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
The Atlanta Falcons could opt to be cautious with wide receiver Drake London (knee) in the weeks to come, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The former USC star is dealing with a PCL injury, which Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said would keep London on a week-to-week basis. If the Falcons lose to New Orleans on Sunday, however, Pelissero noted that Atlanta will be all but eliminated from making the playoffs, which could cause the team to take London's return very slowly. Atlanta's odds are already low as they turn to backup Kirk Cousins, who is replacing starter Michael Penix Jr. (knee) following a season-ending injury. Managers who roster London may have to devise a Plan B if the receiver is going to be absent in the fantasy playoffs.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (shoulder) is playing through a sprained AC joint injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Luckily for Love and the Packers, the injury is to his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Had the injury been to Love's right shoulder, Rapoport noted that the quarterback would not have been able to play, but he was able to practice fully this week and is active in Week 12 versus the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Nonetheless, the injury isn't exactly pleasant, so it will be worth watching to see how Love performs. Fantasy managers counting on Love should keep an eye on how he plays through the pain against Minnesota.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle) is missing a third straight game in Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals due to a high-ankle sprain, but NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Thomas is getting close and is likely to return next week to face the division-rival Tennessee Titans. The 23-year-old practiced in a limited fashion all week, but the Jags are playing it safe and will hold the former first-rounder out again this weekend in Arizona. It's been a disappointing sophomore season for Thomas after he impressed with an 87-1,282-10 line in 17 games in his rookie campaign in 2024. Thomas has just 30 catches for 420 yards and one touchdown in eight games in 2025, but he should return to a key role in the passing attack when he's healthy, with first-round rookie Travis Hunter (knee) done for the year.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Green Bay Packers. He had been listed as questionable after logging a pair of limited practice sessions. The 28-year-old Florida product will ultimately miss his second consecutive game, leaving a large void within Minnesota's defensive front. After all, he had 31 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble through his first nine contests this year. Dallas Turner is expected to earn the start in Greenard's absence. Turner was a productive fill-in last week, amassing seven tackles and one sack.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions right tackle Penei Sewell (ankle) is officially active for Sunday's Week 12 contest against the New York Giants. He had been listed as questionable after logging back-to-back limited practices. The 25-year-old will suit up for his 11th game of the 2025 season, providing key protection to Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery. Sewell has allowed zero sacks this season, so his presence is quite important as the Lions look to slow down a Giants pass rush headlined by Brian Burns, who has 13 sacks.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (oblique) is officially active for Sunday's Week 12 contest against the New York Giants. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. The rookie has merely occupied a depth role in his first pro season, catching four of his eight targets for 65 yards and two touchdowns through 10 games. Not only has TeSlaa been operating behind standout receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, but he's also been far less involved than Kalif Raymond. As long as those three pass catchers remain healthy, TeSlaa can be avoided in fantasy football. He should be stashed in dynasty leagues and left on waivers in redraft formats.
From RotoBaller
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Baltimore Ravens will consider resting quarterback Lamar Jackson every Wednesday to keep him fresh for the rest of the 2025 season. Jackson missed a few games earlier this year with a hamstring injury and has missed the last two Wednesday practices due to minor ankle and knee injuries. The 28-year-old figures to be a non-participant on Monday, too, but he should be just fine for the Thanksgiving Day game against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals next Thursday (as long as he comes out of Week 12 without any injuries). Jackson hasn't looked the same on the ground this year, which has kept him from the elite tier of QB1 options in fantasy football. However, the two-time MVP is still a set-and-forget QB1 in fantasy football and could be primed for a bounce-back performance on Sunday against the visiting New York Jets.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense will be without linebacker Alex Highsmith (pectoral) for their Week 12 tilt on the road in Chicago against the Bears on Sunday. Highsmith was listed as doubtful coming into this game, and he will officially miss a second straight game. However, the 28-year-old was able to practice in a limited fashion on Thursday and Friday, which means he could return in Week 13 against the Buffalo Bills. With Highsmith out again on Sunday, Nick Herbig and rookie Jack Sawyer will see more reps at linebacker for Pittsburgh. The Steelers' defense hasn't been the lockdown unit that most people are accustomed to seeing, but they will still be in play as a low-end fantasy option this weekend, despite missing Highsmith. Through 11 weeks this year, Highsmith has 24 tackles (15 solo), 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, and a forced fumble in seven games.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine (ankle), who was listed as doubtful for Sunday's game, is officially out in Week 12 versus the visiting New England Patriots. Perine will be missing a second straight game. The 30-year-old veteran's absence will mean more change-of-pace work for rookie Tahj Brooks behind starter Chase Brown, but it won't be enough to make Brooks a standalone option in fantasy lineups this weekend in a tough matchup. It's unclear if Perine will be ready to return on a quick turnaround next week when the team squares off against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving Day on Thursday. Perine hasn't been anything more than a deep-league PPR handcuff for those who have Brown rostered. In nine games in 2025, he has 198 rushing yards and one touchdown on 32 carries, adding seven receptions for another 30 yards.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) continues to recover from last year's ACL injury, and NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that Aiyuk is "close to being cleared" for a return. The receiver's 21-day practice window hasn't been opened yet, but the 49ers remain hopeful that he'll get back on the field in the near future. San Francisco's receiving corps could use the help as Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall have been underwhelming, combining for 53 catches, 705 yards, and three touchdowns while managing their respective injuries. Aiyuk could become an instant WR2 or WR3 in fantasy football upon his return, but an exact timetable for his activation remains unclear. This isn't the only news story we've seen about Aiyuk this week, though. A few days ago, Dianna Russini and Michael Silver of The Athletic reported that Aiyuk and the Niners were headed for a "stunning split" after the team voided his 2026 guarantees for a failure to meet contractual obligations, creating a clear path to his release next offseason. While Russini and Silver wrote that Aiyuk has likely played his final game for the 49ers, Garafolo's report seems to clarify that he'll have a good chance to get back on the field in 2025 before the team makes a decision on his future during the offseason.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans rookie running back Kalel Mullings (ankle) was activated from Injured Reserve on Saturday and is officially active on Sunday against the visiting Seattle Seahawks in Week 12. Mullings, who was selected in the sixth round in April out of Michigan, will be playing for the first time since injuring his ankle back on Sept. 21 in the loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The 23-year-old wideout will most likely be limited to a special teams role in his return this weekend while also serving as backfield depth behind Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. He is not a realistic starting option in any fantasy football leagues and probably won't be for the rest of his first year in the NFL. Mullings has only played in two games in 2025 and has not seen a carry or caught a pass on offense for the Titans.
From RotoBaller
The Cincinnati Bengals have declared RB Samaje Perine, QB Sean Clifford, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DE Cameron Sample and DE Trey Hendrickson inactive for Week 12.
From TheHuddle
The Pittsburgh Steelers have declared QB Aaron Rodgers, LB Alex Highsmith, OG Andrus Peat, OT Broderick Jones and DT Logan Lee inactive for Week 12.
From TheHuddle
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf) is officially active for Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. He was listed as questionable after being a limited participant in practice. The 24-year-old should occupy a larger role with rookie receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder, wrist) ruled out for this divisional battle. Wicks has 18 catches for 181 yards through eight games this season. However, he has come on particularly strong in his last two contests, tallying 10 targets and five receptions during that span. Still, he's off the fantasy radar for now, ranking as the overall WR73 in RotoBaller's Week 12 fantasy rankings.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (ankle) is officially active on Sunday against the visiting Indianapolis Colts in Week 12, according to Matt McMullen of Chiefs.com. Worthy is dealing with an ankle injury that he suffered in practice back on Nov. 13. The Chiefs listed him as questionable this weekend, but he will be out there as the team looks to avoid falling below .500 on the season. The 22-year-old second-year wideout has taken a back seat in the offense since Rashee Rice returned from his suspension. Worthy has only found the end zone once this year, too, and it came back on Oct. 12 in the win over the Detroit Lions. Since then, Worthy has gone over 50 receiving yards once in four games. On the year, the Texas product has an uninspiring 27-281-1 line in eight games played. He missed two games earlier this season with a dislocated shoulder.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Savion Williams (foot) is officially active for Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. He was listed as questionable after missing two practices this past week. With Matthew Golden (shoulder, wrist) sidelined, Williams could push to carve out a larger role behind Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Dontayvion Wicks. The 24-year-old rookie has been dependable when called upon, catching all 10 of his targets for 78 yards and a touchdown through 10 games. Despite his potentially increased workload on Sunday, Williams is still lower on the depth chart and can be left on waivers in most fantasy leagues. He ranks as RotoBaller's WR99 for Week 12.
From RotoBaller
The Chicago Bears have declared LB T.J. Edwards, OT Theo Benedet, RB Travis Homer, LB Noah Sewell, DT Jonathan Ford, QB Case Keenum and WR Jahdae Walker inactive for Week 12.
From TheHuddle
The Tennessee Titans have declared S Kendell Brooks, OT Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, DE C.J. Ravenell, OG Drew Moss, WR Elic Ayomanor and S Xavier Woods inactive for Week 12.
From TheHuddle
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder, wrist) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. He was listed as questionable after being a limited participant in practice. The rookie has been disappointing during his first pro season, catching just 24 passes for 286 yards through nine games. He is also still looking for his first career touchdown. Golden's second absence in three weeks will lead to more opportunities for Dontayvion Wicks (calf) in his role behind Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) is officially active for Sunday's Week 12 contest against the hosting Cincinnati Bengals. Stevenson will return to the Patriots' backfield after a three-game absence due to a toe injury. With the 27-year-old out, rookie TreVeyon Henderson thrived in the team's lead-back role, scoring five total touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving) while also averaging 88 rushing yards per game. New England has been non-committal on what Stevenson's role will be upon his return. Before getting hurt, Stevenson was operating as the RB1 and had 83 carries for 279 yards and three touchdowns on the ground while adding 169 receiving yards. However, after Henderson's strong performances the last three weeks, Stevenson will likely see his role reduced. Treat him as more of a shaky RB3/flex in his return this weekend.
From RotoBaller
