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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.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 5

Player Notes
Jordan Mason Oct 6 9:30pm CT
Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason had his least productive fantasy day of 2024 in a 24-23 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. He finished with a season-low 14 carries for 89 yards on the ground with no touchdowns and a game-changing fourth-quarter lost fumble. He caught his only target in the passing game for nine yards. On a day that featured record-setting heat at Levi's Stadium, Mason also ceded five carries to rookie Isaac Guerendo, which matches Guerendo's season high. With no firm timetable for the return of All-Pro Christian McCaffrey (Achilles), Mason will continue to operate as San Francisco's bell cow and a fantasy RB1 in a Week 6 Thursday night matchup at the Seattle Seahawks.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Oct 6 9:30pm CT
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had a big game in Week 5. Unfortunately, his efforts weren't enough to secure a win over the Ravens. But the signal-caller did all he could, throwing for 392 yards and five touchdowns (one interception) off an efficient 30-for-39 passing. After a semi-slow start to the 2024-25 campaign, Burrow has played exceptionally well of late, tossing for over 300 yards in two of his previous three contests. He's also stayed healthy, which was a significant concern for fantasy managers. At any rate, Burrow is one of the most productive fantasy quarterbacks going, so he needs to be featured in all starting lineups when the Bengals meet the Giants in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Jake Moody Oct 6 9:20pm CT
Jake Moody

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody (ankle) exited the team's 24-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals after injuring his ankle on a tackle attempt and did not return. Per Adam Schefter, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan reported that Moody picked up a high ankle sprain after the game and is expected to miss multiple weeks. "So we'll get (a kicker) in as fast as possible and get the best guy we can," Shanahan said. "I'm sure it'll have to be for a few weeks or whatever." Despite the head coach's blais attitude, it's at least a moderate blow to the team as the 24-year-old has been one of the better kickers in the league thus far. Through five weeks, the former third-round pick had drilled 11-of-12 field goal tries (91.7%) and all ten of his extra-point attempts. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky made his only attempt -- a 26-yarder -- in Moody's stead, but it appears they'd prefer to look elsewhere for help while he's on the shelf with the ankle issue. The 49ers will suit up against the Seattle Seahawks in a road matchup this coming Thursday, so expect San Francisco to make a decision quickly regarding their kicking situation.

From RotoBaller

Christian Gonzalez Oct 6 9:10pm CT
Christian Gonzalez

The New England Patriots' defense tallied one interception and one fumble recovery while allowing just 15 points during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Christian Gonzalez registered the pick while New England's special teams unit was responsible for the fumble on a blocked punt. Miami also botched a field goal attempt on a bad snap, but the Dolphins were able to pounce on top of the loose ball, effectively ending the drive without crediting New England for a fumble recovery. Elsewhere on the stat sheet, the Patriots registered three sacks, five tackles for loss, and 372 yards allowed. Their road gets much tougher heading into a Week 6 clash with C.J. Stroud's Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Brenton Strange Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Brenton Strange

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange caught one of the two passing touchdowns quarterback Trevor Lawrence had in a 37-34 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Strange finished with 24 yards on four catches. The young tight end now has two touchdowns and 120 yards on the season. It seemed like Evan Engram (hamstring) had a decent chance of returning in Week 5, but that was not the case, so the second-year pro got the start for the third straight game. This could be the last start Strange gets, so his fantasy managers should be happy with his fantasy output over the past few weeks given his status as a backup tight end. If Engram were to miss even more time, Strange would continue to be a solid streaming option. The Jaguars face off against the Chicago Bears in London in Week 6, where it will be interesting to see how involved Strange is if Engram does return.

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Ja'Lynn Polk Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Ja'Lynn Polk

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk converted six targets into just one catch for 13 yards during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. While the rookie's fantasy output was disappointing, managers should feel optimistic about some of his underlying statistics. For starters, Polk has 13 targets over the last two weeks combined, which is the highest mark on the team during that span. He also played 100 percent of snaps on Sunday, becoming the first Patriots wide receiver to play every offensive snap in a single game this season. (No New England wide receiver previously eclipsed the 85-percent mark.) Furthermore, he came very close to catching his second career touchdown pass, missing out on the go-ahead score by mere inches as his foot barely landed out of bounds. All in all, Polk has emerged as one of Jacoby Brissett's favorite weapons as of late. While it hasn't led to noteworthy fantasy production, he's still on the radar as an up-and-coming pass-catcher in the New England offense. He's worth monitoring in deeper leagues as the season carries on. His next chance to leave an impression will come in Week 6 when the Patriots host the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Chuba Hubbard Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Chuba Hubbard

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard reeled off another excellent performance in the team's 36-10 loss to the Chicago Bears. Quarterback Andy Dalton threw for just 136 scoreless yards Sunday -- and was eventually benched for second-year QB Bryce Young in the waning minutes of regulation -- but that didn't stop Hubbard from ripping off another big stat line. The 25-year-old toted the rock 13 times, churning out 97 yards and a touchdown on the ground while hauling in all four of his targets for -2 "additional" yards. It marks the fourth-year back's third-straight outing with a touchdown and four in a row with at least four catches. Additionally, he was just three yards shy of eclipsing the century mark in his third consecutive game. The former fourth-round pick has been a pleasant surprise of fantasy output over the last few weeks. However, the question arises of his role if and when quarterback Bryce Young regains control of this offense. When that happens is anyone's guess, but until then, Hubbard can be considered a high-end RB2 with upside. He'll have a harder time reaching those marks against the Falcons in Week 6, but he is a must-start option.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Henry Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry caught two of four targets for 32 yards through the air during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Henry has caught just two passes in four of his five games this season, with the lone exception being a somewhat anomalous eight-catch, 109-yard outburst back in Week 2. Despite playing a season-high 93.3 percent of snaps on Sunday, the 29-year-old veteran continues to have his fantasy value limited within the Patriots' struggling offense. He remains off the fantasy radar in most leagues ahead of a Week 6 clash versus the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Brock Purdy Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Brock Purdy

Quarterback Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers fell short in a 24-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in Santa Clara. He finished with 19 completions of 35 attempts for 244 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Purdy also gained 33 rushing yards on four scrambles. While fantasy managers would much rather see more passing touchdowns, it's worth noting that he's been much more adept at contributing on the ground this year. After today, he's averaging 21.6 yards rushing per game, much higher than his nine yards per carry last year. The interceptions certainly stung in this one, but Purdy was a victim of bad luck as one of his interceptions was batted at the line and the other popped high into the air when he was hit as he threw. The third-year pro showed a renewed rapport with receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who he targeted 12 times for 8 receptions and 147 yards. Purdy has a short turnaround as he hits the road to face the Seattle Seahawks for the first time this year on Thursday Night Football.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford Oct 6 8:50pm CT
Matthew Stafford

The Green Bay Packers' defense and special teams unit was very active against the Los Angeles Rams in their 24-19 victory in Week 5. The defense pressured Matthew Stafford into three sacks and an interception, plus forced and recovered a fumble of Kyren Williams in the first Rams drive of the second half. The Packers D/ST allowed 370 total yards and put up some healthy stats for fantasy managers on the afternoon from a team that was missing their top two wide receivers. The Packers will head home and host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6, where there could be some points put up by the Cardinals. Still, with the Packers performing the way they are, they're easily a startable fantasy defense moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Greg Joseph Oct 6 8:50pm CT
Greg Joseph

New York Giants kicker Greg Joseph continued his perfect streak in Sunday's 29-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, going 3-for-3 on field goals for the second straight week. Joseph drilled a long of 38 yards and added two extra points, contributing 11 total points to the Giants' win. His reliability on special teams has been crucial, as he remains flawless through two weeks, consistently converting his opportunities. With his 100% field goal percentage intact from the past two games, Joseph is shaping up as a strong fantasy kicker option, especially for teams seeking steady production.

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Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Oct 6 8:50pm CT
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

The Cleveland Browns defense struggled in a 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 5. Cleveland allowed 34 points and 434 yards of total offense to the Commanders in the blowout road loss while notching three sacks and forcing two turnovers. The Browns were led by Za'Darius Smith, who had one sack, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who had an interception, a forced fumble, and five total tackles in the contest. Things won't get much easier for the Browns as they will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles on the road in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Demario Douglas Oct 6 8:50pm CT
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas caught six of nine targets for 59 yards during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The 23-year-old played two-thirds of the team's offensive snaps, which was his second-highest mark of the season. It's been an inconsistent start to the year for Douglas, who has two games with nine targets and three games with three or fewer targets. He's difficult to trust given the Patriots' subpar offense, but managers have to be at least somewhat optimistic about his rest-of-season value given his short-yardage role on a team that will spend most of this season playing from behind. Even with Kendrick Bourne returning to the mix and Ja'Lynn Polk taking on an enormous role, Douglas maintains his stand-alone WR3/FLEX value in deeper fantasy football leagues.

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Daniel Jones Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones delivered a game-winning performance in Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks despite missing rookie sensation Malik Nabers and starting running back Devin Singletary. Jones completed 23 of 34 passes, throwing for 232 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, averaging 7.6 yards per attempt. He also added 38 rushing yards, though he was sacked three times and didn't find the end zone on the ground. With 22.08 fantasy points, Jones showcased his ability to manage the game effectively, making key throws in a shorthanded offense, and remains a reliable QB2 option, especially with his dual-threat capabilities.

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Tyrone Tracy Jr. Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. made the most of his starting opportunity in Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks, filling in for the injured Devin Singletary (groin). Tracy rushed for an impressive 129 yards on 18 carries, averaging 7.2 yards per attempt, with his longest run going for 27 yards. While he wasn't a factor in the passing game, recording just one catch for one yard, his strong ground performance helped the Giants control the clock and pace of the game. Despite not finding the end zone, Tracy's 13.5 fantasy points make him a solid waiver-wire pickup in deeper leagues, especially if Singletary's injury lingers.

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Jordan Akins Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Jordan Akins

Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Akins caught all three of his targets for 22 yards and a touchdown in a 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 5. Akins scored Cleveland's only touchdown in garbage time as he hauled in a 10-yard score with 7:06 left in the game, cutting the Commanders' lead to 34-12. The veteran tight end was expected to see his role scaled back with David Njoku returning from an ankle injury in Week 5, but Njoku injured his knee during the loss to the Commanders and could be looking at another absence. Akins is worth a look in deep leagues and tight-end premium formats if Njoku ends up missing time with his latest ailment.

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Theo Johnson Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Theo Johnson

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson had the biggest game of his rookie season in Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks, hauling in all five of his targets for 48 yards. Johnson's 22-yard catch highlighted his afternoon, helping the Giants sustain key drives. Averaging 9.6 yards per reception, he proved to be a reliable short-to-intermediate option for Daniel Jones in a game where others had to step up due to injuries. While his 7.3 fantasy points aren't eye-popping, Johnson's growing involvement in the offense makes him an intriguing stash in deeper leagues, especially as he gains more trust in critical situations.

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Wan'Dale Robinson Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Wan'Dale Robinson

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson stepped up in Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks, helping fill the void left by Malik Nabers' absence. Robinson caught six of his nine targets for 36 yards, averaging just six yards per reception, but he made his mark with a crucial receiving touchdown. Though his longest catch was only nine yards, his consistent involvement in the short passing game was vital for the Giants' offense. Robinson's 13 fantasy points, boosted by his touchdown, make him a valuable flex option moving forward, especially if Nabers remains out and Robinson continues to see an expanded role.

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Dustin Hopkins Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Dustin Hopkins

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made both of his field goals and added an extra point in a 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 5. Hopkins made field goals from 51 and 31 yards out in the blowout loss to Washington. The veteran kicker has been a reliable field-goal maker for the Browns this season, making seven of his eight attempts and six of his seven extra points. Hopkins has shown a big leg since joining the Browns ahead of the 2023 season, hitting 11 of his 12 attempts from 50+ yards. Hopkins will now begin preparing to take on the Philadelphia Eagles on the road in Week 6.

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Darius Slayton Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton capitalized on an uptick in playing time due to Malik Nabers' injury in Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks, delivering a standout performance with eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. Slayton was heavily involved in the passing game, seeing 11 targets, and his 41-yard deep reception was a highlight. Averaging 15.3 yards per catch, he consistently stretched the field, providing a reliable deep threat for Daniel Jones. His increased role resulted in 22.2 fantasy points, making him a possible start in Week 6 if Nabers remains sidelined, especially given his enhanced target volume and ability to make big plays downfield.

From RotoBaller