Guest of the League
Road to Glory Est. 2018
Dynasty $125 - FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

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 [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Top 3 Breakouts

Player Notes
Jeff Driskel Aug 17 9:50pm CT
Jeff Driskel

Washington Commanders quarterback Jeff Driskel went 11-for-15 with 82 passing yards and added 45 rushing yards on the ground on Saturday evening. With Marcus Mariota resting, Driskel served as the backup to Jayden Daniels and played quite well through the majority of the game. This performance could have solidified him as the No. 3 QB in the offense, as he threw for 87 yards last week against the Jets. Sam Hartman (shoulder) served as the No. 4 QB last week but did not play Saturday evening due to a shoulder injury. This opened the door for Trace McSorley to play in the final quarter. Driskel showcased his rushing upside on Saturday evening by picking up a nice 41-yard carry on his first drive. In the passing attack, Driskel connected with third-round pick Luke McCaffrey twice for 30 yards. In addition, he found veteran Jamison Crowder three times for 25 yards. Both McCaffrey and Crowder are shaping up to serve as depth options to begin the regular season but could eventually earn a role later on. Mariota clearly has the backup spot locked up to begin the regular season, putting Driskel in no better position than 3rd on the depth chart. There is no foreseeable route where Driskel carries any fantasy relevance right now, and it would require some injuries to find his way to anyone's roster in 2024, especially in non-superflex leagues.

From RotoBaller

Frank Gore Jr. Aug 17 9:50pm CT
Frank Gore Jr.

Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. offered solid returns in Saturday night's preseason win over the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, rushing eight times for 41 yards in the victory. Gore consistently found room to run on Saturday against the Steelers, with his longest play going for nine yards. Although fourth-round rookie Ray Davis looks fairly locked into Buffalo's No. 2 role in the backfield, there remains an open competition to maintain a roster spot amongst Gore as well as veterans Ty Johnson and Darrynton Evans. Johnson is the most likely of the three backs to make the Bills' roster this fall, and Evans also impressed with 37 yards on seven carries in this one. The undrafted Gore aims to leave a final impression on the coaching staff in next Saturday's preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers.

From RotoBaller

Ray Davis Aug 17 9:40pm CT
Ray Davis

Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis found plenty of room to run in Saturday night's preseason win over the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, taking the ball eight times for 58 yards in the victory. Davis had a long pickup of 19 yards on the ground, leading the team in rushing yards on Saturday against the Steelers after totaling only 21 yards in last weekend's preseason opener. Starter James Cook remains Buffalo's obvious lead back to begin the season, but Davis is primed for his fair share of involvement as a change-of-pace back on a Bills team that placed more of an emphasis on the running game during the second half of last year. The 24-year-old rookie fourth-rounder has a versatile skillset and can be used in both early-down and pass-down situations, but he's best suited as an RB4/5 stash for fantasy managers in the final rounds of drafts.

From RotoBaller

Riley Patterson Aug 17 9:40pm CT
Riley Patterson

Washington Commanders kicker Riley Patterson carried over his struggles from last week as he went 2-for-4 on field goal attempts on Saturday evening. Patterson missed his two attempts from 49 yards and 43 yards, respectively, while he converted on a 46 and a 38-yard attempt. Last week, the 24-year-old went 0-for-1 from 39 yards out, while Ramiz Ahmed went 1-for-1 from 40 yards out on his lone attempt. While Patterson is currently the only kicker listed on the Washington depth chart, as Ahmed was cut earlier this week to make room for wide receiver Martavis Bryant, his inconsistency this preseason could open the door for a kicking competition. Fantasy managers should continue to pay close attention to the depth chart over the next few weeks as the starting kicker on the Commanders could be viable in standard leagues if Jayden Daniels is able to quickly adjust to the NFL.

From RotoBaller

James Cook Aug 17 9:40pm CT
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook got involved in Saturday night's preseason victory over the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, rushing six times for 25 yards in the win. Cook tacked on a six-yard catch on Saturday against Pittsburgh, running for a long gain of eight yards. The star third-year back trailed only superstars Christian McCaffrey and Breece Hall among RBs with 1,567 yards from scrimmage in 17 games as Buffalo's lead back last season, but even though incumbent veteran Latavius Murray is no longer around to vulture touchdowns from him, Cook now has rookie fourth-rounder Ray Davis to worry about in the backfield this fall. Davis is a threat to siphon the occasional carry on early downs and also has pass-catching ability, but Cook will start the season as a surefire RB2 option in what became a run-heavy Bills offense during the second half of last year.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Aug 17 9:40pm CT
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. led the rushing attack with the first-team on Saturday evening as he totaled 22 yards on three carries. The Alabama product was the lead back on the opening drive of the game but ceded those duties to Austin Ekeler on the second possession with the starters. While Ekeler only saw one target go his way on Saturday and did not have a rushing attempt, he will still have a large role in the Washington offense as he almost split the first-team snap counts with Robinson. Seeing that the Washington starters logged two full possessions, fantasy managers could expect Robinson and Ekeler to alternate drives in the regular season as they did on Saturday evening. However, given Ekeler's ability to succeed as a pass catcher, he could eventually serve as the go-to third down option while Robison handles the early down work. Nonetheless, this may be a difficult running back room to predict for fantasy this season as they may hinder each other's production. If Jayden Daniels can continue to showcase his elite potential, this offense may be able to produce two reliable running backs, even in a potential 50-50 split.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Daniels Aug 17 9:30pm CT
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels performed well in his second professional game on Saturday evening against the Miami Dolphins. He went 10-for-12 with 78 passing yards and 13 yards on the ground on two attempts. The former number-two overall pick led the offense for two possessions compared to just one last week. On the first possession, he hit Dyami Brown for three catches and Terry McLaurin for two. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. shined in the second drive, but Daniels did complete two nice passes to tight end John Bates for 20 total yards. Fantasy managers should continue to pay attention to who Daniels targets in the final preseason game, as he is clearly building a connection with Brown, who caught 55 receiving yards last week. The former Heisman winner will be a popular pick in redraft leagues at his 105.6 Yahoo! ADP, given how poised he has looked through his first two professional games.

From RotoBaller

Dyami Brown Aug 17 9:30pm CT
Dyami Brown

Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown shined once again on Saturday evening and is making a strong case to be the No. 2 wideout in the nation's capital. On Saturday, Brown saw three targets from Jayden Daniels, which tied Terry McLaurin for the most looks from the rookie quarterback. Brown caught all three of these targets in the opening drive for 19 yards. Earlier this week, head coach Dan Quinn expressed that there is still an open competition for the No. 2 wide receiver spot on the depth chart and currently, Brown may be in the lead. Last week, Brown caught 55 yards, which was highlighted by an impressive 42-yard catch. Fantasy managers should continue to pay close attention to how Brown finishes the preseason, as he could be a steal in deeper leagues this fall.

From RotoBaller

Quintin Morris Aug 17 9:20pm CT
Quintin Morris

Bills tight end Quintin Morris sustained a shoulder injury during Buffalo's 9-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Morris finished the game with two catches on four targets for 20 yards and led the team in targets. It was a low-scoring defensive affair on Saturday, and Buffalo racked up a ton of injuries, including backup QB Mitchell Trubisky and veteran WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. While Morris is listed as the third-string TE on the Bills' unofficial depth chart, he is reportedly a strong favorite to make the team as such. It is similar to the other Buffalo injuries tonight, as the severity is unknown, but there is sure to be an update shortly. The third-year TE has spent more time on special teams than offense throughout his first two seasons and is a distant third option at tight end behind Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid.

From RotoBaller

Dennis Allen Aug 17 9:00pm CT
Dennis Allen

New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen has opted to play his starters again this Sunday when they square off against the San Francisco 49ers. The sentiment around the team is that the starters will see "a decent amount of work." This is an apparent deviation from how things unfolded last season when the Saints' first team saw just one drive in the preseason opener and nothing after that. Allen could be straying from his previous habits for many reasons, including how last year played out for New Orleans. There is also a chance this is in response to the Saints' joint practices with the 49ers being canceled due to "mounting injury concerns" by San Fran's coaching staff. It remains to be seen exactly how much run the offensive and defensive first teams will get. However, Allen could opt to play his starters a bit longer than usual to get them some extra competitive snaps as we creep toward the regular season.

From RotoBaller

Jaren Hall Aug 17 8:40pm CT
Jaren Hall

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall played most of the second half against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, looking sharp in his limited passing opportunities. The 2023 fifth-round pick completed four of his five passes for 87 yards and two scores, including an incredible 71-yard bomb to Jeshaun Jones. The Vikings were ahead by multiple scores for much of Hall's playtime, so he did not have many chances to show off his arm, but he was effective when he could. The second-year quarterback bounced back from a disappointing first preseason game, as the backup quarterback position in Minnesota has been in flux with rookie J.J. McCarthy (knee) being placed on injured reserve earlier this week. Hall made his case to be on the 53-man roster for the Vikings and will need to fight off Nick Mullens and newly signed Matt Corral for the opportunity.

From RotoBaller

Marquez Valdes-Scantling Aug 17 8:40pm CT
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (neck) will not return to the team's preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Valdes-Scantling caught a ball in the second quarter, and after being taken to the ground, he remained down for an extended period of time. The Bills' training staff actually stabilized his neck before he sat up and was escorted over to the blue medical tent. He was carted to the locker room shortly after. MVS's night would end with one catch on one target for eight yards. Although the veteran wideout was mobile, neck injuries are no small matter, and the injury's severity is unknown. While MVS is not listed as a starter on Buffalo's depth chart (WR5), this would be a blow to the offense as Josh Allen is missing 241 targets from 2023 with the departure of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. He's Yahoo!'s WR117 in ADP.

From RotoBaller

Mitchell Trubisky Aug 17 8:30pm CT
Mitchell Trubisky

Buffalo Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (knee) will not return to Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bills backup scrambled out of the pocket late in the second quarter but came up limping, walking gingerly after being tackled. The severity of the injury is unclear at this time. He'll finish his day 9-of-13 for 86 yards and one interception. Superstar quarterback Josh Allen was in line to start the game, but after a survey of the field pregame, head coach Sean McDermott elected to start Trubisky instead and keep Allen out of harm's way due to poor conditions. Depending on the results of his testing, it is possible that Buffalo will decide to add some veteran help to its QB room. Third-string signal-caller Ben DiNucci is currently the only healthy quarterback behind Allen -- fourth-string QB Shane Buechele (neck) already resides on IR. We're likely to get an update on Trubisky's status shortly.

From RotoBaller

Patrick Mahomes Aug 17 8:20pm CT
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looked sharp again in Saturday evening's preseason defeat to the visiting Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium, completing eight of his 14 passes for 93 yards in the loss. Perhaps Mahomes' most noteworthy play of the day on Saturday against Detroit came when he flipped a pretty eight-yard pass behind his back to top target Travis Kelce during the first quarter. This might have been it for the six-time Pro Bowler and two-time MVP as it pertains to exhibition action this summer, but KC's first-team offense may get one more chance to tune things up in Thursday's preseason finale against the Chicago Bears. Mahomes had a down 2023 regular season for the defending-champion Chiefs and is now likely to be without veteran wideout Marquise Brown (shoulder) for the start of 2024, but he remains a cinch top-tier QB1 in fantasy drafts as arguably football's most dominant player.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Aug 17 8:10pm CT
Rashee Rice

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice put together a productive outing in Saturday evening's preseason loss to the visiting Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium, reeling in four of his five targets for 35 yards in the defeat. Rice's longest gain of the game came on a 14-yard short pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the first quarter on third down to keep an eventual scoring drive alive on Saturday against the Lions. The star second-year slot receiver is seeing his fantasy ADP come surging upward in recent weeks, as there remains no real clarity on whether or not he'll be suspended due to off-field incidents earlier this offseason. As it stands, it's looking more and more likely that Rice will begin the season as Mahomes' clear-cut top wideout with Marquise Brown (shoulder) sidelined, and he should at least be a midrange WR2 bet when available this year.

From RotoBaller

Evan McPherson Aug 17 8:10pm CT
Evan McPherson

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson was the team's only source of offense during Saturday's preseason loss to Chicago. The 25-year-old began the preseason by missing a kick in the Bengals' first preseason game versus the Bucs. However, he got it together on Saturday, nailing a 54-yard attempt. McPherson, who recently agreed to a three-year, $16.5 million contract extension, was at his best as a rookie. But if the Bengals offense can return to form, he'll have plenty of chances to make a difference for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Trayveon Williams Aug 17 8:00pm CT
Trayveon Williams

Cincinnati Bengals running back Trayveon Williams had six carries for 22 yards in Saturday's loss to the Chicago Bears. He added two catches for 19 yards. Cincinnati rested most of the starters on offense, opening the door for others to get involved. While Williams wasn't as productive on the ground as Noah Cain, it likely won't impact his place on the depth chart heading into the 2024-25 campaign. With that said, as long as Zack Moss and Chase Brown are healthy, Williams probably won't get enough snaps to make him a viable fantasy option.

From RotoBaller

Deneric Prince Aug 17 8:00pm CT
Deneric Prince

Kansas City Chiefs running back Deneric Prince flashed some big-play ability in Saturday evening's preseason defeat to the visiting Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium, rushing seven times for 47 yards in the loss. Prince also caught one of his two targets for seven yards on Saturday against Detroit, most notably breaking away for a 41-yard scamper in the second quarter to help set up an eventual scoring drive for the Chiefs. The 24-year-old power back might be making some inroads on KC's No. 2 job in the backfield as he battles with incumbent veteran Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the role, but he still has some work to do if he wants to become the top backup to workhorse starter Isiah Pacheco this fall. Prince has one more chance to leave an impression on the coaching staff in Thursday's preseason finale against the Chicago Bears.

From RotoBaller

Jermaine Burton Aug 17 7:50pm CT
Jermaine Burton

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton had just one reception for 19 yards in Saturday's preseason loss to the Bears. The rookie had a stellar showing in the Bengals meeting with the Buccaneers, catching three of his four targets for 82 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, Burton couldn't keep the momentum going, although most of his time was dedicated to returning kicks. At any rate, the 23-year-old may not be involved consistently during his inaugural campaign. However, Burton could climb the depth chart in the next few years, especially if Tee Higgins doesn't return. Cincinnati will close out the preseason with a Thursday night encounter with the Colts.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Aug 17 7:50pm CT
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy made a big impact in Saturday evening's preseason loss to the visiting Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium, catching three of his six targets for 62 yards and a touchdown in the defeat. Worthy added an 11-yard carry on Saturday against the Lions, with his score coming on a 22-yard reception from backup quarterback Carson Wentz in the first quarter. This was the kind of showing the Chiefs and fantasy managers were hoping to see out of the 21-year-old rookie first-rounder out of Texas, who stepped up in the absence of veteran wideout Marquise Brown (shoulder) and is looking at a more pronounced role in KC's passing game to begin the season. Set to be QB Patrick Mahomes' primary deep threat in the early going, Worthy is a high-ceiling WR3/flex pick in the middle rounds of drafts.

From RotoBaller