Guest of the League
The Empire Est. 2019
Dynasty $250 - FFL: Week 4 | NFL: Week 4

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

Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 4

Player Notes
Ladd McConkey Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Ladd McConkey

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey scored his second NFL touchdown in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. McConkey led the Bolts in catches, yards, and targets and was the only Charger to score a touchdown. He ended up seeing seven targets, making five catches for 67 yards, including a seven yard touchdown on an excellent catch and throw in the first quarter. McConkey heads into the Chargers bye week as the clear top target in the passing game and should be an asset in PPR leagues especially when the Chargers return for a Week 6 game in Denver against the Broncos.

From RotoBaller

Rhamondre Stevenson Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Rhamondre Stevenson

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 43 yards on 13 carries during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He also converted five targets into four catches for 19 yards through the air. On a more negative note, Stevenson did lose a fumble in the effort. He has now fumbled in all four games this season and has lost a fumble in each of the last two contests. Evidently, the running back's productivity and versatility on offense have been somewhat canceled out by his ball security issues. At the same time, fellow running back Antonio Gibson has tallied 219 scrimmage yards over the last three games, showing a combination of burst and ball security that we simply haven't seen from Stevenson in the last couple of weeks. Stevenson should still be the Patriots' No. 1 running back against the Miami Dolphins in Week 5, but the gap between the two of them is likely shrinking as Gibson makes a case for more snaps and touches.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving came into the game as questionable due to a hamstring issue. However, Irving suited up and played well during Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The rookie back rushed 10 times for 49 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown of his career. It's worth noting that Irving saw just as many carries as lead back Rachaad White. Irving has continued to run the ball well on a weekly basis and that has earned him a larger role on this offense. He's beginning to creep into the RB3 conversation heading into Thursday's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Deshaun Watson Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson completed 24 of his 32 passes for 176 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while rushing for 32 yards on eight carries in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. It could have been a much bigger game for Watson but the Cleveland offense was plagued by multiple mistakes, including a holding penalty on center Nick Harris that wiped away an 82-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper in the fourth quarter. The interception was also hard to pin on Watson as he hit Amari Cooper in the chest but the receiver allowed the ball to go through his hands and right to safety Tre'von Moehrig for the pick. Watson has now thrown four touchdowns and three interceptions through four games while leading the Browns to a 1-3 record. He will look for a bigger outing in Week 5 against a red-hot Washington Commanders team.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Lynn Polk Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Ja'Lynn Polk

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk converted seven targets into three catches for 30 yards during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Polk had not commanded more than three targets in a single game through the first three weeks of the season, but that evidently changed this week as Polk led the Patriots with seven passes thrown his way. Despite the increased volume, Polk still didn't deliver a very appealing fantasy performance due to his lower catch and yardage totals. On a promising note, he made an impressive grab in heavy coverage along the sideline. It was ruled incomplete, but only because Polk just barely missed getting both feet in bounds. The play should give fantasy managers optimism that Polk can make flashy catches against starting cornerbacks in the NFL. The rookie isn't a reliable option for Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, but his long-term value continues to grow as he makes an impression early in his Patriots career.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White was considered questionable coming into Sunday's game due to an illness. Despite that, White suited up and had a decent day on the ground. He rushed 10 times for 49 yards while hauling in two receptions for an additional 35 yards through the air. The biggest problem for White is that fellow back Bucky Irving continues to out-rush. White has struggled on the ground and has a result the Bucs continue giving Irving more chances and it's paying off for them. Both backs saw 10 carries each during Sunday's win over the Philadelphia Eagles. White should be considered a low-end RB2 for the Thursday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Sep 29 7:50pm CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins had 60 yards off a team-high six catches in Sunday's win over the Panthers. The wideout returned from a two-game absence for the Week 3 loss to the Commanders. However, he had only three receptions in that one. But with 10 targets in Week 4, it appears Higgins still has the attention of Joe Burrow, making him worthy of a starting spot in all fantasy formats when the Bengals meet the Ravens in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Badie Sep 29 7:50pm CT
Tyler Badie

The New York Jets defense played well in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. The Jets were unable to notch any sacks but did force a turnover while holding the Broncos to just 186 yards of total offense in the close loss on a rainy afternoon in New Jersey. New York's defense got their lone takeaway when they recovered a Tyler Badie fumble in the contest. The Jets will have their work cut out for them when they take on a red-hot Minnesota Vikings offense in London in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

J.K. Dobbins Sep 29 7:50pm CT
J.K. Dobbins

Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins was bottled up again in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Dobbins led the backfield in carries with 14 and also led in rushing yards, but with just 32. He was targeted four times in the passing game, making three catches for 30 yards. It was a rough day for the Chargers running game in general, as the longest play on the ground was a 12-yard run by Dobbins. For the first time this season, the Chargers offense threw the ball more times (27) than they ran it (24). Dobbins will have better games ahead, and his usage remains encouraging going forward, as no other Charger back had more than six carries in this game. The Bolts head into their bye week and will come out in Week 6 to take on the Broncos in Denver.

From RotoBaller

Gus Edwards Sep 29 7:50pm CT
Gus Edwards

Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards received only six touches in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Edwards ran the ball six times, gaining 19 yards with a long gain of five. He was not targeted in the passing game. Meanwhile, J.K. Dobbins wasn't particularly effective (14 carries for 32 yards), but he clearly remains the RB1 in the Chargers backfield while Edwards fades further and further into a backup/change of pace role. Edwards is droppable in most formats right now and likely won't have much fantasy value this season unless Dobbins is forced to miss time.

From RotoBaller

Antonio Gibson Sep 29 7:50pm CT
Antonio Gibson

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson rushed six times for 12 yards on the ground during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He left much more of an impact in the receiving game, hauling in three of four targets for an additional 67 yards through the air. He finished as the Patriots' receiving yards leader. Gibson now has 219 scrimmage yards over the last three weeks, but he's still searching for his first touchdown as a member of the Patriots. Nevertheless, he has demonstrated a tendency for breaking off big plays within a Patriots offense desperately searching for a spark after a 1-3 start. Gibson is still operating as the Patriots' No. 2 running back behind Rhamondre Stevenson, but given that Stevenson has lost two fumbles in the last two games and Gibson has impressed lately, the latter could be in line to earn more snaps going forward. He'll rank as a low-end RB3 heading into Week 5 against a suspect Miami Dolphins squad.

From RotoBaller

Zack Moss Sep 29 7:40pm CT
Zack Moss

Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss had 15 carries for 51 yards in Sunday's win over the Panthers. He added four catches for 27 yards and a touchdown. Although Chase Brown was much more involved than he had been all season, Moss still had an efficient fantasy showing in Week 5. With a touchdown in three of the Bengals' four games on the year, Moss remains at least a flex option for the AFC North clash with the Baltimore Ravens.

From RotoBaller

Greg Zuerlein Sep 29 7:40pm CT
Greg Zuerlein

New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein made three of his four field goals in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. Zuerlein provided all of the offense for the Jets on a rainy day in New Jersey in the close loss. The veteran kicker made field goals from 23, 35, and 40 yards out while missing on a 50-yard attempt late in the fourth quarter that would have given the Jets the lead. Zuerlein has struggled with his accuracy this season, missing on two of his seven field-goal attempts through four weeks. He will look to regroup ahead of a Week 5 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in London.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Sep 29 7:40pm CT
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had another solid showing in Sunday's win over the Panthers. After finding the end zone twice in Week 3, the wideout scored again in Week 4. Although Tee Higgins was more productive from a volume standpoint, Chase still had 85 yards off his three catches. With the Bengals offense returning to form, the former LSU Tiger is obviously a lock for all fantasy lineups when Cincinnati meets Baltimore in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Baker Mayfield Sep 29 7:40pm CT
Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield started off the season hot with a great performance in the season opener. After that, Mayfield and the Bucs hit a cold patch, but they found their footing on Sunday. Mayfield completed 30-of-47 passing attempts for 347 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He also added a third touchdown to his total with a read-option end zone keeper. It will be a short week for the Bucs as they turn around with a Thursday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Fantasy managers can consider Mayfield a high-end QB2 for that one.

From RotoBaller

Justin Herbert Sep 29 7:40pm CT
Justin Herbert

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) had another pedestrian game in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Herbert was listed as questionable all week with a high ankle sprain, but was able to play although clearly slowed by the injury. He ended up attempting 27 passes, completing 16 of them for 179 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked twice and fumbled once, but it was recovered by a teammate. He also "added" three carries, but totaled zero yards on the ground. Herbert's touchdown came on an outstanding throw and catch to rookie Ladd McConkey. The Chargers head into their Week 5 bye with a 2-2 record and Herbert will get a much needed week of rest before taking on the Broncos on the road in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Sep 29 7:30pm CT
Jacoby Brissett

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 19 of 32 passes for 168 yards, one touchdown, and one interception during a Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He also rushed for three yards and took six sacks behind a depleted offensive line. Furthermore, Brissett fumbled three times, with one of those fumbles being recovered by the defense. The veteran quarterback had not allowed a turnover through the first three games this season, but then he coughed up the football twice on Sunday. New England falls to 1-3 as buzz continues to grow for Drake Maye. For now, though, the offense still belongs to Brissett. He remains the Patriots' starting quarterback heading into a Week 5 clash with the ailing Miami Dolphins. Perhaps this favorable matchup next Sunday will be enough to get the Patriots back in the win column. However, Brissett is still off the fantasy radar given the Patriots' run-heavy approach on offense.

From RotoBaller

Allen Lazard Sep 29 7:30pm CT
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard caught five of his eight targets for 58 yards in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. Lazard wound up finishing second on the team in receiving yards while tying for the lead with his eight targets and five catches. The veteran has looked reinvigorated this season, having gone for at least 48 receiving yards in three of his four games while hauling in three touchdowns. Firmly established as a weekly flex option, Lazard will now get ready to take on the Minnesota Vikings in London in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Conklin Sep 29 7:30pm CT
Tyler Conklin

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught four of his eight targets for 17 yards in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. Conklin ultimately didn't do much in the box score but his eight targets tied him with Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard for the team lead. Conklin has seen his target share tick up over the past two weeks, drawing 14 over that span as Aaron Rodgers has been looking his way often of late. Conklin will be on the fantasy radar as a TE2 heading into Week 5's London game against the Minnesota Vikings.

From RotoBaller

Mike Williams Sep 29 7:20pm CT
Mike Williams

New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams caught four of his five targets for 67 yards in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. Williams managed to lead the Jets in receiving yards despite finishing second on the team in catches and targets in the low-scoring loss to Denver. Williams has slowly gotten better each game this season as he did not record a target while playing sparingly in Week 1. Fantasy gamers should continue to be patient with Williams, who has yet to score a touchdown this season but has been a prominent part of the New York offense in the red zone. Williams will be on the fantasy radar as a flex option heading into Week 5's matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in London.

From RotoBaller