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
Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 10
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was held out of the Week 9 loss due to disciplinary reasons, but the veteran is expected back in the lineup for Week 10's matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Elliott is completely off the fantasy radar after ceding the lead-back role to Rico Dowdle. Furthermore, Philadelphia's defense ranks third against opposing running backs. Elliott can be left on the waiver wire and should not be in any lineups this week.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert scored a touchdown in last week's loss, connecting with backup quarterback Cooper Rush late in the game. Week 10's matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles is not an easy one, with wide receivers scoring the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game against Philadelphia's secondary. CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) has been a limited participant in practice this week and is trending towards playing, meaning Tolbert is not guaranteed a safe target volume. He should not be started this week with Cooper Rush under center.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush has been thrust into the starting role with Dak Prescott (hamstring) headed to injured reserve. The 30-year-old career backup has played well in place of Prescott in the past, but Sunday's matchup against a stingy Philadelphia secondary is not the spot to trust him in. Rush grades as a high-end QB3 this week and can be considered as a QB2 option in deep leagues.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle has captured the lead role in the backfield over the past few weeks, but the offense may lose some efficiency with quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) set to miss at least the next four games. Dowdle should see significant volume coming off of an RB1 finish a week ago, but the matchup against Philadelphia's third-ranked run defense is far from ideal. He can be considered a flex option with a fairly lower floor than usual this week.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor grabbed his second touchdown in three games during the comeback win over the Bengals on Thursday. The veteran finished with one reception for a six-yard score on two targets. He continues to be a touchdown-dependent fantasy option who is only relevant in very deep leagues. With the addition of Diontae Johnson, Agholor moves to the third or fourth receiver, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to score every week. The Ravens will go up against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Khalil Herbert was traded from Chicago on Tuesday before the trade deadline. It was surprising that the team activated him for his first game after just two days of practice. He only played 2% of the offensive snaps and didn't register any touches in the box score. He did fumble the hand-off on one play but was able to recover it. He'll have some extra time with the team and the playbook as the Bengals take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers received plenty of attention from the Cincinnati Bengals' defense on Thursday night. Flowers received the third-most targets with six of them and finished with four receptions for 34 yards. A lot of his opportunities were short-to-mid throws which explains the average of 8.4 yards per catch. While the defense keyed on Flowers, the other pass-catchers got free for plenty of yards and touchdowns. The speedy wideout will look to bounce back against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews went into Thursday night with the hope of more snaps and involvement and cashed in during the 35-34 victory. With Isaiah Likely (hamstring) sidelined, Andrews received seven targets which he turned into six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown. This was his second-best output of the season and his highest snap share of the year with 87%. Whenever Likely is out, Andrews gains some big-time fantasy value and becomes a borderline must-start. He'll look to replicate this performance in Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman continues the best season of his career as he caught another touchdown pass in the Week 10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The former first-round pick finished with six receptions for 54 yards and a score on eight targets. Bateman is now 14 yards shy of his career-high for receiving yards in a single season and has done so with 15 fewer receptions so far. He's starting to turn a corner and become the big-play receiver that the Ravens hoped he would be. His next chance to score will be against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Tylan Wallace broke out for the best game of his career on Thursday night in the 35-34 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The 25-year-old finished the contest with three receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown on three targets. He produced a game-changing moment when he caught a sideline pass from Lamar Jackson, broke a tackle, and ran down the field to complete an 84-yard touchdown play at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Wallace has the speed to break off some big plays, but he's fourth on the depth chart at best. He'll try to shake free again in Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry seemed like he was headed for a fantasy dud as the offense couldn't get much going during the first half on Thursday night. Luckily, Henry scored on a goalline run towards the end of the third quarter and salvaged his fantasy week for many managers. He ended the game with 68 yards and one score on 16 carries with one reception for three yards. The only threat to Henry's fantasy output is the defense allowing tons of points to force games into a shootout. He'll try to find some running room against the Steelers in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson continues his marvelous season as he led the team to a comeback win over their AFC North rivals on Thursday night. In the 35-34 win, Jackson registered 290 yards and four touchdowns while throwing 25-for-33 and adding 33 yards on seven carries. The offense had a slow start to the game but put 28 points in the second half including a 21-point fourth quarter. Jackson completed passes to nine different receivers while delivering touchdown strikes to four of them. He's already tied his passing touchdown mark from last season in six fewer games while he tries to go for even more against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) has been limited all week at practice due to a shoulder injury. According to Ian Rapoport, the former number-one overall pick is unlikely to play against the Vikings in Week 10. While he hasn't been ruled out officially, Rapoport points to the fact that Lawrence has been very limited this week leading up to their game. If he's unable to suit up, backup Mac Jones would step in and make his first start since Week 12 of the 2023 season. A clearer picture will be available after the injury report comes out on Friday.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) was forced to leave Thursday night's game after making an awkward plant on his right foot. He did not return to the game, but Ian Rapoport is now saying that the star safety suffered an ankle sprain and it's not considered serious. With how bad the Ravens' defense has been, losing Hamilton for any amount of time would have been a devastating hit. He'll get a few extra days to prepare for Week 11, but his status will be something to monitor throughout next week.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki had four catches for 30 yards in Thursday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The veteran had two touchdowns in the win over the Raiders in Week 9. However, he cooled off significantly on Thursday. Granted, he had nine targets from Joe Burrow. Still, fantasy managers were disappointed with the end result. With the Bengals sitting on a 4-6 record, the team will look to rebound in Week 11 against a capable Chargers defense. Gesicki should be viewed as a risky, high-upside fantasy option for that one, although his outlook won't be as favorable if Tee Higgins (quadriceps) is back on the field.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson had 42 yards and a touchdown off six catches in Thursday's loss to the Ravens. With Erick All Jr. (knee) done for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign, Hudson had a chance to get more involved behind Mike Gesicki. He made the most of his opportunity, although Cincinnati couldn't pull off a win. Hudson easily had his best showing of the season on Thursday. However, the 29-year-old still has more work to do before earning a spot in fantasy lineups moving ahead.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow played well in Thursday's narrow loss to the Baltimore Ravens. While he wasn't as potent as he was when these clubs last met, he still threw for 428 yards and four touchdowns off 34-for-56 passing. Outside of two fumbles, the signal-caller did his part on Thursday night. However, the Bengals defense allowed the Ravens to overcome a 14-point deficit and eventually take the lead halfway through the fourth quarter. But as far as Burrow is concerned, he continues to have an MVP-caliber season. With that in mind, Cincinnati will get some extra time off before taking the field again versus a capable Chargers defense in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had one of the best showings of his career in Thursday's meeting with the Ravens, finishing with 11 receptions (17 targets) for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Unfortunately, the former LSU Tiger's efforts weren't enough, with the Bengals dropping their sixth game of the 2024-25 campaign on Thursday night. With that said, Chase now has 10 touchdowns this season, with fantasy managers hoping for more when the Bengals meet a potent Chargers defense in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown ran for 42 yards and a touchdown off 14 carries in Thursday's one-point loss to Baltimore. He added nine catches for 52 yards. The 24-year-old has been solid of late. Although Brown played better in the Week 9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, he still picked up his seventh touchdown in his last seven appearances. With a tough Chargers defense on the horizon for Week 11, Brown remains a viable fantasy option, even more so with Zack Moss (neck) done for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) injured his right ankle in the second quarter and will not return in the second half. Hamilton stepped awkwardly with his right foot and went down in a heap before leaving the field under his own power. He went to the locker room to undergo X-rays and won't return for the rest of the game. Until we have the results of the X-rays, we won't have a great idea on how much time the 23-year-old defensive back might miss. Hamilton is one of the best all-around safeties in the NFL, though, so any time he's forced to miss will be significant for a Ravens secondary that has really struggled in 2024. The former 14th overall pick back in 2022 out of Notre Dame was a first-time Pro Bowler in his second season in 2023 and came into Thursday's game with 67 tackles (48 solo), two sacks and five pass breakups in nine games.
From RotoBaller
