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
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders completed 11 of his 20 passes for 209 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while losing one yard on his lone carry in a 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12. Sanders looked much better than he did in Week 11, when he was forced into action in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion. Sanders' lone touchdown came on a short pass to Dylan Sampson, which the running back took 66 yards for the score. The Browns have yet to name their starting quarterback for Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, but Sanders' solid performance will at least make it a hard decision for the Cleveland coaching staff this week, assuming Gabriel clears the league's concussion protocol. Sanders remains a low-end fantasy option moving forward.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington recorded five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown on seven targets in a 27-24 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals. Washington bounced back and led the team in targets and tied for the team lead for catches in Week 12 after having just two catches for 20 yards last week. The 23-year-old has been a viable fantasy option since the team's Week 8 bye and injuries to Travis Hunter (knee) and Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle), catching 18 of 25 targets for 214 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 14.3 PPR points per game in that span. The Penn State product continues to build a solid rapport with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and looks like an impactful waiver wire add for fantasy managers who scooped him up. Washington should remain a solid WR3/flex play in Week 13 against the Titans, even with Thomas expected to return.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. handled 20 carries for 62 yards to go along with three catches (four targets) for 68 yards as a receiver in Sunday's 34-27 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions. Tracy played a season-high 72% of the snaps in Week 12 and had three of the four running back carries inside the 10-yard line, which is notable because veteran Devin Singletary handled all nine carries near the goal line in the past two weeks. The 26-year-old has now gone over 130 yards from scrimmage in back-to-back games, handling 23 touches in each matchup. Singletary was still involved, carrying the ball 14 times for 47 yards, but Tracy operated as the clear RB1, earning the goal-line touches and receiving work that makes him a much more appealing fantasy asset. Tracy should be viewed as a solid RB2 heading into Week 13 against the New England Patriots.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams has racked up nine touchdowns over the past five games after scoring twice in Sunday night's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Adams totaled five catches for 62 yards on eight targets and continues to put together a remarkable season. The 32-year-old could have had an even bigger day as nearly all of his production came in the first half, but the Rams' 31-7 halftime lead led to a more conservative plan in the second half to run out the clock. Adams and fellow superstar wide receiver Puka Nacua demand nearly all of the targets for the Rams offense, and with Matthew Stafford playing at an MVP level, both wideouts have been elite fantasy options. Adams will again rank as a solid WR1 in Week 13 at the Carolina Panthers.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder) sprained his left (non-throwing) shoulder during Sunday night's loss to the Rams and will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Mayfield appeared to injure his shoulder after his touchdown pass to Tez Johnson in the second quarter, grabbing at it and grimacing in discomfort. He then made things worse on the final play of the first half on a Hail Mary attempt and didn't return for the second half. The 30-year-old quarterback was on the sidelines with his left arm in a sling for the second half, and the extent of the injury will be known on Monday following the MRI. Teddy Bridgewater took over in his absence and would be in line to start next week against the Cardinals if Mayfield misses time.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford continued to fortify his MVP case with a masterful performance in a 34-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football. Stafford completed 25 of 35 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns, all of which came in the first half as the Rams jumped out to a 31-7 lead and coasted the rest of the game. The 37-year-old Stafford has built a solid lead as the favorite for the MVP award with a stellar season, accumulating 2,557 yards and 27 touchdowns to just two interceptions in 11 games. Stafford will continue to rank as one of the best QB options in fantasy, leading an elite Rams offense that also features one of the top wide receiver duos in football in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Teddy Bridgewater completed 8-of-15 passes for 62 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams, filling in for the final two quarters after QB Baker Mayfield (shoulder) left the game.
Fantasy Spin: The offense struggled to move the ball in the final two quarters. With preparation for a full week, he might be better against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13 if he is called upon to start. Mayfield's injury was to his non-throwing shoulder, so that's a positive sign.
From TheHuddle
New Orleans Saints TE/QB Taysom Hill ran 10 times for just 17 yards, he threw incomplete passes and he was not targeted in the passing game in Week 12 against the Atlanta Falcons.
From TheHuddle
Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley rushed 10 times for 22 yards and caught seven passes for 52 yards in a 24-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12. He also lost a fumble.
Fantasy Spin: Barkley had a season-low 22 rushing yards, but he did somewhat offset his struggles on the ground with a season-high seven receptions. Barkley continues to see plenty of touches, but big plays remain few and far between. He has become more of a high-floor RB2 with occasional RB1 outbursts.
From TheHuddle
New Orleans Saints LB Demario Davis had a game-high 11 total stops with six solo tackles in Week 12 against the Atlanta Falcons.
From TheHuddle
New Orleans Saints WR Dante Pettis had a single 14-yard reception on his only target in Week 12 against the Atlanta Falcons.
From TheHuddle
Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott completed 23 of his 36 passes for 354 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12. He also ran five times for nine yards and a score.
Fantasy Spin: The Cowboys scored the final 24 points to rally to win the game with Prescott throwing multiple touchdowns for the sixth time in his last eight contests. Outside of a rough outing against Denver, Prescott has been delivering QB1 results week in and week out.
From TheHuddle
Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins completed 16-of-23 passes for 199 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints, and he ran twice for five yards.
Fantasy Spin: The yardage total was the highest of the season for Cousins, and he had his first two touchdown throws of the season in his second start. He remains more of a low-end QB2 in most fantasy leagues until further notice.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins averaged a paltry 2.9 yards per carry and had 47 rushing yards on 16 carries in the 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, but he saved his day for fantasy managers by scoring twice on the ground in the first half in Week 12. The 22-year-old was not targeted in the passing game and has not caught a pass in the last two games. Judkins also suffered a head injury in the fourth quarter and was sent to the medical tent, but he was cleared before the end of the contest. The Ohio State product's head injury allowed Dylan Sampson to get some run late in the contest, and he took advantage of it by ripping off a 66-yard touchdown catch. Judkins hasn't been very efficient on the ground in the last three games, but as long as he's healthy enough to play in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, where he'll remain an RB2 play in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson has immediately become a legitimate contributor for the Cardinals and fantasy managers in the last two games with Marvin Harrison Jr. out following an appendectomy. For the second straight week, Wilson had double-digit receptions (10) and over 100 yards (118) on a team-15 targets in the team's 27-24 overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in Week 12. Last week, the 25-year-old caught 15 of his 18 targets for 185 yards. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett has latched onto Wilson as his top target with Harrison sidelined, making him a popular waiver-wire pickup last week. If Wilson is still available in your league, he needs to be scooped up immediately. It's unclear if Harrison will be ready to return in Week 13 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but even if he does come back, Wilson should remain involved in a fantastic matchup against a Bucs defense that has given up tons of yardage the last few weeks through the air.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara's (knee) MRI exam showed an MCL sprain, a source told Nick Underhill of New Orleans Football. Kamara avoided a major injury in Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 12, but it's unclear if he'll be forced to miss time. It's possible that the 30-year-old misses time, but he is not dealing with a long-term injury. Fantasy managers should expect Kamara to miss at least one game, which means that rookie Devin Neal would be in line for lead-back duties in a strong matchup in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins. Kamara has been a major disappointment for fantasy managers in 2025 in a struggling Saints offense. He had only three carries for 11 yards and caught both his targets for four yards on Sunday before leaving early. Neal finished with seven carries for 18 yards and caught five of seven targets for 43 yards through the air. Taysom Hill had a team-high 10 carries for 17 yards and will also be much more involved in the backfield for the Saints if Kamara misses time going forward.
From RotoBaller
Updating a previous report, New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara (knee) is believed to have suffered a sprained knee in the Week 12 game against the Atlanta Falcons. He is scheduled for an MRI to determine the full extent of the injury, but the hope is that he avoided a major injury.
Fantasy Spin: If Kamara is forced to miss time, Devin Neal would be the biggest beneficiary from a fantasy perspective. The Saints likely would use Taysom Hill in the backfield for some trick plays. We'll wait to find out more about Kamara after his MRI results.
From TheHuddle
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield (shoulder) left the Week 12 game against the Los Angeles Rams after hurting his non-throwing left shoulder on the final play of the first half. He is considered doubtful to return. Mayfield completed 9-of-19 passes for 41 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions with 19 rushing yards before departing.
Fantasy Spin: With a lopsided score on the board, Teddy Bridgewater is likely to finish up, as there is no sense aggravating Mayfield's injury further the game out of reach. We'll keep an eye on his injury into the new week, and we'll know a lot more by Wednesday or Thursday once practice resumes.
From TheHuddle
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney made an immediate impact with Drake London (knee) out in the team's Week 12 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Although Mooney only had three targets in the 24-10 victory on the road, he made his three receptions count, leading the team with 74 receiving yards and finding the end zone for the first time in 2025. The 28-year-old's 74 yards were also a season high. Efficiency could be a problem going forward with quarterback Kirk Cousins taking over for the injured Michael Penix Jr. (knee) for the rest of the year, but Mooney could have more opportunities as Atlanta's WR1 with London dealing with a PCL sprain. London is considered week-to-week and could miss the team's Week 13 contest against the New York Jets. Coming into Sunday's game, Mooney had exactly one catch in three of the last four contests. However, he'll be in play again next week as a WR4/flex in fantasy if London misses a second straight game.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder) is doubtful to return to Sunday night's contest against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium due to a left (non-throwing) shoulder injury, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Mayfield injured his left shoulder near the end of the first half of Week 12 and is unlikely to return in the second half. The 30-year-old veteran went 9-for-19 passing for 41 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in the first half, adding 19 rushing yards on four carries. Mayfield's second interception came on a Hail Mary attempt with time expiring in the second quarter. The Bucs were trailing 31-7 going into the second half, which could play into Tampa's decision to sit Mayfield for the entire second half. Teddy Bridgewater will take over the rest of the way. As of now, it's unclear if Mayfield's shoulder injury is serious enough to put him in danger of missing the Week 13 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
From RotoBaller
