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.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) is questionable ahead of the team's matchup against the Tennessee Titans. In what was initially described as a cleat issue by GM Ryan Poles, the veteran receiver was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. His status was upgraded to a full participant on Friday. While officially listed as questionable, Allen appears to be trending in the right direction to make his debut as a Chicago Bear. There are a lot of mouths to feed in the Chicago passing game, but top wide receiver DJ Moore may get shadowed by star cornerback L'Jarius Sneed on Sunday. That could open up more opportunities for Allen. He's a low-end WR3 for the matchup against the Titans.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (finger) is not carrying an injury designation into the team's divisional matchup against the New Orleans Saints. While limited in practice earlier in the week, Sanders practiced in full on Thursday and Friday. Although rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) is on the PUP list and will miss four games, there still isn't a fantasy-worthy role for Sanders on the Panthers. He'll be the direct backup to Chuba Hubbard on a low-powered offense. The former Eagle averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry in his first season in Carolina in 2023.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers and tight end Pat Freiermuth have agreed to a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension. The 25-year-old secured 60+ receptions in his first two professional seasons before his production declined in 2023. Still, there's optimism surrounding the former Penn State Nittany Lion in 2024. With an unproven wide receiver corps behind George Pickens and Arthur Smith's utilization of tight ends, Freiermuth could be the team's second-leading target earner. However, Smith does also tend to deploy multiple tight ends. Freiermuth is ranked right on the TE1/2 line against the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans kicker Nick Folk will start the season in Chicago taking on the Bears in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. Folk was the #19 kicker last year but the ranking wasn't emblematic of his effectiveness. It was a career-year for the 39-year old veteran, who finished first in the NFL with a 96.7% conversion rate. The Titans have a completely revamped offense which should score more than 17.9 points per game (26th overall), meaning Folk will have many more opportunities to score fantasy points. However, Chicago has one of the best defenses in the league and is playing on their home turf in Week 1. With the Titans offense still unproven, Folk is probably better left on waivers for opening weekend.
From RotoBaller
The Carolina Panthers have ruled out tight ends Tommy Tremble (hamstring, back) and Ian Thomas (calf) for the team's season opener against the New Orleans Saints. Both players did not participate in any practices this week. Rookie fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders is now in line to start in his NFL debut. Converted veteran wide receiver Jordan Matthews and Messiah Swinson will back up the rookie. Bryce Young and the Carolina offense aren't expected to pick up a lot of yards through the air. Sanders should only be rostered in Dynasty formats.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears takes on the stout Chicago Bears defense in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. Spears played second-fiddle to future Hall-of-Famer Derrick Henry last season who bolted for the Ravens in free agency. Even with Henry receiving the lion's share of the work, Spears was able to snag 52 passes, tied for ninth among RBs in 2023. Tony Pollard came over from the Cowboys on a fairly lucrative deal, but Spears should still have a major role in this new-look versatile offense. The Bears in return basically all of their stud defensive line from a unit that ranked #1 in the league in rushing yards allowed per game. It will be very tough to run on this front, but with Spears' passing game chops he should see enough work to warrant deeper league flex value, with a slight upgrade in full-PPR formats.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard heads to Chicago to face the Bears on NFL opening weekend. Pollard came to Nashville by way of Dallas on a 3-year, $21.75M deal this offseason after an underwhelming year as the Cowboys lead back. He now takes over a Titans backfield that is without superstar workhorse Derrick Henry, but retains the shifty Tyjae Spears who flashed quite a bit last season and should get a sizable workload. Titans Offensive Coordinator Nick Holz recently said the backfield will likely be a 50/50 split which brings Pollard's value down some, but he should still be the 1A to Spears' 1B in the backfield at least to begin the year. Week 1 will be anything but easy traveling to the Chicago and their #1 rushing defense from last year, which should be elite once again in 2024. Consider him a low-end flex for Week 1.
From RotoBaller
The Tennessee Titans have officially ruled out safety Jamal Adams (hip) for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Week 1. The writing was on the wall for Adams to be out for the season opener when he missed his second straight practice on Thursday. The 28-year-old oft-injured defensive back apparently wasn't able to get back on the field on Friday. Adams missed most of training camp this summer due to soreness in his hip and will need more time to get ready for the 2024 campaign. He's no longer on the fantasy radar in IDP leagues as a backup safety for the Titans this year. With Adams ruled out against Chicago, expect rookie Julius Wood to operate as the team's backup strong safety this weekend behind Amani Hooker.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley heads into a Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The veteran wideout revitalized his career last season in Jacksonville with over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns, helping him secure a large payday from the Titans this spring. With DeAndre Hopkins now 32 and in his last year of his contract, Ridley figures to be the WR1 for this offense captained by sophomore quarterback Will Levis. Week 1 presents one of the toughest matchups all year with the Chicago Bears and their formidable secondary led by lockdown corner Jaylon Johnson, who also just signed a massive extension in the offseason. The good news for Ridley owners is that Hopkins is likely to see more of the All-Pro in coverage, meaning the former Alabama star should have his fair share of chances to exploit this defense. Ridley checks in as a low-mid tier WR2 for Week 1 of the NFL season.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo takes on the Chicago Bears in an NFL opening weekend matchup. The former fourth-round pick was a popular breakout candidate last season, and while that didn't pan out due to the ineffectiveness of Ryan Tannehill at QB, Okonkwo was much more productive when Levis took over as the starting quarterback. There's some post-hype sleeper vibes around Okonkwo heading into year three, but he is still at best the fourth target in this offense behind Ridley, Hopkins, and Pollard/Spears at the moment. With the Bears ranking middle-of-the-pack against tight ends last season and Okonkwo near the bottom of the pass-catching pecking order, he's better left on fantasy benches in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
The Tennessee Titans defense will face 2024 #1 pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears in Week 1. This unit was at or below average in most statistical categories last season leading to a #26 finish among fantasy defenses. The Titans signed some big names for their secondary including star cornerbacks L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie, as well as veterans Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams. This should immediately give them a borderline top-10 secondary and help force more turnovers through the air. DT Denico Autry is gone along with his 11.5 sacks, but Jeffrey Simmons and Harold Landry are back in the mix along with 2024 second-round pick T'Vondre Sweat who should be an impact run-stopper. Chicago presents a stiff test with two elite receivers in Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, along with 2024 #9 overall pick Rome Odunze to form one of the best receiving corps in the league. QB1 Caleb Williams hasn't played a regular season snap yet, but he has all the tools to succeed sooner rather than later. Throw in D'Andre Swift and you have countless weapons on offense, which should prompt fantasy managers to leave this unit on waivers for Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis travels to Chicago to take on Caleb Williams and the Bears in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. The Kentucky product started eight games last season due to the inept play of Ryan Tannehill and showed major flashes throughout his short stint as the lead signal caller in Nashville, all while dealing with a horrible offensive line. With revamped protection and receiver core that now features Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, Levis has a huge opportunity in front of him to prove that he is "the guy" for this franchise, and it starts with a tough test on the road against Chicago in Week 1. The Bears ranked in the top half of the league last season in total yards allowed, but most of that was bolstered by their #1 rushing defense. Stopping opposing quarterbacks was not their strong suit, but they did add former Titan / All-Pro safety Kevin Byard in the offseason, which should give that unit a major boost. While Chicago gave up considerable yardage total through the air, they actually led the NFL with 22 interceptions last season. Because Levis is still mostly unproven and has a tough road test against a stout defense, he should only be started in deeper superflex formats.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf), who left Thursday's practice after reporting what the team called calf tightness, was seen on the practice field on Friday. There have been conflicting reports on Wilson's status for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Wilson's status is firmly up in the air, mainly because of how cautious the team's medical staff has been with Wilson's injury that he initially suffered in training camp. However, head coach Mike Tomlin said the team has no worries that the 35-year-old won't be available this weekend. The fact that Wilson is on the field on Friday is a good sign that he'll be able to suit up and make his Steelers debut. If Wilson is active, he'll be a midrange QB2 in an offense that lacks receiving talent for him to work with.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (knee) is listed as questionable for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, according to head coach Brian Callahan. Hopkins was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday and will now be a game-time decision on Sunday morning. The good news for fantasy managers that are considering using the 32-year-old in their starting lineups as a WR4/flex this weekend is that offensive coordinator Nick Holz said on Thursday that the Titans expect Hopkins to have a big role on offense if he does suit up. Still, Nuk's questionable status makes him more of a shaky WR4/flex option entering Week 1 action. If he doesn't end up getting the green light on Sunday, it will mean more targets for Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, Treylon Burks and tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo.
From RotoBaller
Talks between the Pittsburgh Steelers and tight end Pat Freiermuth on a long-term contract extension are progressing with the Week 1 regular-season opener right around the corner on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, according to sources. The Steelers are trying to get Freiermuth signed before Sunday's kickoff. With offensive coordinator Arthur Smith now in the Steel City, the 25-year-old Freiermuth is expected to become a much bigger part of the offense in 2024 and beyond, even though quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) hasn't traditionally targeted the position all that much. Mainly given the lack of Pittsburgh's receiving depth behind WR1 George Pickens, analysts believe that if he stays healthy, Freiermuth should be the second-most targeted pass-catcher this year. Freiermuth lines up as a high-end TE2 for fantasy managers in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen has officially ruled wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) out for the Week 1 regular season contest on Sunday versus the division-rival Houston Texans. Things had been trending this way all week as Downs was unable to practice due to a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in August. The 23-year-old worked off to the side in practices this week, though, and appears to be getting close to a return, so it's possible he may be able to make his 2024 debut in Week 2 at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. With Downs officially out this weekend, it will make both rookie Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce a bit more attractive as DFS sleepers behind WR1 Michael Pittman Jr. The 21-year-old Mitchell was selected with the 52nd overall pick back in April in the second round. He has the ability to line up inside or outside and should give fantasy managers a bit more upside than Pierce.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys plan on committing to their running game in 2024. "We will be good running the football and that's because we're going to commit to it," head coach Mike McCarthy said on Friday. Dallas' backfield looks like their biggest weakness on offense heading into the 2024 campaign after Tony Pollard left in free agency. As things stand right now, veteran Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle project as co-starters at the RB position, with second-year back Deuce Vaughn serving as the No. 3. Veteran Dalvin Cook was recently signed for additional depth, but he'll have to work his way to the active roster off the practice squad. McCarthy could play the hot hand between Elliott and Dowdle, but the early belief is that Dowdle is going to lead the Cowboys' backfield in touches when all is said and done. Dowdle lines up as more of an upside play than Zeke, who is likely to be more touchdown-dependent.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has been in the headlines often in the lead-up to Week 1 of the regular season this Sunday against the New England Patriots, mainly because of his high-profile contract stand-off with the team. Chase said that Friday is his deadline for a long-term contract extension to be completed, but he also things a deal is within striking distance. Even if a new deal isn't reached by Friday, the All-Pro pass-catcher said he'd be willing to play in 2024. In terms of whether he'll play this weekend in the season opener, though, Chase has labeled himself a "game-time decision" and said he'd likely be limited if he does suit up. Not only does this make Chase a much more shaky WR1 in fantasy in Week 1, but it puts a dark cloud over the entire Cincy offense with wideout Tee Higgins (hamstring) also looking potentially questionable to play. We may not have a clear picture on Chase's and Higgins' availability until Sunday morning.
From RotoBaller
Updating a previous report, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) tweaked his hamstring at practice on Thursday, according to head coach Zac Taylor. The head coach said "we'll see" in terms of Higgins' availability for Week 1 on Sunday against the New England Patriots. Higgins wasn't seen at the portion of practice open to the media on Friday and he's now trending toward a questionable tag on the final injury report. With Ja'Marr Chase (holdout) claiming himself a game-time decision for the season opener, too, it's possible the Bengals could be without both of their top two receivers this weekend. Chase and Higgins should be in fantasy lineups if they are active, but their Week 1 stock is trending down. If one or both of them are inactive against the Pats, it will open the door for much bigger roles for receiver Andrei Iosivas and tight end Mike Gesicki, among others. Stay tuned.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay (hernia) was not seen at Friday's practice, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. This is not a great sign for the 30-year-old who has not logged one practice, which puts his status for Week 1 in danger. Gay underwent a sports hernia procedure after the team's final preseason game during the final week of August. If Gay cannot suit up on Sunday, rookie Spencer Shrader will likely serve as the No.1 when the Colts take on the Houston Texans. Gay had one of the worst seasons of his career last fall as he posted a mere 80.5% on field goal attempts, which was a start drop compared to the strong 93.3% he held in 2022. Fantasy managers looking to stream a kicker this weekend should not look to adding Shrader, who could be making his NFL debut on Sunday.
From RotoBaller