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 [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 5
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf fumbled again in Week 5. Metcalf's total statistical output was modest by his standards. After surpassing 100 receiving yards in three straight games, Metcalf finished with four catches for 55 yards and no touchdowns. The Seahawks offense as a whole was held in check by a scrappy Giants defense. If it weren't for the fumble, Metcalf would have had a semi-productive outing. However, he ended up falling well short of his WR1 expectations. Fantasy managers should be unconcerned with Metcalf's performance. While it is disappointing that he has fumbled in two straight games, it is unlikely to be a regular occurrence. Metcalf will look to bounce back in Week 6 in a huge divisional game against the San Francisco 49ers.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba scored his first touchdown of the season on Sunday. He found himself wide open in the back of the end zone for an important score that put the Seahawks within striking distance of the New York Giants. However, if it weren't for the score, Smith-Njigba likely would have had another disappointing fantasy outing. He only finished with four receptions for 31 yards and the touchdown. Smith-Njigba continues to be a perplexing player in fantasy. He has not been consistent by any means. Still, he has scored double-digit fantasy points in three of five games. When Smith-Njigba earns at least six targets he has been a usable fantasy asset. Fantasy managers can only hope that Smith-Njigba's volume becomes consistent as the season wears on.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett has become a consistent flex option this season. He has not risen to the ranks of WR2, but he has scored at least 9.6 fantasy points in four of five games this season. Lockett has been an important safety valve for quarterback Geno Smith in 2024. He has earned at least six targets in every game but one in 2024. Lockett has yet to find the end zone this season, but his consistent target, reception, and yardage floor have made him a solid asset for fantasy football. As bye weeks continue to arrive and injuries mount around the league, Lockett will be a solid fill-in for players you may have missing from your lineup.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III is not known for his receiving prowess. However, he ended up leading the Seahawks in targets with eight in Week 5. Walker would finish the game with seven receptions for 57 yards on top of a lackluster rushing line of five carries for 19 yards. Walker was set up to succeed in this game, but the Seahawks offense was largely ineffective. The Seahawks puzzlingly abandoned the run as well. They only had 11 total rushing attempts. This should only be a bump in the road for Walker. However, it does signal that he could be prone to poor games if the Seahawks find themselves in negative game scripts. Still, it was encouraging to see the receiving work that Walker received in this game. Backup running back Zach Charbonnet is generally the receiving running back. Walker has a chance to bounce back on the ground in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers had a game-tying kick blocked and returned for a touchdown in Week 5 against the New York Giants. Despite the "missed" kick, Myers still ended up with nine fantasy points for another respectful outing as a kicker. Myers has only missed two field goals on the season, and one could say that neither was his fault. The first miss was a 62-yard career-long attempt at the end of the first half in Week 4. Myers should continue his excellent season in both fantasy and real-life production against a reeling San Francisco 49ers team in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Colts quarterback Joe Flacco completed 33-of-44 passes for 359 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a loss to the Jaguars. Dynasty Analysis: It was just another day at the office for Flacco, who has made a habit of coming out of the bullpen and putting up huge games. Flacco made Deshaun Watson look pretty bad last year and his performance today didn't exactly make Anthony Richardson's early season struggles look any better. Still, it was against the Jaguars and they aren't exactly employing the Legion of Boom. Flacco will be under consideration to play again as long as Richardson sits out.
Dynasty | Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce had three catches for 134 yards and a touchdown in a loss against the Jaguars. Dynasty Analysis: Pierce could have easily had two scores, but was ruled down inside the five yard line on a deep catch from Joe Flacco. Pierce has turned into a bit of a one-trick pony with the deep ball being his most effective weapon, but he certainly made the most of it today. With Joe Flacco at the helm, Pierce looks to have more fantasy appeal. We'll see what happens moving forward but Pierce looks like he's at least solidified his spot on dynasty rosters this season.
Dynasty | Colts wide receiver Josh Downs had nine catches for 69 receiving yards in a loss against Jacksonville. Dynasty Analysis: Downs was solid again this week and had 12 total targets to lead the Colts. While Michael Pittman is the clear WR1 in the offense, Downs has started to finally fulfill his potential. With Joe Flacco at the helm, it seems all the Colts pass catchers simply have more value. We'll see what happens with this group when Anthony Richardson comes back but this is very positive for Downs after being very up and down throughout his career.
Dynasty | Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels completed 14-of-25 passes for 238 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while adding 82 rushing yards in a blowout win against Cleveland. Dynasty Analysis: Daniels is the real deal and may be the closest thing we've seen to Lamar Jackson since, well, Lamar Jackson. While this wasn't his best game, it may also represent a fantasy floor that's insanely high on a weekly basis. Daniels makes every routine play but also has a flair for the dramatic and looks like a true long-term QB1. If you took the plunge on Daniels this off-season, congratulations.
Chicago Bears WR DJ Moore ended up with five receptions for a game-high 105 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers, his former team.
Fantasy Spin: Ouch. The Panthers traded Moore and several draft picks, including the 2024 No. 1 overall for QB Caleb Williams, and that combination was lethal against Carolina. After going without a score in the first three games, Moore has three touchdowns in the past two games. He is back as a solid WR3 or flex fantasy option in leagues of 12 or more teams in Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
From TheHuddle
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rushed the football 20 times for 82 yards and a touchdown in the team's last-second loss to the Houston Texans. The Bills leaned on Cook as the passing offense struggled. Josh Allen completed just nine of his 30 passes. Cook's five-yard touchdown plunge midway through the third quarter was the Bills' first touchdown of the game. Cook added two receptions for 17 yards, finishing just one yard short of 100 total yards. The 25-year-old has established himself as one of Buffalo's most important players on the offensive side of the ball and will be an RB1 when the Bills face the Jets in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) had just one catch (three targets) for 14 yards in Sunday's loss to the Commanders. The 28-year-old had been sidelined since the opener because of an ankle injury. However, there's a chance the team may be without Njoku again, with Mary Kay Cabot reporting he suffered a knee injury during the contest. It's unknown how severe the injury is. Still, it's not ideal for a player who just returned from a three-game absence. At any rate, there should be an update on Njoku's status soon. If he can't suit up in Week 6 against the Eagles, Jordan Akins, who had a touchdown in Week 5, will likely fill the void in the lineup.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman caught one of five targets for 49 yards and a touchdown in the team's 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans. The rookie secured a reception on a curl route, broke a tackle, and sprinted into the endzone in the third quarter to pull the Bills within three points. Coleman missed several other targets, including one that hit him in the helmet when he wasn't looking. There was no noticeable increase in targets for the second-round pick, despite top receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) being out of the lineup. Coleman will remain a boom/bust option in Week 6 against the New York Jets.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid caught two passes for 34 yards in the team's 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. Kincaid tied with Mack Hollins for the team lead in targets. He had a sideline catch that the refs called incomplete that could have been reviewed and just missed on a couple of more opportunities. It's a disappointing result for Kincaid, especially considering top receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) was inactive. However, Josh Allen only completed nine of 30 pass attempts on the afternoon, limiting the upside for Kincaid and the rest of the Buffalo pass-catchers. Kincaid has failed to reach 50 yards in any contest this year and is shaping up to be one of the bigger busts in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews finally broke his streak of goose eggs during the three-point win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The veteran caught four of his five targets for 55 yards including a 27-yard catch for his longest play of the day. While this game was a move in the right direction for Andrews, the worrisome part was that both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar were still in the mix and they both caught touchdowns. Sharing snaps with Likely was enough to drop his target share, now fantasy managers have to worry about Kolar stealing some targets away too. The biggest factor will be if the Ravens need to throw as much as they did in this game because Lamar Jackson was finally able to spread fantasy points around to more than one pass-catcher. Andrews and the Ravens will take on the Washington Commanders at home in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed just nine of 30 pass attempts for 131 yards and a touchdown in the team's 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans. He added 54 yards on the ground on four carries. The rushing yardage helped salvage a disappointing day that saw the Buffalo offense struggle. Allen nearly hit tight end Dalton Kincaid on a couple of big plays and clearly missed his go-to option Khalil Shakir (ankle). The touchdown came on a 49-yard catch-and-run by rookie Keon Coleman in the third quarter. Allen briefly departed the game after taking a big shot and hitting his head on the ground. The medical staff cleared him and he just missed one snap. The Bills draw a matchup against the stout Jets' secondary on Monday Night Football in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers WR David Moore managed two receptions for 13 yards on three targets in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears.
From TheHuddle
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has already tied his career-high for touchdowns in a single season after hauling in his second of the year on Sunday. During the 41-38 overtime win over the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, the fourth-year wideout caught four of his eight targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. The coaching staff hyped up Bateman's growth and hard work throughout the offseason, and so far, he's looked deserving of the positive feedback. His yards per target are currently at a career-high (10.3). and he has his second-highest catch percentage (64.3%). Zay Flowers remains the No. 1 weapon of the receiving corps, but Bateman has been a quality outlet for quarterback Lamar Jackson. He'll look to keep the good times rolling against the Washington Commanders in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar scored the second touchdown of his career in the overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The third-stringer registered three receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown on four targets. He was the second-most targeted tight end in this game with Mark Andrews getting five and Isaiah Likely getting three. Kolar normally serves as a blocking tight end in big packages, but he had a big part in the passing game in this one. He even had the longest play for the Ravens on a 55-yard catch-and-run. Fantasy managers with stock in any of the Ravens' tight ends will continue to see frustrating usage if Kolar gets thrown into the passing game more often.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) is inactive for Sunday's meeting with the Cowboys. However, he will be available in case of an emergency. The signal-caller has made progress in his return from a calf injury. But for another week (at least), Justin Fields will remain under center. The 25-year-old got off to a slow start this season. Yet, he's coming off a stellar showing, throwing for 312 yards and accounting for three scores (one passing, two rushing) in the Week 4 loss to the Colts, making him worthy of a spot in most fantasy lineups.
From RotoBaller