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FFL: Week 2 | NFL: Week 2

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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 2

Player Notes
Brandon Aiyuk Sep 15 11:40pm ET
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk disappointed again in a 23-17 loss to the Vikings in Minneapolis on Sunday. He finished with four receptions for 43 yards on five targets and no touchdowns. Minted with a four-year $120 million extension recently, it appears that Aiyuk is still working his way back into football shape after skipping nearly all of the 49ers preseason games and team practices. On the bright side, today was an improvement from Week 1's two-catch, 28-yard performance. As Aiyuk continues to sharpen physically and regain his rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy, it's almost certain that he'll get back to 2023 form, but it could still take another week or two. In Week 3, Aiyuk and the 49ers will head south to play the Rams in Los Angeles.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Sep 15 11:31pm ET
Xavier Worthy

Dynasty | Chiefs rookie receiver Xavier Worthy had two catches for 17 yards in a win against the Bengals. Dynasty Analysis: Worthy added five rushing yards on the day. Patrick Mahomes was bottled up for just 151 passing yards on the day, so dynasty managers don't need to panic. Still, this goes to show what we though - Worthy is going to be a "boom or bust" option early on in his career until he establishes solid trust and rapport with Mahomes. Worthy won't be a strong consideration next week but he's clearly a strong dynasty asset who has more than justified his rookie draft slot thus far.

Rashee Rice Sep 15 11:31pm ET
Rashee Rice

Dynasty | Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice had five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs win against the Bengals. Dynasty Analysis: On a day where Patrick Mahomes was quiet, Rice showed he's becoming matchup-proof with another big game, highlighted by a 44-yard touchdown. Rice is a clear WR2 who is likely going to post some WR1 games moving forward. While his maturity (and possible looming suspension) are in question, his talent clearly is not.

Zack Moss Sep 15 11:31pm ET
Zack Moss

Dynasty | Bengals running back Zack Moss had 34 rushing yards, one catch, and 13 receiving yards in a loss against Kansas City. Dynasty Analysis: Moss (13 touches) looks to be the clear top dog in the offense as Chase Brown (four touches) looked like more of an afterthought. Still, Brown was more effective today and neither of these two is looking like an option in dynasty leagues at the moment. It's early, but it also looks like Cincinnati is going to live and die on the arm of Joe Burrow and their running backs should be nowhere near fantasy lineups at the moment as neither has taken advantage of a golden opportunity to emerge as a real fantasy factor this season (or possibly beyond) yet.

Justin Fields Sep 15 11:30pm ET
Justin Fields

Dynasty | Steelers quarterback Justin Fields completed 13-of-20 passes for 117 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in Pittsburgh's win against Denver. Dynasty Analysis: This game was as ugly as the 13-6 score indicates but Fields again did what Pittsburgh asked him to do - manage the offense and not make mistakes. His 27 rushing yards all come at big times and Fields has now gone two straight weeks without turning the ball over. Pittsburgh is winning with an elite-level defense and Fields still has work to do to hold off Russell Wilson, but it's hard to see Wilson starting a game before Fields loses one. He'll remain a QB2 moving forward but things are looking up for Fields as he looks like he's matured under Mike Tomlin (who somehow continues to win despite sub-par talent).

Demarcus Robinson Sep 15 11:23pm ET
Demarcus Robinson

Los Angeles Rams WR Demarcus Robinson caught two passes for a team-high 50 yards in a 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.

Fantasy Spin: A week after Puka Nacua left with an injury, Cooper Kupp exited the Week 2, leaving Robinson as one of top receiving options. If Nacua and Kupp aren't ready for Week 3, Robinson will be worth a look in deeper leagues.

From TheHuddle

Evan McPherson Sep 15 11:10pm ET
Evan McPherson

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson had a productive game for fantasy managers in the Week 2 meeting against the Chiefs. After making one kick in the Week 1 loss to the Patriots, the 25-year-old had four on Sunday, including a 53-yarder in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, a missed extra-point attempt would prove costly, with the Chiefs winning the contest by one, thanks to a field goal from Harrison Butker as time expired. At any rate, McPherson is one of the best kickers in the National Football League, meaning he deserves starting consideration in all fantasy lineups when the Bengals meet the Commanders in the Week 3 Monday Night Football matchup.

From RotoBaller

Zach Ertz Sep 15 11:03pm ET
Zach Ertz

Washington Commanders TE Zach Ertz registered four receptions for a team-high 62 yards on four targets in Week 2 against the New York Giants.

Fantasy Spin: Ertz was productive like the old days in Philadelphia, but he still has a ways to go before he is a regular TE1 again. For now, he remains a TE2, and a streaming option for when your primary option has an injury or a bye.

From TheHuddle

Noah Brown Sep 15 11:03pm ET
Noah Brown

Washington Commanders WR Noah Brown registered three receptions for 56 yards on three targets in Week 2 against the New York Giants.

From TheHuddle

Joe Mixon Sep 15 11:03pm ET
Joe Mixon

Updating a previous report, Houston Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) was able to return to the lineup in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears late in the third quarter.

Fantasy Spin: Mixon missed a good chunk of the third quarter after what looked like a possible hip-drop tackle, sending the talented back to the locker room. We'll see if he can finish out, and finish up strong. The good news is that he is back.

From TheHuddle

Joe Mixon Sep 15 11:00pm ET
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Bears. The former Bengal had a stellar Week 1 showing against the Colts. While he hasn't been as potent in Week 2, he still amassed 20 yards off seven carries, adding three grabs for 25 yards. The Texans were already thin at the running back spot heading into Sunday night, with Dameon Pierce (hamstring) inactive. But if Mixon is ruled out, Houston will rely on Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers to carry the backfield for the remainder of the contest.

From RotoBaller

Deebo Samuel Sep 15 11:00pm ET
Deebo Samuel

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. was impressive in a 23-17 loss to the Vikings in Minneapolis on Sunday. He caught eight of 10 targets for 110 yards receiving -- all team-high figures. Samuel Sr.'s hands were particularly sticky in this one, with multiple difficult receptions coming on contested passes. In a bit of a departure from his usual style, relatively few of his yards came after the catch. Although it didn't matter in the end, Samuel made a great hustle play in the 49ers' final possession near the goal line when linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel jumped a backward wide receiver screen pass intended for Samuel, who got back to secure the ball when Van Ginkel bobbled it. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, it counted as a carry for a loss of nine yards. He would finish with two carries for minus-10 yards. Samuel will look to keep it going in a road tilt against the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Austin Ekeler Sep 15 10:53pm ET
Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders RB Austin Ekeler rushed eight times for 38 yards in Week 2 against the New York Giants, while adding three catches for 47 yards on his three targets. He also had one kickoff return for 35 yards.

Fantasy Spin: Ekeler has gone from RB1 in fantasy leagues for years with the Chargers, to a RB3 or flex option in leagues of 12 or more teams. As long as Brian Robinson Jr. remains healthy, Ekeler's fantasy ceiling is rather limited.

From TheHuddle

Matthew Stafford Sep 15 10:53pm ET
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford completed 19 of his 27 passes for 216 yards in a 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.

From TheHuddle

Taysom Hill Sep 15 10:50pm ET
Taysom Hill

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill was seldom used in Sunday's 44-19 blowout win over Dallas. The gadget player rushed the ball three times for 18 yards. He also caught his lone target for an additional yard. The showing was disappointing from a fantasy perspective, but there was no need to mix Hill into the game plan in a game that the Saints controlled from the jump. Hill will look to get more involved in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Demarcus Robinson Sep 15 10:50pm ET
Demarcus Robinson

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was the leading receiver in the team's 41-10 loss to Arizona on Sunday afternoon. Robinson caught two of his four targets for 50 yards with 42 of those yards coming on one big completion. The veteran receiver flashed a big play but did little else in a day to forget in the desert. Cooper Kupp (ankle) exited the game early and the team is already without Puka Nacua (knee) who is on the IR. The opportunity is there now for a receiver to step up in a big way but who that receiver will be has yet to reveal itself. Robinson, Tutu Atwell, Tyler Johnson, and Jordan Whittington are all in the mix for more targets but the foursome might just eat into each other's potential production. Until one or two from the group separate from the pack, it will be a tough fantasy situation to sort out.

From RotoBaller

Jamaal Williams Sep 15 10:50pm ET
Jamaal Williams

New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams rushed eight times for 39 yards in the win over Dallas. The veteran saw most of his work on the final two drives as the Saints ran the clock to finalize the blowout victory. Williams should be rostered by Alvin Kamara owners as a handcuff, but he holds no standalone value given his lack of usage prior to the game being out of control. The veteran is now over two seasons removed from his NFL-leading rushing touchdown season. He should not be considered for lineups next week against Philadelphia.

From RotoBaller

Mike Gesicki Sep 15 10:50pm ET
Mike Gesicki

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki was solid in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. The veteran had three catches for 18 yards in Week 1 against the Pats. He also nearly had a touchdown, although it was overturned. However, Gesicki made up for that performance by amassing a game-high seven grabs for 91 yards in Week 2. Without question, nobody expects him to be a top fantasy tight end. But with Tee Higgins (hamstring) sidelined, Gesicki could remain more involved. Yet, even when Higgins returns, it appears Gesicki has caught the attention of Joe Burrow, giving him value for Week 3 against the Commanders for fantasy managers looking to fill a void at the position.

From RotoBaller

Joe Mixon Sep 15 10:43pm ET
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) suffered an apparent right ankle injury in the third quarter of the Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears, and he initially headed to the blue medical tent before eventually heading to the locker room.

Fantasy Spin: With Mixon off, and Dameon Pierce already inactive, journeyman Cam Akers is in the backfield for Houston, with Dare Ogunbowale is also up for the team. If Mixon is out, it appears Akers is next in line.

From TheHuddle

Rashid Shaheed Sep 15 10:40pm ET
Rashid Shaheed

New Orleans Saints third-year receiver Rashid Shaheed has been all "boom" so far this season, as he has now scored long touchdowns in back-to-back weeks. The explosive playmaker caught all four of his targets for 96 yards and a touchdown in the Week 2 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He also rushed the ball three times for 13 yards. Shaheed's 25% target share was promising, especially after tying for the team lead in targets a week ago. If the speedster continues to see a consistent target share, he will become a more reliable week-to-week starter in fantasy. Shaheed will look to continue his hot streak next week against Philadelphia.

From RotoBaller