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FFL: Playoff Week 3 | NFL: Week 17

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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Player Notes
Nico Collins Dec 25 8:10pm ET
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins caught three of his six targets for 59 yards on Wednesday in a 31-2 blowout loss against the Baltimore. The Texans' offense had a brutal showing in which quarterback C.J. Stroud was off target, the offensive line surrendered five sacks, and the Texans gained only one rushing first down. As a result of the Houston offense failing to score, the Michigan product also had his lowest-scoring fantasy output of the season for a game in which he appeared. Fantasy managers will rightly be disappointed Houston's passing game managed so little against a Ravens secondary that has struggled against top-tier receivers this season. Collins and the Texans will look for improvement on Jan. 5 at Tennessee.

From RotoBaller

Joe Mixon Dec 25 8:00pm ET
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon managed only 39 total yards as the Houston offense failed to score in a 31-2 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day. The veteran back rushed only nine times, picking up 26 yards, and caught two of his three targets for another 13 yards. The Texans' offense was awful in the game, gaining only 211 total yards and one rushing first down while putting up their lowest scoring output of the year. Mixon was not alone in having a bad day, but the performance was a far cry from what managers in the championship round were hoping to see, even against a solid Ravens run defense. He and the Texans will conclude the regular season on Jan. 5 at Tennessee.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Dec 25 7:50pm ET
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's estimated practice participation report. Njoku sustained a knee injury in the Week 16 matchup versus the Cincinnati Bengals. He underwent an MRI on Monday and has not been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. The results of Monday's MRI have not been released yet. After missing Week 15 with a hamstring injury, Njoku returned last Sunday and caught eight passes for 66 yards in the Week 16 loss to the Bengals. The 28-year-old will have a few more chances to practice this week in order to have a chance to suit up against the Dolphins. If Njoku does get ruled out in Week 17, look for Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart to see an uptick in snaps, but neither is an option for fantasy championship week.

From RotoBaller

Rasheen Ali Dec 25 7:20pm ET
Rasheen Ali

Baltimore Ravens rookie running back Rasheen Ali (hip) won't return in Wednesday's game against the Houston Texans due to a hip injury. Ali suffered a hip injury during the Christmas game versus Houston and has been ruled out. He lost three yards on his only carry of the game. Ali also had a kickoff return for 23 yards. Justice Hill (concussion) was inactive, leaving Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell as the only healthy Ravens running back with both Ali and Hill sidelined. Ali's next chance to return will be the regular season finale against the Cleveland Browns.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Dec 25 7:00pm ET
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (toe) was listed as a non participant in Wednesday's estimated injury report. He is dealing with a toe injury and would have missed Wednesday's session if the Giants had practiced on Wednesday. The 21-year-old has dealt with various injuries throughout the year but has only missed two games (Week 5 and Week 6) due to a concussion. Despite poor quarterback play from the Giants, Nabers is having a great rookie season. The No. 6 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has caught 97 passes for 969 yards and four touchdowns over 13 games this season. He will have a few more days to try to practice, with the chance of being able to suit up against the Indianapolis Colts. Nabers is a mid-range WR2 and should be in all lineups if active for fantasy championship week.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Dec 25 6:40pm ET
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett is once again not on the fantasy radar in Week 17 when Seattle travels to Chicago to play the Bears. Lockett has received very little target volume since Week 7. Even in Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings, Lockett could only earn two targets despite quarterback Geno Smith throwing the ball 43 times. The Seahawks have consolidated their targets among the running backs and their top two wide receivers. Lockett is a great veteran presence for this team, but he is not integral to the game plan at all. Despite the Bears being a solid matchup for opposing wide receivers in recent weeks, Lockett should remain on waivers.

From RotoBaller

Zach Charbonnet Dec 25 6:40pm ET
Zach Charbonnet

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (elbow) looks to be in line to receive the majority of the running back workload in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears. With Kenneth Walker III (ankle) dealing with another injury, Charbonnet should step in as a high-end RB2 or even an RB1 against a Bears team with issues stopping the run. Charbonnet has delivered high-end fantasy output in each of his four starts in relief of Walker this season. The highlight of those starts was a 38.3 PPR fantasy point outburst in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals. Despite only logging four starts and receiving limited volume in his other games this season, Charbonnet is the RB26 on the season. Charbonnet should have solid running lanes all night long and will continue to be a significant factor in the passing game as well. Charbonnet has been banged up this week with an elbow injury. However, he has been practicing fully and appears to be in good shape to receive a heavy workload in a must-win game for Seattle.

From RotoBaller

Noah Fant Dec 25 6:40pm ET
Noah Fant

Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (knee) is not a player you can trust to lead your team to a fantasy championship this week. The Seahawks play the Chicago Bears in Week 17 who are middle-of-the-road against opposing tight ends in fantasy. Fant receives solid target volume in Seattle's offense, but his yardage is often capped, and his touchdown upside is limited. Rookie tight end AJ Barner seems to be the team's preferred tight end target in the red zone. Fant has not scored a touchdown since 2022. Fant has earned at least four targets in seven straight games. However, he has only exceeded 26 yards in three of those games. If their yardage is limited and touchdowns are scarce, then it is difficult to trust a tight end in fantasy football. Leave Fant on waivers this week.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Hurts Dec 25 6:20pm ET
Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (finger, concussion) did not practice in Wednesday's estimated injury report. Hurts exited Sunday's loss against the Washington Commanders early with a concussion and did not return. The 26-year-old is also dealing with a broken finger. He is in concussion protocol and will need to be cleared by Saturday to have a chance to suit up in Sunday's contest versus the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles are banged up at quarterback as Kenny Pickett (ribs) was also limited Wednesday with a rib injury. Philadelphia did bring in former quarterback Ian Book for a team visit on Wednesday. Hurts will need to be cleared and practice in some fashion in order to be active against Dallas. Fantasy managers will need to monitor Hurts' status for the week but should have a backup plan in case the star quarterback is ruled out for fantasy championship week.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Dec 25 6:10pm ET
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints Chris Olave (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. Olave was ruled out for Monday's game against the Green Bay Packers and has been sidelined since Week 9 due to a concussion. The 24-year-old was designated to return from injured reserve last week and is trending in the right direction toward playing in Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He will need to be officially activated later this week in order to have a chance to suit up in Week 17. Olave would give the banged-up Saints wide receiver corps a boost after catching 32 passes for 400 yards and a touchdown over eight games. The former first-round pick would be a low-end WR3 this week if active. The Saints were recently shut out, and New Orleans' offense has been downgraded, with Derek Carr (hand) sidelined. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation and hope Olave can return to action for fantasy championship week.

From RotoBaller

Travis Homer Dec 25 5:30pm ET
Travis Homer

Chicago Bears running back Travis Homer (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. Homer will miss his second consecutive game after injuring his practice in last Friday's practice, missing the Week 16 game versus the Detroit Lions. The 26-year-old did not practice this week and was eventually ruled out. Homer hasn't had much of a role as Chicago's No. 3 back, with three carries and three catches over his last two games. D'Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Darrynton Evans will lead Chicago's backfield with Homer sidelined. Swift is the only realistic fantasy option this week, while Johnson is more of a deep-league flier in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Walker III Dec 25 5:00pm ET
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Chicago Bears. Walker was not able to practice this after injuring his ankle during the Week 16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. With the short turnaround, the Seahawks are deciding to play it safe and rest Walker for Week 17. Zach Charbonnet (elbow) should see the bulk of the carries, while Kenny McIntosh will back him up. Charbonnet has played well in the last two games with Walker was inactive, rushing for 188 yards on 30 attempts and three touchdowns while catching eight of 11 targets for 71 yards. The 23-year-old becomes a must-start against Chicago and a borderline RB1 for fantasy championship week.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Dec 25 3:50pm ET
Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (ribs) is questionable to return in Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pacheco injured his ribs during Wednesday's contest and exited in the second half. With just under six minutes to go and a 19-point lead, Pacheco will likely be done for the day. The 25-year-old rushed for 18 yards on six carries and wasn't targeted in the Christmas game. Pacheco has been outplayed by Kareem Hunt recently, but the Chiefs continue to use a backfield by the committee. Hunt should see the majority of touches with Pacheco sidelined. The 29-year-old has already found the end zone and is currently the team's leading rusher with 20 rushing yards. If Pacheco doesn't return on Wednesday, his next chance to return will be the regular season finale against the Denver Broncos.

From RotoBaller

Nelson Agholor Dec 25 3:10pm ET
Nelson Agholor

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion) is officially inactive for Wednesday's game against the Houston Texans. Agholor was placed in concussion protocol on December 15th and still hasn't been cleared heading into the Christmas game. The 31-year-old will miss his second consecutive game. Agholor has caught 14 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns over 14 games in 2024. Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Tylan Wallace, and Devontez Walker will lead Baltimore's wide receiver crew against Houston. Wallace should see an uptick in targets with Agholor out but is not on the fantasy radar with Flowers active for Wednesday's contest.

From RotoBaller

Zay Flowers Dec 25 2:50pm ET
Zay Flowers

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (shoulder) is officially active for the Christmas game against the Houston Texans. Flowers was initially listed as questionable, heading into Wednesday's contest after logging a limited practice on Tuesday. The 24-year-old will suit up after dealing with a shoulder injury during the week. Flowers caught five of eight targets for 100 yards in Week 16's 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Overall, he has been excellent for the Ravens this season, catching 71 passes for 1,016 yards and four touchdowns over 15 games in 2024. Fantasy managers can safely start Flowers as a low-end WR2 for the fantasy championships. Flowers is the 25th-ranked wideout in the latest RotoBaller rankings and can be started in all leagues.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Dec 25 1:00pm ET
Caleb Williams

The Seattle Seahawks defense/special teams is a solid streaming option in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears. The Bears' offense has been notoriously bad in the first half of games this season. Additionally, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has been sacked a staggering 60 times this season. He has only turned the ball over ten times, but the constant sacks are a great way for opposing D/STs to rack up fantasy points. The Seahawks have experienced solid defensive success lately. They are causing turnovers and finding ways to get to the quarterback in the backfield. Expect this unit to push for three or more sacks in this game. If they can force a turnover, they will certainly end up with a solid day in fantasy. Additionally, the Bears have only scored more than 20 points once over their past nine games. It is part of the reason why they are on a nine-game losing streak. The Seahawks should be a fine start in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Dec 25 12:20pm ET
Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith checks in as a QB2 in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears. Smith has a chance to put up solid numbers against a Bears defense that just got torched by Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions. The Bears have not played particularly well over the second half of the season given the turmoil in the organization and the multiple coaching changes. The Seahawks must win on Thursday to keep their playoff hopes alive. The offense should be aggressive both on the ground and through the air as a result. Smith should reach 200 yards passing without issue. The question is whether the touchdowns will flow for him. He has only thrown multiple touchdowns in a game on three occasions this year. That has limited him to the QB2 range despite being third in the league in passing yards. He is a great option for two-quarterback leagues, but he should remain on benches in leagues that only start a single quarterback.

From RotoBaller

Jason Myers Dec 25 12:20pm ET
Jason Myers

Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers is a solid option in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears. The Seahawks should be in plenty of great positions to score this week. In Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings, Myers missed his first field goal since Week 5. That came on a 60-yard attempt. Myers has been primarily reliable when given the chance. The Seahawks should not have any issues moving the ball against the Bears on Thursday. That should give Myers plenty of chances to kick field goals and extra points. With the Seahawks in desperation mode, they will likely be aggressive on offense. Look for Myers to push for double-digit fantasy points this week. He could be a key piece to your championship lineup.

From RotoBaller

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Dec 25 12:10pm ET
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in another great position to succeed in Week 17. The Seahawks will travel to Chicago to face the Bears this week. The Bears started the season as one of the best passing defenses, but they have faltered lately. This matchup is a lot better than the raw numbers would suggest. JSN has been a target hog for several weeks and that should not change in a must-win game for the Seahawks. Smith-Njigba has racked up 1,089 receiving yards and six touchdowns this season. He has scored 18.3 or more PPR fantasy points in six of his last seven games. He is on a complete tear and should be a valuable addition to championship lineups this week.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Dec 25 12:10pm ET
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf has been a difficult fantasy asset to trust lately. In Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings, Metcalf scored his first touchdown since Week 7. His target volume has been solid lately, but his production has not flowed. The Seahawks face the Chicago Bears in Week 17. The Bears have not been a scary matchup for opposing passing games in recent weeks. Still, Metcalf is a risky play. His catch rate of 60% is primarily contributing to his poor production. His downfield targets are a high-risk, high-reward. Additionally, the emergence of Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a true No. 1 wide receiver in the offense is not helping Metcalf's case. The Seahawks are in desperation mode and must win on Thursday to have any chance of advancing to the playoffs. As such, expect them to be aggressive offensively. That could play to Metcalf's advantage. He checks in as a high-end flex play with upside this week.

From RotoBaller