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FFL: Week 7 | NFL: Week 7

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
Tyler Conklin Oct 15 6:10am ET
Tyler Conklin

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught two of his three targets for 10 yards in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. Conklin came into the game questionable with a hip injury but he ultimately managed to suit up for the close loss on Monday night. The veteran tight end has shown some flashes this season as he had caught 10 passes for 72 yards in his two games prior to the loss to the Bills. Overall, Conklin has 19 catches for 191 yards through six games in 2024. He will be on the map as a TE2/streaming option heading into Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Allen Lazard Oct 15 6:00am ET
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard caught six of his seven targets for 114 yards and a touchdown in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. Lazard made the play of the game for the Jets as he came down with a 52-yard touchdown catch on a Hail Mary with eight seconds left in the first half. The veteran wide receiver has been a pleasant surprise in 2024 as the Jets' No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson. On the year, Lazard has 26 catches for 354 yards and five touchdowns through six games. Firmly on the map as a weekly flex option in fantasy moving forward, Lazard will face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7.

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Mike Williams Oct 15 6:00am ET
Mike Williams

New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams failed to catch any of his three targets in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. Williams was shaken up on the Jets' final offensive play of the game when he went down attempting to catch an Aaron Rodgers pass that was ultimately intercepted. The Jets took him to be evaluated for a concussion following the completion of the Monday night game. Williams has seen his production decline over the past two weeks as he has just two catches for 25 on seven targets over that span. Look for the Jets to update Williams' status at some point early in the week as they begin preparing to face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7.

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Breece Hall Oct 15 5:50am ET
Breece Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall carried the ball 18 times for 113 yards and caught five of his six targets for 56 yards in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. The veteran back's first 100-yard rushing game of the season was a welcome sight after he had struggled greatly in his previous two games. Hall also made an impact in the passing attack as his 56 receiving yards were third-most on the Jets in the close loss on Monday night. The speedy running back now has rushed for 310 yards and two touchdowns while adding 26 catches for 204 yards and a receiving touchdown through six games. The Jets will now begin preparing to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. Hall can be considered a mid-range RB1 for that matchup.

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Braelon Allen Oct 15 5:50am ET
Braelon Allen

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen carried the ball three times for eight yards and failed to corral either of his two targets in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. The Jets surprisingly went away from Allen in Week 6's Monday night game, instead opting to give 18 of the team's 21 running-back carries to Breece Hall. Allen's workload has steadily declined since his 11-carry, 55-yard performance against the New England Patriots in Week 3 as he's seen eight, five, and now three carries over the past three games. Allen remains a priority handcuff option in fantasy leagues but his days as a standalone flex option appear to be over for now. He should not be in starting lineups in fantasy heading into a Week 7 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Garrett Wilson Oct 15 5:50am ET
Garrett Wilson

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson caught eight of his 10 targets for 107 yards and a touchdown in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. Wilson found the end zone for the second straight game and the third time in his past four games on a five-yard catch in the first quarter in the close loss on Monday night. The veteran wideout appears to be finding his chemistry with Aaron Rodgers of late as he's now caught 21 of his 33 targets for 208 yards over his past two games. Wilson is now sitting at 41 catches for 399 yards and three touchdowns on the season as the Jets will now begin preparing to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. After a slow start to the season, Wilson can be trusted as a WR1 in fantasy moving forward.

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Aaron Rodgers Oct 15 5:40am ET
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of his 35 passes for 294 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6's Monday night game. Rodgers wound up posting his best passing game of the season, setting a season-high in passing yards while tying his season-best with two touchdown passes. The veteran quarterback found Garrett Wilson for a five-yard touchdown in the first quarter and then found Allen Lazard for a 52-yard score on a Hail Mary at the end of the first half. It wasn't enough, however, as the Bills were able to pull out the close win. Rodgers has thrown for 1,387 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions through six games. He will be a QB2 in fantasy in Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Jonathon Brooks Oct 15 1:50am ET
Jonathon Brooks

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales discussed Jonathon Brooks' (ACL) role in the backfield, stating, "We'll have to see that. We'll have to see that come to life and see what he looks like in practice." Brooks, who tore his ACL while at Texas last season, was placed on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp as a second-round pick. Canales refrained from speculating on Brooks' potential role, emphasizing the importance of first evaluating his performance in practice. In the meantime, fourth-year running back Chuba Hubbard has stepped up as the team's lead back, boasting 86 carries for 485 yards and two touchdowns. It will be intriguing to see how the distribution of carries changes once Brooks is back in game shape. Additionally, there are rumors that Hubbard could be on the trade block, as the Panthers, currently with only one win in the 2024 season, may be looking to sell. The running back situation in Carolina remains interesting to monitor for fantasy, especially since Andy Dalton took over as quarterback and made Panthers players relevant again.

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Romeo Doubs Oct 15 1:30am ET
Romeo Doubs

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs returned to form with a two-touchdown performance following a team-imposed suspension. He says he is back to his "regular self." He was suspended for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team after missing two practice days and not communicating about his absence. Although Doubs didn't start the game and wasn't targeted during the first two series, he made an impact when called upon, catching three passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns. These marks were significant as they represented his first touchdowns of the season after going scoreless in the four games leading up to his suspension. Doubs aims to maintain this momentum heading into a crucial matchup against the Houston Texans in Week 7, making him a player to watch for fantasy managers hoping he can replicate his impressive return.

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Rico Dowdle Oct 15 1:20am ET
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy expressed the need for running back Rico Dowdle to get more opportunities, stating, "He definitely needs to touch the ball more, without a doubt." Dowdle had only five carries for 25 yards rushing in Dallas's loss to the Lions. With the team falling behind early, he was more active in the passing game, catching five passes for 30 yards. In contrast, Ezekiel Elliott managed just 17 yards on six carries against Detriot, marking his fourth straight game with six or fewer rushes and failing to reach 20 yards each time. It will be interesting to see if McCarthy follows through on his promise to increase Dowdle's touches, as he appears to be the more explosive option. The Cowboys are on bye this week and will return in Week 8 to face San Francisco on Sunday Night Football.

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Chuck Clark Oct 15 12:20am ET
Chuck Clark

Veteran New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed (groin) exited Monday night's game against the Bills in the second half due to a groin injury. Before leaving, Reed recorded a pass defended and a solo tackle. Backup Brandin Echols, a sixth-round draft pick by the Jets in 2021, replaced him. Reed has been one of the Jets' top defensive players this season, and his absence could be a significant setback if he requires extended time off. Originally a fifth-round pick of the 49ers, Reed signed with the Jets in the 2022 offseason as a free agent. Fellow starting secondary player Chuck Clark (ankle) had already been ruled out earlier in the game due to his own ankle injury. Reed will aim to return for the Jets' Week 7 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football.

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Khalil Shakir Oct 15 12:00am ET
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught two passes for 19 yards in the team's 23-20 victory over the New York Jets. Those were his only two targets of the game. Shakir returned from a one-week absence to play on Monday Night Football but didn't play his regular allotment of snaps. The Buffalo coaching staff appeared to play it safe with their top wide receiver, who was questionable with an ankle injury when the day began. Once Shakir is fully healthy, he'll be in the weekly flex conversation. Fantasy managers will need to see it first before inserting Shakir back into starting lineups.

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Josh Allen Oct 14 11:50pm ET
Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw two touchdowns and rushed for another in the team's 23-20 win over the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. He totaled 215 passing and 18 rushing yards. Allen started the scoring for Buffalo with a one-yard sneak in the first quarter. He later connected with wide receiver Mack Hollins and tight end Dawson Knox for passing touchdowns later in the half. The Bills failed to find the endzone in the second half. On a day that the Bills were committed to the run, even without James Cook (toe), Allen turned a QB5 performance for the week. He's a must-start moving forward and draws the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

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Ray Davis Oct 14 11:50pm ET
Ray Davis

Buffalo Bills rookie running back Ray Davis racked up 97 rushing and 55 receiving yards in the team's 23-20 win over the New York Jets. The rookie didn't get the start in place of the injured James Cook (toe). Veteran Ty Johnson registered Buffalo's first carry, but then it was all Davis. The fourth-round pick churned out chunk play after chunk play, totaling over 100 yards before halftime. The highlight play was when Davis came down with a contested catch on a 42-yard throw from Josh Allen. Davis finished with 20 carries and three receptions. While Davis filled in admirably for Cook, the starter should take command of the backfield when he's healthy. That could come on Sunday when the Bills host the Tennessee Titans. If not, Davis will be in the RB2 range.

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Dalton Kincaid Oct 14 11:50pm ET
Dalton Kincaid

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid secured six of his seven targets for 51 yards in the team's narrow victory over the New York Jets. Kincaid led the Bills in catches and targets but trailed running back Ray Davis in receiving yards. Establishing a run-heavy offense, the Bills opted to play two tight ends for most of the game. TE2 Dawson Knox saw plenty of snaps and was on the receiving end of one of Josh Allen's two touchdown passes. Kincaid's usage is encouraging given his sluggish start to the season, but slot receiver Khalil Shakir was barely involved in his first game back from an ankle injury. Kincaid will be a low-end TE1 next week against the Tennessee Titans.

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Ashtyn Davis Oct 14 10:00pm ET
Ashtyn Davis

New York Jets safety Chuck Clark (ankle) won't return to Monday's Week 6 contest against the Buffalo Bills. Clark suffered an ankle injury during the first half and the team has decided to hold him out for the rest of the night. He'll finish with night with four tackles and will hopefully be back on the field next week. Ashtyn Davis figures to replace him at strong safety for the rest of this game. The Jets are hopeful this is a minor injury because Clark is a huge part of this secondary.

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Cooper Kupp Oct 14 9:50pm ET
Cooper Kupp

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) had a positive workout on Monday. The veteran wideout appears to be trending in the right direction ahead of the Week 7 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. It sounds like Kupp has a chance at suiting up this weekend, but that'll depend on how he feels during practice. Kupp hasn't played since he was forced to exit early during the Week 2 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. He'd immediately go right back into his WR1 spot if he's cleared to suit up in Week 7. Fantasy managers will have to check back for another update during the week.

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Cedrick Wilson Oct 14 9:40pm ET
Cedrick Wilson

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (ankle) was a limited participant during Monday's practice estimation. Wilson has been nursing an ankle issue, but did suit up during the Week 6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He hauled in two of his three targets for 28 yards in the loss. Wilson figures to continue playing through the issue, but the Saints are on a short week. Fellow wideout Chris Olave (concussion) didn't practice on Monday and might be sidelined for Thursday's matchup against the Denver Broncos. If that happens, Wilson could have a bigger role, but it's hard to imagine him being a viable fantasy option.

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Darius Slay Oct 14 9:30pm ET
Darius Slay

Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Darius Slay (knee) was forced to exit early during Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns. The All-Pro corner injured his knee during the third quarter and was unable to return to the contest. The organization was uncertain of the severity, but it appears Slay is only dealing with a minor injury. That is great news for the Eagles considering Slay is one of their key defenders. Isaiah Rodgers took over for Slay during Sunday's game and figures to start if Slay is unable to go in Week 7.

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Haason Reddick Oct 14 8:10pm ET
Haason Reddick

New York Jets edge rusher Haason Reddick, who has held out all season to this point for a new long-term contract extension, has hired Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha as his new agents. Rosenhaus and Matha have already spoken to the Jets and are in attendance for the Monday night game to close out Week 6 against the division-rival Buffalo Bills. "We look forward to working with the Jets to get this resolved as soon as possible," Rosenhaus said. "Haason would like to be a New York Jet for years to come and our goal is to make that happen." The 30-year-old requested a trade on Aug. 12, and the Jets said they had no intentions of trading him. Since then, the stalemate has continued, and Reddick has forfeited around $4.7 million in game checks while accruing another $5 million in NFL-mandated fines. Reddick has 50.5 sacks over the previous four seasons and would make an already strong Jets defense that much stronger, but it remains to be seen if he'll ever play a snap in New York.

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