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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From RotoBaller
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Carolina Panthers want veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen back for the 2025 campaign. Thielen hinted that he would contemplate retirement this offseason, but he recently said that he has decided to come back for another season. The 34-year-old veteran is due for more than $6 million in overall payout in the final year of his deal, but the two sides could renegotiate on a new one-year contract or extension. Fowler gets the sense that the Panthers don't plan to release Thielen. The two-time Pro Bowler played in just 10 games in 2024 due to a hamstring injury and finished with a 48-615-5 line on 62 targets. Thielen did have over 1,000 receiving yards in his first year in Carolina in 2023 and has plenty of chemistry with rising young quarterback Bryce Young. The upside is limited, but fantasy managers shouldn't discount his rapport with Young if he stays with the Panthers.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Arizona Cardinals hope to re-sign impending free-agent tight end Trey McBride this offseason. The tight end market has been in the $15-17 million per-year range for some time now, but McBride could change that this offseason after recording 192 catches the last two seasons. Although he inexplicably scored just two touchdowns during the 2024 season, McBride led the Cardinals across the board as a receiver and also set new career-highs in receptions (111), targets (147) and receiving yards (1,146) in 16 games played. His 1,146 receiving yards were second at the position, behind only rookie Brock Bowers. McBride was the TE3 in half-PPR scoring, behind Bowers and George Kittle. He will be highly coveted on the open market, but it sounds like Arizona will do everything in their power to retain him. McBride has upside for more in 2025 if he can find the end zone more.
From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford appears likely to return to the Rams next season, sources told ESPN.com's Dan Graziano.
Fantasy Spin: Stafford is expected to consider retirement this offseason, but it looks like he will be with the Rams if he continues his career. He played well this season but probably will be a No. 2 quarterback in fantasy leagues if he plays in 2025.
From TheHuddle
Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce has not decided on his playing future at this point, and the result of Super Bowl LIX could play a factor in his decision, according to sources.
Fantasy Spin: Kelce has been one of the top tight ends in the NFL for a while but is 35 years old and could decide on retirement soon. Fantasy players should keep an eye on the situation over the next few weeks to see if Kelce will play in 2025.
From TheHuddle
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is uncertain if he'll be back on the football field next season. Kelce said he has a lot of good football left in him, but is unsure if he'll return after Sunday's Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles. It seems that Sunday's result could play a factor in Kelce's final decision. Kelce has played over a decade in the league and is one of the greatest tight ends to ever play. It's worth noting that Kelce has set himself up nicely for life after football. That being said, it wouldn't be shocking to see Kelce call it a career if the Chiefs are able to three-peat on Sunday. Kelce doesn't have much left to accomplish in his career, so a Super Bowl victory might be a nice way to ride into the sunset.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers WR Adam Thielen is expected to return to the Panthers next season and could be a candidate for the contract this offseason, according to ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler.
Fantasy Spin: Thielen was limited to 10 games this season but was still one of the better receivers for the Panthers in 2024. He should see a decent amount of targets next season and can be a No. 3 or No. 4 receiver in fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Steven Nelson has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles. Nelson came out of retirement to join the Chiefs roster in December. He hasn't played in a game since 2023, but he might get a chance to play in the Super Bowl. The most likely scenario is that Nelson is being brought up as emergency depth. The 32-year-old began his career with the Chiefs in 2015 and will look to end it at the top with a Super Bowl victory.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears impending free-agent WR Keenan Allen probably will not return to the Bears unless he is opening to signing a one-year contract with a team-friendly salary, in the opinion of BearsWire's Alyssa Barbieri.
Fantasy Spin: Allen had some success with the Bears but probably will receive interest from a few teams if he tests the free-agent market. He should be a solid part of a passing game for a team next season and can be a No. 3 or No. 4 receiver in fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (triceps) has been activated off the injured reserve on Saturday. Graham missed a majority of the second half of the season after tearing his tricep in late November. He sat out the first three postseason games as well, but Graham is healthy enough to play in the Super Bowl on Sunday. The veteran pass rusher has already said this is going to be his last season, so he'll get a chance to go out as a Super Bowl champion. At this point in his career, Graham is a situational player, but having him on the field is a boost for this Eagles defense as they look to knock off the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Bills quarterback Josh Allen was named the NFL's most valuable player. Dynasty Analysis: Allen edged out Lamar Jackson in one of the closest votes ever. He was again fantastic despite a depleted supporting cast this year, accounting for a whopping 40 total touchdowns. Allen simply proved he was capable of elevating any offense to elite levels and remains one of the very best players to build around in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | Joe Burrow was named the NFL's Comeback player of the Year. Dynasty Analysis: Burrow returned from various injuries last year to lead the league in passing yards (4,918) and passing touchdowns (43) and finished third in Total QBR (74.7). You could say he had a good year. With Ja'Marr Chase likely around for the long-term. Burrow is about as good as you can get at quarterback in dynasty leagues at the moment. He should be an elite-level QB1 for many years to come and his ADP could climb this off-season.
Dynasty | Saquon Barkley was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year. Dynasty Analysis: After signing as a free agent, Barkley became just the ninth player to reach 2,000 rushing yards and finished just 100 yards shy of Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record (2,105). He also had seven 60-plus-yard touchdown runs, the most in a single season. In a word, Barkley was dominant this year for Philly. His ADP has risen this season and he could simply the best "short-term" buy in all of dynasty leagues as he could put up two or three more seasons like this one.
Dynasty | Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year. Dynasty Analysis: This was a no-brainer in the land of no-brainers. Daniels became only the sixth rookie quarterback to lead his team to a conference championship game and had the league's best win (at Detroit) in the process. He also rushed for more yards (891) than any other rookie quarterback in history and threw for a whopping 3,568 passing yards. and 25 touchdowns, becoming the league's fourth best passer in terms of total QBR. In short, he was a stud. He'll be a top-flight QB1 for years to come.
Philadelphia Eagles DE Brandon Graham (elbow) was activated from the Reserve/Injured list Saturday, Feb. 8. The team also placed OG Nick Gates (groin) on the Reserve/Injured list.
From TheHuddle
