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
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 17
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) practiced in full all week and has been removed from the Week 18 injury report on Friday. The Eagles opened Goedert's 21-day practice window to return from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, and it appears he'll be officially activated by Saturday and return to action on Sunday when the team faces the division-rival New York Giants in the Week 18 regular-season finale. The 30-year-old will be returning for the first time since injuring his knee back in Week 13. However, for fantasy purposes, managers should be looking elsewhere. Philly will almost certainly cap Goedert's playing time in his return as they look to get him up to speed heading into the postseason. On top of that, third-string quarterback Tanner McKee is in line to make his first career start with both Jalen Hurts (concussion, finger) and Kenny Pickett (ribs) banged up.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz is coming off the best performance of his season and will look to stay hot against a struggling Dallas defense. Last weekend in their playoff-clinching victory over the Atlanta Falcons, Ertz caught six of his seven targets for 72 yards and two touchdowns. This was his second-highest yardage total this season and first multi-touchdown game of the campaign. This was also a nice breakout game for Ertz, as he caught just three passes during Weeks 15 and 16. However, before this minor slump, he averaged a solid 13.0 PPR points during Weeks 10 through 13. Since Week 10, Ertz has seen at least six targets in all but two contests. Given his reliable target share and ability to gain high-value targets in the red zone, he remains a high-floor, low-end TE1 in PPR formats against the Cowboys.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez remains a risky streaming option heading into a Week 18 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Gonzalez has been filling in for the injured Austin Seibert (groin). Across five games this season, Gonzalez has gone 4-for-6 on attempts and a perfect 17-for-17 on extra points. Last weekend against the Atlanta Falcons, he went 1-for-1 on his lone field goal attempt. While Gonzalez has struggled at times, he plays on a high-octane offense that continues to put him in scoring opportunities. Facing a Dallas defense that has allowed the sixth-most PPR points to opposing kickers this season, makes the 29-year-old a risky streaming option with upside in deeper 14+ team formats in the final week of the regular season.
From RotoBaller
The Washington Commanders defense is worth a look as a low-end streaming option when they face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18. Last weekend, the Cowboys struggled to move down the field all afternoon against a tough Philadelphia defense. In this game, they scored just seven points, and quarterback Cooper Rush threw two interceptions and was sacked once. However, in Week 16, they scored 26 points in an upset victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last weekend, the Washington defense tallied two sacks and an interception while allowing 24 points against Michael Penix Jr. and the Falcons. While top defensive back Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) will miss his second-straight contest, they will face a Dallas offense without CeeDee Lamb (shoulder), which should provide a much easier matchup. Given Dallas' struggles last weekend, the Commanders defense should be viewed as a low-end option in deeper formats.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Chargers ruled out wide receiver Joshua Palmer (foot) for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. The Chargers still have a shot to move up to the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture if the Steelers lose to the Bengals on Saturday, but they will rest Palmer for this one and hope he's ready to go for the wild-card round next weekend. The 25-year-old has been the Chargers' No. 3 receiver in 2024 behind rookie Ladd McConkey and second-year pass-catcher Quentin Johnston. The role hasn't made him much more than a WR4/5 flex play in deeper fantasy formats on a weekly basis. Palmer will finish the regular season with 39 receptions on 65 targets for 584 yards and just one TD. Either DJ Chark or Derius Davis will step into the WR3 role for the Bolts against the Raiders.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers A.J. Brown (knee) and DeVonta Smith (wrist) both missed practice all week and are considered doubtful to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New York Giants on Sunday. The Eagles will also rest quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion, finger) and running back Saquon Barkley this weekend since they are already locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC for the postseason. Key offensive tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata are also in line to be rested. Both Brown and Smith should be fully ready to rock for the wild-card round of the playoffs next week, and hopefully they'll be getting Hurts back under center. With both Brown and Smith set to rest against the G-Men, Jahan Dotson and rookies Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith should start, but they could be working with third-string QB Tanner McKee.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin had a disappointing showing last weekend as he brought in just one of his seven targets during their playoff-clinching victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Despite the poor showing, fantasy managers should continue to view McLaurin as a low-end WR1 heading into a Week 18 tilt against the Dallas Cowboys. Before Week 17, McLaurin was riding a four-game touchdown streak. Over this four-game stretch, McLaurin tallied six total touchdowns while seeing 7.5 targets per game and averaging 77.0 yards per game. Given his role as Jayden Daniels' go-to option in the passing game, McLaurin remains a must-start option in all formats. Facing the Cowboys, who have allowed the sixth-most PPR points to opposing wideouts, should put him in prime position to bounce back.
From RotoBaller
The Minnesota Vikings have an exciting meeting with the Detroit Lions on tap for Sunday Night Football in Week 18. Minnesota's defense has been stellar in 2024, allowing the fourth-fewest points per game (18.8) while notching 31 turnovers -; tied for the most in the league. The Vikings have intercepted at least one pass in all but four games this season and have registered multiple sacks in 12-of-17 outings. However, they'll square off against a Lions squad that's racked up the second-most yards (410.5) and the most points (33.3) per game in the NFL. Quarterback Jared Goff has been superb -; completing 71.7% of his passes -; and Detroit is doing well protecting him (31 sacks [tenth-fewest]). Despite their excellence this season, the Vikings D/ST will be a risky option against the high-powered division rivals. They'll come in at RotoBaller's D/ST13 for this week's slate of action.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus carries solid WR3 upside in a Week 18 tilt against the Dallas Cowboys. With Noah Brown (kidney) and Dyami Brown (hamstring) sidelined over the past two weeks, Zaccheaus has emerged as the new No.2 option in the Washington passing attack. Over the past two weeks, the 27-year-old has seen at least eight targets per game and tallied 77.5 yards per game. During this span, he has found the back of the end zone three times. With Noah Brown still on the IR, fantasy managers should feel confident locking Zaccheaus into their lineup in deeper 3WR formats. He also carries solid upside, given the favorable matchup against the Cowboys, who have allowed the sixth-most PPR points to opposing wide receivers this season.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Chargers ruled out running back Gus Edwards (ankle) didn't practice at all this week and has been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Edwards was also inactive for last week's blowout win over the New England Patriots in Week 17, which was also the first game back for J.K. Dobbins off Injured Reserve. The Chargers are already in the playoffs, although they could move up to the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture if the Steelers lose to the Bengals on Saturday and the Chargers beat the Raiders on Sunday. It's unclear if Edwards would have been available this weekend if it were a must-win scenario for LA. Regardless, the Chargers will now have him rest up with hopes that he can return for the wild-card round next weekend as the backup to Dobbins. Rookie Kimani Vidal should be the No. 2 behind Dobbins on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion, finger) missed practice all week and has officially been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New York Giants on Sunday. In addition to a concussion that he suffered in the Week 16 loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders, Hurts is dealing with a fractured finger on his left (non-throwing hand). Hurts will now miss his second straight game, although he's reportedly progressing through the concussion protocol and will hopefully have a shot to be cleared to play in the wild-card round of the playoffs next weekend. With Kenny Pickett questionable to play this weekend due to broken ribs, the Eagles are preparing for Tanner McKee to make his first career NFL start in Week 18. Entering Week 18, Hurts is the QB8 in overall fantasy points thanks to 2,903 passing yards and 32 total TDs (18 passing, 14 rushing).
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings placekicker Will Reichard is an excellent play this Sunday in a divisional bout with the Detroit Lions. The rookie missed another two kicks in last weekend's 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers -- 43- and 57-yard field-goal tries that both doinked out -- to bookend his performance. Still, he hit his other two kicks (25, 50) and all three extra-point attempts. Reichard missed two kicks in another game -- the one in which he injured his quad -- but has otherwise failed to connect on only one other field goal in 2024. Additionally, he's knocked through all 38 XP attempts. The Alabama product ranks as RotoBaller's K4 ahead of this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels looks to cap off his impressive debut season in a divisional tilt against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18. Last weekend, Daniels threw three touchdown passes and tallied over 350 all-purpose en route to leading the Commanders to their first playoff birth since the 2020 season. Over his past five contests, Daniels has found the end zone 17 times (15 passing, two rushing) and averaged 240.0 passing yards and 76.4 rushing yards per game. During this span, he threw at least two passing scores in each contest. Fantasy managers should continue to view the Pro Bowl quarterback as a high-end QB1 facing the Dallas Cowboys, who have allowed the most PPR points to opposing QBs this season. In addition, with the Commanders needing a victory to move up to the No.6 seed, suggests that Daniels will remain in the game as long as it stays competitive.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. should be viewed as a mid-level RB2 facing the Dallas Cowboys. The Alabama product has found himself in a bit of a slump as of late. Over his past three contests, he has averaged just 8.9 PPR points per game and has not found the back of the end zone once over this stretch. In addition, he has averaged just 49.7 rushing yards per game. Before this stretch, Robinson tallied eight touchdowns over his first ten games of the season and ran for 64.0 yards per game. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to Austin Ekeler's (concussion) status before kickoff, as he could be nearing a return. If Ekeler suits up, Robinson may even see less work than he has, making him a low-end RB2. However, if the Commanders opt to rest Ekeler a week before the playoffs, then Robinson maintains his mid-level RB2 range against a Dallas defense, allowing the ninth-most PPR points to opposing RBs.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip) is listed as doubtful to play in Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Jets in New York. Tagovailoa was limited in practice all week but is likely to miss his second straight game as the Dolphins look to keep their playoff hopes alive with a win over the Jets this weekend. Head coach Mike McDaniel said earlier on Friday that Tagovailoa was unlikely to play on Sunday, so his doubtful listing doesn't come as a huge surprise. The 26-year-old former fifth overall pick missed four games earlier in the year with another scary concussion and will wrap up his fifth year in the NFL with only 2,867 passing yards and 19 touchdowns in 11 starts, although he did lead the league with a 72.9% completion percentage. With Tagovailoa likely to miss a second straight game, Miami's playoff hopes will rest on the shoulders of backup Tyler Huntley.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. remains a desperation play heading into a Week 18 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Last weekend, Rodriguez found the back of the end zone and added 16 yards on five attempts. For the second straight week, Rodriguez saw more rushing attempts than the presumed No.2 option, Jeremy McNichols. However, Rodriguez may revert to the No.3 role if Austin Ekeler (concussion) returns to action. He was able to practice in full all week and is listed as questionable which suggests he is nearing a return. If Ekeler does not return, Rodriguez would be viewed as a high-risk touchdown-dependent RB3. However, if Ekeler does return, fantasy managers should not view Rodriguez as a viable play facing the Dallas Cowboys as he would only see a handful of snaps.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (ribs, wrist) has been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. Samuel didn't practice at all this week. The 28-year-old veteran likely would have been able to suit up this weekend if the Niners were playing for something, but with San Fran eliminated from postseason contention, he will be rested to close out the year. Jauan Jennings should operate as the team's WR1 on Sunday in a good matchup, with rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing and Chris Conley also seeing additional opportunities with backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs running the offense. Especially when considering the injuries to running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) and receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Samuel's 51-670-3 line as a receiver in 15 games was a huge disappointment for the 49ers and fantasy managers alike.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson will get a tough matchup this Sunday night in a road tilt with the Detroit Lions. Hockenson had a nice total his last time out in a win against the Green Bay Packers, but he'll have a less vulnerable outing in store against a Lions defense that's limited TEs to 9.2 fantasy points per game in 2024 -; the second-fewest. However, it's worth noting that they've let up sizable performances twice over the past three weeks. Detroit just got torched by George Kittle in Week 17 for 112 yards on 8-of-8 receiving and let Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox of the Buffalo Bills combine for six catches and 95 yards two weeks prior. With a 57-point over/under on tap, there should be plenty of opportunities to go around for the veteran. The Iowa alum ranks as RotoBaller's PPR TE7 in Week 18.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor gets an exploitable spot in his team's meeting with the division-rival Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football. The Michigan State product put together his best performance of the season in last weekend's 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers -; racking up 81 yards and a touchdown on 5-of-5 receiving. It was a nice slump-breaking outing for the 25-year-old, as he recorded only eight receptions and 67 yards from Weeks 8-16. He'll get a chance to build on that production this weekend in a matchup that features a whopping 57-point over/under. Detroit has been a sieve on the back end this season, and quarterback Sam Darnold is elevating the entire offense with his exceptional play. Fantasy managers looking for a high-upside dart throw in Week 18 can do worse than Nailor. He'll land at RotoBaller's PPR WR47 ahead of this weekend's action.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. Purdy suffered a right-elbow contusion at the tail end of the Monday night loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night. While the injury isn't considered serious and Purdy should have a normal offseason, the Niners will hold him out in a meaningless game to close out the year. With Purdy sidelined, backup Joshua Dobbs will make his first start under center this year. The 25-year-old Purdy wasn't able to replicate his breakout 2023 season for San Fran, but he was still solid for fantasy purposes (QB10 overall heading into Week 18), especially when considering he was without All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) and receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) for most of the year.
From RotoBaller
