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.
Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (ankle) exited during the second quarter of Sunday's Week 11 contest against the San Francisco 49ers. He is officially listed as questionable to return. At the time of his departure, he had eight rushing yards on five carries, plus two catches for an additional 12 receiving yards. Demercado had been sharing reps as part of the Cardinals' backfield committee, so Bam Knight should take over as the primary running back for the duration of his absence. Michael Carter also figures to earn some touches.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris did not have an update on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) while addressing the media following Sunday's Week 11 loss against the Carolina Panthers. Morris did note that "there was a chance Penix could come back in the game, but [it] was not looking good," according to Baillie Burmaster of Atlanta News First. The head coach's comments seem to indicate that Penix may have been available in an emergency situation, but the team opted to play Kirk Cousins in a close divisional battle that went to overtime. The second-year quarterback will likely undergo additional testing on Sunday or Monday so that the team can gain more clarity on his status. He'll have seven days to get healthy before Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints. If he can't suit up next Sunday, Cousins would be in line to start his second game of the season. Whichever quarterback starts next week could be without wide receiver Drake London (knee), who exited in the waning minutes of Week 11 and was quickly ruled out.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike (chest, concussion) was officially ruled out of Sunday's Week 11 contest with a concussion, but he also suffered a chest contusion in the loss to Houston, according to Terry McCormick of Titan Insider. He finished the game with three targets, two catches, and 14 receiving yards. There's currently no timetable for his return, as Dike must clear the NFL's concussion protocol before he can return to action. He will also require treatment and time to rehab his chest injury. When Dike does return, he'll likely step up as the Titans' No. 1 receiver after Calvin Ridley (leg) suffered a season-ending fibula fracture. In the meantime, Elic Ayomanor (hamstring) and Van Jefferson will lead the Titans' receiving corps.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur declined to provide additional information on running back Josh Jacobs (knee) following Sunday's Week 11 win over the New York Giants. LaFleur acknowledged that he was "concerned about the welfare" of Jacobs, but he did not comment on the running back's status going forward. Presumably, he'll undergo more testing on Sunday evening or Monday morning. The team could provide an update on Monday, but if they don't, fantasy managers will have to wait until Wednesday for the Packers' first injury report of the week. Jacobs has seven days to get healthy before Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikings. If he can't suit up, Emanuel Wilson would take over as the Packers' primary running back.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that the team doesn't have any additional information yet pertaining to wide receiver Drake London (knee). London exited prior to the start of overtime on Sunday and was quickly ruled out. He finished Week 11 with nine targets, seven receptions, and 119 receiving yards. Given the short amount of time between London exiting and Morris speaking postgame, it's possible that the Falcons' medical personnel haven't had an opportunity to fully evaluate the receiver's injury yet. In all likelihood, we'll get an update on his status after the Falcons conduct additional testing on Sunday evening or Monday morning. The Falcons face the Saints next Sunday, so London will have seven days to rest and recover. If he can't suit up, Darnell Mooney and Kyle Pitts Sr. would operate as the top targets for Michael Penix Jr. (knee) or Kirk Cousins.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 31 of his 45 pass attempts for 445 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Sunday's Week 11 win over the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. He also took five sacks. Young was banged up in the gritty victory, as he exited twice after a player stepped on his ankle on two different occasions. Both of his departures were brief, though, and he was healthy enough to keep the Panthers in the game before leading a game-winning drive in overtime. Young set a new career-high in passing yards and will look to keep the momentum going against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 12. The former No. 1 pick has led his team to a 6-5 start with wins in five of the last seven games. Carolina is just half a game out of first place in the NFC South, trailing the 6-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) exited near the end of the fourth quarter during Sunday's Week 11 contest against the Carolina Panthers. He was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game. It's unclear exactly when London suffered the injury, but it could have come on his final target with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter. He finishes the game with nine targets, seven receptions, and 119 receiving yards. Darnell Mooney and Kyle Pitts will step up as Kirk Cousins' top targets for the remainder of Sunday's overtime period between the Panthers and Falcons.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left wrist) will undergo additional testing on Monday morning after suffering a left wrist injury during Sunday's Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, head coach Mike Tomlin told the media. Tomlin did not provide any additional information on the veteran quarterback's status postgame. The veteran signal-caller completed nine of 15 passes for 116 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions during the victory. He also rushed for eight yards. Mason Rudolph led the Steelers the rest of the way, and he'd be in line to start Week 12 against the Chicago Bears if Rodgers isn't healthy enough to play.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars LB Foyesade Oluokun managed five total stops with three solo tackles and two passes defensed in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
From TheHuddle
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (leg) broke his fibula during Sunday's Week 11 contest against the Houston Texans, according to interim head coach Mike McCoy. Ridley is done for the season. It's been a very frustrating year for the veteran receiver health-wise. After a slow start offensively, he finally found a groove with five catches and 131 yards in Week 5. The next week, though, he injured his hamstring, forcing him to miss three games. He finally returned from that injury this Sunday before breaking his fibula just one quarter into Week 11. The 30-year-old finishes the 2025 season with 17 catches, 303 yards, and zero touchdowns through parts of seven games. Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike (concussion), and Van Jefferson will operate as the Titans' top receivers for the rest of the season.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 14 of 20 pass attempts for 171 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero turnovers during Sunday's Week 11 overtime win against the Washington Commanders in Madrid. He also took three sacks in the victory. Tagovailoa didn't light the stat sheet on fire, but he also played clean football, delivering just his fourth turnover-free game of the season. However, from a fantasy perspective, his quiet day equated to a very disappointing fantasy performance, especially just one week removed from a two-touchdown outing against the Bills. Tagovailoa finished Week 11 with his third-lowest fantasy total of the season, and he'll remain a low-end QB2 on the other side of Miami's Week 12 bye.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers WR Keenan Allen posted four receptions for a team-best 53 yards on six targets in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Fantasy Spin: It wasn't a great stat line, and he went without a touchdown for the fourth straight game. However, he had his most yards since posted 11 grabs for 119 yards and a touchdown in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts. He is a solid WR3 or flex fantasy option in PPR leagues, with lesser appeal in standard play. However, you'll have to go another way in Week 12, as the Bolts are on a bye.
From TheHuddle
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed for 79 yards on 15 carries during Sunday's Week 11 loss against the Miami Dolphins in Madrid. He also converted his lone target into a six-yard reception. Washington has operated out of a backfield committee for most of this season, but it now appears that Rodriguez has taken over as the team's lead back. Not only did he have more carries than Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols combined, but he also had more yards per carry than each of them. Rodriguez is now averaging 9.9 fantasy points (full-PPR) over his last three games, and he handled a season-high 44.8 percent snap share on Sunday morning. Fantasy managers should view Rodriguez as a high-end RB3/flex on the other side of his Week 12 bye.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mecole Hardman (calf) exited during the third quarter of Sunday's Week 11 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finishes the game with just one target and zero catches on offense, plus a 61-yard kick return on special teams. However, he also had a zero-yard punt return that resulted in a lost fumble; this is the play where Hardman suffered his injury. Ray Davis and Curtis Samuel will likely handle return duties in his absence.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. caught seven of his eight targets for 74 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 11 contest against the Miami Dolphins in Madrid. He also logged a three-yard rush. Samuel became the first NFL player to ever score a touchdown in Madrid as the league wrapped up its 2025 international series. The 29-year-old has proven to be a valuable addition for the Commanders, stepping up as the team's No. 1 receiver with Terry McLaurin (quad) enduring an extended absence. Samuel continued to showcase his rapport with Marcus Mariota on Sunday, and he'll remain a high-end WR2 option on the other side of Washington's Week 12 bye.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Ollie Gordon II had nine carries for 45 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 11 win over the Washington Commanders. He was not targeted in the passing game. The rookie hadn't logged more than two carries in either of his last two games, so it was intriguing to see him take on an expanded workload this Sunday. Gordon and De'Von Achane showed that they can co-exist in this offense, combining for 210 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. Gordon's solid outing could be a sign that he'll earn more opportunities going forward, especially in an offense that typically gets great results from running the ball. He can be a mid-range RB3/flex play in deeper leagues going forward.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (ankle) exited during the third quarter of Sunday's Week 11 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. He is officially listed as questionable to return. At the time of his departure, he had exploded for 74 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown on 15 carries. The rookie was in the middle of the best game of his young career. At least temporarily, it appeared as though he had supplanted Travis Etienne Jr. as the primary running back in Jacksonville. With Tuten currently sidelined, Etienne will check back into the game as the Jaguars' lead back. Given that the Jaguars lead by four possessions in the fourth quarter, Jacksonville could hold Tuten out for the rest of the game to avoid the risk of re-injury. He'll have seven days to get healthy before next Sunday's clash against the Arizona Cardinals on the road.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey has been ejected for throwing a punch during the fourth quarter of Sunday's Week 11 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. Ramsey was involved in a scuffle with Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase during a timeout. He finishes the game with four tackles and one pass defended. The 31-year-old has been a key piece of the Steelers' defense this season, shifting to safety before Week 10 to help fill the void left by an injury to DeShon Elliott (knee). He continued to play a combination of safety and cornerback in Week 11. After he was thrown out of the game, he was replaced by Brandin Echols, who entered at cornerback after being treated for an ankle issue.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left hand) exited during the first half of Sunday's Week 11 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. At halftime, the team announced that he is questionable to return. The veteran signal-caller had completed nine of 15 passes for 116 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions at the time of his departure. He also rushed for eight yards. Rodgers was replaced by Mason Rudolph, who will look to preserve Pittsburgh's lead in the second half. The Steelers face the Bears next Sunday, so if Rodgers can't return today, he'll have seven days to rest and recover before his next game.
From RotoBaller