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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The Paur Report
Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (hip) has officially been downgraded to out for the rest of their Week 9 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud III, and Kyle Pitts will all see added opportunities while KhaDarel Hodge could see some snaps as well. London finishes the game with two catches for 27 yards and one touchdown on two targets. The team will likely perform some tests on his hip following the game and into Monday morning.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Erick All Jr. (knee) has been tagged as doubtful to return to their Week 9 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. The rookie was enjoying a solid start to their game but had to leave in the first half with a knee injury. If he doesn't return, he'll finish with two receptions for 24 yards on two targets. If All remains out, Mike Gesicki should see an uptick in snaps, while Tanner Hudson will see some more opportunities as well.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) has been deemed as active ahead of their late afternoon kickoff. The 25-year-old was expected to play in this one, so it's not a complete surprise, but at least he's been confirmed. Tank Bigsby (ankle) has also been ruled as active, so they'll go back to a timeshare in the backfield. It could be tough sledding though as the Philadelphia Eagles are one of the toughest teams against opposing backfields.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion) won't return to Sunday's game against the Panthers. He took a hard hit in the first quarter and was carted off the field, so most had already assumed he wouldn't be back. However, with Olave already suffering a concussion this season, there's a good chance he could miss time moving ahead. Of course, fantasy managers will be anxiously awaiting an update. Fortunately, the wideout was moving all of his extremities. But without Olave in the mix, Juwan Johnson, Cedrick Wilson Jr., and Mason Tipton could see more attention on the receiving end.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (hip) is questionable to return to Sunday's matchup versus the Dallas Cowboys. The wideout was busy early in Week 9, amassing two catches for 27 yards and a touchdown, finding the end zone off a nine-yard toss from Kirk Cousins. Hopefully, the hip issue won't keep him off the field for the remainder of the contest. But if London doesn't return, Darnell Mooney, Kyle Pitts, and Ray-Ray McCloud III would be in line to see more attention from Cousins.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (head) exited Sunday's meeting with the Carolina Panthers with what appeared to be a head injury. The wideout took a hard hit in the first quarter and remained down for several minutes before eventually being carted off. It's not an ideal scenario for the team, and it's also not good news for Olave, considering he missed time already this season because of a concussion. While it's too early to speculate, there's a good chance he won't return. If that's the case, he'll finish with one catch for 13 yards. For now, fantasy managers should at least consider Olave as questionable, with Juwan Johnson, Cedrick Wilson Jr., and Mason Tipton in line to see more targets.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (groin) is expected to start in Sunday's game against the Lions. However, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported that the team will monitor the signal-caller throughout the contest. If Love begins to show any signs of discomfort related to the groin strain suffered in Week 8 against the Jaguars, he'll be pulled, opening the door for Malik Willis to take over under center. While fantasy managers were certainly thrilled to hear the news regarding Love's availability in Week 9, he'll remain a risky option, considering he could be pulled at any point during the game.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott didn't travel with the team to Atlanta and was held out of the Week 9 matchup with the Falcons due to disciplinary reasons. While details were scarce when news broke on Saturday, Fox's Jay Glazer provided an update, reporting that Elliott was declared inactive because of missed meetings and "habitual tardiness." As a result, the team elevated Dalvin Cook off the practice squad, who will back up starter Rico Dowdle versus the Falcons. Now, fantasy managers are left wondering if Elliott will be back on the field for the Week 10 NFC East clash with the Philadelphia Eagles. If he's not, Cook will presumably continue to support Dowdle as the No. 2 option out of the backfield.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is expected to make his NFL debut in Week 10 against the New York Giants in Germany. Outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum (quadriceps) is also expected to make his Panthers debut next week, while receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) should also return, barring a last-minute trade ahead of Tuesday's deadline. Brooks put in three full practices this week before being ruled out for Week 9 against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. The first RB off the board in April's draft will debut next weekend, though, and he will eventually take away valuable backfield touches from current RB1 Chuba Hubbard. Brooks is recovered from a torn ACL that he suffered in college at Texas. He should be rostered in all fantasy leagues now and could have a substantial role by season's end.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith was fined $11,255 by the National Football League for committing unsportsmanlike conduct and taunting in Week 8's game against the Buffalo Bills. He tossed the ball at DE Dawuane Smoot following a play because he was upset over a hit from CB Taron Johnson.
From TheHuddle
Although a trade is considered unlikely, NFL teams have inquired with the Indianapolis Colts about the possibility of trading quarterback Anthony Richardson, who was benched in favor of veteran Joe Flacco for Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings. FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz says that several teams that he spoke to still view Richardson as a franchise-caliber QB and think that the Colts pulling the plug on him after 10 regular-season starts is "premature." Richardson's fantasy stock has taken a major hit, as he's now rostered in only 49% of Yahoo leagues after his benching, but the Colts could go back to the young signal-caller if Flacco struggles at all. Head coach Shane Steichen said himself that the Colts are "not giving up on Richardson by any means." Still, the 22-year-old's struggles as a passer have been glaring, and he's also proven to be quite injury-prone early in his NFL career.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Tee Higgins (quadricep) and Jermaine Burton (coach's decision) are inactive for Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Higgins, listed as doubtful, was trending in the wrong direction after missing three practices in a row. He has missed four games this year, averaging 5.8 catches, 68.2 yards, and 0.6 touchdowns. Burton's absence is a little more surprising given that he played a career-high 41 percent of snaps last week, adding a 41-yard reception along the way. Evidently, head coach Zac Taylor hasn't seen enough out of the rookie and is making him inactive. With Higgins and Burton sidelined, Andrei Iosivas and Trenton Irwin should see additional opportunities behind Ja'Marr Chase.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) was not activated from the PUP list ahead of Saturday's deadline. The 22-year-old was a full participant in practice this week, but evidently, the Ravens aren't ready to activate him quite yet. His potential 2024 season debut will now be pushed back to Week 10 against the Cincinnati Bengals. With Rasheen Ali (ankle) also sidelined this week, the Ravens will head into Sunday's clash with Derrick Henry and Justice Hill leading their backfield.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (knee) is officially active for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. He had been listed as questionable after being a limited participant in practice all week long. The 28-year-old has missed just one game this season, totaling 33 tackles and four interceptions through seven weeks of action so far. His absence will be key as the Ravens look to slow down the Broncos' passing attack in Week 9.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (right shoulder) is officially inactive for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. He had been listed as questionable after logging three limited practices in a row, but in the end, he'll stay sidelined for at least one more week. Sunday marks Levis's third consecutive absence, leaving Mason Rudolph in line to start at quarterback once again. Rudolph will rank as a fantasy QB3 versus New England.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers tight ends Tommy Tremble (back) and Feliepe Franks (concussion) have both been officially ruled out for the Week 9 divisional clash on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Tremble was able to practice in full on Friday but still picked up a questionable tag on the final injury report. The 24-year-old missed Weeks 6 and 7 with a back injury but returned in last week's loss to the Denver Broncos to catch two of his three targets for 13 yards. Apparently his back issue worsened after last Sunday's game, causing him to miss another contest. With both Tremble and Franks out this weekend, it will open the door for rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders to operate as the team's clear pass-catching TE. At best, the 21-year-old fourth-rounder will be a deep-league TE2 streaming option. Sanders has 20 receptions for 158 yards and no scores in his first eight NFL games.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (foot) is officially active for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. He had been listed as questionable, and despite not practicing at all ahead of Week 9, the 27-year-old will suit up against the Patriots. He continues to have the backfield all to himself, ranking as the overall RB21 in PPR leagues so far this season. He remains a top-24 option heading into the clash with New England.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tyler Boyd (shoulder) is officially active for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. He had been listed as questionable and will play despite missing all three practices ahead of Week 9. The 29-year-old is slated to operate as the Titans' No. 2 wide receiver behind Calvin Ridley. In that role last week, he caught three of six targets for 14 yards. He's not a dependable fantasy option in most leagues this week.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (quadricep) is officially active for Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction after logging a full practice on Friday. The 25-year-old has just 26 scrimmage yards over his last two games, once again taking on the backup role behind Alexander Mattison. He should be avoided in most fantasy leagues this week.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills WR Amari Cooper (wrist) has been declared inactive for the Week 9 game.
Fantasy Spin: Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman will be the main receiver for the Bills this week with Cooper unavailable. Shakir should be a starting option in all fantasy leagues, while Coleman can be at least a flex option in most leagues.
From TheHuddle
