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.
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 2
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 18 of his 30 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. Rodgers threw his first touchdown pass to Braelon Allen in the second quarter and then came back and found Breece Hall for a 26-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The win was Rodgers' first as the quarterback of the New York Jets and was a long time coming after he tore his Achilles tendon in Week 1 of the 2023 season. Rodgers has now thrown for 343 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception through his first two games of the season. He will have a short turnaround as the Jets face the New England Patriots on Thursday night in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Breece Hall carried the ball 14 times for 62 yards and added seven catches for 52 yards and a touchdown in a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. Hall found the end zone on a 26-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers in the third quarter, his second touchdown in as many games in the young season. He has been busy in the passing game for the Jets this season, with 12 catches for 91 yards thus far. Hall will be a shoo-in RB1 in fantasy heading into his next game, which will be Thursday night against the New England Patriots.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Braelon Allen carried the ball seven times for 33 yards and a touchdown while adding two catches for 23 yards and a second touchdown in a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. Allen, the youngest player in the NFL at just 20 years old, scored the Jets' first touchdown of the game on a 12-yard reception in the second quarter. He later came back and scored the game-winning TD on a 20-yard run in the fourth. While Allen will not overtake star runner Breece Hall in the New York backfield, he remains a top handcuff in case anything happens to Hall moving forward. Allen now has a short turnaround as the Jets play the New England Patriots in Week 3's Thursday night game.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made all three of his field goals and added an extra point in an 18-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. Hopkins hit field goals from 53, 38, and 44 yards out in the victory. The veteran kicker has now made all four of his field-goal tries and all three of his extra points through the first two weeks of the season. He will look to remain perfect heading into Week 3's home matchup against the New York Giants.
From RotoBaller
The Cleveland Browns defense turned in a solid effort in an 18-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. Cleveland notched four sacks and a safety while holding the Jaguars to just 323 yards of total offense in the road win. The Browns got sacks from Jordan Hicks, Quinton Jefferson, Myles Garrett, and Alex Wright while Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah led the way with seven combined tackles. The Browns will be a strong play again in Week 3's home matchup against Daniel Jones and the New York Giants.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler took 10 carries for 82 yards in Sunday's 23-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. His long gain was a 25-yard scamper, and he did not receive a target. Chandler had one more rush than Aaron Jones in the contest and outpaced him by 50 yards on his way to a hyper-efficient 8.2 yards per tote. However, Jones did receive six targets in the passing game, hauling in five for 36 yards. Through two games, the Vikings' backfield split has been all over the place, with Jones out-carrying Chandler -- and out-producing him cumulatively -- in Week 1, although the latter caught all three of his targets that week -- one more than the former. The 26-year-old is unlikely to boast stand-alone value while sharing the field with the former Packer. However, the backfield split this week at least warrants an eye-brow raise and is a situation to monitor moving forward. Minnesota will take on the Houston Texans at home in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 17-of-26 passes for 268 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the team's 23-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He added 32 yards on the ground on five carries. When Minnesota beat up on the New York Giants last weekend in their 28-6 win, Darnold's excellent performance could have been written off as a fluke. However, that case is no longer as cut-and-dry with the Viking's surprise defeat of the reigning NFC champions. It's been quite the start to the year for the 27-year-old, who is now on his fourth NFL squad. Through two contests, he's racked up 476 yards and four scores while completing a crisp 72% of his passes. Superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson -- who caught a 97-yard touchdown Sunday -- was diagnosed with a quad bruise during the matchup but does not believe he'll miss any time. With his stellar start, the third-overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft has begun to creep into streaming consideration leading up to the team's Week 3 tilt against the Houston Texans.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore caught six of his eight targets for 44 yards in an 18-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. Moore wound up tying for first on the team with Amari Cooper with his eight targets while finishing second on the team in receiving yards. Although he only has 53 receiving yards to show for it, Moore has been heavily targeted through the first two games of the season with 14 over that span. He will be a low-end flex in Week 3 when the Browns take on the New York Giants.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has now scored in back-to-back games to start the season but hasn't been able to find a win with his new team yet. The veteran finished with 84 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, and he caught his lone target for 12 yards. Henry looked like his younger self on a few runs as he stiff-armed defenders and broke multiple tackles. This time around, Henry saw a lot more work in the backfield compared to Justice Hill as he saw 19 total touches compared to Hill's six. The Ravens offense has been able to put up some points so far, but they continue to lose leads and abandon the ground game after a while. Henry's touchdown kept him in the RB1 conversation this week, but his ceiling has been limited so far.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Akins caught his lone target for a 10-yard gain in an 18-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Week 1 injury to David Njoku (ankle) made Akins an interesting sleeper candidate heading the game against Jacksonville but he only drew the one target from Deshaun Watson in the win as the Browns instead went a bit more run-heavy than they did last week. Akins is unlikely to be a major part of the Cleveland passing offense, even while Njoku is sidelined. He can stay on waivers heading into a Week 3 matchup against the New York Giants.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy fell short in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Purdy finished the game having completed 28 of 36 passes for 319 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He added two scrambles for 12 yards on the ground. Minnesota's defense kept the pressure on Purdy all afternoon, as he found himself absorbing a career-high six sacks. Purdy did make many quality throws and his lone interception came from a nice defensive deflection that may have been a simple incompletion if the ball hadn't popped upward in traffic over the middle. Purdy's other turnover happened when the ball slipped out of his hands as he threw and went directly to a waiting Jihad Ward, being ruled a fumble. Today's game represents the second disappointment in a row for fantasy owners. Next up for the 24-year-old signal-caller is a road matchup versus the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle led the team's backfield with 11 touches in the Week 3 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He logged seven carries for 30 yards and added four catches for 29 yards. With the Saints jumping out to an early lead, the Cowboys were forced to pass more, creating a favorable game script for Dowdle. Although he didn't catch a pass for more than nine yards, Dowdle served as a reliable safety valve for quarterback Dak Prescott, often catching checkdowns. Next week, the Cowboys face a tough matchup against the Baltimore Ravens' stout front, which held the Las Vegas Raiders to just 27 rushing yards. This could force the Cowboys to rely on the passing game again, making Dowdle a potential streaming option in deep-league PPR formats.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was limited to just 32 total yards in Sunday's 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Elliott recorded six rushes for 16 yards and added two catches on three targets for 16 yards. With the Saints scoring 35 points in the first half, the Cowboys were forced to abandon the run and shift to a pass-heavy game plan, significantly reducing Elliott's opportunities. The Cowboys struggled offensively, entering the red zone only three times, where Elliott is typically featured. Fantasy managers may want to consider other options in Week 3, as the Cowboys face a tough matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, who allowed just 27 rushing yards to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end MyCole Pruitt (knee) was injured in the team's 13-6 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The severity of the 32-year-old's injury is unknown at this time. Pittsburgh is now 2-0 on the season despite scoring just one total touchdown through the two contests. Pruitt garnered two targets in last week's victory -- converting one for a gain of nine yards -- but was not as involved this Sunday, failing to earn a target from quarterback Justin Fields. Starting tight end, Pat Freiermuth caught four passes for the second week in a row, while Darnell Washington reeled in his only target for a five-yard score -- Pittsburgh's first of the season. Pruitt will not be a recommended option for fantasy managers -- even when healthy -- as a distant, desperate option on a run-centric Steelers' offense. They'll face the Los Angeles Chargers in their first home matchup of the season in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey was perfect in the team's Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints, converting all five of his kicks. He nailed four field goals from 52, 38, 48, and 40 yards, along with one extra point, accounting for 13 of the Cowboys' 19 points. Head coach Mike McCarthy has full confidence in Aubrey, consistently relying on him for long field goals. Aubrey is a perfect 8-for-8 on the season through two games. Despite the team's struggles, Aubrey was a bright spot and could continue to be one of the top-scoring kickers in fantasy football. The 29-year-old will look to remain perfect in Week 3's matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker stepped into the starting lineup this week against the New Orleans Saints, replacing the injured Jake Ferguson (knee), who was ruled out with an MCL sprain. In his first start, Schoonmaker caught six passes for 43 yards, finishing third on the team in targets. While he didn't record a catch over 15 yards, he remained active and posted double-digit fantasy points in PPR leagues. Ferguson is expected to return at some point, but until then, Schoonmaker is a solid option for managers needing tight end help. The 25-year-old can be used as a streamer against the Baltimore Ravens in deep-league formats if Ferguson remains out.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis completed 19-of-28 passes for 192 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 24-17 loss to New York. He also rushed four times for 38 yards while losing a fumble in the defeat. Levis once again showed flashes of brilliance, but was doomed by inconsistent play and turnovers that lowered his fantasy numbers considerably. The constant pressure didn't help, but Levis accounted for three turnovers for the second consecutive week, which led to 10 points for the Jets. The QB did make some splash plays, including a 40-yard TD to Calvin Ridley, but struggled to connect with any other receiver in the game. Levis will have another tough test next Sunday with the Packers coming to town in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley caught four passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, adding a 10-yard rushing touchdown in a loss vs. the New York Jets. It was a monster afternoon for the sixth-year pro, who was able to get in the end zone twice while battling one of the toughest secondaries in the NFL. His 40-yard touchdown reception from Will Levis was a thing of beauty, as Ridley made an incredible grab with First-team All-Pro corner Sauce Gardner right on his back. The former Pro Bowler once again led the Titans in receiving as the clear cut top option in a not-so-great passing attack. Even with quarterback Will Levis' struggles, Ridley should be started in all formats on a weekly basis given his role in the offense. He will look to keep the momentum going against the Packers stiff defensive unit in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard rushed 17 times for 62 yards, also securing five passes on six targets for 40 yards in a 24-17 loss to New York. For the second straight week, Pollard was the clear lead back for this Titans offense, out-touching Tyjae Spears 22-8 in Week 2. Although Spears left the game late with an ankle injury, Pollard was still dominating the time on the field up to that point and was more effective when given the ball. He was also tied for the team lead in targets with six, proving he still has a role carved out for him in the passing game even with Spears' ability in that department. With how much this coaching staff seems to trust Pollard, he should be locked into lineups moving forward as a mid-tier RB2 with a tinge of upside. Up next is the Packers vulnerable run defense in a Week 3 home matchup.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught one pass for nine yards in a 24-17 loss to the Jets in Week 2. It was the second straight near-dud for the veteran receiver, who could not get anything going on a day that where his teammate Calvin Ridley scored over 20 fantasy points. It's possible that Hopkins is still a bit slow to come back from the MCL injury, but it's concerning to record only two targets in an offense that is struggling to move the bar through the air. Levis and Hopkins showed some great chemistry last season, but Ridley seems to have snatched the crown from him in the Titans pecking order. With not many yards to go around, this is not a good sign for his rest-of-season outlook. Hopkins will look to rebound in Week 3 vs. Green Bay.
From RotoBaller