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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Dynasty | Soon-to-be free agent quarterback Sam Darnold has been linked to the Raiders. Dynasty Analysis: This isn't the first time we've seen Darnold's name floated as a possibility for Las Vegas and likely won't be the last. It makes a lot of sense after the Raiders failed to hit on either Gardner Minshew or Aidan O'Connell last year and are in dire need of a new signal caller. In addition, they are likely out of range when it comes to drafting a franchise quarterback as their pick currently sits at #6 overall. Darnold is looking to cash in for the first time in his career after a spectacular season in Minnesota. While not a truly elite player in fantasy or reality, Darnold really did prove to be a capable starter and would be a huge upgrade in Las Vegas. Regardless, Darnold looks like a player who should be a starter and a fringe QB1 next season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have requested to interview James Gladstone for their vacant general manager position. Gladstone is currently the director of scouting with the Los Angeles Rams. He has been with the team for nearly a decade and has been the director of scouting for a handful of years with the Rams. The Jags recently moved on from former GM Trent Baalke, so this search could take some time. They've already hired their new head coach in Liam Coen. The Jags are also reportedly interested in interviewing Josh Williams who is the director of football operations with the San Francisco 49ers. That being said, this could come down to a two-horse race after Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg pulled his name from consideration. Both Gladstone and Williams have plenty of experience and appear to be solid candidates.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III made a good enough impression in his NFL debut in the Week 18 victory against the Buffalo Bills backups that he could become a trade chip this offseason. "I thought the Patriots would hold off on entertaining a trade of Joe Milton, who was drafted in the sixth round (193rd overall) last year, for at least another season, but there's increasing belief around the NFL that the Patriots are at least contemplating a trade of Milton this offseason," Boston Sports Journal's Greg Bedard wrote. This year's QB draft class is considered weak, and the Pats could fetch up to a third-round pick for Milton this year if QB-needy teams don't feel like taking their chances on QB prospects like Riley Leonard, Dillon Gabriel or Jaxson Dart. If New England doesn't shop Milton before the draft in April, they could revisit and look to trade him this summer.
From RotoBaller
The Cincinnati Bengals announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley to a Reserve/Futures deal. Tinsley will not count on the team's active list until after the Super Bowl on Monday, Feb. 10. The 25-year-old went undrafted out of college in 2023 but eventually latched on with the Washington Commanders. He was active for two games with the Commanders in 2023 but wasn't targeted at all. Tinsley spent all of the 2024 campaign on the team's practice squad. He will now head to the AFC and continue his development with the Bengals all offseason up through training camp. If Tinsley sticks around beyond camp, he'll likely open the regular season this fall on Cincy's practice squad. Tinsley played collegiately at Hutchinson Community College, Western Kentucky and Penn State.
From RotoBaller
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Los Angeles Rams are willing to eat some of veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp's $7.5 million signing bonus for the 2025 season to facilitate a trade this offseason. It's no secret that the Rams were shopping Kupp at last year's trade deadline. Although they ended up keeping him around, Kupp went public on Monday that the Rams want to trade him this offseason. At this point, it would be a surprise if the 31-year-old was in L.A. next season. The former third-rounder in 2017 out of Eastern Washington had the receiving Triple Crown in 2021 but hasn't played more than 12 games in a season since due to injuries and is on the wrong side of 30. Kupp could still be productive in a new uniform in 2025, depending on where he ends up, but for fantasy purposes, managers need to weigh his injury risk heavily when considering him in drafts this fall.
From RotoBaller
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, linebacker Ernest Jones IV and the Seahawks have mutual interest in a reunion. The 25-year-old was traded to Seattle during the 2024 season. He opened the campaign with Tennessee and tallied 44 tackles before moving to the northwest. Over his 10 games with Seattle, Jones totaled 94 tackles (48 solo) with 46 assists. He added 0.5 sacks, with two deflections and one interception. He played the first three seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Rams. During the 2023 season, the former third-round pick tallied a career-high 145 tackles (74 solo) with 4.5 sacks and six pass deflections. If he does return to Seattle, fantasy managers should continue to expect Jones to have a starting role in their defense.
From RotoBaller
According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, the New York Giants may view defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches as a cap casualty during the offseason. Nunez-Roches inked a three-year, $12 million deal with the Giants before the 2023 season but has not performed up to his contract. Duggan noted that the 31-year-old was "overexposed after being elevated to the No. 2 defensive tackle spot next to Dexter Lawrence this season." In 2024, Nunez-Roches tallied 52 tackles (14 solo) with 38 assists. He added two sacks, which tied a previous career-high he set during the 2022 season. If the team were to part ways with Nunez-Roches before the 2025 season, Elijah Chatman could have an increased role next season, as he was typically deployed as a rotational piece on the defensive line in 2024.
From RotoBaller
According to Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald, the Miami Dolphins have shown interest in drafting a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft. Kelly noted that the team had had discussions with Alabama's Jalen Milroe and Oregon's Dillon Gabriel at the Senior Bowl about potentially being the team's backup quarterback behind Tua Tagovailoa. Kelly noted that Ole Miss' Jaxon Dart did not say if the Dolphins contacted him. While Tagovailoa is still viewed as the franchise quarterback, he has missed time throughout his career and his injuries impacted Miami's playoff push in 2024. This season, Tagovailoa suffered another concussion during Week 2 and missed the following four games. Then, later in the season, he suffered a hip injury, which kept him sidelined during the final two games. However, he was effective when he was on the field, averaging 260.6 yards per game with 19 TDs. Fantasy managers in dynasty formats should continue to monitor this situation, as the Dolphins may be willing to spend a Day 2 pick on a quarterback to sit behind Tagovailoa.
From RotoBaller
According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden could be given a contract extension during the offseason. The 2022 fifth-round pick out of Indiana has been a productive player in the New York defense over the past two seasons. Duggan noted that general manager Joe Schoen may "try to get ahead of the curve" and extend the linebacker before his rookie contract expires. After tallying just 59 tackles during his rookie season, McFadden has logged at least 100 tackles in each of the past two seasons. This season, the 25-year-old tallied a career-best 107 tackles (60 solo) with 47 assists, one deflection, and three sacks. He also forced a fumble. He missed the final two games of the season due to a neck injury but was still able to enjoy an impressive season. Fantasy managers should expect McFadden to remain a key contributor to the New York defense in 2025.
From RotoBaller
According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, the New York Giants are expected to pick up the fifth-year option on linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux. Duggan noted that while Thibodeaux has shown flashes of elite upside, he has not made the impact the team had hoped, given that he was selected with the fifth-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. As a result, Duggan expects the team to pick up his option instead of discussing a long-term contract. After tallying just four sacks with 48 tackles in his rookie season, Thibodeaux enjoyed a massive sophomore season where he tallied 11.5 sacks. In that season, he totaled 50 tackles and three forced fumbles. However, in 2024, Thibodeaux took a step back as he logged just 5.5 sacks with 28 tackles. Fantasy managers should expect Thibodeaux to have a starting role in the New York defense next season.
From RotoBaller
According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (shoulder) dealt with a shoulder injury during the back half of the 2024 season, which hindered his play. Cousins said that he suffered this injury following their Week 10 contest against the New Orleans Saints. The veteran said he "Got hit pretty good in my right shoulder and elbow, and from there, it was kind of something I was working through." Then, over the final three weeks, the team opted to bench Cousins in favor of rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Before this injury, Cousins performed quite well, averaging 263.4 passing yards per game with a 17:8 TD:INT ratio. However, over his final four contests, the 36-year-old averaged just 218.5 passing yards per game and threw just one score with eight interceptions. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the offseason as the team may look to find a trade partner, as Penix is viewed as their franchise option.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins (shoulder) recently told Good Morning Football: Overtime that he 'got hit pretty good' in his right shoulder and elbow in Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints and 'never could get it really to where I wanted it.'
Fantasy Spin: For what it is worth, Cousins was pleased with how his Achilles healed. The box scores back up what Cousins is saying, as he entered Week 10 with a 17:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Over his final five starts (beginning with the loss in New Orleans), it was 1:9. Cousins will almost certainly not be on the roster next season, but the combination of knocking off the rust from his Achilles rehab combined with the ill-timed shoulder/elbow injury may have been the root cause of his disappointing season in Atlanta. Fantasy managers should not be surprised if Cousins rebounds a bit with a new team in 2025.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack has announced he will play at least one more season after retirement rumors following the 2024 campaign, but the former fifth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason. However, Daniel Popper of The Athletic believes the Chargers are "in the driver's seat" to keep Mack in the organization as he tests free agency. The 33-year-old collected 17 sacks in 2023 before a six-sack season in 2024, but he is still a disruptive player, and the organization might not be far away from Super Bowl contention after making the playoff in the first year with head coach Jim Harbaugh at the helm. Contending teams will likely be interested in Mack's services, but it sounds like L.A. will be among the potential suitors.
From RotoBaller
According to NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay, Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson could be in contention to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. "He's going early," McShay said. "Like he might go first-round early." The 22-year-old spent four seasons in Columbus and rushed for 3,761 yards (6.4) YPC and 42 touchdowns along with 77 receptions for 853 yards and receiving touchdowns in 47 career games. Henderson flashed in four College Football Playoff games, racking up 414 total yards on just 44 touches. He is already viewed as one of the top running backs in the upcoming rookie class, but Round 1 or early Round 2 draft capital could cause him to shoot up rookie draft and 2025 fantasy football redraft draft boards.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins doesn't know where he'll play next season. Dynasty Analysis: Cousins is now saying a shoulder injury affected his play in Atlanta before he was replaced by Michael Penix Jr last season. Regardless, that move has been made permanent and his future is now cloudy. It seems very likely he's moved in the off-season to a team not in position to get one of the NFL Draft's top-tier signal callers. Cousins still has some upside, but he also seems like a player who needs a pretty strong supporting cast to be successful at this point in his career. Regardless, he looks like a QB2 moving forward in dynasty leagues and no longer a weekly starter.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed on Tuesday, Feb. 4, that he will not retire after Super Bowl LIX and will return to coach the team for a 13th season in 2025.
From TheHuddle
Former longtime Buffalo Bills S Micah Hyde announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
From TheHuddle
Dynasty | The Rams are reportedly planning on trading wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Dynasty Analysis: Kupp wants to stay, but the Rams are ready to move on. Kupp struggled with injuries again last year en route to 67 catches for 710 yards and six touchdowns, ceding WR1 duties to Puka Nacua in the process. Now 31, those nagging injuries may have caught up to him. Now three years removed from his last 1,000 yard season (a 1,947 yard monster in 2021), Kupp will look to join a contender with the Ravens, Commanders and Chiefs all being mentioned already. We'll see where he lands, but Kupp's days as a true WR1 are likely over.
Dynasty | Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce isn't considering retirement quite yet. Dynasty Analysis: Kelce went as far as to say he wouldn't consider retiring even if the Chiefs win their third Super Bowl in a row this weekend. Now 35, he may well go down as the greatest tight end in league history in the end, but that end isn't now. Dynasty managers should be excited to hear the news and while his 97/823/3 line isn't what they've come to expect, Kelce should still be a solid low-end TE1 next season.
Long-time NFL kicker Mason Crosby officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday after a 17-year career. During Crosby's lengthy NFL career (all but one season with the Green Bay Packers), he was a Super Bowl champion, the Packers' all-time leading scorer and finished 11th all time in points in NFL history. The 40-year-old was originally a sixth-round selection by Green Bay in the 2007 NFL draft out of the University of Colorado. Despite his lengthy career, Crosby was never selected to a Pro Bowl or as an All-Pro. He finishes his career with an 81.3 success rate (400-for-492 on field goals) while making 97.2 percent of his 760 career extra-point attempts. Crosby went 44-for-80 on field goals of 50-plus yards in his career. He did not kick at all in 2024 and only played in three games in his final season in 2023 with the New York Giants.
From RotoBaller
