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FFL: Week 6 | NFL: Week 6

QB Strength of Schedule

Thu May 23 11:12am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

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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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 6

Player Notes
Jaleel McLaughlin Oct 12 7:20am ET
Jaleel McLaughlin

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin has very little fantasy upside heading into a Week 6 matchup against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers, a defense that has been stingy against the run in 2024. McLaughlin enters Sunday's game in Denver as the RB45 in half-PPR scoring as the backup to Javonte Williams in one of the lower-scoring offenses in the NFL. The 24-year-old has managed to find the end zone twice (one rushing, one receiving) in five games while averaging a weak 3.3 yards per carry on 33 rushing attempts. The potential addition of rookie Audric Estime (ankle) to the backfield this weekend is also bad news for McLaughlin moving forward. He's just not getting enough weekly touches to matter much in fantasy and hasn't been efficient at all with the touches he's been afforded. McLaughlin is only rostered in 19% of Yahoo leagues is an RB4/flex, at best, in deeper leagues.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Oct 12 7:20am ET
Caleb Williams

This Sunday, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams presents a high-risk, high-reward option as he goes up against the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars. In Week 5, Williams completed 20 of 29 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns, managing to avoid turnovers. This performance marks the second time he has surpassed 300 passing yards in three weeks, and it was his third straight week without an interception. After his standout game, he now faces the Jaguars, who allow an NFL-high 287.7 passing yards per game, providing Williams with an enticing opportunity. However, he'll have to contend with talented pass rushers like Travon Walker, who leads the team with five sacksincluding three in Week 5and Josh Hines-Allen, who has two sacks so far this season. The Jaguars have struggled to generate a pass rush and have yet to record an interception this year. This matchup sets the stage for Williams to excel, making him a strong candidate as a borderline QB1 in London.

From RotoBaller

D'Andre Swift Oct 12 7:20am ET
D'Andre Swift

The Chicago Bears' running back, D'Andre Swift, is a solid borderline RB2 for Sunday's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which presents a favorable opportunity. Last week, he delivered one of his best performances of the season, tallying 21 carries for 73 yards, a touchdown, and two receptions for 47 yards. Swift has hit his stride over the past two weeks, with rushing totals of 93 and 73 yards, scoring a touchdown in each game and adding a combined 114 receiving yards. However, a concern for Swift owners is that he has lost the goal-line role to Roschon Johnson, who vultured two touchdowns last week. It wouldn't be surprising to see Johnson receive more opportunities again this week, given a potentially similar game script. Start Swift confidently in this favorable matchup, but be aware that Johnson could limit his upside.

From RotoBaller

Javonte Williams Oct 12 7:00am ET
Javonte Williams

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams had his best fantasy output of the season in the Week 5 win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders with 13.6 half-PPR points, but don't be surprised if he regresses this Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. The Bolts D has allowed 94 rushing yards per game (sixth fewest) and 16.4 half-PPR points to RBs (seventh-fewest) so far in 2024 and are coming off their bye week. Williams has been more productive running the football in the last two weeks, but on the season as a whole, he's averaged a career-low-tying 3.6 yards per carry. The good news is that he's still Denver's clear lead back over Jaleel McLaughlin, but rookie Audric Estime (ankle) could enter the picture this weekend and complicate things down the road. Williams has had double-digit carries in three of five games in 2024, but the efficiency has been lacking in a weak offense. Consider him a low-end RB2/high-end RB3 in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Oct 12 6:50am ET
Bo Nix

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix should be treated as a low-end QB2 in fantasy in a Week 6 divisional matchup at home against the Los Angeles Chargers, who are coming off their bye week. Nix threw for a measly 60 yards in the Week 4 upset win over the New York Jets but was more efficient in last week's win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, throwing for 206 yards and two touchdowns. The 24-year-old has shown improvement during the team's current three-game winning streak with a 3:0 TD-to-interception ratio, but he averaged just 5.48 yards gained per pass attempt during that span and will be facing a Bolts defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing QBs through five weeks. Nix doesn't exactly have excellent weapons on offense to take the pressure off of him and enters Week 6 tied with Trevor Lawrence in overall fantasy points as the QB17.

From RotoBaller

Baker Mayfield Oct 12 6:00am ET
Baker Mayfield

The New Orleans Saints D/ST can be avoided in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. What started out as a unit that exceeded expectations in the first three weeks of the season has since petered out. In Weeks 1 through 3, the Saints averaged 3.6 sacks and 2.3 takeaways per game. Over their last two games, those figures dropped to 1.5 and 1.0, respectively. Tampa quarterback Baker Mayfield has been on a heater to start the season and has 11 touchdowns to two interceptions coming into the NFC South matchup. While he has been sacked 16 times already this season, Tampa's offensive line showed a massive improvement in Week 5, allowing just three pressures (including one sack) against the Falcons. Even if the Saints are able to get to Mayfield, the Buccaneers' offense is scoring 25.4 points per game and is a top-five team in preventing turnovers. Fantasy managers in need of a D/ST should shop the wire for a unit with a better matchup in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Wan'Dale Robinson Oct 12 4:20am ET
Wan'Dale Robinson

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson has been a reliable target this season, posting 32 receptions for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 47 targets. In Week 5's win against Seattle, Robinson had six catches for 36 yards and a touchdown, stepping up with Malik Nabers sidelined. Heading into a Week 6 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Robinson faces a defense that ranks 18th against the pass, allowing 214 passing yards per game and 10 receiving touchdowns. Given the injury to Nabers, Robinson's high target volume, and the Bengals' vulnerability to short-yardage receivers, Robinson is a solid PPR option, making him a strong flex play this week.

From RotoBaller

Blake Grupe Oct 12 4:10am ET
Blake Grupe

New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe went without a field goal attempt for the first time this season in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Grupe went 1-for-2 on extra point attempts in the game, making it his second missed point through the first five weeks of the season. Grupe's sophomore season started with a bang as he hit four field goals (including two 50-yarders) in Week 1 and benefited from the Saints' early offensive explosion by knocking home 10 extra points over their first two games. However, Grupe has not reached double-digit fantasy points since Week 1, and there's no reason to believe he is due for a big turnout in Week 6. The expected point total for the NFC South matchup against the Buccaneers is a mere 42 points, which is among the lowest on Sunday's slate. Grupe is not a bad option, per se, but fantasy managers can probably find a more promising option elsewhere.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Oct 12 4:00am ET
Chris Olave

Expectations for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave will have to be tempered in Week 6 with Derek Carr (oblique) lost to injury. Carr's fill-in, rookie Spencer Rattler, offered some reassurance in comments to the media after being named the starter when he stated his intent to feed Olave the ball. That would be a welcome change from Week 5, when Olave was targeted four times, making two catches for a season-low 10 receiving yards, his worst game since his two-catch, 11-yard performance in Week 1. In the three weeks between, Olave gave fantasy managers more of what they were hoping for when they drafted him, catching 18 of his 22 targets in that span and racking up at least 81 yards in each game. There is no denying Olave's talent but his success is still contingent on how Rattler performs in his professional debut. Fantasy managers should also be aware that Tampa's heavy utilization of zone coverages favors Rashid Shaheed (hip) more than it does Olave. Olave rates as a risky WR3 in Week 6 given the situation in New Orleans.

From RotoBaller

Juwan Johnson Oct 12 4:00am ET
Juwan Johnson

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson saw season highs in targets, receptions, and yards in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The fifth-year veteran caught all five balls thrown his way for 31 receiving yards, bringing his 2024 totals to nine receptions for 70 yards. Johnson may yet again see more involvement in the passing game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. Taysom Hill (ribs) has been ruled out and while he isn't utilized as a traditional tight end his absence does leave the door open for more opportunities for others. With Derek Carr (oblique) sidelined due to injury, Spencer Rattler might look for the big-bodied tight end as a safety valve as is often the case for rookie quarterbacks. Even with the allowances for optimism, the fact of the matter is that Johnson is not a priority in the Saints' offense. He rates as a low-end TE2 in Week 6 and should be avoided in most leagues.

From RotoBaller

Darius Slayton Oct 12 4:00am ET
Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is coming off his best performance of the season, posting 122 yards on eight receptions (15.3 yards per catch) in a Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Slayton has become a key target with 244 yards and one touchdown on the season, especially with injuries in the receiving corps (most notably, Malik Nabers). In Week 6, he faces a Cincinnati Bengals defense that ranks 18th against the pass, allowing 214 yards per game and 10 receiving touchdowns. Given Slayton's ability to stretch the field and his three end-zone targets this season, he's a solid flex play with the potential for a big day against a vulnerable secondary.

From RotoBaller

Tyrone Tracy Jr. Oct 12 3:50am ET
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has shown flashes of potential this season, rushing for 158 yards on 5.3 yards per carry, but has yet to find the end zone either as a runner or receiver. In Week 5's 29-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, Tracy was efficient on limited touches, contributing 129 rushing yards on 18 carries in his first start. Facing the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6, Tracy can exploit a defense that's been vulnerable on the ground, as the Bengals have allowed 126 rushing yards per game in 2024. Tracy could start again in this game and see the majority of work if Devin Singletary sits out due to injury (he is officially questionable).

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Oct 12 3:30am ET
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has had a solid start to the 2024 season, with 1,138 passing yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions through five games. Coming off a 29-20 win against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5, where he threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns, Jones will look to build momentum against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6. The Bengals' pass defense ranks 18th in the NFL, allowing 214 passing yards per game and 19.63 fantasy points to quarterbacks (28th in the league), making this a favorable matchup. With Cincinnati giving up two passing touchdowns per game, Jones has a solid chance to post another multi-touchdown outing, making him a viable streaming option for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Cam Little Oct 12 1:30am ET
Cam Little

Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little might have a tougher time against the Chicago Bears in London than he did in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts. The Jaguars put up 37 points against the Colts, giving Little a 13-point performance. The rookie kicker now has two straight weeks of double-digit fantasy production. Little has been accurate so far this season, only missing one field back in Week 2. The Bears defense has been good overall so far, but that has meant decent fantasy outputs from opposing kickers. The Bears have given up 10 field goals on 12 attempts through five games, meaning if the Jaguars do manage to move the ball, they could be in for multiple field goal attempts. The Jaguars offense has looked better lately and could be returning two starting weapons in Gabe Davis and Evan Engram. Little serves as a mid-tier fantasy play in Week 6 in London.

From RotoBaller

Robert Woods Oct 12 1:20am ET
Robert Woods

Houston Texans wide receiver Robert Woods (foot) won't suit up for Sunday's matchup with the Patriots. Nico Collins (hamstring) landed on the injured reserved list, so the Texans will be shorthanded on the receiving end. Of course, Stefon Diggs is expected to be the primary target for C.J. Stroud versus New England, with Tank Dell in line to see more attention. However, with Woods and Collins out of the equation, Xavier Hutchinson, who had two catches for 31 yards in Week 5, could benefit the most. There's also a chance Joe Mixon (ankle), who is questionable, gets more passes out of the backfield, which would improve his PPR stock.

From RotoBaller

Joe Flacco Oct 12 1:20am ET
Joe Flacco

The Jacksonville Jaguars defense/special teams unit is best left out of starting lineups in most leagues even with a decent London matchup with the Chicago Bears. The Jaguars defense just hasn't cut it both from an NFL and fantasy football standpoint. They are coming off allowing 34 points to Joe Flacco and the Indianapolis Colts, and only have forced two turnovers all season (a forced fumble in each of the last two games). The only thing the defense has going for them is sacks, which they couldn't even manage in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills, giving them a negative output for the week. As one of the worst defenses in the NFL, it is hard to trust them in fantasy against any opponent. Caleb Williams had some early rookie struggles, which could mean more turnovers forced than usual, but the Bears offense has looked better lately and should score plenty of points. Fantasy managers should avoid the Jaguars D/ST in Week 6 and beyond.

From RotoBaller

Dameon Pierce Oct 12 1:00am ET
Dameon Pierce

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) is off the injury report for Sunday's game against the Patriots. The 24-year-old has been sidelined since last appearing in Week 1 versus the Colts, when he finished with three carries for 16 yards. With Joe Mixon (ankle) potentially also returning for this one, Pierce's fantasy outlook isn't promising. However, even if Mixon misses another contest, Pierce will likely back up Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers, who have been handling things out of the backfield.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Henry Oct 12 12:50am ET
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry lacks much fantasy appeal heading into Week 6 against the Houston Texans, but he could see a slight boost in his value with Drake Maye installed as the team's new starting quarterback over Jacoby Brissett. Tight ends are typically productive when playing with backup or rookie quarterbacks because their height, physicality, and shorter routes make them a valuable security option for signal-callers who need some help in the short passing game. As a result, even though Henry has more than two catches in just one game this season, he should jump into the low-end TE2 tier as he supports Maye in his first NFL start.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Oct 12 12:50am ET
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (ankle) was limited in Friday's practice. He was also limited on Thursday because of a sprained ankle suffered during the loss to the Minnesota Vikings. However, barring a setback, the signal-caller should be good to go for Monday's divisional clash with the Buffalo Bills. Rodgers hasn't had the best 2024-25 campaign, throwing for 1,093 yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions while completing 61.0% of his throws. With the Jets looking for answers, the team resorted to firing Robert Saleh and naming Jeff Ulbrich as the interim head coach. But unless things change on the offensive side of the ball for New York moving ahead, Rodgers is a shaky fantasy option in any format.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Conklin Oct 12 12:50am ET
Tyler Conklin

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin (hip) logged another limited practice on Friday. The 29-year-old picked up a hip injury during Sunday's loss to the Vikings in London. However, he is expected to suit up in the Monday night divisional clash with the Buffalo Bills, barring a setback. Conklin hasn't been a consistent fantasy tight end this season. Yet, he's had five or more catches in two of the Jets' five games this season. Although he's still a risky fantasy option in any format, especially if Aaron Rodgers (ankle) doesn't play, the upside is there for those in need of a streaming option in Week 6.

From RotoBaller