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FFL: Week 1 | NFL: Week 1

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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Starts/Sits: Week 1

Player Notes
Ja'Marr Chase Sep 8 4:40pm ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (illness, hold-in) was cleared to suit up shortly before the meeting with the Patriots. Unfortunately, it didn't matter, with Cincinnati dropping Week 1 to New England. Tee Higgins (hamstring) wasn't available. However, while there was a chance of a limited workload for Chase, fantasy managers were still happy to see the green light. Overall, it wasn't a bad game for the wideout, amassing a game-high six grabs for 62 yards. Still, fantasy managers were expecting more from the former LSU Tiger. At any rate, Chase's availability for Week 2 isn't guaranteed if he doesn't get the new contract he desires. Yet, if he's on the field against the Chiefs, he's still a must-start, considering he'll get it together at some point.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Sep 8 4:40pm ET
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 23-of-37 passes for 336 yards and one touchdown in the team's 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. He added one scramble for a gain of 11 yards. It was tough sledding on the ground for Miami throughout this one, and their offense looked a bit sluggish in the early going. Most of Tagovailoa's passes were short in the beginning portion of the game, but that changed significantly around the mid-point of the third quarter. The Dolphins' signal caller hit a streaking Jaylen Waddle deep down-field, and the speedy wideout turned up the sideline for a huge 63-yard gain. Then, on Miami's next drive -- on the first play --, Tua hit Tyreek Hill on a deep crosser that he turned up the left sideline for an 80-yard score. Overall, it was a fine opening performance for the Dolphins' offense. The fifth-year veteran will have a quick turnaround in Week 2 when he squares up against Josh Allen and their division-rival Buffalo Bills.

From RotoBaller

Mike Tomlin Sep 8 4:40pm ET
Mike Tomlin

Pittsburgh Steelers punter Cameron Johnston (leg) suffered a "serious injury" during Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, head coach Mike Tomlin told the media. Johnston was in serious pain after being hit during a punt attempt in Week 1. It's a crushing blow for the Steelers, who were optimistic that they had solved their punting woes ahead of the 2024 campaign. Instead, it looks like Johnston will miss extended time, leaving Pittsburgh searching for yet another player to plug in at punter.

From RotoBaller

Chase Brown Sep 8 4:30pm ET
Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown struggled in Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots. He was a popular option in fantasy drafts heading into the 2023-24 campaign, often getting selected over Zack Moss. However, Chase didn't get anything going in Week 1, finishing with only 11 yards off three carries, adding three catches for 12 yards. With that said, Moss, who ended the day by amassing 44 yards and a touchdown off nine touches, appears to be the preferred option out of the backfield for Cincinnati. As a result, Brown isn't the safest fantasy option in Week 2 against the Chiefs, although there's still a chance he could get more involved than he was in the opener.

From RotoBaller

Zack Moss Sep 8 4:20pm ET
Zack Moss

Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss led his team in rushing on Sunday. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, with the Bengals dropping Week 1 to the Patriots. Tee Higgins (hamstring) didn't suit up, and Ja'Marr Chase (illness, hold-in) wasn't cleared until shortly before kickoff. As a result, Joe Burrow struggled. Despite the Bengals needing to play catch-up for most of the contest, Moss still had a decent fantasy showing, running for 44 yards off nine carries. He also found the end zone and brought in two passes for 17 yards. For the Bengals to get anything out of the backfield moving ahead, the team must get it together on the receiving end. For now, Moss remains a must-start in most fantasy setups in the Week 2 battle with the Chiefs. However, things may change if Higgins isn't cleared to play and Chase remains a limited participant at practice during the week.

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Jeff Okudah Sep 8 4:10pm ET
Jeff Okudah

Houston Texans cornerback Jeff Okudah (hip) has been ruled out of the Texans' game against the Indianapolis Colts. The former No. 3 overall pick signed with the Texans this offseason after four underwhelming seasons in Detroit and Atlanta. Okudah does project to be an important depth piece for the Texans as a rotational corner. If his injury is serious, his absence would negatively impact the Texans' defense.

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Joe Burrow Sep 8 4:10pm ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow couldn't lead his team to a win over the Patriots on Sunday. Tee Higgins (hamstring) wasn't available, and Ja'Marr Chase (illness, hold-in) was cleared shortly before opening kick. As a result, the signal-caller struggled, throwing for only 164 yards off 21-for-29 passing. He added four carries for 15 yards. Without question, Burrow will need Higgins and Chase on the field for the Bengals Week 2 meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs. If Higgins remains out and Chase doesn't get a new contract, fantasy managers may want to strongly consider keeping Burrow out of the starting lineup.

From RotoBaller

Marshon Lattimore Sep 8 4:00pm ET
Marshon Lattimore

New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) is questionable to return against the Panthers. Lattimore is an extremely important piece of a solid defense and any length of absence would be a big loss for the Saints. The Saints' defense has started off 2024 strong as they are currently holding the Carolina Panthers to 10 points midway through the fourth quarter. They will need Lattimore in the lineup to continue that success as the season wears on. Lattimore is also going to be important to the success of the Saints D/ST which projects to be a solid streaming option in fantasy throughout the season.

From RotoBaller

Trey Palmer Sep 8 3:50pm ET
Trey Palmer

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Trey Palmer (concussion) is active in Week 1. Palmer had managed to log several full practices throughout the week and ultimately proved that he was ready to go on game day. Palmer is listed as the Buccaneers No. 4 wide receiver. He caught 39 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns in 2023. He should be a solid contributor to the Buccaneers' success in 2024, however, he is not worth much of a look in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Noah Brown Sep 8 3:40pm ET
Noah Brown

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown is a healthy scratch in Week 1. The Commanders take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the team looks to enter a new era with a new regime. Brown joined the team after being cut by the Texans at the conclusion of the preseason. He had a solid season with the Texans in 2023 with 33 receptions for 567 yards and two touchdowns in ten games. The healthy scratch is not surprising since Brown had hardly any time to become integrated with the team. He is a talented player who should be able to earn playing time as the season progresses.

From RotoBaller

Nick McCloud Sep 8 3:30pm ET
Nick McCloud

New York Giants cornerback Nick McCloud (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Vikings. The Giants cannot afford to lose any starters on a defense that has surrendered 28 points thus far in Week 1. The Giants will hope that the injury is not serious. The defense ended the year strongly in 2023. However, given their start against the Vikings, they can only go up in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Brenden Rice Sep 8 3:30pm ET
Brenden Rice

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal and wide receiver Brenden Rice have officially been ruled inactive on Sunday. Vidal has been making strides to make his way onto the roster and was thought to be in the mix to get meaningful snaps along with Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. Hassan Haskins will be the one to move into the third-string role in the backfield. In terms of Brenden Rice, he was also expected to get some snaps as the fourth wideout but will miss the season opener. Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, and Ladd McConkey will see the bulk of the opportunities in the receiving corps. Vidal and Rice's statuses will be something to monitor heading into Week 2, but they're more viable as stashes in dynasty formats right now.

From RotoBaller

Kyler Murray Sep 8 3:30pm ET
Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Jonah Williams (knee) was ruled out after suffering a knee injury against the Bills on Sunday. Williams is an important piece of an uninspiring Cardinal's O-line. Williams came over to the Cardinals as a free agent during the 2024 offseason. As such, it is disappointing to see him go down in his first game with the team. James Conner and Kyler Murray managers should keep an eye on the situation to see how it could affect those players should Williams miss time. However, it is worth noting that Williams was able to walk off under his own power.

From RotoBaller

Dylan Laube Sep 8 3:20pm ET
Dylan Laube

Las Vegas Raiders running back Dylan Laube will be a healthy scratch on Sunday when the Raiders take on the Chargers. The Chargers will enter Week 1 with Zamir White, Alexander Mattison, and Ameer Abdullah as their top-three running backs. Laube had created intrigue throughout the preseason and training camp with solid play. However, the sixth-round pick out of the University of New Hampshire did not do enough to earn himself a role on game day, at least in Week 1. His next change to log regular season playing time will be in Week 2 against the Ravens

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Jordan Addison Sep 8 3:10pm ET
Jordan Addison

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) left the game against the New York Giants with an ankle injury and the team has announced that he won't return. At this time, it's unclear how severe of an injury that it is. Addison left in the third quarter though while the team was up 21-6. In that time, he gathered four targets, three receptions, and 35 yards with his longest play going for 16 yards. He was tied with Justin Jefferson for the most targets on the team. Fantasy managers will want to stay tuned for more updates after the team runs some more tests on his ankle after the game. In the meantime, Jalen Nailor will likely see some more opportunities.

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Tyler Lockett Sep 8 3:00pm ET
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett is officially active on Sunday and will take on the Denver Broncos. Last season was the first time Lockett failed to hit the 1,000-yard mark since 2018 and the first time he had fewer than eight touchdowns since 2017. He'll turn 32 years old this season, so he's a bit of a risky fantasy pick. Through the offseason, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was praised for his growth while DK Metcalf is primed for a big season. The new system with an all-new coaching staff will likely play a big part in how valuable Lockett becomes as well. If the Broncos' defense is anything like last year, Seattle has a chance for a big offensive day.

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Troy Franklin Sep 8 2:50pm ET
Troy Franklin

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin (coach's decision) has been officially designated as inactive for the team's season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. The rookie wide receiver is healthy but hasn't climbed up the depth chart enough to be a part of the main receiving corps. Word from the coaching staff was that they were happy with Franklin's growth so far, but it'll take a bit longer to see him on the field getting snaps. He's more valuable right now as a rookie stash in dynasty formats rather than redraft. His progress will be something to monitor as the season goes on and any injuries occur.

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Jaylen Waddle Sep 8 2:40pm ET
Jaylen Waddle

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle left the field for a brief moment to be evaluated for a concussion. He was quickly cleared, however, and joined the team back on the field. The Dolphins offense wasn't able to gain momentum in the game just yet, as Waddle and Tyreek Hill have combined for 64 yards and no scores. The good news is that the former sixth-overall pick is healthy though. Waddle was a good fantasy start heading into this matchup against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that showed plenty of weaknesses last season. The second half will be as important as ever for fantasy managers who started Waddle with high hopes.

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Kyler Murray Sep 8 2:30pm ET
Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Jonah Williams (knee) suffered an apparent knee injury and is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Kelvin Beachum has replaced Williams at right tackle for the time being, but this will be something to monitor as it could affect Kyler Murray's protection. Williams has been an everyday starter for the Bengals through the first four years of his career and transitioned into the starter for the Cardinals. Updates will likely be on the way after Williams is checked out in the locker room.

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Jordan Love Sep 8 2:10pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) is expected to be sidelined for 3-to-6 weeks after getting injured in Friday's loss to the Eagles in Brazil. But according to NFL's Tom Pelissero, the Packers believe the signal-caller could be back on "the sooner end." Of course, with Green Bay and Love agreeing to a lucrative contract extension this offseason, the team won't take chances. There was talk that the club had reached out to veteran Ryan Tannehill to fill the void under center. However, that doesn't appear to be the case, with Pelissero adding the Packers "are focused on preparing Malik Willis and Sean Clifford." With that said, Love's absence isn't good news for the receiving corps, so fantasy managers are certainly hoping he'll be back sooner rather than later.

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