Mon May 18 8:54pm ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a strength-of-schedule ranking for the quarterback position. We used our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the “Reports” heading. We took each team’s schedule and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last season by 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 which quarterbacks might have the easiest schedules for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.
| RANK | TEAM | AVG. OPP FANTASY PPG ALLOWED |
| 1. | Raiders | 18.33 |
| 2. | Jets | 18.44 |
| 3. | Bears | 18.48 |
| 4. | Dolphins | 18.7 |
| 5. | Broncos | 18.74 |
| 6. | Chiefs | 18.75 |
| 7. | Chargers | 18.93 |
| 8. | Bills | 18.98 |
| 9. | Buccaneers | 19.05 |
| 10. | Patriots | 19.07 |
| 11. | Steelers | 19.12 |
| 12. | Lions | 19.13 |
| 13. | 49ers | 19.17 |
| 14. | Panthers | 19.25 |
| 15. | Rams | 19.4 |
| 16. | Falcons | 19.42 |
| 17. | Cardinals | 19.44 |
| 18. | Packers | 19.44 |
| 19. | Seahawks | 19.59 |
| 20. | Ravens | 19.69 |
| 21. | Saints | 19.76 |
| 22. | Cowboys | 19.82 |
| 23. | Bengals | 19.87 |
| 24. | Vikings | 19.91 |
| 25. | Colts | 19.98 |
| 26. | Commanders | 20.07 |
| 27. | Jaguars | 20.22 |
| 28. | Giants | 20.23 |
| 29. | Texans | 20.23 |
| 30. | Titans | 20.33 |
| 31. | Browns | 20.39 |
| 32. | Eagles | 21.09 |
The Eagles have the easiest fantasy schedule for quarterbacks. This is good news for a possible Jalen Hurts turnaround. He doesn’t carry nearly the same price tag as last year, so he might be worth the gamble. The Eagles also have a new offensive coordinator this season, which is likely a good thing after the last few years. Things are looking up for Hurts, especially when you consider this schedule.
There are also some unknowns that get easy quarterback schedules this year. The Browns, Titans, Texans, and Giants round out the top five. We aren’t even sure who is starting right now for the Browns, and even once that is decided, their fantasy outlook isn’t especially promising. However, an easy schedule and some new weapons at receiver could help whoever wins the starting job earn a few fantasy starts along the way.
Two second-year quarterbacks are especially intriguing. Both Cam Ward and Jaxon Dart have favorable schedules. Dart already showed his potential last year, but he needs to learn how to stay on the field. If that happens, his ceiling is huge this year. Ward had a so-so rookie season but is looking a lot better because of additions to the receiver room in Tennessee. Plus, he is another year older. Ward could take a big step forward in Year 2.
The Raiders top the list for the most difficult quarterback schedule. This is not good news for rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He was already iffy because of a lack of offensive weapons, and the Raiders’ offensive line can also be shaky. Mendoza could struggle during his rookie season because of all of this, making him a risky pick on draft day.
The Jets also have big concerns at quarterback with Geno Smith starting, and they face the second-hardest schedule for quarterbacks. Smith did get some upgrades on offense, but there are still plenty of concerns. Plus, he is coming off a rough season, which only adds to the risk. He is looking like a very risky option on draft day.
The Bears, Dolphins, and Broncos round out the top five most difficult quarterback schedules. Caleb Williams and Bo Nix are two high-profile quarterbacks on the list. You might want to move them down a spot or two in your rankings because of the schedule, though. They should still have good seasons but could have a few stumbles along the way.
Malik Willis finally gets another chance to start for the Dolphins. He heads to a team that still has plenty of offensive questions, especially at receiver. Willis also faces the fourth-toughest quarterback schedule in addition to those concerns. This is not ideal for his fantasy outlook.
We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy quarterbacks. So we crunched the numbers for all schedules from Weeks 15-17, which is the fantasy playoff period for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing which quarterbacks have the easiest playoff schedules certainly doesn’t hurt, especially in the big-money contests.
| RANK | TEAM | AVG. OPP FANTASY PLAYOFF PPG ALLOWED |
| 1. | Dolphins | 16.29 |
| 2. | 49ers | 17.04 |
| 3. | Jets | 17.36 |
| 4. | Broncos | 17.41 |
| 5. | Seahawks | 17.74 |
| 6. | Chiefs | 17.76 |
| 7. | Eagles | 17.86 |
| 8. | Bears | 18.08 |
| 9. | Commanders | 18.08 |
| 10. | Texans | 18.44 |
| 11. | Buccaneers | 18.45 |
| 12. | Lions | 19.22 |
| 13. | Patriots | 19.28 |
| 14. | Bengals | 19.33 |
| 15. | Cardinals | 19.46 |
| 16. | Chargers | 19.76 |
| 17. | Steelers | 19.89 |
| 18. | Packers | 19.9 |
| 19. | Colts | 20 |
| 20. | Raiders | 20 |
| 21. | Ravens | 20.13 |
| 22. | Cowboys | 20.15 |
| 23. | Panthers | 20.25 |
| 24. | Bills | 20.31 |
| 25. | Titans | 20.64 |
| 26. | Browns | 20.78 |
| 27. | Falcons | 20.86 |
| 28. | Saints | 21.08 |
| 29. | Giants | 21.5 |
| 30. | Jaguars | 21.76 |
| 31. | Vikings | 22.06 |
| 32. | Rams | 22.28 |
The Giants are the lone team to finish in the top five on both lists, so Dart is looking even better for fantasy teams. He could be set up for a huge second season and gets a chance to shine during the fantasy playoffs. New York has the fourth-easiest playoff schedule for quarterbacks.
The Rams have the easiest playoff schedule for quarterbacks. Matthew Stafford is coming off an MVP-caliber season. You can draft him later than the elite fantasy quarterbacks, making him a good platoon option for fantasy teams. He might be worth pairing with another similar quarterback and spot-starting them throughout the season. Stafford could be a difference-maker during the fantasy playoffs.
The Vikings, Jaguars, and Saints make up the rest of the teams with top-five easiest playoff schedules for quarterbacks. Trevor Lawrence and Tyler Shough look even better because of this. Both have high upside for the coming season and could produce big numbers when it matters most.
The Dolphins, Jets, and Broncos all rank in the top five for most difficult quarterback schedules during both the regular season and playoffs. This is not ideal for any of those options on draft day. Again, it is hard to shy away from Nix, but it is concerning to see him facing such difficult schedules for both the regular season and fantasy playoffs.
The 49ers and Seahawks also have difficult playoff schedules. Brock Purdy is always capable of a huge game, but he isn’t a surefire No. 1 fantasy quarterback. His poor playoff schedule might make fantasy owners shy away from him on draft day. He may not be worth the risk.
As mentioned earlier, both the Dolphins and Jets already have quarterback concerns, so difficult schedules for both the regular season and playoffs are major red flags for their fantasy options.
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.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) is not expected to play in Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Detroit Lions, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Coker is officially listed as questionable after logging back-to-back limited practices. The 24-year-old exploded for a whopping 16 catches, 204 yards, and two touchdowns through the first two games this season, but his Week 3 performance was cut short due to the quad injury. It seemed like there was a chance he might be able to play this week, but the Panthers will ultimately hold him out. After all, there's no reason to rush him back, especially since the Panthers are on bye next week. With this week's absence and next week's bye, the Panthers are giving Coker two full weeks to recover. Tetairoa McMillan will continue to operate as Bryce Young's No. 1 target on Sunday, while Brycen Tremayne likely steps up to fill Coker's role as a sneaky WR3 option in deeper fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (knee) exited during the first quarter of Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Indianapolis Colts after being sacked by two defenders on third down. The team announced that he is questionable to return. At the time of his departure, he had completed three of four pass attempts for 46 passing yards, and he also had a 35-yard rush. For the second year in a row, quarterback injuries plague the Commanders up and down the depth chart. Mariota was only playing because Jayden Daniels (elbow) was sidelined for the second week in a row after dislocating his elbow. With Mariota sidelined, Athan Kaliakmanis, a seventh-round rookie from Minnesota, has entered the game at quarterback.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is coming off his best game of the young season, and he'll look to keep that momentum going in Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints. Robinson exploded for 213 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in the Falcons' first win of the season on Thursday in Week 3, bringing him to a whopping 467 scrimmage yards, three touchdowns, and the overall RB3 spot through just three games. The 24-year-old is a must-start high-end RB1 in fantasy football every week regardless of matchup, and that remains the case against the Saints, who have allowed the sixth-most rushing yards, second-most touchdowns, and eighth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2026. Robinson should enjoy another huge week and will push for the overall RB1 spot in total scoring once again.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (hip) is not expected to have a limited workload as he returns from a two-game absence against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The Rams were patient with Nacua's recovery, holding him out of back-to-back games and refusing to rush him back. Fantasy managers should be encouraged that Nacua has no limitations on Sunday. Not only does it mean that he's back to 100%, but it also indicates that he'll handle a full complement of snaps, which could help him excel offensively and rank as this week's overall WR1 in fantasy football. Presumably, Nacua will seamlessly take over for Davante Adams as quarterback Matthew Stafford's No. 1 target. In Nacua's two-game absence, Adams racked up a whopping 15 catches, 332 yards, and two touchdowns.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) is expected to miss anywhere from three to six weeks, depending on how quickly he is able to grip the football, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Mayfield has avoided an injured reserve stint for now, but the Bucs will give him at least a few weeks off after he recovers from a dislocated thumb and works to regain his grip strength. Mayfield is just two years removed from a QB4 fantasy finish in 2024, but he has taken a step backward since then. Through the first three games this year, he completed just 63.5% of his pass attempts for 615 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also had a rushing touchdown, 13 sacks, and three lost fumbles. Mayfield is a risky fantasy starter when healthy, and the same can be said of undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels, who will make his first career start as the Bucs' primary quarterback against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Tennessee Titans, and he won't be on a snap count, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. The hamstring injury has sidelined Flowers for just one contest so far, but it also cut his season opener short and limited him to 33% of the snaps last week. Barring a re-aggravation or a new injury, Week 4 will be the first time that Flowers plays a complete game this season. That should be very exciting for fantasy managers, as Flowers showed a glimpse of his upside with five catches, 150 yards, and one touchdown in the first half alone back in Week 1. Without a pitch count, Flowers has the potential to feast as a fantasy WR1 against the Titans this week.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (ankle) is officially active for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Washington Commanders. Dulin had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction after logging two full practices to close out the week. With Alec Pierce (heel) on injured reserve, Keenan Allen (groin) inactive, and Darius Slayton (coach's decision) a healthy scratch, there's a real opportunity for Dulin to step up as the Colts' No. 2 receiver behind Josh Downs. With that being said, he doesn't have enough of a track record to get onto the fantasy radar, especially since we're still not convinced the Colts' offense can support multiple fantasy-relevant receivers every single week. For now, Dulin can be left on waivers in most leagues.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Darius Slayton (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Washington Commanders in London. It seemed like Slayton was in line to make his Colts debut after Keenan Allen (groin) was ruled out, but that's not the case. With Slayton, Allen, and Alec Pierce (heel, IR) on the sideline, the Colts will likely give more offensive snaps to Laquon Treadwell and Ashton Dulin. Both receivers will push for more targets in their role behind No. 1 receiver Josh Downs. Allen's absence creates an opportunity for Treadwell or Dulin to step in as the next man up, but we're not quite sure this offense can support multiple fantasy-relevant receivers every week. Downs remains the only Indianapolis wideout that should be started for now.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (hamstring) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Indianapolis Colts in London, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. McLaurin, who was listed as questionable, was a late addition to the injury report this week after practicing in a limited capacity on Friday. The 31-year-old had a slower start to the season offensively, but he began to turn the corner last week with six catches, 77 yards, and one touchdown. His absence could be crucial as the Marcus Mariota-led Commanders look to win their second game in a row. Veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs should take McLaurin's place as Mariota's primary target, while rookie Antonio Williams also steps into a larger role in London.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made his season debut against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 after tearing his ACL last November. It was his first game back since Week 11. The 26-year-old was solid in his season debut, completing 18-of-25 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while rushing twice for minus-2 yards. Penix will look to continue his solid play on Monday night against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are allowing about 229 passing yards per game. New Orleans was recently shredded by Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins for 248 passing yards and three touchdowns. Penix has a positive matchup and will only get more comfortable as the season wears on. He is a solid Superflex or QB2 option this week, with RotoBaller ranking Penix 24th among all quarterbacks in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Eli Stowers (quad) opened his rookie season on injured reserve after a very disappointing training camp. The Eagles would surely like to have some extra tight end depth right now with Dallas Goedert (knee) injured, but even if Stowers returns before Goedert, he's still unlikely to occupy a sizable role. Stowers, who is eligible to play as early as next week, was reportedly taking a while to acclimate to NFL speed in his first training camp, and the quad injury didn't help his progression. Regardless of his exact position on the depth chart when he returns to the field, all signs point to Stowers focusing on his development this year, rather than producing at a fantasy-relevant level. He's a solid dynasty stash and perhaps even an intriguing buy-low in dynasty leagues where fantasy managers are losing faith. However, he can be dropped to waivers in all redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal can be dropped to waivers in all redraft fantasy football leagues. The 25-year-old has taken a backseat on offense this year, and he didn't even log his first touch of the season until last week. His snap share did jump to a season-high 25% mark last week, but he's still buried behind Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell on the depth chart. Given that the coaching staff has placed a significant amount of trust in those running backs, any path to weekly fantasy relevance for Vidal would likely require both Mitchell and Hampton to miss time. Barring anything unexpected, it looks like he will lack fantasy relevance for the rest of the 2026 season. Vidal can be left on waivers in all redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson hauled in all eight of his targets for 53 yards and two touchdowns in the team's Week 3 loss to the Raiders. Despite fellow tight end Noah Fant also seeing occasional involvement in the offense, Johnson continues to dominate the position in playing time, outsnapping Fant 158-109 through three weeks. He has clearly become one of Tyler Shough's favorite targets, and his current 78.9% catch rate, 57.7 yards per game, and 9.1 yards per target are all career highs. Through three weeks, Johnson has posted 15 receptions for 173 yards and three touchdowns on 19 targets, ranking as the PPR TE4. He remains a reliable TE1 heading into Monday night's matchup against the Falcons.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Ricky Pearsall (right knee) is working his way back from a PCL injury that will sideline him for the entire 2026 season. Injuries have plagued the start of Pearsall's career, but we certainly won't discredit him for the gunshot wound that forced him to miss time as a rookie in 2024. With that being said, he will have played in just 20 of his first 51 career regular-season games, calling his long-term durability into question. He's averaging a modest 5.0 catches, 46.4 receiving yards, and 0.2 touchdowns per game in his career, and he has yet to reach 100 career receptions and 1,000 career receiving yards. Upon his return from injury next year, Pearsall will slot into the No. 2 receiver role (at best) behind Mike Evans, and it's still too early to tell whether he'll even be ready for Week 1. At just 26 years old, there's still plenty of time for Pearsall to get back on track as a solid dynasty receiver, but for now, we wouldn't blame managers for trying to trade him away and recoup some of their initial investment.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele recorded three receptions for 39 yards on six targets in Week 3's loss to the Raiders. The third-year receiver has played a key role in the Saints' offense through the first three weeks, leading all skill-position players on the team with a 91% snap percentage. He faces a Falcons defense in Week 4 that has allowed opposing WR2s to average 5.3 receptions and 74.6 yards per game. With another key piece of the offense in Travis Etienne Jr. sidelined, the Saints could also lean more heavily on the passing game rather than putting too much on Alvin Kamara, potentially creating additional opportunities for Vele. He ranks as WR33 in RotoBaller's Week 4 rankings but carries some additional upside.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson entered the season with very little redraft value, and he continues to slip down the rankings as the season goes on. Any value that Simpson had prior to the season was driven by his role on the depth chart, as many people expected him to be the backup quarterback and the insurance option behind Matthew Stafford. Instead, Simpson has been inactive as the emergency third quarterback, which means he wouldn't see the field even if Stafford were to get injured. Instead, the backup duties belong to Stetson Bennett, who has more experience in the Rams' system. As a first-round pick, Simpson still has plenty of dynasty appeal, but any glimmer of redraft value is slipping away as long as Simpson remains inactive.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) remains sidelined through Week 5 at the earliest, but he still has some appeal as a player to stash in deeper leagues, especially those that offer injured reserve slots. Lane underwent wrist surgery after the season opener, in which he played 40% of the snaps with three targets, one catch, and 11 yards. The rookie USC product was a third-round pick and has big-play upside, but he'll need to get healthy before he even begins to climb up the depth chart. Once he does return, he'll be no higher than third on the depth chart, putting him behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. With that said, Bateman has an iffy track record of production and Flowers is still less than 100% after a hamstring injury, so Lane could have a path to a meaningful role by the second half of the season. Managers with an open roster spot in deeper leagues should consider stashing Lane in a low-risk move.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave continued his hot start to the season, recording nine receptions for 107 yards in Week 3 against the Raiders. Through three games, Olave has 375 receiving yards, which ranks second in the league, while doing so on a 75.0% catch rate. He has been the focal point of the Saints' passing attack, tying for the league lead in both targets (36) and receptions (27). Olave has clearly developed strong chemistry with second-year starter Tyler Shough, making him one of the most reliable options in the Saints' offense. He now faces a Falcons defense allowing 263 passing yards per game, 29th in the league, setting up another favorable matchup in Week 4. Olave remains a weekly must-start and comes in as WR4 in RotoBaller's Week 4 rankings.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders seemed like an inevitable choice to take over as the team's starter at some point this season, but the impressive production from Deshaun Watson has altered the former fifth-round pick's redraft outlook. Entering this season, it seemed like Watson was on a short leash, with Sanders pushing to take over as the team's No. 1 quarterback. Instead, Watson has led the Browns to a 3-1 start, which currently puts them first in the AFC North. The veteran signal-caller has completed 70% of his pass attempts for 855 passing yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions, plus an additional 127 rushing yards. He ranks as the overall QB5 in fantasy scoring so far, albeit with one more game than most quarterbacks because he played on Thursday night. At this point, Watson is trending toward occupying the starting role for the rest of the season, barring an injury. Sanders could still represent the long-term future in Cleveland, but his redraft value has declined significantly. He can be dropped to waivers in redraft formats.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams was expected to see an expanded role with A.J. Brown (ankle) landing on the Injured Reserve. Instead, Williams operated as the fourth receiver during last week's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 23-year-old hauled in one of his three targets for 34 yards in the loss. It doesn't appear that even the injury to Brown will be enough to make Williams a real part of this offense. Williams has the speed to be a legitimate threat, but maybe the Patriots don't view him as an every-down wideout right now. Williams is worth holding in dynasty formats, but he doesn't need to be started versus the Buffalo Bills in Week 4.
From RotoBaller