QB Strength of Schedule
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.
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The Paur Report
Los Angeles Rams rookie kicker Joshua Karty appears to have won the starting job with the release of Tanner Brown on Tuesday. Karty is the only kicker currently on the Rams' roster. An All-American at Stanford, Karty was one of three kickers selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. He converted both of his field goal attempts, plus the game-winning extra point, in his preseason debut against Dallas. Karty is a deep sleeper candidate at the position, playing for one of the better offenses in the NFL.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (ribs) is expected to miss time with a rib injury, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Browning filled in admirably for Joe Burrow when the latter missed a large chunk of last season with a wrist injury, prompting the team to re-sign him as their backup quarterback. Veteran Logan Woodside and undrafted free agent Rocky Lombardi will be the quarterbacks under center when the Bengals travel to Chicago for their second preseason game.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell believes quarterback Hendon Hooker (concussion) is trending toward playing in the team's second preseason game against Kansas City on Saturday. The reserve quarterback suffered a concussion during Detroit's preseason opener against the Giants. Last week was the preseason debut for Hooker, who missed all of his rookie campaign recovering from a torn ACL. The 2023 third-round pick is competing with veteran Nate Sudfeld for the second-string job behind Jared Goff.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell stated "I think we're gonna be fine here" regarding the injury to running back Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) during a radio interview on Wednesday morning. There wasn't a timeline given on Gibbs' return to training camp, but Campbell's statements suggest it's not a long-term injury. The second-year running back is viewed as a late-first or second-round pick in fantasy football this year. His stock will slip if he hasn't returned to practice as the season opener against the Rams approaches. David Montgomery will take the bulk of the touches in Detroit if Gibbs were to miss any game action.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills LB Matt Milano (arm) suffered an apparent left arm injury during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 13. Milano reportedly tested the injury after it happened but did not return.
From TheHuddle
Detroit Lions rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold (pectoral) left practice on Monday with an upper-body injury that was later ruled a pectoral injury, but that injury is not expected to sideline him for any regular season action. The 2024 first-round pick Arnold has been working exclusively on the Lions' first team and is expected to be a Week 1 starter at cornerback this season. This injury likely sidelines Arnold for the remainder of the preseason, but as long as Arnold's recovery goes well, his next snap will come in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams on September 8th.
From RotoBaller
The saga involving the 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk may conclude in the coming days, as Mike Garafolo reports that the team hasn't pulled the trigger on a trade because a deal with Aiyuk that would keep him in San Francisco isn't far apart. It's also reported that Aiyuk would prefer to stay with the 49ers and has always preferred to stay with the 49ers, all things being equal. Aiyuk's status has made waves across the league over the past several days, but on the field, Aiyuk is one of the most efficient and productive wide receivers in the league. The 26-year-old Aiyuk would be a low-end fantasy WR1 upon a new deal with the 49ers, where he would retain his status as the top field stretcher in one of the NFL's best offenses.
From RotoBaller
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the injury New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle) suffered is not "long-term" and Tracy's status is "week-to-week". Fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief as Tracy was carted off earlier in the day, diagnosed with a low-ankle sprain, and placed in an air cast. Tracy has been listed as the No. 2 running back for the Giants as the backup to Devin Singletary, but any missed time leads to additional work for Eric Gray. Tracy is a rising sleeper in fantasy circles as a late-round running back worth taking a flier on in drafts. Keep tabs on Tracy's status, but this news should still keep him very relevant as a bench player with upside heading into 2024.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Carson Steele had his most reps with the first- and second-team offenses on Tuesday out of all the days of training camp. The Chiefs are giving him a long look after his standout preseason game on Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. "What I like about him is, right now, he's doing a lot of good things and being in the right spot at the right time, and you can trust him," offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said. The 21-year-old saw four carries last Saturday and turned them into 29 yards and a touchdown. It's notable that he saw more work over Deneric Prince and Keaontay Ingram, but it helped that Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been sidelined with an illness. For now, Steele is merely a player to watch in dynasty/keeper formats. He'll have to do plenty more to rise up KC's RB depth chart by the start of the regular season.
From RotoBaller
With Minnesota Vikings rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) scheduled to under knee surgery, Sam Darnold is now squarely in line to be the team's opening-day starting QB in Week 1 against the New York Giants. Even if McCarthy was fully healthy, Darnold was expected to open as Minnesota's starting signal-caller, but the 27-year-old former first-rounder should have a longer leash now, especially if McCarthy needs a full meniscus repair. Darnold has been handling most of the first-team reps in training camp, and now he'll get even more with McCarthy sidelined. Fantasy managers aren't going to be expecting much from Darnold after he was a bust with the New York Jets, but he could pass as a serviceable low-end QB2 in superflex leagues with the best supporting cast on offense he's ever had in his career.
From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles LB Oren Burks (knee), TE Grant Calcaterra (shoulder), S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (shoulder), TE Albert Okwuegbunam (shoulder) and S Caden Sterns (knee) did not participate in practice Tuesday, Aug. 13.
From TheHuddle
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From RotoBaller
Wide receiver Tavon Austin officially announced his retirement from the NFL on social media on Tuesday. Austin was originally drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the eighth overall pick in 2013 out of West Virginia. He spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Rams before playing for the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars. The 34-year-old hadn't appeared in an NFL game since 2021 with the Jags, when he caught 24 of his 37 targets for 213 yards and one touchdown in 13 games (three starts). The nine-year NFL veteran finished his career with a total of 244 catches on 407 targets for 2,239 yards and 16 touchdowns in 113 games (53 starts). Austin's two best seasons were in 2015 and 2016 with the Rams, when he combined for 982 yards and eight touchdowns.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy has a torn meniscus and is out indefintely. Dynasty Analysis: McCarthy will reportedly undergo knee surgery to determine the damage. Should the meniscus just need to be trimmed, he could be back at some point this season. If the damage is more extensive, he's going to be lost for the entire season. This is a tough break for McCarthy and the Vikings who will now turn to Sam Darnold for the foreseeable future. The injury is likely going to drop McCarthy a few spots in late rookie drafts but his strong preseason performance should mitigate anything too drastic.
The New Orleans Saints received welcomed news on Tuesday when wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (hamstring) returned to practice. Shaheed had been dealing with hamstring tightness but was able to participate in practice with a red non-contact jersey. Shaheed is in line for a huge role in this offense in 2024. The speedster recorded 46 receptions for 719 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games in 2023. Most importantly, Shaheed displayed excellent chemistry with quarterback Derek Carr. Shaheed is being drafted outside of the top 100 players in fantasy drafts. As such, he is an excellent sleeper candidate at his current draft price. He should have plenty of time to ramp up before the regular season starts.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver A.T. Perry (ankle) left Tuesday's practice with an ankle injury. The severity of Perry's injury is currently unknown but he did walk off the practice field under his own power. Perry is listed as the Saints' No. 3 wide receiver and is in line to see decent target volume. He recorded 12 receptions for 246 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. He also had a solid outing in the Saints' first preseason game with four receptions for 85 yards. Perry is a decent sleeper candidate in fantasy football due to his knack for finding the endzone. Fantasy managers should monitor the situation as it unfolds.
From RotoBaller
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From TheHuddle
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (undisclosed) was not present at practice on Tuesday. After holding in for a contract extension for the first couple of weeks of training camp, Chase was noticeably absent for the first time on Tuesday. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor noted that the situation remains fluid. Chase is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal and would like to receive a contract extension in line with the top wide receivers in the league. After a season in which Chase recorded a career-high 100 receptions for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns, he certainly deserves it. Fantasy managers are hopeful that this situation will be resolved quickly so that Chase can get back on the field. The Bengals' offense is poised for a monster year with a healthy Joe Burrow.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent WR Tavon Austin (Bills) announced his retirement from professional football Tuesday, Aug. 13.
From TheHuddle
