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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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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 5

Player Notes
Tank Bigsby Oct 5 1:10am CT
Tank Bigsby

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby has been slowly reintroduced into the game plan since missing Week 2, and that should continue in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts. He was limited in practice all week, but fortunately enters Sunday's game with no injury tag. While he still remains the backup to Travis Etienne Jr., the Ole Miss product has shown he deserves play time in his limited touches, putting up a combined 163 rushing yards in Week 1 and Week 4. In a matchup with the Colts who might be missing both starting quarterback Anthony Richardson and star running back Jonathan Taylor, the Jaguars may be in line for their first win of the season. That should mean more rushing opportunities for both Etienne Jr. and Bigsby. It may be hard to trust a backup, but the second-year RB could once again put up a great stat line in limited action. Bigsby has higher upside than the typical backup running back, making him an interesting flex play in deeper leagues this week.

From RotoBaller

Demario Douglas Oct 5 1:00am CT
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas is an unreliable fantasy football option heading into Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins. While Douglas did break free for seven catches and 69 yards in Week 3, he's posted a total of five catches for 25 yards over his other three games. Not only has the second-year receiver struggled to produce when on the field, but he has had difficulty getting on the field in the first place. Douglas has logged a snap share of 60 percent or lower in three of his four games as he continues to battle for opportunities with the likes of Ja'Lynn Polk and K.J. Osborn. He'd also lose additional playing time if the Patriots activate Kendrick Bourne (knee) from the PUP list on Saturday. All in all, Douglas faces an uphill battle to produce against a Miami defense allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points and the second-fewest catches to wide receivers this year.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Henry Oct 5 1:00am CT
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has been a disappointment in fantasy football this season, contributing two catches and fewer than 20 yards in three of his four games so far. The lone outlier was an eight-catch, 109-yard showing back in Week 2, but it seems unlikely that Henry will replicate that production anytime soon. That will be particularly difficult in Week 5 given his role in a struggling Patriots offense against a Miami Dolphins defense allowing just 130 yards and zero touchdowns to opposing touchdowns this season. Henry and Jacoby Brissett may have a solid rapport, but it won't be enough to get the veteran on the fantasy radar this week.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Oct 5 12:50am CT
Jacoby Brissett

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett remains off the fantasy radar as he heads into a Week 5 clash with the Miami Dolphins. Brissett has been uninspiring through the first four weeks of the NFL season, tallying just 536 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two turnovers. The veteran remains off the fantasy radar heading into a difficult matchup against the Dolphins, who have allowed the fourth-fewest passing touchdowns, fourth-fewest interceptions, and second-fewest completions to opposing quarterbacks this season. It's impressive that Miami's defense has fared this well despite being blown out the last three weeks, but that's likely a result of opponents gashing the Dolphins on the ground. Accordingly, we can expect a solid showing from Antonio Gibson and perhaps Rhamondre Stevenson, but Brissett remains a fantasy non-factor.

From RotoBaller

Christian Kirk Oct 5 12:50am CT
Christian Kirk

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk will look to continue his upward fantasy trajectory in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts. After a rough first two weeks, Kirk has turned things around, and now serves as a reliable starting fantasy receiver, especially in PPR leagues. The former Arizona Cardinal isn't much of a threat in the red-zone or on deep bombs, but he is good at getting open quickly and serves as a great security blanket for Trevor Lawrence. It makes a lot of sense that the offense has looked better since Kirk started producing again. The Colts serve as a great matchup for the Jaguars passing offense, boosting Kirk's value this week. Evan Engram potentially is returning from injury which should cut into the receiver's target share, but not enough to take him out of fantasy starting lineups anytime soon. Kirk serves as a great WR2/flex play with an extra boost in PPR leagues in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Antonio Gibson Oct 5 12:50am CT
Antonio Gibson

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson is expected to start at running back in Week 5 after head coach Jerod Mayo announced that Rhamondre Stevenson had lost the starting job. Stevenson has fumbled four times through four games this season while Gibson has demonstrated impressive burst and productivity with 219 scrimmage yards over his last three contests. The increased role comes at an opportune time for Gibson; this weekend, the Patriots face the Miami Dolphins, who have allowed the most fantasy points and the most touchdowns to opposing running backs this year. While we can still expect some growing pains from Gibson as he adjusts to an increased role within a poor offense, he has a real chance to rank as a low-end fantasy RB2 this week. He's particularly appealing as someone who can leave an impact on the ground and through the air.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Oct 5 12:40am CT
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has a great opportunity to reach even greater heights in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts. BTJ had six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown last week against the Houston Texans, and the Colts should be an easier matchup for the rookie. The Jaguars offense looked horrible to start the year but has slowly looked better as the year has progressed. Trevor Lawrence looked better last week, and was able to get both Christian Kirk and BTJ involved a lot in the passing game. Despite the team's early struggles, the first-round pick has exceeded expectations of fantasy managers so far and has not started slowly like many rookie receivers do. Evan Engram may return from injury this week providing more competition for targets, but that should more affect BTJ's red-zone usage, which hasn't been much as is. BTJ should continue to show off his speed and route-running against the Colts, making him a great flex play with WR2 upside.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Mason Oct 5 12:20am CT
Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason will look to keep it rolling when the team hosts the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The former undrafted Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket was fantastic last week, taking 24 carries for 123 yards rushing and a touchdown. He also caught two of three targets for 37 yards receiving. Mason's production this year has been a godsend for fantasy managers who scooped him up early. Through four weeks, Mason is the overall RB5 in half-PPR points per game. His matchup in Week 5 is favorable. Arizona has allowed the fifth-most points to opposing running backs this year at 17.9 points per game. Perhaps Mason cedes some action to rookie Isaac Guerendo in this one with near 100-degree temperatures predicted in Santa Clara, which would easily be a Levi's Stadium record. Nevertheless, Mason is as good a play at RB as there is this week. He's a top-shelf RB1 against a porous Arizona run defense.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Oct 4 11:50pm CT
Joe Burrow

The Baltimore Ravens defense/special teams has produced quite the mixed bag of results through the first four games of the season. In Week 4, against the Buffalo Bills, they collected three sacks and a fumble while holding the Bills to 10 points and 236 total yards. They looked like the dominant Ravens defense again which was a night and day difference compared to the unit that showed up against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. Now, they take on Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals who have historically given them some fits. Burrow actually has 12 touchdowns, four interceptions, and 1,879 yards through the air against the Ravens in his career despite having a 3-4 record. With that being said, the Ravens would be a mid-level start in this contest.

From RotoBaller

Brock Purdy Oct 4 11:40pm CT
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy draws the Arizona Cardinals at home in Week 5. Last week, also at home, Purdy completed 15 of 27 passes for 288 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and 11 yards rushing versus New England. He's currently ranked as the season-long QB14 overall in Yahoo default scoring, slightly below consensus expectations coming into the season. The matchup this week against Arizona is a good one. The Cardinals represent the fifth-best opportunity for opposing fantasy quarterbacks, at 19.1 points against per game. The former Iowa State Cyclone will have all three of his relevant wideouts healthy and available, though tight end George Kittle (ribs) is questionable. The minor back issue that popped up last week appears to have cleared as Purdy didn't appear in this week's injury report. Usually, you can find Purdy surfing the line between QB1 and QB2 but in Week 5 with bye weeks starting and a good matchup, he's nested firmly in the QB1 conversation.

From RotoBaller

Justin Tucker Oct 4 11:10pm CT
Justin Tucker

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has taken quite the tumble down the fantasy ladder through the first four weeks. The historically accurate, Texas product has only posted one week in K1 territory so far and has finished K17 or worse in the other three weeks. It's not due to his offense being unable to move the ball as they've scored 20 or more points in each game. He's only making 62.5% of his field goal attempts and has missed both of his 50-yard attempts. The Cincinnati Bengals are only allowing nine fantasy points per game to opposing kickers while Tucker only averages seven. There are better options out there until Tucker gets back on track.

From RotoBaller

Justice Hill Oct 4 11:00pm CT
Justice Hill

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill put together his best game of the season against the Buffalo Bills and finished as the RB10 in half-PPR leagues. He's currently the RB31 which puts him above the likes of Najee Harris, Chase Brown, Rico Dowdle, and Javonte Williams. The impressive part is Hill has only seen 14 carries compared to the aforementioned group getting no less than 29 so far. Hill has the eighth-most targets, seventh-most receptions, and third-most receiving yards out of all running backs right now. He'll remain in the pass-catching role out of the backfield, and he should still see a good bit of work in the team's first AFC North matchup of the season against the Bengals who are giving up the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing backfields.

From RotoBaller

Greg Joseph Oct 4 10:50pm CT
Greg Joseph

New York Giants kicker Greg Joseph will enter Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks riding some momentum after making all five of his field goal attempts in last week's loss to the Dallas Cowboys, including a long of 52 yards. Through two games this season, Joseph is 2-for-2 on PATs and has yet to miss a field goal. However, he faces a tough Seattle defense that ranks eighth against kickers, allowing just six field goals through four games. With the Giants' offense struggling to convert drives into touchdowns, Joseph may be called upon for multiple field goal attempts again, making him a solid streaming option for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Darius Slayton Oct 4 10:40pm CT
Darius Slayton

New York Giants receiver Darius Slayton could see an uptick in targets in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks with Malik Nabers sidelined due to a concussion. Slayton has recorded 10 receptions for 122 yards this season, averaging 12.2 yards per catch, but he's still seeking his first touchdown despite four red zone targets. Facing a tough Seahawks defense ranked 9th in the NFL against the pass, allowing only 772 passing yards and four passing touchdowns through four games, Slayton will need to make the most of any extra volume. Currently averaging 5.55 fantasy points per game, he could be a deeper flex option if the Giants lean on him in the passing attack.

From RotoBaller

Tyrone Tracy Jr. Oct 4 10:30pm CT
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. could see a significant workload in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks if Devin Singletary is sidelined. Tracy has yet to score a touchdown this season and has been limited to 41 receiving yards on four catches and just 29 rushing yards on 12 carries (2.42 YPC). However, Seattle's defense ranks 19th in the NFL against running backs, allowing 420 rushing yards and four touchdowns in four games, which could open up opportunities for the rookie. While Tracy's 2.75 fantasy points per game leave much to be desired, the increased volume could lead to a breakout performance if he starts.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Oct 4 10:20pm CT
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones will face a tough matchup in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks. Jones has thrown for 881 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions over the first four games, but he's yet to hit a 300-yard passing game and has struggled to make an impact on the ground with just 70 rushing yards and no rushing touchdowns. His adjusted completion percentage of 77.3% is solid, but Seattle's defense ranks 9th in the NFL, allowing only 772 passing yards and four passing touchdowns through four games. With just 15.26 fantasy points per game (19th among QBs), Jones will need to outperform against a defense with his top receiver, Malik Nabers.

From RotoBaller

Courtland Sutton Oct 4 9:50pm CT
Courtland Sutton

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton will be looking to score a touchdown for the second straight week in Week 5 against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday after finding paydirt for the first time in four weeks in the Week 4 win over the New York Jets. Sutton leads the team in catches (15), targets (36), receiving yards (192) and touchdowns (one) through four games. However, he's also sporting career-lows in catch rate (41.7%), yards per catch (12.8) and yards per target (5.4). Sutton had a career-high 10 scores in 2023 with Russell Wilson, but he hasn't found that same chemistry with rookie quarterback Bo Nix so far. The Raiders defense presents a pretty neutral matchup, as they've been around middle of the pack in passing yards allowed and fantasy points per game allowed to wideouts. Sutton has become a touchdown-dependent WR4/flex in fantasy but has upside for a little more in Week 5 at home against Vegas.

From RotoBaller

Tommy Tremble Oct 4 9:10pm CT
Tommy Tremble

Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble can be safely avoided by fantasy managers in Week 5 when he takes on the Chicago Bears in a road tilt. Tremble is off the injury report ahead of Carolina's away matchup this Sunday but will not be a recommended fantasy option. The 24-year-old played 61 snaps in last week's contest compared to just 20 for rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders. However, the 21-year-old racked up two receptions and 12 yards, while the veteran did not receive a single target. Additionally, wide receiver Diontae Johnson has been a target vacuum, and rookie wideout Xavier Legette may be emerging as a second option for quarterback Andy Dalton. This leaves Tremble vying for the remaining targets with Sanders, WR Jonathan Mingo, and running back Chuba Hubbard. It will be difficult to trust anyone outside of Johnson, Hubbard, and Legette -- particularly against a Chicago defense that's allowed just 698 yards and two scores through the air to opposing offenses thus far.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Legette Oct 4 8:50pm CT
Xavier Legette

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette will face off against a tough Chicago Bears defense in a road matchup this coming Sunday. The rookie wideout saw his usage tick up last week with the team down wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) after he was placed on injured reserve. Legette responded with the best production of his young career, hauling in 6-of-10 targets for 66 yards and a touchdown en route to a WR13 finish in PPR leagues. Those totals were all good for second on the team. The first-round pick and the rest of Carolina's offense have benefitted from the switch to veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, and he should continue to return solid value while his role remains elevated in the offense. The Bears' defense presents as a more staunch challenge this week, but the South Carolina product projects as a sneaky low-end WR3/FLEX option for the matchup. Legette is RotoBaller's PPR WR36 in this week's rankings.

From RotoBaller

Jaleel McLaughlin Oct 4 8:40pm CT
Jaleel McLaughlin

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin does have a plus matchup in Week 5 against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, a defense that is allowing the eighth-most half-PPR fantasy points to RBs through four weeks in 2024. That's about where the positives end for McLaughlin, though, coming into this game. He's the No. 2 back behind Javonte Williams, is averaging a lackluster 3.2 yards per carry and is in an offense that has averaged just over 100 yards rushing per game. McLaughlin did have 5.1 yards per carry and 46 yards on nine carries in the Week 4 win over the Jets and found the end zone in Week 3 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He checks in as the RB50 in half-PPR scoring and also ranks 45th in carries (27) and 47th in passing targets (seven). McLaughlin has a better matchup this week, but Denver's low-scoring offense hasn't been able to support one fantasy RB, let alone two.

From RotoBaller