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FFL: Week 11 | NFL: Week 11

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 11

Player Notes
Daniel Jones Nov 12 7:40pm ET
Daniel Jones

ESPN's senior inside Adam Schefter said on Tuesday that he "would guess Daniel Jones never plays another snap for the New York Giants" after losing to the Carolina Panthers in Week 10 in Munich, Germany. The Giants currently have the worst record in football at 2-8 and would be in line to have the first overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft. Head coach Brian Daboll has stood behind Jones as the starting QB this year, but Schefter notes that Daboll's tone was different after Sunday's loss to Carolina in which Jones missed several open receivers and made questionable decisions. Going into their Week 11 bye, the Giants are evaluating everything and could head into Week 12 with some notable changes. If the G-Men bench Jones, who has a $23 million injury guarantee, to avoid him getting hurt to close things out, Drew Lock would be thrust into the starting role in the Big Apple.

From RotoBaller

Tyreek Hill Nov 12 7:30pm ET
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) told ESPN's Lisa Salters that he has a torn ligament in his left wrist but has been playing through it. The ligament has bothered Hill since training camp, but it became an issue when he was detained by police and thrown on the ground back in September. The 30-year-old All-Pro pass-catcher was listed as questionable to play in Week 10 on Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams, but he was ultimately active for the 23-15 victory and caught three of his four targets for 16 yards and just his second touchdown of the year. He added two carries for 11 yards. The TD was nice, but the Cheetah had his second-lowest yardage total of the year on Monday night, and his wrist could bother him the rest of the way. Miami's offense has yet to find its stride with QB Tua Tagovailoa back, but that could happen in a juicy Week 11 matchup against the Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Deommodore Lenoir Nov 12 7:20pm ET
Deommodore Lenoir

The San Francisco 49ers and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir reached an agreement on Tuesday on a five-year, $92 million contract extension. Lenoir was in the final year of his rookie deal in 2024 but will now stick around in the Bay Area for the long term after becoming one of the most underrated players on the Niners' defense in recent years. The former fifth-round selection in 2021 out of Oregon had a career-high 84 tackles (58 solo), a career-high three interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 17 regular-season starts for the team last year and currently has 53 tackles (33 solo), two interceptions, six pass breakups and a forced fumble in nine games in 2024 heading into the Week 11 game against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. The 25-year-old defensive back has become an every-down player for the 49ers defense and a key member of their secondary.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Nov 12 7:10pm ET
Tua Tagovailoa

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores suggested that he would like another crack at a head-coaching job during his appearance on the Adam Schefter podcast on Tuesday. Flores has led a serious turn around of the Vikings' defense over the last couple of years. The Vikings have the No. 2 rush defense in the NFL in 2024. Their pass defense is No. 26 in yards allowed per game. However, that statistic is likely due to the fact that the run defense is so dominant and the Vikings' offense generally forces opposing teams to play from behind. Flores was once a head coach for the Miami Dolphins and had an infamously poor relationship with young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He was eventually fired which resulted in his filing of a lawsuit against the league for injustice in head coach termination. Flores' name is sure to come up again over the next couple of head coaching cycles. His success with the Vikings is eye popping considering their defense was so poor prior to his arrival. For now, he will continue to lead one of the best units in the NFL as the Vikings find themselves in a surprisingly excellent position in the NFC playoff race through 10 weeks.

From RotoBaller

Marshon Lattimore Nov 12 6:40pm ET
Marshon Lattimore

Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) was listed as a DNP on Tuesday's practice estimation. Lattimore has not practiced or played since he was traded to the Commanders ahead of the trade deadline last week. The Commanders are clearly going all in on this season with the addition of Lattimore and are surely eager to get him on the field to bolster their secondary. Lattimore has not played since Week 8 when he was still a member of the New Orleans Saints. In seven games played in 2024, Lattimore has recorded just two passes defensed and no interceptions. The Saints were struggling as a whole and Lattimore was not immune to those struggles. For the Commanders' sake, hopefully Lattimore finds himself again in Washington. Either way, he should be an upgrade over their current secondary. Lattimore's lack of participation on Monday and Tuesday does not bode well for his chances of suiting up on Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles. This is a situation to monitor for fantasy managers who roster Eagles wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Both players would likely be negatively impacted by the presence of Lattimore on the field.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Goedert Nov 12 6:30pm ET
Dallas Goedert

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (ankle) was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday. Goedert returned from injury in Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys and scored a respectable 10.5 fantasy points. He also scored his first touchdown on the season in Week 10. Prior to his injury, Goedert had been one of the best tight ends in fantasy so his return to the lineup is a welcome one for fantasy managers. Goedert draws a solid matchup in Week 11 against the Washington Commanders. Both teams' defenses have improved as the season has gone on but both offenses are potent and should generate a lot of passing attempts. That bodes well for Goedert who is the third option on his team behind wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Although Goedert was listed as a DNP on Monday, his activity on Tuesday suggests that he should suit up once again in Week 11. He should be a solid fantasy option if healthy.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Nov 12 6:30pm ET
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) was listed as limited on the Commanders' injury report on Tuesday. Robinson has not played since Week 8 because of the injury. He was close to returning in Week 11 so his activity on Tuesday suggests that he may be on track to return this week. Additionally, Robinson was limited on Monday's practice report as well. As long as Robinson keeps up this trend then he seems to have a good shot to play in Week 11 against the Washington Commanders. Fantasy managers will rejoice to have Robinson back in lineups. In seven games played in 2024, Robinson has racked up six touchdowns and 461 rushing yards. The Commanders' offense has been one of the best in the league thanks to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. As such, Robinson's scoring opportunities have been constant. The Eagles defense presents a tough challenge for Robinson and he may be worked back into the lineup slowly. Should he suit up, he will likely be a low-end RB2 in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

DeVonta Smith Nov 12 6:20pm ET
DeVonta Smith

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday. Smith did not participate in Monday's walk through so his activity on Tuesday suggests that it was all maintenance related. Additionally, Smith has been dealing with the injury for a couple of weeks and it did not prohibit him from playing in Week 10. Smith was quiet in Week 10. He recorded just two receptions for 14 yards in the Eagles' blowout win in Dallas. It is unclear if his injury was affecting his play but Smith managers will be hoping for better days to come. Smith has 37 receptions for 487 yards and four touchdowns in eight games this season. His overall fantasy production has been relatively inconsistent but he is still the WR22 in PPR formats. Smith has a solid chance to get back on track in Week 11 against the Washington Commanders.

From RotoBaller

Tyrel Dodson Nov 12 5:50pm ET
Tyrel Dodson

The Miami Dolphins claimed linebacker Tyrel Dodson off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday after the Seahawks surprisingly waived him on Monday, according to a source. Dodson was leading the Seahawks with 71 tackles through the first 10 weeks of the season, in addition to two sacks, and had started every game. It's no surprise that he was quickly picked up off waivers, and the 26-year-old will now head to the AFC East division. He will be joining a linebacking corps in Miami that includes Jordyn Brooks, Anthony Walker and David Long. Based on how well Dodson was playing before being cut by Seattle, he figures to have a prominent role on defense with his new club. The Texas A&M alum debuted in 2020 with the Buffalo Bills and spent his first four seasons in Buffalo, recording 143 tackles (102 solo), 4.5 sacks, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 59 games (15 starts).

From RotoBaller

Jack Stoll Nov 12 5:50pm ET
Jack Stoll

The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Tuesday that they waived tight end Jack Stoll. The move comes after Dallas Goedert returned from a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury to play in the Week 10 win over the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. When Goedert was sidelined, Stoll was serving as the No. 2 TE for the Eagles behind Grant Calcaterra. In seven games for Philly this year, Stoll had only two catches on three targets for 10 yards, and he has yet to score a touchdown in 57 games (28 starts) since debuting with the Eagles in 2021. If the 26-year-old is not claimed off waivers by another team, he could find himself back on the Eagles' practice squad in short order. If Stoll is claimed by another team, he'll likely operate as TE depth and won't suddenly become fantasy relevant.

From RotoBaller

Nico Collins Nov 12 5:40pm ET
Nico Collins

The expectation is that Houston Texans star wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) will practice all week and then return on Monday night in Week 11 to face the Dallas Cowboys, according to multiple league sources. "He's 100 percent ready to go," a source said. Collins returned to practice for the first time last week since injuring his right hamstring in Week 5 but didn't get cleared to play in the Week 10 loss to the Detroit Lions despite being activated from Injured Reserve last Saturday. Barring a setback in practice this week, the 25-year-old is on track to return as Houston's leading wideout with Stefon Diggs (knee) done for the year. Before getting hurt, Collins led the NFL with 567 receiving yards in five games and will return to having a high ceiling and high floor for fantasy managers with quarterback C.J. Stroud throwing him the football.

From RotoBaller

Michael Mayer Nov 12 5:40pm ET
Michael Mayer

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) has returned to practice this week and could be available to play this Sunday in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins. The Raiders are coming off their bye week, but Mayer has missed the team's last six games while tending to personal matters. If Mayer is cleared to play this week, he may not see the field as much as he normally would as he works himself back into shape. The 23-year-old tight end wasn't a realistic option for starting fantasy lineups before leaving the team, though, with rookie Brock Bowers serving as Vegas' top pass-catching TE. Before leaving the team, Mayer had only four receptions on seven targets for 21 yards and no touchdowns in his three games played. He should remain on the waiver wire in most leagues unless Bowers misses time with an injury.

From RotoBaller

Jakeem Grant Nov 12 4:03pm ET
Jakeem Grant

Free-agent WR Jakeem Grant was signed to the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

From TheHuddle

Kyle Hamilton Nov 12 2:50pm ET
Kyle Hamilton

Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) is not taking part in Tuesday's practice leading up to an important Week 11 divisional game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hamilton suffered an ankle sprain in the Week 10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and could be questionable or ruled out later this week for Sunday's contest. The 2022 first-round pick out of Notre Dame has tallied 71 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and seven passes defended this season. He is the No. 4 defensive back in fantasy points this year. The Baltimore secondary has allowed the most passing yards per game (294.9) this season, so his absence could make things worse for the struggling unit.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Likely Nov 12 2:40pm ET
Isaiah Likely

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (hamstring) was not spotted at Tuesday's practice, according to Ravens team reporter Jamison Hensley. The 24-year-old did not practice at all last week due to a hamstring injury and could be trending toward missing the Week 11 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, teams playing on Sunday are not required to release injury reports until Wednesday, so it's early in the week and too early to tell if he could be available. Likely opened the 2024 season with a nine-catch performance, but he has caught four or fewer passes in all other games this year. He is beginning to fall off the fantasy football radar, and if he doesn't play in Week 11, Mark Andrews will continue to have a better chance to produce fantasy-friendly numbers.

From RotoBaller

Jamison Crowder Nov 12 2:30pm ET
Jamison Crowder

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder (calf) is not ready to have his practice window opened, according to head coach Dan Quinn. The veteran in his 10th NFL season was placed on Injured Reserve on October 2 and is eligible to return, but he is still working his way back from a calf injury. Crowder has tallied 432 receptions for 4,831 yards and 29 touchdowns in 119 career games with Washington, the New York Jets, and the Buffalo Bills, but he has become primarily a return specialist in recent years and is not on the fantasy football radar.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Ward Nov 12 1:50pm ET
Jonathan Ward

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed free-agent running back Jonathan Ward to their practice squad on Tuesday. Ward will return to the team's practice squad after being cut less than a week ago. The 27-year-old will continue to provide running back depth for the Steelers behind Najee Harris (ankle), Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson while being well off the fantasy radar. The Central Michigan alum has actually appeared in four games for the Steelers this year in his first season with the team but has seen only five carries for 22 yards and hasn't been targeted in the passing game. Harris picked up a minor ankle injury in the Week 10 win over the Washington Commanders but is expected to play this Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, so Ward will most likely stick on the practice squad in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Nick Herbig Nov 12 1:40pm ET
Nick Herbig

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring) is expected to play in Sunday's divisional showdown against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. However, linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle) will not be available and is considered week-to-week after suffering an ankle injury in the Week 10 win over the Washington Commanders. Herbig has missed the last four games after injuring his hamstring in the Week 5 win over the Dallas Cowboys but should return this weekend to help replace Highsmith, who could very well miss multiple weeks with what looked like a serious ankle injury. The 22-year-old Herbig was looking good in the first five games in just his second NFL season before his injury, recording 2.5 sacks, eight tackles (six solo) and a forced fumble.

From RotoBaller

George Karlaftis Nov 12 1:30pm ET
George Karlaftis

The Kansas City Chiefs designated defensive end Charles Omenihu (knee) to return to practice this week, according to a source, which means he could be activated from Injured Reserve and make his 2024 season debut in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills after tearing his ACL in the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens last year. The Chiefs will have 21 days to officially activate Omenihu, otherwise he will not be able to play the rest of the season. The 27-year-old pass-rusher picked up seven sacks in 11 games in his first year with the Chiefs in 2023 and would give KC another pass-rushing option alongside Chris Jones, George Karlaftis and the recently acquired Joshua Uche. Whether Omenihu is able to return this weekend against Buffalo will likely depend on how much he does in practices from Wednesday through Friday.

From RotoBaller

Adam Thielen Nov 12 1:10pm ET
Adam Thielen

The Carolina Panthers officially activated wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) from Injured Reserve on Tuesday at the end of his 21-day practice window. Thielen has missed the team's last seven games after injuring his right hamstring while scoring a touchdown in the win over the Las Vegas Raiders back in Week 3. The Panthers are on their bye in Week 11, so we won't see Thielen back in game action until Week 12 versus the Kansas City Chiefs. The 34-year-old should be heavily involved in Carolina's passing attack when he returns, especially with Diontae Johnson now in Pittsburgh. Before his injury in Week 3, the two-time Pro Bowler caught eight of his 12 targets for 109 yards and a touchdown in his three games. played. Thielen is worth a waiver-wire pickup if he's available in your league for receiver depth with just three weeks until the fantasy playoffs start in most leagues.

From RotoBaller