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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Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews wasn't a big part of the passing game despite the pass-catchers combining for 280 yards. The veteran ended the game with two receptions for 26 yards on two targets. He only received a 10.5% target share and Lamar Jackson only threw the ball 19 times. The game turned into a blowout pretty quickly after a slow first quarter, and the Ravens didn't need to throw the ball that much in the second half. Andrews will look to bounce back against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10.
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Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane carried the ball 12 times for 63 yards and a rushing touchdown while adding eight receptions for 58 yards and a receiving touchdown in Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Achane took advantage of a soft Buffalo Bills rush defense and topped his previous best outing of the season in Week 8. The Miami offensive line looked much better than in previous weeks and gave the 23-year-old plenty of room to run. A fumble by Raheem Mostert allowed Achane to get even more touches. Mostert has had trouble holding onto the ball since he's returned, causing head coach Mike McDaniels to keep him on the sidelines periodically. Achane will look to build on Sunday's performance as the Dolphins will face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.
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Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard found the end zone for the first time this season in the 41-10 win over the Denver Broncos. Ricard scored on his lone target of the day which he caught for three yards. The four-time pro bowler is good for one of these receiving touchdowns per year when he slips out into a flat and finds himself wide open. Ricard and the Ravens will take on the Cincinnati Bengals in another AFC North matchup in Week 10.
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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers posted his first multi-score game of the season and broke the century mark in a 41-10 blowout over the Denver Broncos. The speedy wideout finished the game with 127 yards, two touchdowns, five receptions, and six targets. He was able to get open at all different levels of the field and was able to shed tacklers in the process. Flowers' longest play of the day was a 53-yard score where he caught the ball in the middle of the field, broke a tackle, and outran the rest of the defense. He'll look to continue this momentum in Week 10 against their AFC North foes the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer scored his first touchdown of the season in a Week 9 win over the Cleveland Browns. Palmer was targeted four times, making two catches for 63 yards. His touchdown came in the first quarter on a 28-yard pass from Justin Herbert to open the scoring. His other catch was a 35-yarder. Palmer seems to be settling into a role as a big-play wide receiver instead of the heavily targeted one many expected before the season. He'll be hard to trust in Week 10 despite a good matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
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Los Angeles Chargers tight end Will Dissly (shoulder) only made two catches in a Week 9 win over the Cleveland Browns. Dissly has been dealing with a shoulder injury but came into the game without an official injury designation. He'd been very heavily involved in the passing game over the past three games, but with Quentin Johnston returning from an ankle injury, Dissly again faded into a support role at best. He was targeted just three times, making his two catches for nine yards total. Dissly could have some touchdown-dependent value in fantasy leagues going forward, but his brief stint as a TE1 is likely over.
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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee) won't return to Sunday's game against Jacksonville. The wideout came back to the field with his team to start the second half of the contest. However, he wasn't on the sidelines long before leaving for the locker room. Brown will finish Week 9 with only two catches for 36 yards. As expected, fantasy managers are now wondering if he'll be available in Week 10 for the NFC East meeting with the Cowboys. If he's not, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, and Saquon Barkley would presumably get more involved on the receiving end. Dallas Goedert (hamstring) would also likely see more targets, assuming he returns from his stint on the shelf. But if Goedert isn't available versus Dallas, Grant Calcaterra would also be in the mix for more attention from Jalen Hurts.
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Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker attempted five kicks in a Week 9 win over the Cleveland Browns. Dicker made three of his four extra point tries and missed his only field goal attempt. Dicker's field goal try came from 44 yards out. He's still one of the more consistent kickers in the NFL, but this was far from his best performance. Luckily, the Bolts were comfortably ahead and were able to wrap up a 27-10 win.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) exited Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The signal-caller had a decent showing. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury ended his day abruptly. Of course, there are concerns about the severity of his injury. However, Prescott will undergo an MRI on Monday. He'll likely miss some practice time throughout the week, assuming the injury isn't serious. But if Prescott can't suit up in Week 10 versus the Eagles, Cooper Rush, finishing with 115 yards and a touchdown off 13-for-25 passing on Sunday, would presumably remain under center.
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Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Kimani Vidal continued in his clear backup role in a 27-10 win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 9. Vidal carried the ball five times, gaining just seven yards total while not seeing a target in the passing game. Starter J.K. Dobbins scored twice in this game and recorded 16 touches, with Vidal again sticking to an occasional change of pace and backup role. On his own, Vidal won't have any real fantasy value, but if Dobbins were to miss time, Vidal would step into his role and skyrocket into the RB2 ranks.
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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (ankle) had a big game in his return to the starting lineup in Week 9. Johnston missed two games with an ankle injury but came back strong and looked good. He was targeted five times, making four catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown was on a big 66-yard play in the second quarter. Johnston ended up leading the team in receiving yards and was second in catches and targets. He should continue to be heavily involved and could move into a consistent WR3 fantasy rank if the Chargers keep their offense going. They'll face the Tennessee Titans in Week 10.
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Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey made five catches in a 27-10 win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 9. McConkey led the team in targets with seven, and in catches with five. He was second in receiving yards with 64, behind Quentin Johnston. McConkey was once again the main first look for quarterback Justin Herbert and should continue to be a high-floor WR2/3 option throughout the season, especially in Week 10 with a game coming up against the Tennessee Titans.
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Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins scored two touchdowns in a Week 9 win over the Cleveland Browns. Dobbins commanded the backfield once again, carrying the ball 14 times, gaining 85 yards and scoring twice. He added two catches for 20 yards through the air, catching both of his targets. His first touchdown was a 16-yard run in the second quarter and his second was a seven-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. Dobbins continues to be the clear three-down RB1 in the LA backfield, as Kimani Vidal was the only other Chargers back to record a carry, and he had only five. Dobbins and the Chargers will take on the Titans in Week 10, where Dobbins should again be in the RB1/2 conversation.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played well in a 27-10 Week 9 win over the Cleveland Browns. Herbert attempted 27 passes, completing 18 of them for 282 yards and two touchdowns. He added two yards on the ground on three recorded carries while taking six sacks, losing 36 yards. Herbert's first touchdown was a 28-yard pass to Joshua Palmer in the first quarter, and he followed it up with a 66-yard pass to Quentin Johnston in the second. Herbert didn't need to do much in the second half as the Chargers just chewed lock and nursed their lead. He could have had a bigger game, but the Bolts defense held the Browns to just three points until the last drive of the game. Herbert and the Chargers will take on the Titans in Week 10.
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is now tied for the most games with a perfect passer rating (4) in NFL history. The only other QB with four is AFC North rival Ben Roethlisberger. In the 41-10 win over the Denver Broncos, Jackson posted 280 yards and three touchdowns while throwing 16-for-19 and adding four yards on three carries. He's considered the front-runner for his third MVP by most outlets and Jackson remains atop the position in fantasy as well. He'll go up against the Cincinnati Bengals again in Week 10 on Thursday Night Football.
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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill caught four out of five targets for 80 yards in Miami's 30-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The offense made it clear early that their mission was to establish the run against a vulnerable defensive line for the Bills. Hill would've had a much better day if Tua Tagovailoa had hit him in stride on a deep ball he severely underthrew, which may have ended in a touchdown. Contrary to the defense's poor performance, the offense gave a great showing. Nonetheless, Hill made the most of the limited number of targets he received. At (2-6), Miami will be desperate for wins for the rest of the season, which should equal more targets for the speedster. The 30-year-old looks to have more looks next week when the Dolphins travel to Los Angeles to take on the Rams.
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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) caught both his two targets for minus-four yards and a receiving touchdown in their 30-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Other than the touchdown, Waddle was relatively quiet during the day. His second reception came on the game's last play, where Miami lateraled, and he ran close to 25 yards backwards. He left the game briefly with an ankle injury but soon re-entered the game with no further issues. The lack of targets came from the offense electing to establish the run and expose Buffalo's weakness of stopping the run. Still, this season has not been what fantasy managers have hoped for from the 25-year-old after three straight 1,000-yard campaigns. With Miami falling to 2-6 and the schedule looking a bit easier in the next couple of weeks, Waddle has the potential to break out. Next week, a matchup with the Los Angeles Rams could be a shootout.
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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's game versus the Jaguars. The wideout was back on the field with his team for the start of the second half. But, it didn't take long before he was shown jogging back to the locker room. It's unknown how or when the injury occurred. But if Brown doesn't return, he'll finish with two receptions for 36 yards, with DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, and Grant Calcaterra potentially in line to see more attention from Jalen Hurts for the rest of Week 9.
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Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry extended his scoring streak to nine games and scored his 100th career rushing touchdown while he dominated the Denver Broncos in a 41-10 win on Sunday. The King ended the game with 106 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries and even added one reception for 27 yards. Henry extended his lead as the RB1 even further and is the first running back to 1,000 yards this season. He's on pace to break his yard mark for all of last season by their next game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football.
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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was ejected from Sunday's meeting with the Seattle Seahawks. The wideout wasn't a lock to play after re-aggravating his knee injury. While he was on the field, he didn't last long before getting disqualified for punching Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant near the end of the second quarter. Nacua will finish this one with only one catch (four targets) for 11 yards, leaving room for Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams, Demarcus Robinson, and Tutu Atwell to get more involved on the receiving end for the rest of the contest.
From RotoBaller
