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.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce ended the night with three catches for 34 yards on four targets in the Chiefs 27-20 win against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. Kelce is a focal point of the Chiefs offense, but he was not a difference-maker in this contest. Kelce did not see a single target until halfway through the second quarter. The star tight end finished the game with four targets, good for second-most on the team, but was fourth in receiving yards. The tough Baltimore defense likely learned from their mistakes in the 2023 AFC Championship game, when Kelce had 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. The 34-year-old may be a declining talent while the rest of the Chiefs offense around him is ascending, but it will take more than one bad game to reach that conclusion. Kelce will get a chance to bounce back in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals gave up the third-most receiving yards per game to opposing tight ends in 2023. Kelce will still be ranked as a TE1 until proven otherwise.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 20 of 28 passes (71.4%) for 291 yards and a touchdown in the 27-20 win against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. Mahomes threw his first touchdown of the season in the fourth quarter of this game. He connected with first-round rookie Xavier Worthy for a 35-yard catch and run for the score. In the second quarter, Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs' all-time leader in passing yards on a pass to Travis Kelce. The Chiefs quarterback also threw an interception towards the end of the second quarter on a pass intended for Rashee Rice. Mahomes did enough to edge the Ravens in this contest despite the pedestrian stats. Mahomes will look to continue the Chiefs' winning streak against the Cincinnati Bengals next week. The Bengals allowed the 12th-most points per game to opposing offenses last season and have a high-powered offense, so their Week 2 matchup should be full of scoring. Mahomes will again be a strong QB1 next week despite his mediocre output this week.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco had 45 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries in the 27-20 win against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. The Baltimore defense came to play as they held Pacheco to just 3.0 yards per carry in this contest. Pacheco's longest run of the game gained only five yards, but he still managed to find the endzone on a one-yard run in the third quarter. Despite his low rushing yardage in this one, the Chiefs lead running back still handled 15 of the 20 total carries for the team. Pacheco also corralled two of his three targets for 33 receiving yards in this contest. Pacheco is undoubtedly the lead back on this high-powered Kansas City offense and should be more productive in this role moving forward. The Chiefs take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. The Bengals gave up the seventh-most rushing yards per game in 2023. Pacheco will have a chance to bounce back on the ground in addition to his contributions in the receiving game.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely had nine catches for 111 yards and one touchdown in the Ravens season-opening loss against the Chiefs. Dynasty Analysis: Anyone who watched the game also knows he was one inch away from an even bigger night as his last second touchdown was called back after it was deemed his toe was out of bounds on the game-tying catch. Dynasty managers won't complain much as all the hype we've been hearing all off-season about Likely being a big part of this offense have proven to be more than just puff pieces. Likely will be climbing up the rankings this week.
Dynasty | Ravens running back Derrick Henry had 46 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Ravens season-opening loss to the Chiefs. Dynasty Analysis: Henry salvaged his night with a touchdown but was otherwise a non-factor as the Chiefs defensive line manhandled the Ravens offensive unit. There will be better days ahead for Henry but this performance showed he's going to be a thumper but a non-factor in the passing game, making him a bit of a boom or bust option each week.
Dynasty | Chiefs rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy had two catches for 47 yards and added 21 rushing yards with two touchdowns in his NFL debut. Dynasty Analysis: He certainly made the most of his four touches on the night. Worthy could battle some bouts of inconsistency this season but it's clear he adds a new dynamic to the Kansas City offense. In short, Worthy looks the part of a first round rookie pick, though he likely won't quite hit his current pace of 34 touchdowns (tongue in cheek).
Dynasty | Rashee Rice led Kansas City with seven catches for 103 yards in the Chiefs opening night win against Baltimore. Dynasty Analysis: Rice looked the part of the Chiefs clear WR1 from the start as his nine targets were five more than any other Chiefs player. Rice is clearly under a dynasty microscope this year as we await his NFL suspension but it's also clear he's on the way to a possible breakout season. Buckle up.
Dynasty | Ravens tight end Mark Andrews had just two catches for 14 yards in Baltimore's season-opening loss to the Chiefs. Dynasty Analysis: It's not time to panic with Andrews but let's just say we're at DEFCON 3 at the moment. First, Andrews didn't look completely healthy, thought that could be debatable. More importantly, Isaiah Likely looks like a player ready to take on a much bigger role this year, possibly eating into the target share of Andrews. A solid week two will get dynasty managers off the ledge but this was a concerning look on offense for anyone deploying Andrews at tight end.
On the initial Week 1 injury report for the New Orleans Saints, cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hip) was listed as limited due to a persistent hip issue. However, he was upgraded to a full participant in Thursday's practice. Lattimore's 2023 season was plagued by injuries, including an ankle problem that kept him to just ten games and a kidney laceration that limited him to seven games the year before. These health issues sparked trade rumors during the offseason, but the Saints decided to keep him. Lattimore is set to start on Sunday, providing a significant boost to the Saints' defense against a Carolina Panthers offense that is expected to have difficulties. His presence will be a considerable challenge for Bryce Young and the Panthers' receiving corps.
The Miami Dolphins will square up against the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. It will be the home opener for the Fins and the first under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. After their defense was decimated by injuries in 2023, Miami prioritized bulking up that side of the ball in the offseason. Their key acquisitions are strong veteran presences in cornerback Kendall Fuller, linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Shaquil Barrett, and safety Jordan Poyer. In addition to returning studs Jalen Ramsey, Jevon Holland, and Calais Campbell, Miami now presents a strong core of talented veteran players. It's hard to know what to expect from Trevor Lawrence and the Jags' offense to open the year, but if the Dolphins' offense can get out to an early lead, it would bode well for the defense's outlook. They're currently RotoBaller's DEF22 heading into Week 1, with much more season-long upside if this unit gels quickly.
Updating a previous report, Baltimore Ravens LB Kyle Van Noy (eye) is questionable to return to the Week 1 game against the Kansas City Chiefs after exiting with an eye injury.
From TheHuddle
Baltimore Ravens LB Kyle Van Noy (undisclosed) walked off the field with trainers after suffering an undisclosed injury against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Sept. 5.
From TheHuddle
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Trey Palmer (concussion) has practiced in full two days in a row and is primed to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Palmer remains in the league's concussion protocol but appears to be well on his way to clearing it in order to suit up this weekend. The 23-year-old was selected in the sixth round last year out of Nebraska and caught 39 of his 68 targets for 385 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games in his first year in the NFL. To open is his second year in the NFL, Palmer is expected to operate as the WR4 in Tampa behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and rookie Jalen McMillan, which puts him off the fantasy radar entirely in most single-year formats. Palmer didn't have more than four catches in any of his games last year while operating as the No. 3 wideout once Russell Gage went down for the season due to injury.
From RotoBaller
The Baltimore Ravens on Thursday placed rookie running back Rasheen Ali (neck) on Injured Reserve and signed linebacker Josh Ross to the active 53-man roster in a corresponding move. The Ravens also activated defensive back Ka'dar Hollman and running back John Kelly from the practice squad for Thursday night's season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. Ali, who was looking overmatched in training camp and the preseason, will now be forced to miss at least the first four games of his rookie campaign in the NFL. Kelly will provide depth for the Baltimore backfield in the season opener behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. the 23-year-old speedy Ali might be in for more of a developmental redshirt year with the Ravens in his first season after getting off to a tough start both performance-wise and due to his injury.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (finger) was a full-go in practice on Thursday after he was limited on Wednesday. After being limited in the first official practice of the regular season, Sanders now looks ready to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. Even with rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) missing the first four games of the season while on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Sanders belongs on benches to open the year as the clear backup behind starter Chuba Hubbard in Carolina's backfield. The 27-year-old didn't have much of a chance in the Panthers' atrocious offense in 2023 and averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry. He is, at best, an early-season handcuff for Hubbard in deeper fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that rookie first-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest, shoulder) will take it easy for around a week to avoid working up a sweat but will begin his rehab after that. Pearsall was shot in the chest last Saturday during a robbery attempt but was released from the hospital the following day and has made remarkable progress already. The Niners put him on the Non-Football Injury list, so the 23-year-old will be forced to miss at least the first four weeks of his first year in the NFL. In addition to recovering from a gunshot wound to his chest, Pearsall was also rehabbing a shoulder injury that limited him in training camp and the preseason. It remains to be seen when Pearsall can join San Fran's offense, but right now, he's merely a stash in dynasty/keeper fantasy leagues. Pearsall's injuries have opened the door for a bigger role for Jauan Jennings as the WR3.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers tight ends Tommy Tremble (back, hamstring) and Ian Thomas (calf) were both held out of practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. As things stand now, both tight ends are questionable to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. Fantasy managers shouldn't really be looking to the Panthers for their starting TE anyway, but Carolina's depth at the position could be tested right away to kick off the 2024 season. Outside of Tremble and Thomas, rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders, Jordan Matthews and Messiah Swinson are their healthy options at the position. Sanders could be thrown into the fire right away in his NFL debut on Sunday if both Tremble and Thomas are ruled out. He is only worth stashing in really deep redraft formats and dynasty/keeper leagues.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle) was listed on the team's first official injury report on Thursday after putting in a limited practice due to an ankle injury. In addition to an ankle injury, an oblique ailment caused Jennings to miss two of the team's preseason games in August. The fact that Jennings is practicing to begin the week suggests that he should be able to suit up in Week 1 on Monday night against the New York Jets, but we'll have a better idea on his status for the season opener by Saturday. The 27-year-old would have been much more intriguing in fantasy had the Niners traded Brandon Aiyuk in the offseason, but as things stand now, he'll likely be the No. 4 pass-catcher, at best, behind Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel Sr. and tight end George Kittle. In standard 12-team fantasy leagues, Jennings should be on the waiver wire to begin the 2024 season.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee) was listed as a limited participant in the team's first official practice on Thursday. Despite being on the practice field on Thursday, Hufanga's availability for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Monday night against the New York Jets is up in the air after he wasn't activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list in training camp until Aug. 27. The 24-year-old is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 11 of 2023. Hufanga, who was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in his second year in the NFL in 2022, is a huge ball-hawking asset for the 49ers secondary when he's healthy, but fantasy managers in IDP leagues should expect him to be eased into the early portion of the 2024 campaign. Even if Hufanga is active on Monday, he's likely to be on a pitch count snap-wise and shouldn't be in IDP starting lineups.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DJ Chark (hip) picked up another DNP and was unable to practice for the second straight day on Thursday. Chark still has one more day to get on the practice field, but as of right now, things aren't looking good for his chances of being active for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday at Sofi Stadium against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. The 27-year-old initially suffered a hip injury on Aug. 19 during training camp. When healthy, Chark is expected to be the field-stretcher for the Bolts as their WR3 in a run-first offense behind Joshua Palmer and second-round rookie Ladd McConkey. Even if Chark is able to practice on Friday and ends up playing on Sunday, fantasy managers in deeper leagues should keep him on their benches. If Chark is inactive, former first-rounder Quentin Johnston would step into the WR3 role for LA against the Raiders.
From RotoBaller