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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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 6

Player Notes
Bucky Irving Oct 13 6:00pm ET
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving made his first career start during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. The rookie back did a nice job in place of lead back Rachaad White (foot) on Sunday. He rushed 14 times for 81 yards and a touchdown in the win. He was outshined by fellow back Sean Tucker who rushed for 136 yards with two scores. Despite that, Irving has made a strong push to be the full-time starter, but White and Tucker should both remain in the mix. Irving continues to impress on a weekly basis and should be in the RB2 conversation for next week's matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

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Tucker Kraft Oct 13 5:50pm ET
Tucker Kraft

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft was the odd man out from the big production in the Packers' 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6. Kraft, who had been the overall TE1 the last two weeks in fantasy football, was kept to a relatively quiet day, bringing in just two receptions on four targets for 13 yards. He also added a rushing attempt for two yards as he watched Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Jayden Reed score receiving touchdowns from quarterback Jordan Love, who had four touchdown throws on the day. With the returning weapons back in the lineup for the Packers, it was possible that the targets would be spread out once again and that's exactly what happened as 10 Packers notched at least one target. Even after a quiet game from Kraft, he's still a low-end TE1 option when the Packers stay home to face the Houston Texans in Week 7.

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Sean Tucker Oct 13 5:50pm ET
Sean Tucker

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker shocked everybody with his incredible performance on the ground during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. The Bucs decided to split up the running back role on Sunday with Rachaad White (toe) being inactive. Both backs played well, but Tucker was nearly unstoppable on the field. He rushed 14 times for 136 yards and a touchdown in the win. He also added three receptions for 56 yards and an additional score through the air. Tucker was fairly unknown coming into this game, but will now be one of the most popular adds on the waiver wire. It's unclear if White will be back next week, but regardless he has struggled on the ground. Tucker has earned his way into the rotation, but Bucky Irving isn't going away anytime soon. Tucker is worth adding for fantasy managers in desperate need of help, but it's unlikely he tops this performance anytime soon.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Oct 13 5:40pm ET
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed led the Packers with six targets and put a touchdown on the board as the Packers handled the Arizona Cardinals 34-13 in Week 6. Reed scored the first points of the game with five-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Jordan Love. In the first half, Reed hurt his ankle, was deemed questionable to return but came back into the game. Reed caught all six of his targets for 28 yards plus a score and had a rushing attempt for no gain. While Reed didn't have an extraordinary day on the stat sheet, he saved his day with that first-quarter touchdown and should have a better day when the Packers host the Houston Texans in Week 7. Consider Reed a low-end WR1 for that matchup.

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Dontayvion Wicks Oct 13 5:40pm ET
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (shoulder) didn't return to Sunday's meeting with the Arizona Cardinals. After the game, the wideout reported that while he was in pain, he just had issues moving it after the injury. Fortunately, he classified himself as "day to day" with a "sprain," adding he's "going to be good" for the Week 7 matchup versus the Houston Texans. Of course, fantasy managers will monitor his condition throughout the week. But if he can't suit up, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs will likely split the leftover targets from Jordan Love.

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Baker Mayfield Oct 13 5:40pm ET
Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield had a rollercoaster of a game during Sunday's contest against the New Orleans Saints. Mayfield marched down the field on tossed a touchdown to Chris Godwin on the opening drive. The Bucs returned a fumble for a touchdown and Mayfield led his team to a field goal on the next drive. After that, Mayfield threw three interceptions on the next four drives. He settled down in the second half and picked apart the Saints defense to help salvage his fantasy value. Mayfield completed 24-of-36 passing attempts for 325 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions in the win. It wasn't a pretty game for Mayfield, but he still gave fantasy managers a solid outing. He'll need to clean it up for the Week 7 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Mayfield should remain in the QB1 conversation for that one.

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Christian Watson Oct 13 5:30pm ET
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (ankle) was questionable on the injury report this week but played, led the Packers in receiving yards, and added a touchdown reception as the Packers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 34-13. Watson reeled in three receptions on four targets for a team-leading 68 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter where Watson dusted his defender and quarterback Jordan Love put the ball on him for an easy touchdown. Watson has a lot of competition for targets and the production falls to different players each week. Because of that, that puts Watson into low-end flex territory for fantasy managers as the Packers host the Houston Texans in Week 7.

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Rodney McLeod Oct 13 5:10pm ET
Rodney McLeod

The Cleveland Browns D/ST turned in a solid effort in a 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6. Cleveland notched one sack and got a 50-yard touchdown return from Rodney McLeod Jr. on a blocked field goal. The Browns were solid against a good Eagles offense, holding them to two touchdowns and two field goals in the close loss. The Browns were led by McLeod, who in addition to scoring the team's only touchdown, notched eight solo tackles and also broke up a pass. The Browns defense will have another tough task on hand in Week 7 as they welcome the Cincinnati Bengals to Cleveland.

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Romeo Doubs Oct 13 5:10pm ET
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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs found the end zone twice in the Packers' 34-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6. After a Week 5 where Doubs was suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team, Doubs put up a three-catch, 49-yard effort on four targets plus two touchdown catches from quarterback Jordan Love in Week 6. Doubs' first score came in the second quarter with a 10-yard snag on the sideline where he dove to get the ball across the goal line. The second touchdown came on a pressured blitz where Love throw a pass on his back foot and Doubs adjusted to make the catch and get across the goal line. With the Packers staying home and hosting the Houston Texans in Week 7, consider Doubs a flex option for fantasy lineups.

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David Njoku Oct 13 5:00pm ET
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku caught five of his seven targets for 31 yards in a 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6. Njoku has dealt with ankle and knee injuries this season but he ultimately suited up while leading the team in targets and catches in the close loss to Philly. The Browns haven't gotten much out of any of their receivers this season so the opportunity for Njoku to become a big part of the Cleveland offense is there. Njoku will look to keep it going in Week 7 when he heads back home to take on the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Dustin Hopkins Oct 13 5:00pm ET
Dustin Hopkins

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made three of his four field goals and added an extra point in a 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6. Hopkins hit field goals from 43, 49, and 31 yards out while missing from 52 yards out in the close loss. The veteran kicker has been a reliable source of points for the Browns in 2024, hitting 10 of his 12 field-goal tries and adding seven extra points. Hopkins will look to keep it going in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals at home.

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Austin Seibert Oct 13 4:50pm ET
Austin Seibert

Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert went 3-for-4 on attempts and 2-for-2 on extra points in their Week 6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Seibert converted on his first 50+ yard attempt as a Commander from 55 yards out. Seibert's only miss was from 52 yards out, as the kick was blocked. The 27-year-old journeyman has missed only one field goal attempt since moving to the DMV in Week 2. Given how productive the Commanders offense has been, Seibert is worth adding in all formats, as he should have another productive afternoon next weekend, facing the Carolina Panthers.

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Levi Wallace Oct 13 4:50pm ET
Levi Wallace

Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (concussion) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He initially exited early in the first quarter and did not return. At the time of his departure, he had registered one pass defended. Surtain has been dominant so far this year, so his absence is bad news for Denver in this week's divisional battle with the Chargers. Tremon Smith and Levi Wallace should see additional opportunities for the remainder of Week 6 and until Surtain can return to the mix.

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Dameon Pierce Oct 13 4:50pm ET
Dameon Pierce

Upon returning from a hamstring injury, Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce had his best game in more than a year during a 41-21 victory at New England, finishing with 76 rushing yards and a touchdown on just eight carries. The third-year back also added one catch for one yard, but compiled most of his fantasy points on a 54-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. Sunday marked the Florida product's highest rushing total since going for 81 yards in Week 4 of the 2023 season. Running back Joe Mixon is still the clear top option in Houston, so Pierce's usage with a big lead against a bad team could be an aberration. Houston will take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 7.

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Quentin Johnston Oct 13 4:40pm ET
Quentin Johnston

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (ankle) exited during the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. He is officially listed as questionable to return. At the time of his departure, the young pass-catcher had caught two passes for 14 yards. Josh Palmer and Ladd McConkey should see additional opportunities with Johnston sidelined.

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Jayden Daniels Oct 13 4:40pm ET
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels went 24-for-35 with 269 yards and two scores in their loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He added 22 yards on six rushing attempts and did not throw an interception. This was a season-high passing total for the former second-overall pick, but he could not win his fifth-straight game. Daniels found his top wideout, Terry McLaurin, for two scores in the red zone. Fantasy managers should continue to start Daniels in all formats as he takes on the Carolina Panthers next weekend, who have allowed the 25th-most points to opposing QBs.

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Austin Ekeler Oct 13 4:40pm ET
Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler had a poor showing on the ground as he ran for only 21 yards on nine carries in Week 6. Ekeler was pushed to the top of the depth chart with Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) inactive but did not produce a high rushing total. Fortunately, Ekeler salvaged his fantasy day in the receiving game as he caught four passes (off of five targets) for 47 yards. Even as the lead back, Ekeler showcased his value in PPR formats but remains a tough player to trust in standard leagues. Fantasy managers should continue to view the 29-year-old as a low-end flex player in PPR leagues heading into Week 7.

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Jordan Love Oct 13 4:40pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love accounted for all four touchdowns as the Packers handily defeated the Arizona Cardinals 34-13 in Week 6. Love tossed four touchdowns and was 22-of-32 for 258 yards while adding 13 rushing yards on the ground. Love got the scoring started with a five-yard touchdown to Jayden Reed in the first quarter, and then got the returning Romeo Doubs involved with a 10-yard touchdown. With a 44-yard strike to Christian Watson and a second touchdown to Doubs in the third quarter, Love was on the money with his wide receivers all day and fantasy managers had to be smiling. With Love's quality outing, there's no doubt that he should be considered anything other than a must-start fantasy option as the Packers stay home to host the incoming Houston Texans in Week 7.

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Terry McLaurin Oct 13 4:40pm ET
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin caught six of his seven targets for 53 yards and two scores in their Week 6 loss. McLaurin had a modest day from a yardage standpoint but made an impact in the red zone as he caught both a seven and a six-yard pass for scores. After getting off to a slow start to the season, the Ohio State product has now eclipsed double-digit PPR points in every game since Week 3 and has emerged as a solid WR2. McLaurin should remain locked into all lineups heading into Week 7, as he faces a Carolina defense that has surrendered the 26th-most points to opposing wideouts.

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Noah Brown Oct 13 4:40pm ET
Noah Brown

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown saw a team-high eight targets in their loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Brown was able to bring in four of them for 58 yards. After sitting out in Week 5 due to a groin injury, Brown continued to stake his claim to the No.2 role. In addition, his eight targets were a new season-high for him, as his previous high was four, which he saw in Week 4. Daniels consistently looked Brown's way in all situations throughout the afternoon. Fantasy managers in deeper 3WR formats should consider adding Brown this week, as he should continue to build a connection with his rookie QB as the season progresses.

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