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FFL: Preseason | 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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Player Notes
Tony Pollard Aug 26 9:50am ET
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard got into the end zone for his first score of the preseason in the final game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The veteran back finished the game with five carries for 17 yards and a touchdown while collecting 27 yards through the air on two receptions. He may not have the most efficient game to end the preseason, but getting the goalline carry is a good sign. Tyjae Spears is likely to steal at least a handful of snaps every game, but Pollard seems to have at least established a sizeable chunk in the offense. Right now, he's ranked as the 26th running back in half-PPR leagues in the RotoBaller rankings. If he can regain the passing work he once received in Dallas, he may be in for a better year, but it's hard to rely on that heading into the start of the season.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Aug 26 9:40am ET
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis almost put together a perfect passing day in the team's 30-27 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. He completed seven of his eight passing attempts while leading the team to a touchdown and a field goal in the first two drives. He ended with 118 yards through the air while the touchdown came from Tony Pollard on the ground. Levis looked poised and found some room for big plays like a 33-yard completion to Calvin Ridley. After this showing, he seemingly has give the Titans more confidence in letting him be the full-time starter, but until he proves he can consistently produce, he'll be a shaky fantasy asset at quarterback for 12-team leagues.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Lynn Polk Aug 26 9:23am ET
Ja'Lynn Polk

New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk caught two of three targets for 33 yards through the air during Sunday's preseason finale against the Washington Commanders. Polk, a rookie, will make the initial 53-man roster but was still competing for opportunities on Sunday. The depth chart isn't finalized yet and it's still unclear exactly what role he'll have in his rookie campaign, but there's a decent chance he could start alongside Demario Douglas. His usage could also depend on whether New England starts Jacoby Brissett (shoulder) or Drake Maye at quarterback in Week 1. As it stands, Polk is a solid dynasty target but can be avoided in most redraft leagues.

Nick Chubb Aug 26 9:23am ET
Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb (knee) is expected to remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start the season, which would make him ineligible for the first four games.

Fantasy Spin: No surprise here as Chubb was being drafted as a stash option. Jerome Ford's ADP of 111 is likely to increase with the news. He'll make a solid flex option early in the year and could have roster viability all season.

From TheHuddle

JuJu Smith-Schuster Aug 26 9:23am ET
JuJu Smith-Schuster

Free-agent WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Patriots) agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Aug. 26.

Fantasy Spin: Marquise Brown is recovering from a dislocated clavicle and JuJu will provide depth to a suspect receiving corps. Target him as a WR5, but after 28 catches last year, temper your expectations.

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JuJu Smith-Schuster Aug 26 9:10am ET
JuJu Smith-Schuster

Free agent wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is heading back to Kansas City for a reunion with Andy Reid and company. According to Jordan Schultz, the reigning Super Bowl champs are adding the seven-year veteran to their receiver corps. Smith-Schuster last played for the Chiefs in 2022 when they beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl for the first half of their back-to-back wins. Last year, the 27-year-old experienced the worst season of his career with the New England Patriots when he caught just 29 of 47 targets for 260 yards and one touchdown across 11 appearances. Then, he was cut by the Patriots this offseason which led to him being available for the Chiefs to scoop up. It's unclear how many opportunities he'll see, but the chemistry with Patrick Mahomes is already there. He'll still have to compete with Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice, and eventually Marquise Brown (shoulder) for targets.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Aug 26 8:40am ET
Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) is expected to remain on the Physically Unable to Perform List to start the season. According to Adam Schefter, the Browns are not ready to activate the star back and that means he will miss at least the first four games of the regular season. This doesn't come as too big of a surprise since Chubb's major injury last season, but now it becomes a waiting game. With Chubb on the sidelines for at least four games, Jerome Ford will likely take on the bulk of the workload again while Pierre Strong Jr., D'Onta Foreman, and maybe even Nyheim Hines (knee) battle for reps behind him.

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Tony Jones Jr. Aug 26 4:40am ET
Tony Jones Jr.

Arizona Cardinals running back Tony Jones took seven carries for 29 yards in Sunday's preseason finale. He also caught two passes for 14 yards. The Cardinals went to the fourth-year veteran early and often, getting Jones a touch on five of their first seven offensive plays. Jones was knocked out of his final audition for the team early when he suffered a shoulder injury after getting tackled in the second quarter. Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad's blow also knocked the ball out of Jones's possession, the first of two red zone turnovers committed by Arizona in the game. James Conner is locked in as the Cardinals' starting running back with Trey Benson drafted to be his understudy. Even if Jones makes the final 53-man roster on Tuesday, he will not have the opportunity to provide fantasy value and can be ignored.

From RotoBaller

Hassan Hall Aug 26 4:20am ET
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Arizona Cardinals running back Hassan Hall led the team in rushing attempts and yardage in Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos. Hall was given 19 carries and rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown. He also had four receptions for another 28 yards through the air. Hall also showed a penchant for blocking, on one play intercepting a blitzing safety then popping up to throw to more blocks ahead of a scrambling Clayton Tune. Hall's solid performance in the preseason finale might have earned him a spot on Arizona's final roster. Even if he makes the cut, he will be buried on the Cardinals' depth chart.

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Clayton Tune Aug 26 4:10am ET
Clayton Tune

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune went 12-for-18 for 119 passing yards and an interception in Sunday's preseason loss to the Denver Broncos. Tune drew the start and was swapped out for Desmond Ridder at halftime. Unfortunately, Ridder was forced to exit with a head injury late in the fourth quarter, requiring Tune to resume signal-calling duties. On Tune's first play back, he gave up an interception that linebacker Levelle Bailey returned 94-yards for a touchdown. Assuming Tune makes the final roster on Tuesday, he will merely be Kyler Murray's backup and can be dismissed in fantasy drafts.

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Mitchell Tinsley Aug 25 11:40pm ET
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Washington Commanders wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley had his best game of the preseason on Sunday evening as he caught four passes for 37 yards. This starkly contrasts the previous two games, as he was held off the scoresheet against the Jets and caught only two passes for eight yards last week against the Dolphins. While he did not stand out during the first two games, his performance on Sunday evening may have earned him a spot on the final roster. Tinsley made the Washington roster as an undrafted free agent last summer after a big preseason but made only three minor appearances during the regular season. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to who will emerge as the No.2 wideout opposite of Terry McLaurin during the early parts of the season, as that role is still unknown as we enter the opening week of the regular season.

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Cade York Aug 25 11:40pm ET
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Washington Commanders kicker Cade York went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and 1-for-1 on extra-point attempts on Sunday evening. York joined the Commanders via a trade from the Cleveland Browns on Thursday in exchange for a seventh-round pick. The Commanders waived Riley Patterson, who had struggled this preseason, which left York as the only kicker on the roster for Sunday's game. The 23-year-old was perfect on Sunday evening and should be expected to serve as the primary kicker in Washington going forward. York was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft but only saw attempts in that season as he was waived before the 2023 season after struggling in his rookie campaign. While York will be left on the waiver wire in most leagues, he could be worth a look as a streaming option as the season progresses, especially if Jayden Daniels adjusts quickly to the professional level.

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Trace McSorley Aug 25 11:40pm ET
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Washington Commanders quarterback Trace McSorley shined in the second half as he threw for 125 yards with a passing score and added 40 yards on the ground. The former Penn State product led the Commanders to all of their 20 points in the second half. McSorley tallied his passing score in the final minutes of the game on a four-yard pass to Martavis Bryant. Jeff Driskel got the starting nod as he is currently listed as the No.3 quarterback on the depth chart, but McSorley's performance does put him in the conversation to take over that role. McSorley appeared in six games in the 2022 season and got the start in a Week 16 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and threw for 217 yards. While his performance on Sunday evening may have earned him a spot on the final roster, he will only be fantasy-relevant if the quarterback room suffers numerous injuries.

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Javon Baker Aug 25 11:30pm ET
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New England Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker was targeted seven times during Sunday's preseason finale against the Washington Commanders, but he finished the game with just two catches for 33 yards through the air. The fourth-round pick will make the initial 53-man roster, but his exact slot on the depth chart isn't yet confirmed. He's unlikely to crack the starting lineup and therefore can be avoided in most redraft leagues. Managers could justify selecting him in deeper dynasty leagues, though.

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Joe Milton III Aug 25 11:30pm ET
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Jeff Driskel Aug 25 11:30pm ET
Jeff Driskel

Washington Commanders quarterback Jeff Driskel got the starting nod in Sunday's preseason finale as the Commanders opted to rest starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and backup Marcus Mariota. Driskel tallied 73 passing yards while going 12-for-18 with an interception and no scores. His longest pass of the evening was for 12 yards to wideout Mitchell Tinsley. While his performance was quite underwhelming, he faced many New England starters. Over the previous two preseason games, the 31-year-old totaled 169 passing yards with 68 rushing yards. Driskel is currently listed as the number three option on the depth chart, and seeing him get the starting nod in this game solidifies his position on the depth chart. Driskel has a tough path to being fantasy-relevant in 2024 and will only get an opportunity in the regular season due to injuries to the other two passers on the roster.

From RotoBaller

Michael Wiley Aug 25 11:30pm ET
Michael Wiley

Washington Commanders rookie running back Michael Wiley tallied 26 yards on the ground with a rushing score on Sunday evening. This was his second rushing score of the preseason, and he ran for 67 yards over the past three weeks. Wiley joined the Commanders as an undrafted free agent this offseason and could have earned a spot on the final roster, given his strong performance on Sunday. The Arizona product may eventually slot in as the No. 3 or 4 option on the depth chart as Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. have fallen short of expectations this preseason. Wiley remains a name to watch in deeper leagues but will likely not be fantasy-relevant during his rookie campaign.

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye Aug 25 11:20pm ET
Drake Maye

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 13 of 20 passes for 126 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions during Sunday's preseason finale against the Washington Commanders. He also had a deep touchdown pass that was nullified due to an offensive line penalty. Furthermore, Maye rushed three times for 17 yards in the contest. The No. 3 overall pick has progressively improved throughout his three preseason games, and when Jacoby Brissett (shoulder) exited Sunday's game early, Maye took full advantage of the extra reps. The Patriots' 2024 outlook is bleak, but it seems like the team may have a solid quarterback prospect in Maye. Now, all eyes will be on head coach Jerod Mayo as he names a starting quarterback, presumably within the next week. Brissett had been the early favorite to start Week 1, but Maye has made quite the push for that job lately. As soon as Maye is named the starter, he'll become a high-end QB3 for redraft purposes.

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JaMycal Hasty Aug 25 11:20pm ET
JaMycal Hasty

New England Patriots running back JaMycal Hasty rushed four times for 21 yards during Sunday's preseason finale against the Washington Commanders. He also caught all three of his targets for an additional 24 yards through the air. Hasty is expected to make the Patriots' roster and could carve out a receiving role alongside fellow pass-catching back Antonio Gibson. This backfield still belongs to Rhamondre Stevenson, but Hasty and Gibson will earn some opportunities, especially after the latest chatter that New England wants to get its running backs heavily involved on screen plays. With that said, Hasty is a depth option within a weak offense. He can be avoided in most fantasy leagues.

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Troy Franklin Aug 25 10:50pm ET
Troy Franklin

Denver Broncos rookie fourth-round wide receiver Troy Franklin caught his only target for a 21-yard gain and carried the ball one time for nine yards in the team's 38-12 win over the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field in the preseason finale on Sunday. ESPN's Jeff Legwold wrote earlier this week that Franklin has been slow to adjust to the physicality of NFL defensive backs, but considering the Broncos traded to up select him in the fourth round, he's still on track to make the final 53-man roster. It could come at the expense of third-year wideout Brandon Johnson, who had a team-high 83 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. Franklin has experience playing with rookie quarterback Bo Nix from their college days at Oregon, but as things stand now, he's most likely going to enter the regular season as the WR5 behind Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Tim Patrick and Marvin Mims Jr.

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