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FFL: Week 9 | NFL: Week 9

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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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9

Player Notes
Derek Carr Nov 3 11:40am ET
Derek Carr

NFL teams have called the New Orleans Saints about four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring), according to sources, although it's unclear if the Saints would be willing to move him. New Orleans is 2-6 on the year but will be getting quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) back for their Week 9 divisional clash against the Carolina Panthers. Rival teams think that a loss on Sunday could drive the Saints to strongly consider trading players away. Lattimore was ruled out for Week 9 action on Friday by head coach Dennis Allen after aggravating a hamstring injury in the Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The fact that other teams around the league are interested in trading for Lattimore likely means that his hamstring injury isn't all that serious. The former first-rounder has 30 tackles (22 solo) and two pass breakups in seven starts in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Amari Cooper Nov 3 11:40am ET
Amari Cooper

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. He had previously been listed as questionable after logging three limited practices in a row. This will be the first absence of the season for the 30-year-old, who has just 29 catches for 319 yards and three touchdowns in 2024. Fantasy managers should expect Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman to step up as viable fantasy receivers in Cooper's absence.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Nov 3 11:40am ET
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) will be inactive in Week 9 versus the division-rival New York Giants on Sunday. As of Sunday morning, Robinson was expected to be OK to play, but plans changed after he was put through a pre-game workout. He came into Sunday's game listed as questionable on the final injury report. Fantasy managers that were planning on starting Robinson this weekend will obviously have to move him to their benches now. Austin Ekeler essentially becomes a must-start in fantasy with B-Rob out in a good matchup against a Giants defense that has given up the 10th-most half-PPR fantasy points to RBs in the last three weeks. Behind Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols will also see an uptick in usage as Washington's No. 2 back against New York.

From RotoBaller

Curtis Samuel Nov 3 11:40am ET
Curtis Samuel

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel (pectoral) is officially active for Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins. He had been listed as questionable after logging three limited practices in a row. The veteran has been a reduced contributor within the Buffalo offense this season, catching just 12 passes for 92 yards. He's still searching for his first touchdown of the year. There's a chance that Samuel could get extra opportunities this week with Amari Cooper (wrist) out, but he's still behind Dalton Kincaid, Khalil Shakir, and Keon Coleman in the pecking order.

From RotoBaller

Puka Nacua Nov 3 11:30am ET
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) will play on Sunday in Week 9 on the road against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. Nacua tweaked his right knee in practice and was listed as questionable on Friday's final Week 9 injury report. However, the Rams said that his injury wasn't considered serious and that he was expected to play all along. The 23-year-old injured his knee in the season opener and didn't return until the Thursday night win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8, catching seven of nine targets for 106 yards. Fantasy managers will want to leave Nacua in all starting lineups as the Rams take on a Seahawks that has allowed the 12th-most half-PPR points to opposing wideouts in the last three weeks. Nacua quickly became a must-start in fantasy after going for 1,486 receiving yards and 105 receptions in his rookie season in 2023.

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Cameron Young Nov 3 11:20am ET
Cameron Young

The Seattle Seahawks activated offensive tackle George Fant (knee) from Injured Reserve on Saturday ahead of Sunday's divisional contest against the visiting Los Angeles Rams in Week 9. Fant will be appearing in his first game since injuring his knee in the season-opening win over the Denver Broncos. Nose tackle Cameron Young (knee) was placed on IR to make room on the 53-man roster for Fant, while cornerback Josh Jobe and receiver Cody White were also elevated from the practice squad. Fant has been practicing the last two weeks and could immediately jump back to the starting spot at right tackle on Sunday against LA. If the Seahawks aren't comfortable throwing Fant back in there right away, rookie Michael Jerrell could make a third straight start.

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Mike Williams Nov 3 11:20am ET
Mike Williams

The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to monitor the trade market for wide receivers in hopes of upgrading their offense, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Pittsburgh tried to trade for Christian Kirk before he suffered a season-ending collarbone injury, and now the Steelers are pivoting to other receivers, including Adam Thielen and Mike Williams. It's unclear if the Steelers will be able to pull off a receiver addition before Tuesday's 4 p.m. trade deadline, but they're certainly working the phones in hopes of making a splash.

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Demarcus Robinson Nov 3 11:00am ET
Demarcus Robinson

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was expected to take a backseat during last week's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Robinson did only see three targets, but he hauled in two of them for 35 yards and two touchdowns in the win. His fantasy value was saved by the two scores otherwise it would've been a quiet night for Robinson. The expectation is that Robinson would see less targets with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua (knee) back in the mix. However, Nacua is banged up and could see a limit on his snaps if he does play on Sunday. That means, Robinson could see more targets coming his way on Sunday. Fantasy managers shouldn't rush to add Robinson, but he could be a boom-or-bust option for desperate fantasy managers in deep leagues.

From RotoBaller

Emanuel Wilson Nov 3 10:50am ET
Emanuel Wilson

Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson hasn't been able to do much damage as the backup this season. Wilson did rush for 54 yards in Week 6, but since then Wilson has been held to 16 yards over the last two games. The 25-year-old hasn't seen the field much lately with Josh Jacobs (ankle) healthy. There was some concern over Jacobs' status earlier in the week, but he appears to be good to go for Week 9 against the Detroit Lions. That being said, Wilson will remain the backup and isn't worth rostering in most redraft formats. He's worth a stash in deep leagues or dynasty formats because he'd likely become the starter if anything happens to Jacobs.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Nov 3 10:40am ET
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) is currently listed as questionable ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the New York Giants. Robinson was limited throughout the week, which put his status for Sunday in real danger. However, Robinson is reportedly making great progress and appears to be good to go for Sunday's divisional contest. Fantasy managers should check back ahead of kickoff for official confirmation. Austin Ekeler would remain as the primary backup, assuming Robinson is able to go on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

David Moore Nov 3 10:30am ET
David Moore

Carolina Panthers wide receiver David Moore saw his biggest performance of the season during last week's loss to the Denver Broncos. Moore hauled in four of his five targets for 39 yards, which are all season highs for the 29-year-old. After a few injuries and trades, Moore has become the WR3 in Carolina right now. That doesn't mean a lot given how bad the Panthers offense has been this season. However, it's worth noting that Moore played 82 percent of the snaps last week. He isn't a reliable fantasy option for Week 9, but could creep into the flex conversation with another decent performance this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Justice Hill Nov 3 10:20am ET
Justice Hill

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill has been a boom-or-bust option throughout most of the season. Last week, Hill rushed twice for five yards while hauling in one target for 14 yards through the air. It was a dud outing for Hill who is the primary backup for Derrick Henry in the backfield. Hill has struggled on the ground throughout most of the season, but salvaged his value at times with touchdowns through the air. He'll likely struggle once again to move the ball on the ground against the Denver Broncos tough defense. Hill hasn't done enough to earn the trust of fantasy managers for this Week 9 contest.

From RotoBaller

Miles Sanders Nov 3 10:10am ET
Miles Sanders

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders saw increased involvement in the offense during last week's loss to the Denver Broncos. Sanders only rushed the ball once for seven yards, but was extremely active through the air. The 27-year-old hauled in all seven of his targets for 38 yards which are both season highs for Sanders. The expectation is that Sanders is going to continue having a minimal role behind Chuba Hubbard in the backfield. That seven-catch performance was likely more of a fluke than anything else. Fantasy managers should consider Sanders a risky flex option for the Week 9 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

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Khalil Herbert Nov 3 10:00am ET
Khalil Herbert

Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert was a healthy scratch from last week's loss to the Washington Commanders. Now, it's being reported that the organization has given Herbert permission to seek a trade. Herbert has fallen out of the rotation with D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson playing well right now. That being said, the Bears don't have much incentive to play Herbert who is in his final year of his contract. The 26-year-old has rushed for over 600 yards over the last previous seasons. He has a cheap salary and could be worth the risk for a contending team trying to add depth to their roster. Herbert might be worth a stash but there is no guarantee he gets traded.

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Isiah Pacheco Nov 3 9:50am ET
Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) has been making progress from his fractured leg he suffered in Week 2. The Chiefs said Pacheco was expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks, but rule out the possibility of Pacheco missing the rest of the regular season. Now, Pacheco is expected to make a late-November return. It'll be interesting to see how the Chiefs involve Pacheco once he's back on the field. Kareem Hunt has played well as the lead back over the last four games. The expectation is that the Chiefs have the two backs split up the duties in the backfield. That would likely make for a messy situation for fantasy managers.

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Jameson Williams Nov 3 9:30am ET
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (suspension) won't suit up for this week's game against the Green Bay Packers. However, Williams is expected to return next week after serving a two-game suspension for violating the league's performance enhancing policy. It's worth noting that the NFL continues to monitor his legal situation in an unrelated gun case. That could take some time to resolve, but Williams isn't expected to miss time because of that. Fantasy managers can be hopeful to get Williams back in their lineups as early as next week.

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Audric Estime Nov 3 9:30am ET
Audric Estime

Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime hasn't done much with his chances this season. The rookie back has been barely seen on the field this season, but that's likely to change in Week 9. The Broncos are reportedly hopeful to get Estime more involved during their matchup with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. He's currently the third string back behind Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin in the backfield. Estime hasn't done enough to warrant adding in most fantasy formats but he's worth a stash in dynasty formats.

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Marlon Humphrey Nov 3 9:20am ET
Marlon Humphrey

Baltimore Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey (knee) is listed as questionable, but is expected to suit up for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. Humphrey has been limited in practice all week after missing last week's loss to the Cleveland Browns. The return of Humphrey would be a welcoming sight for the Ravens secondary that is banged up right now. It's possible that Humphrey is limited during his first game back, but his presence would be an upgrade for this defensive unit.

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Zack Moss Nov 3 9:00am ET
Zack Moss

Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (neck) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game versus the Las Vegas Raiders, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. The 26-year-old has delivered modest production in a split role with Chase Brown so far this year, totaling 242 rushing yards, 187 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. His usage had started to dwindle with Brown coming on strong lately, and now he's going to be sidelined altogether as he battles a neck issue. For the time being, Brown is the only Cincinnati running back worth starting in fantasy football. This week, with Moss sidelined, Brown ranks as a fringe top-24 fantasy option at the position.

From RotoBaller

Diontae Johnson Nov 3 8:50am ET
Diontae Johnson

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson will likely play 10 to 15 snaps in his first game with the team on Sunday, according to CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson. Johnson was acquired from the Carolina Panthers earlier this week, and while he isn't fully acclimated to the Ravens' offense yet, it sounds like the Baltimore coaching staff will get him on the field for a percentage of plays in Week 9. Moving forward, he offers Baltimore an experienced weapon that can stretch the field in a supplementary role behind Zay Flowers. Johnson should be benched in fantasy football this week, but he could jump up to the low-end WR3 range by Week 10.

From RotoBaller