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FFL: Week 10 | NFL: Week 10

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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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 10

Player Notes
Daniel Jones Nov 9 12:10am ET
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones heads into Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers looking to build on a solid performance in Week 9, where he rushed for his first touchdown of the season and threw for two scores in a 27-22 loss to the Commanders. Jones has tallied 1,880 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions this season, but he's still without a 300-yard game. Facing Carolina's 25th-ranked pass defense, which allows 232.6 passing yards per game and has surrendered 18 touchdown passes on the season, Jones has a favorable matchup for fantasy production. Although Jones ranks 27th in fantasy points per game (16.21), the Panthers' defense has allowed an average of 19.28 points per game to opposing quarterbacks, suggesting a potential opportunity for Jones to deliver a strong fantasy outing in Munich.

From RotoBaller

James Conner Nov 8 10:50pm ET
James Conner

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (finger) is a high-end RB2 in Week 10 when the Cardinals host the New York Jets. Conner has been dealing with a finger injury that limited his practice participation earlier in the week; however, he practiced in full on Friday and appears to be good to go for Sunday. Conner is a workhorse back, and his volume has translated into a high number of touchdown opportunities. While there are concerns that his volume might decrease due to the injury and the emergence of rookie running back Trey Benson, his snap count should remain high enough to warrant RB2 consideration. Conner still possesses significant touchdown upside and should receive enough volume to remain a solid RB2 in Week 10 against the Jets.

From RotoBaller

Mike Williams Nov 8 10:20pm ET
Mike Williams

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams will make his first appearance for the team in a Week 10 showdown with the 7-2 Washington Commanders. Williams was unable to get on the same page as quarterback Aaron Rodgers in New York but will hope to quickly establish chemistry with Russell Wilson. The Steelers have been linked to Williams since the offseason and should be eager to get him on the field to work opposite George Pickens. While the veteran's role in the offense will be worth monitoring, Williams cannot be expected to immediately garner more opportunities than fellow wideouts Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III. Fantasy managers would be wise to leave Williams on the waiver wire in most redraft formats for the time being.

From RotoBaller

Elijah Hicks Nov 8 10:10pm ET
Elijah Hicks

Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion) has again been ruled inactive for Sunday's home matchup against the New England Patriots. Brisker hasn't appeared in a game since the team's Week 5 36-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, missing the ensuing three outings. More so, -- and even more concerning -- the 25-year-old has yet to even sniff a practice since sustaining the injury, logging a DNP in each opportunity he's gotten. It's an unsettling development for the Penn State alum, as hopefully, he'll be able to at least get in a limited session ahead of Week 11. Safety Elijah Hicks will again get the start, filling in for the injured Brisker.

From RotoBaller

Chris Boswell Nov 8 10:10pm ET
Chris Boswell

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell is a top-three fantasy scorer at his position this season and will hope to stay productive against the Washington Commanders in Week 10. It's worth noting that the Commanders' defense is much improved from last season and is surrendering the third-fewest fantasy points per contest to opposing kickers. Nonetheless, Boswell is one of the most consistent kickers in the NFL and offers more upside than he did to start the campaign with quarterback Russell Wilson now leading Pittsburgh's offense. Fantasy managers that held onto Boswell through the Steelers' Week 9 bye or managed to add him from free agency should feel confident putting him right back in starting lineups on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Demarcus Robinson Nov 8 10:00pm ET
Demarcus Robinson

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (toe/hip) was listed as a limited participant in the team's Friday practice. Robinson picked up a toe injury in the team's thrilling 26-20 OT win over the Seattle Seahawks despite being the hero of the contest. Interestingly enough, he's listed with a hip ailment as well, but when and where that occurred is unclear. Head coach Sean McVay didn't seem too bothered about the 30-year-old wideout's status when asked about him on Thursday but did note they're being cautious with the veteran's toe. He'll have one more opportunity to elevate his practice status before Los Angeles must give him a designation for their Monday night home tilt against the Miami Dolphins. If Robinson can't go, teammates Tutu Atwell and Tyler Johnson project to pick up some extra snaps for the matchup on Monday Night Football. Keep an eye on his status.

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Cade Otton Nov 8 10:00pm ET
Cade Otton

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton has been nearly unstoppable on the field over the last few weeks. Over the last three games, Otton has hauled in 25 receptions on 30 targets for 258 yards and three touchdowns. The Bucs don't have many reliable pass-catchers right now, so they continue to go to Otton and it's working. The expectation is that the San Francisco 49ers defense will plan around holding Otton in check, but fantasy managers should still play him as a TE1 for Week 10. Otton has been too great lately, so ride with him until he gives you reason not to trust him.

From RotoBaller

Jake Bates Nov 8 9:50pm ET
Jake Bates

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates remains a reliable, high-floor option in Week 10 against the Houston Texans. While Bates benefits from Detroit's high-scoring offense, he has limited upside as Lions head coach Dan Campbell often opts to go for it on fourth down in opposing team territory, reducing Bates' field goal attempts. However, he's attempted just 12 field goals this seasonmaking all of themwhile converting 30 of 31 extra points over eight games. Facing a Texans defense that allows the fifth-fewest fantasy points to kickers, Bates' scoring potential may be capped. However, his connection to Detroit's prolific offense keeps him streamable, especially in leagues with limited kicker options.

From RotoBaller

Jalen McMillan Nov 8 9:50pm ET
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (hamstring) is currently listed as questionable ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The rookie wideout sat out during last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. McMillan is still dealing with the same injury and is in danger of missing another game. If active, McMillan would be a shaky flex option given him and quarterback Baker Mayfield haven't been on the same page this season. There's decent upside with McMillan, but he's probably not worth the risk against the 49ers defense. Sterling Shepard and Trey Palmer figure to see more attention if McMillan is unable to play.

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Nov 8 9:50pm ET
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth was a solid contributor to begin the season but has been incredibly quiet for fantasy since Week 6. He'll hope to get back on track against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The Commanders allow the 14th-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, making this a middle-of-the-road matchup for Freiermuth. He is yet to display much chemistry with quarterback Russell Wilson outside of a 30-yard reception the duo connected on in Week 7. Fantasy managers should not be relying on Freiermuth in most formats this week.

From RotoBaller

Trey Palmer Nov 8 9:50pm ET
Trey Palmer

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Trey Palmer is an avoidable streaming option ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The expectation was that Palmer would see increased involvement in the offense with the Bucs banged up at wideout. That hasn't really been the case as Palmer hauled in two of his four targets for 33 yards during last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He only played 49 percent of the offensive snaps and that's with fellow wideout Jalen McMillan (hamstring) sidelined as well. Palmer could be worth a stash in dynasty leagues, but isn't a starting option right now.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Nov 8 9:40pm ET
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (toe) has been cleared to play ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Irving has been playing through a toe issue lately, but it doesn't seem to be something that is going to impact his performance. He rushed seven times for 24 yards while hauling in all three of his targets for 10 yards during last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bucs continue to use a committee approach in the backfield which is mainly Rachaad White and Irving. Neither of them are great fantasy options, but both are on the flex radar for Week 10.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Nov 8 9:40pm ET
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams returns from a two-game PED suspension just in time for a Week 10 matchup against the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football. Known for his boom-or-bust production, Williams has delivered some big games this season (16, 17.7, and 24.4 PPR points) but also has two outings under two points, which has frustrated fantasy managers. Despite his elite speed and role in Detroit's high-powered offense, Williams' target volume has dipped significantly since Week 2. With six deep targets and five red zone looks over six games, Williams still offers a high ceiling in deeper leagues, especially with a modest WR3/FLEX designation in 12-team formats. Facing a Texans defense that has given fits to some receiving corps, Williams may still have enticing upside in smaller leagues

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Jaylen Warren Nov 8 9:40pm ET
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has slowly been seeing more utilization within the team's offense and will return from a bye to take on the 7-2 Washington Commanders in Week 10. While the Commanders have fared well against pass-catching backs, they surrender the most yards per carry to the position in the NFL. Warren earned three targets in both of his appearances with Russell Wilson under center and should continue to get opportunities through the air as well as on the ground. Although backfield mate Najee Harris has much more touchdown upside than Warren, the latter could still find success in this contest. He is not a dependable starting option but Warren can be viewed as a possible flex play on Sunday.

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Sterling Shepard Nov 8 9:40pm ET
Sterling Shepard

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard (hamstring, hip) has been cleared to play ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Shepard was only able to practice once this week, but it was good enough to get removed from the injury report ahead of this game. Last week, Shepard hauled in four of his five targets for 48 yards in the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bucs are still banged up at wideout, so Shepard figures to remain a top passing option. That being said, Shepard will slide onto the flex radar ahead of this Week 10 showdown.

From RotoBaller

Micah Parsons Nov 8 9:40pm ET
Micah Parsons

The Dallas Cowboys plan on star defensive end Micah Parsons (ankle) returning to action this weekend, but defensive backs Trevon Diggs (calf) and DaRon Bland (foot) have been ruled questionable and out, respectively. Parsons has been out of the team's lineup since their Week 4 win over the New York Giants, and although he's questionable -- the team expects to have him. On the other hand, Diggs opened the week with back-to-back limited sessions but was downgraded to a non-participant on Friday, so it would appear he's on the wrong side of his designation -- trending toward not playing. Bland has yet to appear in a game this season and has not practiced since the team activated his window on Oct. 30 as he works his way back from a stress fracture in his foot. While Parsons may return, Dallas could be in danger of their defense being severely short-staffed.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Nov 8 9:30pm ET
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has flashed massive potential with Russell Wilson at quarterback and will look to make the most of his opportunities in a Week 10 clash with the Washington Commanders. Pittsburgh traded for veteran wideout Mike Williams earlier this week, which could prove to be beneficial for Pickens' fantasy output. At this point in his career, Williams is not expected to earn a significant target share, but he should be able to draw some attention away from Pickens. While Washington has not surrendered a ton of passing yards this season, it is tied for the fifth-most touchdowns given up to receivers through nine weeks. Fantasy managers should continue to feel comfortable deploying Pickens as a WR2 with plenty of upside on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Nov 8 9:30pm ET
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White was able to salvage his fantasy value with a trip to the end zone last week. White only saw three rushing attempts for 19 yards and a score during last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He also hauled in three receptions for an extra 16 yards through the air. It was an extremely quiet night for White outside of the touchdown. The Bucs have gone to a committee approach at running back, which has meant less rushing attempts for White. Lately, White has been able to save his value in the receiving game, but fantasy managers can't always count on that. Fantasy managers should consider White a flex option for the upcoming Week 10 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

From RotoBaller

Dak Prescott Nov 8 9:20pm ET
Dak Prescott

The Philadelphia Eagles defense will take on the Cooper Rush-led Dallas Cowboys in Week 10. Starting quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) landed on IR this week after suffering the injury last week in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. With no Prescott, star receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) planning to play through injury, and a slew of injuries on defense, the Cowboys are struggling to say the least. Philadelphia's defense on the other hand has been improving over the past month and now gets to play against a backup quarterback they are familiar with. The fantasy scoring floor for the Eagles' defense is low, but if the hold Dallas to a low point total and can generate a turnover or two, it should be a good fantasy outing for Philly and fantasy managers looking for a spot start.

From RotoBaller

C.J. Mosley Nov 8 9:20pm ET
C.J. Mosley

New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley (neck) has been ruled inactive for Week 10's outing against the Arizona Cardinals. Mosley has been working through a neck ailment that's kept him out of the lineup since New York fell 37-15 to the Pittsburgh Steelers back in Week 7. It's of little surprise that he'll miss another game after stringing together three DNPs leading up to this Sunday. With fellow linebacker Chazz Surratt (heel) deemed questionable for the contest after a week of limited sessions, teammate Sam Eguavoen figures to handle most of the duties for the team. He recorded three tackles on 20 snaps in last weekend's win over the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller