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.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) has an AC joint sprain. Lamb has been designated as week-to-week due to his shoulder injury, but according to Schefter, there is still optimism that he can play this Sunday despite the soreness he's experiencing. With the news that Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) is expected to miss multiple weeks due to an injury of his own, Dallas is in danger of being down two critical pieces of their offense this coming Sunday. The fact that there is optimism surrounding Lamb's status for this weekend hints that maybe it will be a pain tolerance issue for the 25-year-old. In the meantime, fantasy managers might want to assume the worst and begin putting a contingency plan in place in case the superstar wideout can't go in Week 10's divisional clash against the Philadelphia Eagles. Keep an eye on his practice status this week.
From RotoBaller
The NFL's Adam Schefter reports that the San Francisco 49ers have opened the 21-day practice window for star running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles). Finally, some good news. McCaffrey has yet to appear in a game this season, but, per Schefter, he is tracking to play this Sunday when the team lines up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Stanford alum would not likely handle a full workload if he suits up. Still, it's excellent news for the 49ers and fantasy managers, as he'll be a boon on the field and in fantasy lineups. Keep an eye on his status over the next few days, but things are looking up for the 28-year-old heading into Week 10. If he plays, he'll get one of the better matchups of the weekend against a Buccaneers squad that's allowed the most yards per carry to their opponents in 2024 (5.2).
From RotoBaller
In a report by ESPN's Ben Baby, he noted that Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (neck) will be out indefinitely due to his neck injury. Yikes. Per Baby, the team is seeking more information on the 26-year-old's injury this week, but it's not looking good for his availability moving forward. Fellow backfield mate Chase Brown had his best outing of the season in Sunday's 41-24 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, totaling 157 yards and a touchdown on his 32 touches. Brown projects to be the team's lead rusher moving forward, with Trayveon Williams and Kendall Milton mixing in behind him as a change of pace. Brown played on 80% of snaps in the team's Week 9 win and has his outlook on the rise heading into the back half of the season. Cincinnati will square off against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Per the NFL's Tom Pelissero, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's (hamstring) injury is worse than initially expected. Prescott sustained a hamstring injury in Sunday's 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and an MRI revealed that the ailment would keep him out of the lineup for multiple weeks. It's a massive blow to the Cowboys, who fell to 3-5 with their third straight loss in Week 9. A decision has not been made on whether to put him on injured reserve, hinting that it's a possibility for the 31-year-old veteran. Quarterback Cooper Rush took over in relief on Sunday and is presumably the starter moving forward, but this is a downgrade for the entire Cowboys offense. Dallas will line up against their division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, at home in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson converted his only field-goal attempt, a 46-yarder, and hit all three of his extra points in the team's 24-41 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. He moved to 16 for 18 on FG tries on the season, a clip of 88.9%. He also remained perfect on extra points, as he's sank all 14 of those successfully. He's still held back by Las Vegas' general ineffectiveness on offense. He ranks just 10th in the league in total field goal attempts despite not having had his bye week yet, and is 23rd in the NFL in extra points attempted. The "free points" nature of XP's, and his lack of volume on those opportunities, make him a decent start only in deeper leagues. He'll head into a Week 10 bye before facing the brutal Kansas City Chief defense yet again in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker had his second-least productive game of this season in the 24-41 Week 9 blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He was targeted six times, but came up with just two catches for five yards. He did not have a rush attempt. It wasn't his worst game of the season, as he was blanked in Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but 2.5 PPR fantasy points isn't a start-worthy stat line in any league. Whether it's the loss of No. 1 wideout Davante Adams, the return of WR Jakobi Meyers or lack of chemistry with the quarterbacks, Tucker now profiles as a bench stash only in the deepest of fantasy leagues. He'll head into a Week 10 bye before another game against the Miami Dolphins.
From RotoBaller
The Las Vegas Raiders defense/special teams managed to pick off opposing quarterback Joe Burrow and return it for a touchdown on Sunday. They also sacked him once. Unfortunately, the team lost the game 24-41, so they had yet another poor fantasy day. They've struggled to prevent opposing offenses from scoring, and now have surrendered 27.9 points per game to opposing offenses. Despite the highlight turnover, they're tied for dead-last in the NFL with just five takeaways through nine games. They're also tied for sixth-worst in sacks, with 17 on the season. This unit has struggled all year, and there's little reason for optimism. They're the 31st ranked fantasy defense on the season and don't belong on rosters in most leagues. They have a bye week in Week 10 before facing the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11, against whom the D/ST scored just 3 points in Week 8.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers didn't score his touchdown until the fourth quarter in garbage time during a blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but that still counts for fantasy scoring. The Raiders were eviscerated 24-41 by the Bengals, who showed that there are levels to this game. Fortunately, Bowers seems destined to be involved heavily in all games the Raiders play this season, and backup quarterback Desmond Ridder threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to him after the starter, Gardner Minshew II, was benched. It doesn't matter who starts as signal-caller. The rookie tight end will always get his fair share of targets. The freshman TE finished with five catches on eight targets for 45 yards and the touchdown grab. He has an opportunity to rest up heading into his Week 10 bye before a Week 11 showdown with the rival Kansas City Chiefs yet again.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said he expects to use rookie running back Audric Estime more down the stretch in 2024. Estime played only 10 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 9 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday but had as many carries (five) as Jaleel McLaughlin and was more efficient with 35 rushing yards. The 35 yards on the ground was a season-high for the 21-year-old fifth-round selection out of Notre Dame, and he's been quite efficient with 6.3 yards per carry on his 15 rushing attempts through the first five games of his career. Estime probably still won't be worth adding in 12-team fantasy leagues, but this statement from Payton is surely bad news for McLaughlin, who has averaged 3.9 yards per tote in 2024 after averaging 5.4 yards per carry in his rookie campaign in 2023.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White carried the ball six times for 10 yards and a touchdown and wasn't targeted in the team's 41-21 beatdown loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He averaged just 1.67 yards per carry and didn't see double-digit carries. This comes despite head coach Antonio Pierce indicating before the game that he wanted to get the third-year pro more involved in the offense. It's starting to look like touchdowns are White's only chance to be fantasy relevant this season. Without the starting job or receiving upside, he's not a player that should be started in fantasy leagues. Moving forward, his backfield mate Alexander Mattison will remain the starter, leaving the former Georgia Bulldog best thought of as a handcuff option. He'll face the tough Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11 after his upcoming bye week in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said that quarterback Daniel Jones remains the team's starting QB heading into the team's Week 10 battle against the Carolina Panthers in Germany this Sunday. Daboll also said that he won't change anything with the practice repetitions at the position this week. While Jones didn't do anything special in the Week 9 loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders on Sunday, going 20-for-26 for 174 yards, he did throw two touchdowns to end a 672-day TD drought at MetLife Stadium. The 27-year-old former first-rounder also ran for his first touchdown of the year in the 27-22 loss but added a lost fumble. Drew Lock will remain the backup to Jones in Germany, where Jones will be an upside QB2 in fantasy in an excellent matchup against Carolina's defense.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison retained his starting job and carried the ball nine times for 36 yards in a massive 21-41 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. The game got out of hand quickly, leading to few rushing opportunities for the team's RBs overall. He wasn't targeted in the passing game, though, and had a rushing touchdown snagged by his backup, Zamir White. Should White continue to handle the goal-line opportunities, Mattison could see his already shaky fantasy value fall even further. The lack of involvement in the passing game is also concerning. Moving forward, he's best viewed as a RB3/FLEX option in deep PPR leagues. He'll have a bye week in Week 10 before facing the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II was benched for the third time in the Raiders' Week 9 blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Las Vegas lost the game 21-41, and it was never close. Minshew completed 10 of 17 passes for 124 yards and lost a fumble in another dreadful outing. With former starter Aidan O'Connell (thumb) not eligible to return until a Week 13 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, it's possible we could see current backup Desmond Ridder, who replaced Minshew in the loss, start in Week 11, after the bye. Ridder completed 11 of 16 pass attempts for 74 yards, a touchdown, and lost a fumble as well. Things are looking bleak in LV's quarterback room. Minshew may not play at all in Week 11, but head coach Antonio Pierce hasn't confirmed next game's starting QB yet.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers was the clear No. 1 receiver for the team in Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He hauled in eight of 11 targets for 105 yards on the day, and was the most targeted Raiders offensive player. He consistently won on his routes and has earned 54 targets over his seven games played this season, making him a reliable fantasy option and a solid WR2 in PPR fantasy leagues. It's unlikely he'll cede many targets moving forward, considering that he's now the top dog in the wideout room. He'll have time to rest whatever remains of his previous ankle injury, as he has a bye week coming up. In Week 11, he'll continue his leading role against the Miami Dolphins with an extra week of rest under his belt.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce refused to name a starting quarterback as the team gets ready to head into their Week 10 bye. In addition, Pierce said on Monday that he hasn't decided on an offensive play-caller after firing offensive coordinator Luke Getsy following Sunday's blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The team's decision to part ways with Getsy was "100% my decision," Pierce said. Gardner Minshew II got the start under center on Sunday against Cincy and was eventually benched for the third time in his seven starts this year after going 10-for-17 for 124 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and a lost fumble. Former Falcons QB Desmond Ridder replaced Minshew and went 11-for-16 for 74 yards, a touchdown and a fumble. Aidan O'Connell (thumb) is on Injured Reserve, so it will be either Minshew or Ridder starting in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins.
From RotoBaller
The belief is that Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (hip) suffered a right hip-pointer injury on Sunday in the Week 9 win over the Dallas Cowboys, although he's going for additional tests on Monday, according to a source. Hip-pointer injuries can be frustrating for players, but they usually aren't long-term issues, which is great news for the Falcons and London's fantasy managers. The 23-year-old suffered the injury while making a nine-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter and he was eventually ruled out for the rest of the game. It sounds like he won't have to miss additional time, but it doesn't mean he won't be ruled out for Week 10 against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. If London misses any time, it will mean added targets and opportunities for receivers Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud III and tight end Kyle Pitts.
From RotoBaller
FOX Sports' Greg Auman reports that Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving (toe) is expected to play on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs and could play well despite dealing with a toe injury that he's been playing through. The Buccaneers will continue to manage the injury, and apparently nothing has changed since last week. Tampa listed Irving as questionable to play on Saturday for Week 9 against the Chiefs, though. The 22-year-old will have to manage his toe issue for the rest of the season. In the Week 8 loss to the division-rival Atlanta Falcons, Irving had nine carries for the second straight week and produced 44 rushing yards while adding a season-high seven catches for 40 yards. Irving has been the team's most impressive ball-carrier in 2024, but his injury and the presence of Rachaad White will keep him as an upside RB3/flex play on a weekly basis in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Although Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown's knee injury that he suffered in the Week 9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday isn't considered serious, he will undergo an MRI exam later on Monday to determine the full extent of the injury. Brown could miss some practice time later this week as the Eagles play it safe with their star receiver, but it sounds as though he may not have to miss any time. As long as the 27-year-old is cleared later this week, he'll be a must-start for fantasy managers in Week 10 for a divisional showdown against the fading Dallas Cowboys. Brown had two receptions for 36 yards on his four targets on Sunday against Jacksonville before leaving the contest and never returning, but he should bounce back against Dallas this Sunday as long as he's cleared. Check back later for the results of his MRI exam.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent running back Boston Scott (knee) is reportedly fully healthy and ready to return to the NFL after suffering a partially torn meniscus in his knee before the start of the regular season, according to sources. The former Philadelphia Eagles RB has been rehabbing the injury the last two months but it now prepared to join a team soon. The 29-year-old was with the Pittsburgh Steelers during training camp but was cut with an injury settlement after injuring his knee. The former sixth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2018 out of Louisiana Tech should latch on somewhere as a change-of-pace option, but he won't necessarily be worth a waiver-wire pickup for RB-needy fantasy managers once he finds a new team. Scott's fantasy value for the rest of 2024 will depend on where he lands. Stay tuned. In 15 games with Philly last year, he had 20 carries for 86 yards and caught four passes for 52 yards.
From RotoBaller
After firing head coach Dennis Allen on Monday following the team's seventh straight loss in Week 9 to the division-rival Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints have named assistant head coach/special teams coach Darren Rizzi as their interim head coach. The 54-year-old Rizzi has been with the team since 2019, when he was hired as special teams coordinator. He was promoted to assistant head coach in 2022 when Allen became the head coach. Rizzi previously worked as the Miami Dolphins' special teams coordinator from 2010-18 and he was also the associate head coach in 2017. He was the head coach in college at New Haven from 1999-01 and at Rhode Island in 2008. The 2-7 Saints will move forward with Rizzi as the man in charge, beginning with a Week 10 tilt against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller