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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The Paur Report
New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (ACL) will start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, sidelining him for the first four games. Bourne tore his ACL in Week 8 last year, and it's common for such injuries to require nearly a year for full recovery. Despite the setback, the Patriots rewarded Bourne with a new three-year contract in March, reflecting their belief in his future contributions. Last season, he recorded 37 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns, averaging a career-best 50.8 receiving yards per game. With Bourne out, receivers Ja'Lynn Polk, Demario Douglas, Javon Baker, K.J. Osborn, and Tyquan Thornton will see increased opportunities. This shift will likely lead to more targets for Douglas, Osborn, and Polk in the early part of the 2024 season.
From RotoBaller
The Minnesota Vikings have placed tight end T.J. Hockenson (ACL) on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List, meaning he will miss the season's first four games. Hockenson is still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL sustained on December 24 last year. The recovery process was complicated by a delay in his ACL surgery to allow the MCL to heal. Despite the injury cutting his season short, Hockenson had a standout year in 2023, setting career highs with 95 receptions and 960 receiving yards, along with five touchdowns. With T.J. Hockenson sidelined, Johnny Mundt is next on the Vikings' tight-end depth chart. Mundt may see an uptick in snaps, but it's also likely that Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison should receive additional targets from Sam Darnold. Hockenson is still worth considering late in drafts, especially if your league has IR slots.
From RotoBaller
The New York Giants are waiving wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins, who has accumulated 54 receptions for 581 yards and seven touchdowns during his time in New York. Drafted out of Oregon State by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2020 draft, Hodgins was claimed by the Giants two seasons ago and made an immediate impact, recording 33 receptions for 351 yards and four touchdowns. Although he remained productive last season, his role diminished with the addition of younger talent, resulting in just nine starts and 33 targets. While Hodgins shows promise as a possession receiver, his lack of contributions on special teams has likely influenced the decision to waive him. At 25, he should attract interest from teams seeking depth at wide receiver.
From RotoBaller
The Baltimore Ravens are expected to place running back Keaton Mitchell (ACL) on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List, meaning he will miss the season's first four games. Mitchell, who tore his ACL in a Week 15 win over the Jaguars last season, had an impressive rookie campaign before his injury. Despite being undrafted, he outperformed Melvin Gordon in the preseason and was highly productive, rushing for 396 yards and two touchdowns with a remarkable 8.4 yards per carry. With Mitchell sidelined, the Ravens will rely on new addition Derrick Henry as the primary running back, while Justice Hill will back him up and serve as a change-of-pace option. Henry is expected to dominate touches in this backfield, making him a prime target in early fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
The Carolina Panthers have placed rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (ACL) on the PUP/NFI list, meaning he will miss the season's first four games. Brooks is still recovering from a torn ACL he sustained last November while at Texas. Despite the injury, the Panthers were impressed enough with Brooks to trade up and select him in the second round of the NFL Draft. In Brooks' absence, the Panthers will rely heavily on Chuba Hubbard, who led the backfield last season with 1,135 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns over 17 games (12 starts). Veteran Miles Sanders, who had 586 scrimmage yards in 2023, will also be in the mix for touches. Hubbard is a solid late-round pick for those using a "zero RB" strategy, as he should serve as a solid RB1 for Carolina until Brooks returns. If your league has an IR spot, consider targeting Brooks late in drafts for a potential payoff later in the season.
From RotoBaller
The Arizona Cardinals have traded linebacker Cam Thomas to the Kansas City Chiefs for a seventh-round pick. Thomas, who struggled in his second NFL season with no sacks after a rookie year of three, had a standout performance in the Cardinals' second preseason game, recording two sacks, a tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits. With the Chiefs' defensive line missing Charles Omenihu (ACL) for a significant part of the season, Thomas will provide much-needed depth. The Chiefs' defensive line, led by George Karlaftis and Chris Jones, along with role players like Mike Danna, should benefit from Thomas's contributions. This move bolsters the Chiefs' defense, which is expected to be a key fantasy asset again this season.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat feels he is in a much better place with his new team than he was during his time with the Washington Commanders. Sweat described his experience in Washington as "toxic" and noted the heavy toll of constant losing, as the Commanders went 28-45-1 during his four-plus seasons there. Since joining the Bears, Sweat has thrived, posting a career-high 12.5 sacks, 57 tackles, three forced fumbles, 25 quarterback hits, and 14 tackles for loss in 17 games in 2023. Chicago rewarded him with a four-year contract extension worth $105 million this offseason, including $72.9 million guaranteed. His presence has been a critical factor in the Bears' improvement, as they went 5-4 after his arrival and held opponents to 20 points or fewer in their final six games. Sweat and the Bears will open the season on September 8 against the Tennessee Titans but return to Washington to face the Commanders on October 27.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) will likely start the season on Injured Reserve. If his recovery takes longer than expected, Green Bay could use one of their two pre-cutdown IR spots for him, allowing them to keep Josh Jacobs, AJ Dillon, and Emanuel Wilson on the initial 53-man roster. Wilson has demonstrated reliability as a third running back and can fill in when needed. By placing Lloyd on IR, he could be eligible to return after Week 4, giving him the chance to recover from his challenging hamstring injury fully. Lloyd has potential as Green Bay's future running back and could be the No. 2 option in 2024 once he's healthy. If anything happens to Jacobs this season, he's worth watching as a high-upside lottery ticket.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions DT D.J. Reader (quadriceps) returned to practice on Sunday, Aug. 25, and the team is targeting Week 2 for his debut, although head coach Dan Campbell didn't rule out Reader playing in Week 1.
From TheHuddle
Dynasty | The 49ers have released running back Matt Breida. Dynasty Analysis: The 49ers have Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, and Jordan Mason, so Matt Breida and Ke'Shawn Vaughn (also released) were deemed expendable. Breida had some moments with Miami and New York but seems like a replacement-level running back at this point. He doesn't belong on dynasty rosters at this point.
Dynasty | The Lions have released wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. Dynasty Analysis: DPJ was traded to Detroit last season in the hopes he could make an impact but he failed to do so. The Lions have a loaded receiving corps, so he was expendable. The former Brown will look to latch on somewhere else but this move doesn't bode well for his dynasty value.
Dynasty | The Denver Broncos are looking to trade running back Samaje Perine. Dynasty Analysis: Perine looks to be the odd man out as Denver is surely keeping Javonte Williams, Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin and maybe even Blake Watson. Perine is likely to garner some interest, though he may need to be released and sign as a free agent should Denver not find a trade partner. Perine isn't roster worthy at this point but could be depending on where he ends up.
Dynasty | The Denver Broncos are trying to trade Tim Patrick. Dynasty Analysis: Denver will reportedly release the veteran wide receiver if they can't find a suitable trade. Patrick is attempting to come back from a torn ACL in 2022 and torn Achilles in 2023 but didn't make enough of an impression for the Broncos to hold on to him. It seems there are a number of teams interested so this story seems to be pretty fluid. Regardless, it's hard to see Patrick carving out meaningful dynasty value, at least in the short term.
Dynasty | The Tennessee Titans have traded quarterback Malik Willis to the Green Bay Packers. Dynasty Analysis: Willis was outplayed by Mason Rudolph in the battle to back up Will Levis in Tennessee but should be good enough to supplant Sean Clifford or Michael Pratt in an effort to back up Jordan Love. Willis is still an intriguing talent but it would take a catastrophe for him to see the field any time soon. He's a tough hold even in a deep 2QB / Superflex draft.
Dynasty | The Dallas Cowboys are bringing in free agent running back Dalvin Cook for a visit. Dynasty Analysis: Cook was famously signed as a free agent by the Jets last year, only to hardly ever see the field, He had a brief stint with the Ravens after being released by New York but failed to make an impact there, either. It's possible the former Viking is simply cooked but Dallas will attempt to see if he has anything left in the tank. His addition would muddy an already convoluted depth chart that features Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, and a host of others. Stay tuned.
Dynasty | The Steelers have released running back Daijun Edwards. Dynasty Analysis: The former Georgia Bulldog looked to have a fighting chance to make the roster but just couldn't make enough progress for the Steelers to keep him on their initial 53. He'll have a good chance to make a practice squad somewhere but he's now clearly off the dynasty radar.
Dynasty | The Bucs have placed running back Chase Edmonds on injured reserve. Dynasty Analysis: He could still be activated at some point but this is bad news for his dynasty outlook in 2024. Tampa Bay looks to be rolling with Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker to start the year and it's hard to see Edmonds making much of an impact, even if he does come back. He's clearly droppable in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | The Ravens have released wide receiver Russell Gage. Dynasty Analysis: Gage was attempted to re-ignite his career in a thin Baltimore receiving corps but it obviously didn't work out. The former Falcon and Buccaneer should land on his feet as a veteran presence somewhere in the league but his dynasty relevance just isn't enough to merit a roster spot.
Cleveland Browns TE David Njoku (undisclosed) is expected to return to practice on Tuesday, Aug. 27, head coach Kevin Stefanski said.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns CB Denzel Ward (concussion) remains in the concussion protocol, head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday, Aug. 26.
From TheHuddle
