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
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 6
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (hamstring) is now listed as questionable to return to Sunday's game with a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old saw six carries out of the backfield before leaving the game. He was able to get 27 yards out of those carries. Tony Pollard has dominated a lot of the touches in this game, and Julius Chestnut will step up to take on the backup duties until Spears can get back in the game.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (shoulder) has officially been ruled out of the rest of the game against the Arizona Cardinals. Wicks saw three targets and registered one reception for nine yards before exiting the game. Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Jayden Reed should all see more opportunities while they have a touchdown each so far in this one. The severity of Wicks' injury will likely be known when they can run some more tests on Monday.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (hamstring) left Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns in the first half with a hamstring injury. The team has since ruled him out for the rest of the contest, so Grant Calcaterra will be the next man up. Jack Stoll could also see some snaps with Goedert out. The 29-year-old has suffered a few injuries in the past that have kept him out for an extended period of time, so his status next week could be up in the air. He finishes this contest with one target and no receptions.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (ankle) has officially been named inactive for the team's Week 6 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Davante Adams (hamstring) has also been ruled out so the team will roll with a very thin receiver group. Tre Tucker and DJ Turner will likely be the top two receivers while Brock Bowers is going to get all the snaps he can handle. This also comes at the time of Aidan O'Connell's first start of the year.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (hamstring) has been ruled out of the rest of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Ford appeared to have tweaked his hamstring in the first half and went back to the locker room. Now that he's officially listed out, Pierre Strong Jr. and D'Onta Foreman will split carries in the backfield. With hamstring injuries usually becoming a tricky injury, Ford's status will need to be monitored throughout the week to determine the severity. Nick Chubb (knee) could also return next week, so the backfield may look a lot different. Ford finished this contest with 14 yards on two carries.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (head) suffered a head injury in the second quarter when he went head-first into the defender's leg while being tackled. He left the game to be evaluated for a concussion and is currently questionable to return. The rookie only saw two targets before leaving the game. Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, and Zach Pascal will take over as the top three receivers unless Harrison is able to come back into the game against the Green Bay Packers. His status will be something to monitor if it is confirmed to be a concussion since he could miss Week 7's game.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (shoulder) has exited Sunday's game with a shoulder issue and the team has tagged him as questionable to return. The 23-year-old was among the hottest waiver wire pickups over the last couple of weeks while the receiver corps had some injuries and suspensions. Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs will be the top three receivers with Bo Melton seeing some extra action while Wicks is sidelined in this game.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Lions have signed David Montgomery to a two-year contract extension. Dynasty Analysis: The contract makes Montgomery the seventh-highest paid running back in the league and keeps him under team control through the 2027 season. This is a big development in dynasty leagues as it not only keeps Montgomery very relevant, but also takes any chance of Jahmyr Gibbs being a featured runner in the future and throws it out the window. At this point, both running backs are going to be very lineup worthy, but far from elite without an injury occurring. Montgomery's value should rise a touch while Gibbs is sure to fall as a result.
Dynasty | Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is the emergency quarterback today, despite practicing all week. Dynasty Analysis: Joe Flacco has given the Colts a spark off the bench as he has done for seemingly 58 other teams over the last six decades. Richardson practiced all week but the Colts have decided he wasn't ready to start. This seems to be a bit of an indictment on Richardson's early season struggles and the Colts may simply feel they need to determine if they can contend for a playoff spot with Flacco starting today. A win would put the Colts at 3-3 and in the thick of things while a loss would leave them at 2-4. The fact Richardson isn't starting in a critical game despite practicing all week is a bad sign for his dynasty value at the moment.
Dynasty | Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 23-of-35 passes for 234 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in a loss to Chicago. Dynasty Analysis: Lawrence has been put in some awful situations during his four seasons in the NFL as the Jaguars have churned through their roster and coaching staff repeatedly. However, he's also looked consistently like an average to above average starter and not nearly the elite player many once thought he could be. After another inconsistent performance, dynasty managers need to really re-evaluate building around him as a QB1. Lawrence's dynasty value is starting to sink.
Dynasty | Jaguars running back Travis Etienne had three carries for -1 yard in the Jags loss to Chicago. Dynasty Analysis: Etienne failed to catch his lone target, though he was lucky that one wasn't called a catch and a fumble. Meanwhile , D'Ernest Johnson (6 carries) and Tank Bigsby (7) both played more in the game. At this point, Etienne is unplayable in fantasy leagues and looks like the biggest disappointment of the year. The Jags will stay in London and could be looking for yet another new Head Coach after next week if they get dismantled again. Etienne is going to plummet down the rankings at this point.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion) won't return to Sunday's NFC South meeting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The wideout didn't last long in this one, getting hit early in the contest after bringing in a catch for five yards, his only reception of the day. But now, Olave will join Derek Carr (oblique) and Taysom Hill (ribs) on the sidelines. Fantasy managers could see Rashid Shaheed, Juwan Johnson, and Foster Moreau get more targets from Spencer Rattler, with Alvin Kamara also in line to get more looks out of the backfield.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (hamstring) is questionable to return to Sunday's clash with the Browns. Philly just got DeVonta Smith (concussion) and A.J. Brown (hamstring) back in the lineup. However, the team could be without one of this season's top fantasy tight ends for at least the remainder of Week 6. If Goedert can't return, he'll finish without a catch (one target), with Grant Calcaterra and Jack Stoll in line to see more looks.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (hamstring) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Ford tweaked his hamstring early in the contest, forcing his abrupt exit to the locker room. If he doesn't return, he'll finish the day with two carries for 14 yards. If that's the case, Pierre Strong Jr. and D'Onta Foreman would likely split carries for the remainder of the contest.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (head) exited Sunday's divisional clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Olave made his first catch of the day, which was for five yards. However, the wideout took a hard hit, resulting in a Bucs scoop and score. Even worse, Olave was forced to undergo a concussion evaluation. With Derek Carr (oblique) and Taysom Hill (ribs) sidelined, the Saints can't afford another injury. With that in mind, Rashid Shaheed, Juwan Johnson, and Foster Moreau could see more targets from Spencer Rattler if Olave doesn't return. Alvin Kamara would also presumably see more attention as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. For now, fantasy managers should consider Olave as questionable to return.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (ankle) is officially active for Week 6 against the Houston Texans. He had been listed as questionable after logging a limited practice on Friday. The 28-year-old remains productive despite the Patriots' 1-4 record, registering 18 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. His presence will be key as the Patriots look to slow down C.J. Stroud and the Texans in Drake Maye's first career start.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (hamstring) is officially active for Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles. He had been listed as questionable after logging a limited practice on Friday. The 27-year-old defender has contributed eight tackles and zero turnovers through five games this season. He'll be tasked with slowing down a Philadelphia passing attack featuring A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receivers Kendrick Bourne (knee) and K.J. Osborn (shoulder) are active for Week 6 against the Houston Texans. Both players were listed as questionable after being limited in practice all week long. Bourne made his season debut last weekend, turning his lone target into a six-yard catch. He played just 27 percent of the offensive snaps, but that could have been a product of him playing in his first game of the year. He's likely headed for extra snaps in Week 6. Meanwhile, Osborn has seen his workload scaled back with the emergence of rookie Ja'Lynn Polk. He caught one pass on five targets when last active in Week 4. Even with Drake Maye taking over as the Patriots' quarterback, neither Bourne nor Osborn can be trusted in fantasy football given their respective roles behind Polk and Demario Douglas.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker (coach's decision) and Tyquan Thornton (coach's decision) are inactive for Week 6 against the Houston Texans. Both players are healthy scratches. Baker has repeatedly been inactive, failing to log an offensive snap since Week 2. He's still searching for his first NFL target and will have to wait at least one more week. Thornton, meanwhile, has been the subject of trade rumors lately but lacks significant fantasy appeal; he hasn't registered a reception since catching two passes back in the season opener. Both players can be dropped in all redraft and most dynasty leagues.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals PK Matt Prater (knee) is not active for Week 6's game against the Green Bay Packers. PK Chad Ryland, who was elevated from the practice squad Saturday, Oct. 12, will serve as the team's kicker.
Fantasy Spin: Prater had been listed as questionable on the injury report after being a limited participant in all three of the team's practice sessions during the week but will miss his second consecutive game. Fantasy owners should be able to find more reliable placekicking options for their lineups elsewhere.
From TheHuddle
