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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The Paur Report
Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 11
Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler is expected to revert to the No.2 spot on the depth chart on Thursday evening but is still a viable flex option in PPR formats, facing the Philadelphia Eagles. Over the past two weeks, Ekeler has operated as the lead option out of the backfield in Washington. During this small stint, he scored three times, averaging 17.7 PPR points per game. However, with Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) slated to return, fantasy managers should expect Ekeler to return to his third-down role. During Weeks 1 through 8, Ekeler eclipsed double-digit PPR points in five straight games and caught at least two passes in each contest. With a high implied point total (48.5), fantasy managers could expect this game to open up, which could set the 29-year-old up for several pass-catching opportunities, making him a flex option in PPR formats.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin should be poised for another productive showing on Thursday evening against the Philadelphia Eagles. Since Week 3, McLaurin has been one of the top wideouts in fantasy as he has averaged 17.8 PPR points per game during this span while scoring six total touchdowns. In addition, he has seen 6.8 targets per game in the stretch, with 84.0 yards per game. Last weekend, McLaurin tallied over 100+ scrimmage yards for the fourth time this season. Even though he will face a tough Philadelphia secondary that has allowed the 12th-fewest PPR points to opposing wideouts, this game should open up given how explosive both offenses can be, which sets up McLaurin well for another strong outing.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown should be viewed as a risky flex option in Week 11 facing the Philadelphia Eagles. After enjoying two solid showings in Weeks 8 and 9, Brown took a step back last weekend as he tallied only 33 yards and 6.3 PPR points against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite the poor output, Brown has continued to see consistent looks from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Since Week 6, Brown has seen at least six targets in all but one game and a high of eight. While both the Eagles and Commanders could light up the scoresheet on Thursday, Brown still carries some inherent risk as he has fallen below double-digit PPR points in three of his past five games making him a flex option with risk.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (hand, wrist) was officially listed as limited in the team's first practice of Week 11. The 27-year-old has dealt with a wrist issue for weeks at this point, but it hasn't forced him to miss any in-game action. However, the hand designation is news as it had not been previously mentioned on the team's injury report. That he could practice in a limited fashion is likely good news for his status this Sunday when the team squares off against the Tennessee Titans. Still, he'll have two more opportunities to elevate his participation before the road tilt. Oliver was used a decent amount in Week 10's 12-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars (4/52 on six targets) despite teammate T.J. Hockenson's increased involvement in the offense (8/72 on nine targets). If he can't play this coming Sunday, TE Johnny Mundt figures to pick up more snaps when the team travels to Nashville.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz should be viewed as a low-end TE1 heading into a Week 11 tilt against the Philadelphia Eagles. Last weekend, the veteran tight end saw a team-high in targets, which was an excellent bounce-back showing for him as he saw just one in Week 9. Since Week 6, Ertz has scored double-digit PPR points in three games and caught at least four passes in all but one. With Washington lacking a proven No.2 wideout, Ertz has seen consistent targets throughout the season. Even though he is facing a tough Eagles defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points to opposing tight ends this season, Ertz should still see a solid workload, making him a low-end starting option in PPR formats.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert (hip) has been ruled out for Thursday's contest, which will likely result in Zane Gonzalez getting the call from the practice squad. Gonzalez also served as the starting option last weekend and hit both of his attempts and all three of his extra points. With how impressive the Washington offense has looked this season, Gonzalez should be given ample scoring opportunities on Thursday. However, given his career 80.9% FG%, he does carry some inherent risk playing on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles. Fantasy managers looking to stream a kicker should look elsewhere this week for a more stable contributor.
From RotoBaller
Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson (quad) was officially a non-participant for the team's first practice ahead of Week 11. The fifth-year wideout is a new addition to the injury report, as he seemingly picked up a quad ailment sometime between Sunday's victory over the Washington Commanders and Wednesday. Jefferson may have sustained the injury during the win. However, it did not seem to hamper him as he operated in his typical capacity as Pittsburgh's WR2 despite not recording a reception. The severity of the injury is unknown, but head coach Mike Tomlin did not comment on the 28-year-old, suggesting it might not be that big a deal. If the former Florida Gator can't suit up for this weekend's divisional clash against the Baltimore Ravens, it would open the door for newly acquired wideout Mike Williams to see an uptick in usage.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels should be poised to bounce back on Thursday evening against the Philadelphia Eagles. Last weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Daniels scored a season-low 10.6 PPR points and tallied just 202 passing yards with no scores. However, in his previous two games, the LSU product averaged 23.8 PPR points in each contest, with 267.5 passing yards and 43.5 rushing yards in each game. Even though the Eagles have surrendered the fourth-fewest PPR points to opposing QBs, given the hefty 48.5-point total, the Commanders may need to force the ball downfield to keep up with a potent Philadelphia offense setting up Daniels for a productive showing.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) does not carry an injury designation and is expected to return to the field on Thursday evening to face the Philadelphia Eagles. Robinson has missed the past two weeks with a hamstring injury and ceded No.1 duties to Austin Ekeler. Before his injury, Robinson enjoyed a solid start to the campaign as he tallied six touchdowns in seven contests, averaging 14.1 PPR points per game. Robinson has consistently seen the goal line work all season, putting him high-scoring chances weekly. Even though he is facing a tough Eagles defense that has allowed the second-fewest PPR points to opposing RBs, Robinson should see a heavy workload and prime scoring opportunities.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers defensive back Jaire Alexander (knee) was listed as a limited participant in the team's first practice of the week, as reported by Bill Huber of SI.com. The former first-round pick sat out of the team's 24-14 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 9 after a week's worth of DNPs. However, it appears he's made progress after the Packers' Week 10 bye, at least able to log a limited session ahead of Green Bay's road tilt against the Chicago Bears. It's a good sign for his status this Sunday. If Alexander is forced to miss more time, fellow defensive backs Eric Stokes and Carrington Valentine will continue to see an uptick in snaps. Keep an eye on his status moving forward, as his practice participation over the next few days should give us a better idea of his health.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (finger) returned to practice on Wednesday, opening his 21-day practice window. Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post reported the news. The 29-year-old wideout was on the shelf for the last month when the Broncos placed him on injured reserve due to a broken finger. Reynolds was also the victim of a shooting not six days later. However, the Texas A&M product was able to log a full session in the team's first practice ahead of Week 11, suggesting that his return could come sooner rather than later. When Reynolds is activated, one of his fellow wideouts, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Troy Franklin, and Devaughn Vele, will see their playing time cut; though, who that will be remains to be seen.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos practice squad FB Michael Burton was signed to the 53-man roster Wednesday, Nov. 13. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
From TheHuddle
Seattle Seahawks TE Brady Russell (foot), DE Leonard Williams (foot) and C Connor Williams (non-injury) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Nov. 13. OT Abraham Lucas (knee) and LB Boye Mafe (knee) were limited during practice. LB Dre'Mont Jones (shoulder) fully participated in practice.
From TheHuddle
San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle (hamstring) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Nov. 13.
Fantasy Spin: Fantasy players should monitor the situation to see if Kittle will be available for the Week 11 game. He has caught a touchdown in six of his last seven games and will continue to see a good amount of targets each game. He is a weekly starting option in all leagues.
From TheHuddle
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) was limited during practice Wednesday, Nov. 13.
Fantasy Spin: McCaffrey made his season debut last and finished with 107 total yards. He will continue to be involved in both the running and passing games for the 49ers and should be a weekly starting option in all fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Chargers TE Hayden Hurst (non-injury) and LB Khalil Mack (groin) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Nov. 13. LB Joey Bosa (hip), CB Kristian Fulton (hamstring), LB Daiyan Henley (illness), CB Deane Leonard (hamstring), OT Trey Pipkins (ankle) and TE Stone Smartt (ankle) were limited during practice.
From TheHuddle
Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (groin) was unable to practice with the rest of the team on Wednesday in the first practice of the week coming out of the bye. Fant suffered a groin injury in the Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills and did not play in the Week 9 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. The 26-year-old most likely would have sat out in Week 10 if the team wasn't on bye, and the fact that he's still not practicing is a bad sign for his availability in this Sunday's divisional contest versus the San Francisco 49ers. Fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting Fant to suit up in Week 11. With Fant sidelined in Week 9, tight end AJ Barner had a bigger role on offense and finished with four catches on seven targets for 27 yards. Barner will once again see more snaps if Fant is inactive, but fantasy managers should consider him a highly volatile TE2.
From RotoBaller
After injuring his ankle in the Week 10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (ankle) was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice. In addition, fellow back D'Ernest Johnson (hamstring) was limited. After re-entering the game on Sunday, Bigsby only saw two offensive snaps the rest of the way and could be in danger of sitting out this Sunday versus the Detroit Lions. The 23-year-old second year back has been more efficient than backfield mate Travis Etienne Jr. this year, averaging 5.5 yards per carry while putting up 519 rushing yards and four TDs in 10 games. However, his injury is now a concern this week and the fantasy upside of all of Jacksonville's offensive weapons will take a pretty big hit as long as quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) is out. Bigsby is currently lining up as a shaky RB3/flex this week for fantasy managers.
Updating a previous report, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (knee) was a full participant in the first practice of the week on Wednesday after head coach Mike Macdonald said earlier that he expected Metcalf to be limited. The Seahawks are coming off their bye after Metcalf missed the previous two games due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 7. Seattle has been optimistic all along that Metcalf would be able to return following the bye for an important divisional game in Week 11 against the San Francisco 49ers. With Metcalf practicing in full in the first practice of the week, it pretty much ensures he'll return this weekend, barring a setback later in the week. Metcalf has been a must-start fantasy wideout when healthy in 2024, averaging 13.3 half-PPR points per game. His return is bad news for both Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle, hip) fully participated in practice Wednesday, Nov. 13.
Fantasy Spin: Mahomes is coming off a good Week 10 performance but has thrown for at least two touchdowns in only two of his last six games. He should be a starting option in all two-quarterback leagues and could be a possible low-end No. 1 QB in deeper standard leagues.
From TheHuddle
