the Washington Commanders. The Giants brought in Joseph after kicker Graham Gano (quad) got injured during the season opener. Now, Joseph will miss at least the next four games. That means, Jude McAtamney will be elevated from the practice squad this weekend. He'll make his NFL debut after looking solid in the preseason. However, McAtamney isn't an ideal streaming option given the Giants struggles on offense.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) and running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) have been placed on the injured reserve on Saturday. The Saints are going to be thin on depth as the injuries keep piling up on them. The absence of Means should give Marquez Valdes-Scantling more snaps, but fantasy managers shouldn't trust him as a reliable option. Miller has missed most of the season, but returned for each of the last two games. Now, Alvin Kamara should see a heavy workload with Miller out and Jamaal Williams (groin) doubtful to play. Kamara should be an elite fantasy option against the below average Carolina Panthers defense.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) is not expected to suit up ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Mitchell is recovering from an ACL injury that he suffered last season. He has yet to play this season, but was able to practice this week. He's a little over a week into his 21-day practice window. The team still has some time to get Mitchell ready to play before his window ends. He figures to be mixed in as a change-of-pace back once he's healthy to play. However, Mitchell probably won't have a huge role behind Derrick Henry in the backfield.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans quarterback Trevor Siemian has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the New England Patriots. The move to bring up Siemian means that quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) is likely in line to miss another game. Mason Rudolph figures to draw another start under center this weekend. Rudolph will have a tough challenge against the Patriots defense in Week 9. He has thrown for 566 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in three games this season. Fantasy managers should be able to find a better streaming option than Rudolph ahead of this Week 9 contest.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Monday's Week 9 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Winfield popped up on the injury report on Friday due to a foot issue. That is concerning considering Winfield missed time earlier in the season due to a foot injury. However, head coach Todd Bowles said that Winfield will be fine for Monday's game. The absence of Winfield would be a significant hit to an already struggling Bucs secondary. Regardless of Winfield's status, the Bucs defense isn't an ideal streaming option against Patrick Mahomes.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos defense/special teams has surprisingly been a top-five fantasy unit through eight weeks of 2024, but managers should lower their expectations in Week 9 against the high-powered Baltimore Ravens on the road. Denver's D has allowed the third-fewest points per game (15.0), but Baltimore's offense has put up 30.3 points per game, the most in football. The game will likely be decided by whether the Broncos' defense can stop a Ravens ground game that leads the league with 200 rushing yards per game. Denver's defense and play-calling has been mighty impressive this year, but they'll have a tall task on their hands in slowing down both quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. We certainly wouldn't recommend Denver's D/ST in DFS against a Ravens offense that has been the third-worst matchup for defensive units this year.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz will be looking for a bounce-back performance in Week 9 versus the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9 after making just four extra points the week prior in a 28-14 win over the Carolina Panthers. Lutz certainly has it in him in a Broncos offense that has looked much more efficient in the last few weeks under rookie QB Bo Nix. The 30-year-old veteran kicker has missed just one of his 18 field-goal tries and is a perfect 16-for-16 on extra points in eight weeks in 2024 to make him the No. 5 fantasy kicker in overall points. Lutz always has bust potential in fantasy, but the opportunity is certainly there going up against a Ravens defense that is tied for the 11th-most fantasy points allowed to kickers per game. Baltimore's struggling defense gives Lutz a safer floor as a streaming option in deeper fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson would be a risky flex play in Week 9 when the Cardinals host the Chicago Bears. Wilson has recently put together some solid fantasy performances, including a five-catch, 31-yard, and one-touchdown game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 8. Although he is becoming more involved in the Cardinals' passing offense, he remains a touchdown-dependent fantasy player. With the Cardinals facing the stout Bears defense, there may be fewer scoring opportunities for the offense, which could limit production. However, Wilson is still capable of delivering a solid fantasy outing. He would be a risky flex option for managers in Week 9.
From RotoBaller