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
Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 11
Miami Dolphins running back Alec Ingold (calf) has been deemed questionable for Sunday's home tilt against the Las Vegas Raiders. The sixth-year back sustained a calf injury ahead of Miami's Week 9 30-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills and has yet to log a full practice, recording eight straight limited sessions since. Ingold would eventually sit out last weekend, but it appears he might give it another go despite the nagging ailment. With no other active fullbacks on the roster, the Dolphins may expand their usage of two-tight end sets to compensate for the 28-year-old's absence. Ingold has totaled 13 yards and a touchdown on his nine carries in 2024, adding 60 yards through the air on 7-of-8 receiving.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans defensive back L'Jarius Sneed (quad) will miss his fifth-straight contest this weekend when his team hosts the visiting the Minnesota Vikings. The 27-year-old has not participated in practice since sustaining a quad injury in Tennessee's 20-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6. Fellow DBs Justin Hardee (groin), Roger McCreary (knee), and Jarvis Brownlee Jr (ankle) were all limited at practice on Friday. McCreary and Brownlee Jr. do not carry a designation heading into the weekend, while Hardee has been deemed questionable for the matchup. It's good news for the Titans, as McCreary and Brownlee Jr lead all Tennessee defensive backs in snaps. Still, the team's defensive backfield is dinged up, and they could need help covering football's No. 1 wide receiver, Justin Jefferson.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier carried the ball 11 times last week, the third time in the last five weeks that he's reached double-digit attempts while recording two TDs during that time. The 24-year-old nearly had a score last week as well, as the Falcons gave him three straight attempts from one yard out, only to be stuffed by the defense each time. Still, it means they trust him with the ball down there, even with star running back Bijan Robinson in tow. Still, without much of a role in the passing game, he's hard to trust for fantasy purposes as he isn't going to get many points unless he finds paydirt. Against a middle-of-the-road Denver rush defense this week, the matchup may look somewhat enticing, but with a somewhat low expected total and the Falcons as two-point underdogs, the potential game script does not appear to be in Allgeier's favor. View him as a mid-to-low-end RB3 in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
According to Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) is still "a couple weeks away" from making a return to the field. ESPN's Sarah Barshop reported the news. The 31-year-old veteran suffered a torn ACL and MCL in last season's wild-card loss to the Detroit Lions and has been on the PUP for all of 2024 thus far. While teammate Colby Parkinson had led the TE room for most of the year, it appears that second-year tight end Davis Allen has begun to take over those honors in recent weeks -- leading his positional cohorts in snaps since Week 9. With Higbee still working his way back from injury, Allen will have a few more weeks to cement himself as the team's preferred option. Fantasy managers can continue to steer clear of the Rams' tight end room for now.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce had a strong showing in Week 10, posting a 4-81-1 line on a season-high seven targets. The increased action was likely a result of fellow wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. missing the game with a back injury, and unfortunately for Pierce, Pittman is due to return in Week 11. They are different receivers, though, so Pierce still has a chance for one of his trademark big plays as he can stretch the field with his speed. In fact, the 24-year-old has the seventh-most air yards in all of football and has the highest percentage of air yards of the Colts' receiving corps at 28.4%. With his big play ability and the fact that both Pittman and Josh Downs have missed games due to injury, Pierce somewhat surprisingly is the team's leader in receiving yards and touchdowns with 516 and four respectively. Look for Pierce to again garner a handful of targets in Week 11 with a few receptions and a chance for a long score, making the former second-round draft pick a boom/bust WR4/5 this week.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Miami Dolphins. The fifth-year veteran kicked off the week tagged with a DNP but was able to log a limited session on Thursday before being downgraded again on Friday. Bryant has dealt with a few injuries this season and will now miss his second game of 2024. With teammate Michael Mayer (personal) deemed questionable, Las Vegas is in danger of being down two tight ends for the matchup. If Mayer cannot play, rookie sensation Brock Bowers would be slated for all the work he can handle, with Justin Shorter rotating in behind him. Shorter has appeared in three games this season but has yet to command a target on nine total snaps.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore comes out of his bye to take on the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 11. Moore has been heavily targeted over his past two games, drawing 21 targets over that span. The Saints represent a decent matchup for Moore as they are allowing the 11th-most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts. Moore has gone over 44 receiving yards just once all season and has yet to cross the goal line but his recent target volume makes him worth a look as a flex option in PPR leagues this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku will come out of his bye to face off against the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 11. Njoku has been on a hot streak of late, catching 20 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns over his past three contests. The Saints have been a middle-of-the-road matchup for tight ends this season as they are allowing the 18th-most fantasy points per game to the position thus far. Njoku has emerged as one of Jameis Winston's favorite targets since he took over as quarterback for the Browns and should be treated as a top-five fantasy tight end this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins comes out of his bye week to take on the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 11. Hopkins has made 14 of his 18 field-goal attempts and all but two of his 12 extra points through nine games. The Saints have been a plus matchup for kickers in fantasy this season, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position. Hopkins is worth considering as a top-15 fantasy kicker heading into Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman comes out of his bye to take on the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 11. Tillman was in the midst of a mini breakout before his bye, posting 21 catches for 255 yards and three touchdowns over his past three games. The second-year wideout will look to keep it going against a Saints defense that is allowing the 11th-most fantasy points per game to the position this season. Tillman and Jameis Winston have shown nice chemistry together thus far, making him trustworthy as a WR2 in fantasy in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins (shoulder) is in line for another start in Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Keon Coleman (wrist) will be inactive. Amari Cooper (wrist) is a question mark. Hollins is also on the injury report but did not miss practice this week and will be active on Sunday. With both Coleman and Cooper out of the lineup in Week 10, Hollins led the Bills with 86 receiving yards. Most of his production came on a 44-yard completion. Against a great Kansas City defense, Hollins can't be trusted to pace the Bills again nor should he be in fantasy football lineups. Buffalo's coaching staff likes him on the field for his intangibles more than his receiving skills.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (knee) comes out of his bye to take on the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 11. Jeudy continues to be listed on the Browns' injury report with a knee issue but he practiced fully all week and is listed without an injury designation heading into the weekend. The Saints represent a plus matchup for Jeudy as they are allowing the 11th-most fantasy points per game to the receiver position this season. Jeudy has reached at least 73 receiving yards in each of his two starts with Jameis Winston under center and should continue to see plenty of opportunities with Winston attempting at least 41 passes in each of his past two contests. Jeudy is worth a look as a flex option in fantasy this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson will be back under center for the first time since Week 8 after Joe Flacco led the team over the last two weeks. According to head coach Shane Steichen, Richardson will be the QB for the remainder of the season, but hopefully it will yield better results this time around. The 23-year-old produced an unsightly 44.4% completion rate in the six games he's played in this season and a subpar 4:7 TD:INT. His saving grace for fantasy was the fact that he gained at least 24 rush yards in each of those contests, but the only time he managed to punch one in for a score was way back in Week 1. With a poor matchup against the Jets on the road on tap in Week 11, it will be a challenge to put up useful fantasy output against a defense allowing the eighth-fewest points to opposing signal-callers and versus an opponent that is playing at home in desperate need of a win. The former first-round pick is a low-end QB2 for Sunday with a tiny bit of upside because of his legs.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass is 9-for-9 on field goals and 12-for-13 on extra points since Week 6. His resurgence came at a time when his job appeared to be in jeopardy. For fantasy football, he's scored the second-most points at the position in that timeframe. Overall, he's 30-for-33 on extra points and 18-for-21 on field goals. With his confidence back, Bass ranks as a top-12 kicker against the Chiefs. The Bills offense is missing key pieces in Keon Coleman (wrist) and Dalton Kincaid (knee) which could lead to more field goal opportunities.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is a fantasy football RB1 this season but will have an uphill battle to land in the top 12 in Week 11. The Kansas City Chiefs allow the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs and surrender 3.17 yards per carry. Cook can make up for a lack of rushing efficiency with work in the passing game. However, he only caught one pass against the Colts last week. That was without Amari Cooper (wrist) and Keon Coleman (wrist) in the lineup. Coleman will be out again. So will tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee). Cooper is questionable. The Chiefs may focus more on containing Cook on backfield routes. Regardless, the 25-year-old will see plenty of usage and ranks as an RB2 this week.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has four straight games with at least six receptions and enters Week 11 leading the team in catches (48) and receiving yards (529). He's providing a safe PPR floor and should get plenty of looks on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) will not play. Amari Cooper (wrist) is questionable and sporting a cast. The Chiefs are most susceptible to receiver production from the slot. That's Shakir's role and the health of other receivers does not impact that. The 24-year-old ranks as a high-end WR3 in PPR formats this week.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb comes out of his bye to face off against the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 11. Chubb has struggled in his three games played this season, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry on 42 attempts. The Saints have been one of the best matchups for running backs in the league this season as they are allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to the position. Chubb can be trusted as a low-end RB2 heading into Week 11 thanks to the friendly matchup.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox will be the team's go-to tight end this week against the Kansas City Chiefs. Dalton Kincaid (knee) will be inactive. Despite logging just 10 receptions this season, the 28-year-old is in the streaming conversation. He's had explosive weeks in the past and the matchup is fantastic. Defending the tight end position is the weakness of the Kansas City defense. The unit allows the second-most fantasy points and most yards to the position. Fantasy managers needing help at tight end should be able to find Knox on the waiver wire and plug him into lineups.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston comes out of his bye with a road game against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have been good against opposing quarterbacks this season as they are allowing just the 24th-most fantasy points per game to the position this season. Winston should see plenty of volume as he has made over 40 pass attempts in each of his two starts this year. The veteran is a viable fantasy option as a QB2 heading into Week 11 against New Orleans.
From RotoBaller
Whether on the ground or through the air, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (left hand) delivers 20+ fantasy point performances. He hasn't had a disappointing result since Week 5. Fantasy managers hope that doesn't change in Week 11 against a stout Kansas City defense. The Chiefs are better against the run than the pass, but Allen will also be without two of his primary receivers. Tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) and wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist) will be inactive. Amari Cooper (wrist) is questionable. Allen appeared on the injury report again with a hand injury that hasn't hampered him at all. Despite all that, Allen ranks as a QB1 in what should be a highly competitive game that could determine home-field advantage in the postseason.
From RotoBaller
