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
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) is listed as questionable ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans. The rookie wideout suffered a knee injury in Week 1 that was revealed to be a low-grade MCL sprain. He missed the first two days of practice this week before returning on Friday for a limited session. The fact that Odunze was able to suit up for practice on Friday is a good sign. However, he still remains questionable alongside fellow wideout Keenan Allen (heel) ahead of Sunday's game. The absence of both players should mean DJ Moore would see his usage skyrocket.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) is listed as questionable ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans on Sunday night. The veteran wideout hasn't practiced all week due to an ongoing heel issue. Head coach Matt Eberflus has downplayed the injury, but Allen still remains questionable for Sunday. His absence would be significant considering he saw 11 targets in the season opener. Fellow wideout Rome Odunze (knee) is also listed as questionable ahead of this game. The absence of both players would put DJ Moore in line for a huge workload. Moore is looking like a fantastic DFS option ahead of Week 2. There is still time for Allen to be cleared to play, but three straight DNPs doesn't give him a good look.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) was placed on the injured reserve on Friday. It's a tough break for the young wideout, who will undergo surgery to repair a shoulder issue on Monday in Colorado. His placement on the IR means he'll miss at least the next four games, but Brown is likely to miss more time than that. Head coach Andy Reid said that Brown's recovery window is measured in months not weeks. That means that fantasy managers might not be seeing Brown on the field until later in the season. Rashee Rice and rookie Xavier Worthy will see increased fantasy value with Brown being sidelined indefinitely.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) has been officially ruled out ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Addison hasn't been able to practice all week as he continues to deal with soreness in his right ankle. He was able to play through the issue in Week 1, but the team wants to take the safe approach now. His absence means that Jalen Nailor will move into the No. 2 role behind Justin Jefferson. Nailor hasn't done enough to prove himself as a viable option, so he shouldn't be viewed as anything more than a low-end deep league option for Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (knee) was unable to suit up for Friday's practice session. Ferguson hasn't practiced all week, but he still has a chance to play on Sunday, according to head coach Mike McCarthy. The head coach said Saturday's practice "will be the final test." It would be a bit surprising to see Ferguson on the field a week after suffering an MCL sprain. There is still another chance for Ferguson to practice on Saturday, which would give him a good shot at playing if he can get back on the practice field. If not, Luke Schoonmaker would be asked to take a on bigger role against the New Orleans Saints this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble (hamstring, back) is listed as questionable ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Tremble sat out in Week 1 and hasn't practiced in full all week with only limited sessions thus far. Despite that, head coach Dave Canales says Tremble is expected to suit up this weekend. His return would take away snaps from rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders who played over 70 percent of the snaps in Week 1. The Panthers offense looked atrocious in the season opener, so even a healthy Tremble would still be a shaky fantasy option.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson will start next week's game against Seattle. Dynasty Analysis: This could just be the beginning of a lengthy stretch of time where the Dolphins will be without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as he recovers from his latest concussion. Miami is clearly going to take things slowly with Tua and we know he'll be out at least next week. This is a truly scary situation with Tagovailoa's short and long-term future in serious question. As for Thompson, he should be viewed as a low-end QB2, despite having elite-level weapons. In short, Miami's offense could be a mess moving forward.
Dynasty | Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown is being placed on injured reserve. Dynasty Analysis: He'll be eligible to return in week six. Brown will apparently undergo shoulder surgery as rehab was not giving Kansas City (or Brown) the desired results. This is a big blow to Brown, who is trying to re-ignite his career with the Chiefs. It will also cement big-time roles for Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy moving forward. Plan accordingly.
Minneapolis Star Tribune's Ben Goessling writes that it appears that Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) will not play in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers. Addison isn't practicing for the third straight day on Friday, which typically means a player will not play that weekend. The Vikings haven't officially ruled the 22-year-old second-year wideout out, but it's likely coming. Fantasy managers that have him in their starting lineups need to make the change now. After an impressive rookie campaign, Addison's 2024 season is off to a bad start after he caught just three passes for 35 yards in the Week 1 win over the New York Giants while spraining his right ankle. With Addison looking unlikely to play this weekend, wideouts Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell will fight for targets behind Justin Jefferson. Nailor is the better sleeper target for DFS lineups, albeit against a tough defense.
From RotoBaller
The New Orleans Saints defense won matchups in Week 1 after toying with Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young en route to a 47-10 win. Along with only surrendering 10 points, New Orleans recorded two interceptions, four sacks, and a fumble. They gave up just 219 total yards of offense in the win. This week, the Saints go on the road to take on a Dallas team that was firing on all cylinders in Week 1. While they may slow the Cowboys down offensively, this is not the type of matchup that you want your fantasy defense playing in. Look to free agency to stream a defense with a stronger Week 2 matchup than New Orleans.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that he will list quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) as questionable for the Week 2 game in Denver against the Broncos. Wilson has been practicing on a limited basis this week, but all signs are pointing to him missing a second straight game to begin his tenure in Pittsburgh after aggravating a calf injury that he dealt with in training camp this summer. Tomlin admitted earlier this week that the team was preparing Justin Fields to start against the Broncos. However, there is a belief that the 35-year-old Wilson will be given the starting job back once he's fully cleared to play in games again, which could come as soon as Week 3 at home against the Los Angeles Chargers. We'll know for sure on Sunday morning, but all signs point to Fields starting. The former Chicago Bears QB profiles as a low-end QB2 for fantasy managers.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said that the knee is not a concern for quarterback Kyler Murray (knee), calling him "all good" for the Week 2 contest against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Murray found himself on the Cardinals' Week 2 injury report but has practiced in full all week and is not in any danger of missing this weekend's game. It's surely something to watch moving forward, though, especially for a QB like Murray who relies on his legs often. The 27-year-old was inconsistent in the Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills and wasn't on the same page with high-profile rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., connecting with him just once for four yards. Murray finished 21-for-31 passing for 162 yards and a touchdown and also had five carries for 57 yards with a lost fumble. He'll look to bounce back in Week 2, where he'll be a midrange QB1 play for fantasy managers.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill saw seven opportunities in Week 1's win over Carolina. The gadget player will likely remain involved in the game plan all season long, especially in the red zone. While this week's matchup with Dallas is not great on paper, Hill is a touchdown-dependent option at tight end and can be started if you lack a top option. The veteran projects as a low-end TE1 this week.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (oblique) didn't suffer a serious injury in the blowout loss to the division-rival Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, according to a source. Wilson became a more attractive deep-league flex play for fantasy managers this week when it was announced on Wednesday that Raheem Mostert (chest) wasn't going to play. The 28-year-old didn't see a single carry while catching both of his targets for 12 yards, though, before he exited the game and was ruled out with a minor oblique injury. Rookie Jaylen Wright did very little as well, seeing five carries for four yards in his NFL debut. It remains to be seen how long Mostert will be out, but as things look now, Wright is the more attractive upside stash in fantasy leagues for managers that are looking for additional RB depth. It remains to be seen if Wilson will be available for Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson made the most of his three targets in Week 1, as he landed in the end zone in the blowout victory. Johnson split snaps and targets with Foster Moreau (concussion), who appears to be healthy going into Week 2 after suffering a concussion last week. Neither is a trustworthy fantasy play as long as both tight ends are available. Keep Johnson on the bench in a tough matchup against a stout Dallas defense.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe was on fire in Week 1's win over Carolina. The second-year kicker drilled all five extra point attempts, along with all four field goal attempts. Two of his field goals came from 50+ yards out, showcasing improvement from last year. Grupe is a tougher start this week against the Dallas Cowboys, who gave up just 17 points last week to Cleveland. Despite his strong Week 1 performance, look elsewhere for a kicker in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson (knee) is likely to be listed as doubtful for the Week 2 contest this Sunday versus the Kansas City Chiefs, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Hudson did not practice on Wednesday but then was upgraded to a limited session on Thursday. He was apparently injured in the Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots, when he had two catches on three targets for only 18 yards. It appears the 29-year-old wasn't able to make enough progress in practice by the end of the week to get the green light to suit up this weekend. With Hudson expected to be inactive on Sunday, look for Drew Sample to have a bigger role alongside starter Mike Gesicki against the Chiefs. Gesicki had three catches for only 18 yards in Week 1 but nearly missed a touchdown and can be considered a sleeper TE2.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara had a strong Week 1, taking all of the high-quality touches out of the Saints' backfield. Kamara faces a much tougher matchup than the running back-friendly Carolina defense this week as New Orleans travels to Dallas on Sunday. Kamara should see a healthy enough volume to be placed in starting lineups, but the Cowboys' defense is a tough matchup for all positions. They surrendered just 54 rushing yards to running backs a week ago. The matchup knocks Kamara into RB2 range for this week.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints receiver Chris Olave was seldom used in Week 1's rout of Carolina, totaling just two targets on the day. He will likely be more involved this week in what projects as a closer game against Dallas on the road. The Cowboys' pass defense looked strong in Week 1's win over Cleveland, which drops Olave into low-end WR2 range this week. The third-year receiver has a low floor, as evidenced by last week's game, and could be sat if you have better options. Game script should allow for more opportunity for the former first-round pick this week.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) is likely to be doubtful to play in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Higgins injured his hamstring last Thursday at practice and didn't play in the season-opening loss to the New England Patriots. After missing more practice time this week, it looks as though fantasy managers will need to keep Higgins on their benches for the second straight week. It's a frustrating situation for a player that also disappointed in 2023 and missed three games due to hamstring issues. With Higgins likely out again this weekend, Ja'Marr Chase should see most of the aerial targets, with Andrei Iosivas expected to serve as the WR2 after he played all 51 of the offensive snaps in Week 1. Behind Iosivas and Chase, Trenton Irwin was third among receivers with 65% of the offensive snaps.
From RotoBaller
