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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From RotoBaller
The Cincinnati Bengals fear that tight end Erick All Jr. (knee) suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's 41-24 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. All caught both of his targets for 24 yards before exiting the contest in the first half. While nothing has yet been confirmed, this would be a massive blow to the rookie who reportedly earned quarterback Joe Burrow's trust. If what the team fears is true, it will be the second ACL tear to the same knee that the Iowa product injured in October 2023. Tight ends Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson figure to see an increase in usage if the fourth-round pick of this year's draft is forced to miss time. He has 18 catches and 134 scoreless yards on 20 targets thus far in 2024.
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The Green Bay Packers' defense and special teams unit were a non-factor in the team's 24-14 loss to their NFC North rival Detroit Lions. The Lions were very balanced with 137 yards passing and 124 yards rushing and only gave up 17 points of scoring to the Lions' offense, but the Packers could only muster one sack on Lions quarterback Jared Goff. It wasn't a very fruitful afternoon for the Packers D/ST and they'll get a week off in Week 10 as they'll be on bye. For Week 11's game against Green Bay's rival Chicago Bears, the Packers D/ST should be viewed as a low-end starting unit looking to bounce back against a rookie quarterback in Caleb Williams.
From RotoBaller
The Detroit Lions defense/special teams delivered a gritty performance in Week 9, overcoming a tough matchup and allowing over 400 yards to the Green Bay Packers. Their fantasy value was salvaged by Kerby Joseph's key interception return for a touchdown, helping secure the 24-14 win. Despite the yardage allowed, Detroit's defense stepped up when it mattered most. Averaging eight fantasy points per game this season, the Lions D/ST continues to be a reliable option in favorable matchups and will look to keep up the momentum next week against the Houston Texans.
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From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta struggled in Week 9, posting just two receptions for 28 yards in the team's 24-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers. After a season-best performance last week, LaPorta fell short again, marking his third game with fewer than five PPR fantasy points and his sixth single-digit fantasy outing in eight games. Even with Jameson Williams out (PED violation), LaPorta was largely uninvolved, as the Lions continued to rely heavily on their rushing duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Despite his early-season promise, LaPorta remains a volatile option with Detroit's offense leaning on its ground game. He'll aim for a rebound in Week 10 against the Houston Texans.
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Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates had an average fantasy showing in Week 9, finishing with one field goal and converting all three extra points in the 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers. This brings Bates to 30 of 31 on extra points for the season. This also marked only the third time this season that he's finished with less than eight fantasy points. Bate's streamable status remains strong thanks to Detroit's high-scoring offense. Bates continues to offer reliable production in favorable matchups and will look to add to his season totals next week against the Houston Texans.
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Dynasty | Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers had nine catches for 59 yards in New York's loss to Washington. Dynasty Analysis: The yardage totals weren't great, but Nabers did catch nine passes on 11 targets, more than making up for it in PPR leagues. Nabers has proven to be dominant as a rookie this season and while his ceiling is capped with Daniel Jones as his quarterback at times, he has the looks of a top two rookie this season and long-term WR1 in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 15-of-22 passes for 209 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a win against the Giants. Dynasty Analysis: It was just another day at the office for Daniels, who added another 35 yards on the ground. The Commanders are 7-2 and the surprise of the NFL this season with much of that credit going straight to Daniels, who has been simply brilliant. While his nine passing touchdowns will need to increase for him to be an elite dynasty option, Daniels' floor is high because of his rushing ability and tendency to take care of the football. Caleb Williams is going to be good, but Daniels really may turn out to be great.
Dynasty | Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 29-of-41 passes for 206 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions in an overtime loss to Tennessee. Dynasty Analysis: Maye added a whopping 95 rushing yards on the day, the most by a New England quarterback since the 1970s. He also had a game-tying miracle touchdown pass at the end of regulation, but New England eventually fell in overtime. Maye still has room to grow, but you can tell he has real talent and finally looks like the long-term answer the Patriots have been looking for since Tom Brady left town. Maye's dynasty value is on the rise.
Dynasty | Titans running back Tony Pollard had a season-high 128 rushing yards in a win against New England. Dynasty Analysis: Where was this last season? Pollard now has 750 rushing yards at the halfway mark on a team one could argue is a lot less talented than the ones he's played on in Dallas the past few years. Regardless, Pollard has established himself as the best option in the offense for the Titans and has been consistently solid all season and established himself again as a solid RB2. His dynasty value is back on solid ground.
Dynasty | Browns receiver Cedric Tillman had six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in a loss against the Chargers. Dynasty Analysis: Tillman was the lone positive from a game where the Browns just got annihilated. With three good games in a row, Tillman is looking like a solid lineup consideration moving forward, especially when you consider he had a whopping 11 targets and Jameis Winston struggled mightily. In short, it this is Tillman's floor at the moment, that's a good thing. His dynasty value is going to continue to rise moving forward.
Dynasty | Browns running back Nick Chubb had 39 rushing yards in a loss against the Chargers. Dynasty Analysis: Chubb now has just 113 rushing yards and one touchdown on a putrid 2.7 yards per carry since returning from injury earlier this month. Defenses are doing their best to stop him, but it's fair to wonder if Chubb has lost a step at this point. We'll wait to truly assess his future value for a few more weeks, but he looks like a player you just can't start at the moment and one whose dynasty arrow is starting to really point down.
Dynasty | Browns quarterback Jameis Winston completed 26-of-46 passes for 235 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in a loss against the Chargers. Dynasty Analysis: Yep, that's about right. Winston was dominant last week, erratic this week and nobody on earth is going to be able to predict what's next for one of the NFL's streakiest performers. The Browns are going to go as Winston goes, so dynasty managers are going to be along for the ride. At this point, Winston is going to have in-season value, but it's hard to see him being a bona fide starter again in the NFL at this point in his career.
Dynasty | Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston had four catches for 118 yards and a touchdown in a blowout win over the Browns. Dynasty Analysis: Johnston had a famously disastrous rookie season, but has bounced back nicely this year with 18 catches for 282 yards and four touchdowns. While still the WR2 to Ladd McConkey, we're at least seeing some solid signs of life from Johnston, something we never saw last year. His dynasty value is ticking up ever so slightly at the moment.
Dynasty | Bengals running back Chase Brown had 120 rushing yards, five catches, 37 receiving yards and a touchdown in a win against Las Vegas. Dynasty Analysis: With Zack Moss out with an injury, Brown took advantage with a monster game and likely took over this backfield in the process. Brown has shown flashes all season, but today was next-level good and gave the Bengals a major shot in the arm. The buy window on Brown likely closed today and he looks poised to rise up the running back rankings in the coming weeks.
Dynasty | Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow completed 27-of-39 passes for 251 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions in a win against Las Vegas. Dynasty Analysis: The habitually slow-starting Bengals are back to 4-5 after this one and Burrow is certainly one of the reasons why. Through nine games, Burrow now has 2,244 yards with 20 touchdowns and just four interceptions on the season. Cincinnati may end up digging too deep of a hole to get out of, but Burrow is clearly back to nearly full health and QB1 status. His dynasty value is stable, if not ticking up at this point in the season.
