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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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Player Notes
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.

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Jacoby Brissett Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Jacoby Brissett

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 18 of 34 passes for 164 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero turnovers during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He also rushed for 10 yards and took two sacks. Although it was promising to see Brissett play turnover-free football for the fourth time in five weeks, it was just as frustrating to watch him finish his third game of the year without a single touchdown pass. The veteran failed to lead a potential game-winning drive and still hasn't eclipsed 170 passing yards in a single game this season. Fantasy managers should continue to avoid Brissett, whose job security has dwindled even further as Drake Maye waits in the wings.

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Bradley Chubb Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Bradley Chubb

Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland (hand) was forced from the team's 15-10 victory over the New England Patriots with a broken bone in his hand and did not return to the contest. Holland is the team's fourth-leading tackler and defended his first pass of the season in Miami's win on Sunday. However, he was spotted in a cast after the game and will miss time after breaking a bone in his left hand. It's another blow to the Dolphins' lineup as the injuries keep piling up on both sides of the ball. In addition to losing linebacker Jaelan Phillips (knee) to a season-ending knee injury, safety Jordan Poyer (shin) was also unavailable for Sunday's contest. Not to mention, edge rusher Bradley Chubb has not been in the lineup all season. While the severity of the 24-year-old's injury has yet to be determined, it's expected he'll need some time to recover. In his stead, safety Elijah Campbell will be in line for an uptick in snaps. However, with the team on bye in Week 6, Holland and the remaining injured Dolphins will have an extended recovery period ahead of a Week 7 road matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

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Christian Kirk Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Christian Kirk

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk had a solid outing in a 37-34 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Kirk finished with four catches on four targets for 88 yards, including a 61 yard reception. Both Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr. have become reliable receiving options for Trevor Lawrence, combining for 210 of Lawrence's 371 passing yards on the day. Kirk wasn't as heavily targeted as he has been in recent games, but he made the most of them. The 27-year-old receiver now has put together three straight good performances after two horrid performances to start the year. It seems the first two games are well behind him at this point. While BTJ has been the standout option for the Jaguars in fantasy, Kirk has been great as well and should continue to produce going forward as the offense continues to improve. Kirk and the Jaguars take on the Chicago Bears in London in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Dontayvion Wicks Oct 6 8:30pm CT
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks didn't dominate the stat sheet like he did in last week's game, posting just two receptions in the Packers' 24-19 victory against the Los Angeles Rams. Wicks' two receptions went for just 20 yards, but he did lead the team in targets with seven and was tied with fellow wide receivers Jayden Reed and Malik Heath in total snaps. With Wicks and the Packers heading home to host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6, Wicks' fantasy value will be tied to the availability of Romeo Doubs, who was suspended for Week 5 due to conduct detrimental to the team. Also affecting Wicks' value is Christian Watson (ankle), whose injury caused him to miss Week 5. Wicks would be a low-end WR3 if Doubs returns but Watson misses another week. If both return, Wicks would be a boom-or-bust flex option.

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Bryce Young Oct 6 8:30pm CT
Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton completed 18-of-28 passes, tossing for 136 yards and one interception in the team's 36-10 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday. He added three yards on his sole carry. It was an outing to forget for the Red Rifle as he struggled to move the ball against the Bears defense. Dalton completed 65% of his passes in Week 5, but it was his first outing this season without a touchdown. Late in the fourth quarter, with the game out of reach, the 36-year-old was benched for second-year quarterback Bryce Young, who responded with 58 yards on a crisp 4-of-7 passing to close out the game. While Joe Person of The Athletic reports that head coach Dave Canales has already committed to the veteran signal-caller for Week 6, it wouldn't be one bit surprising to see the former second-round pick have a shorter leash than usual after two straight losses. Carolina will host their division rivals the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday, and if Dalton plays a full compliment of snaps, he'll be a QB2 for that contest.

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Rhamondre Stevenson Oct 6 8:30pm CT
Rhamondre Stevenson

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He also caught all four of his targets for a total of three yards through the air. Stevenson was demoted from his starting role in favor of Antonio Gibson amidst major fumbling concerns this week, but the coaching staff couldn't keep him off the field very long as he averaged 7.4 yards per carry and found the end zone. The 26-year-old has now eclipsed 17 fantasy points (PPR) in three of his five games this season, and his impressive performance this Sunday was likely enough for him to win back his starting job heading into Week 6 against the Houston Texans. Stevenson returns to the low-end RB2 tier for fantasy football going forward.

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Jerry Jeudy Oct 6 8:30pm CT
Jerry Jeudy

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy caught one of his three targets for 16 yards in a 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 5. Jeudy was held to his worst output of the season despite a plus matchup against a leaky Washington secondary in the loss. The veteran wideout has been quite boom/bust this season as he's gotten to at least 72 yards in two games while being held to 27 yards or fewer in his other three contests. Jeudy will look to bounce back in Week 6's road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Tank Bigsby Oct 6 8:30pm CT
Tank Bigsby

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby was great on the ground in a 37-34 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Bigsby finished with 103 yards on 13 carries and two rushing touchdowns. He also added a 28 yard catch. The backup running back to Travis Etienne Jr. was fantastic, with the highlight of his outing being a 65 yard touchdown run. Even excluding that long run, Bigsby outperformed his starting counterpart in the running game, who had just 17 yards on six carries. Etienne Jr. did have six receptions to lead the team, so it will be hard for Bigsby to fully take over as starter, but he continues to make a case for at least a 50-50 split. The Jaguars offense had struggled leading up to this game, but having Bigsby's power running style against the Colts seemed to help unlock the offense and provide great balance. Bigsby will look to perform at a high level once again in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears.

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Antonio Gibson Oct 6 8:30pm CT
Antonio Gibson

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson rushed for 52 yards on six carries during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He also caught his lone target for a gain of four yards through the air. It was a peculiar showing from the versatile running back, who was promoted to the starting lineup over Rhamondre Stevenson this week but still had less than half the touches that Stevenson registered. Even though Gibson averaged 8.7 yards per carry, Stevenson played well enough (89 rushing yards and one touchdown) to win back the starting role heading into Week 6 against the Houston Texans. Assuming Gibson is indeed relegated to the No. 2 role, he'll drop to the low-end RB3/FLEX tier in fantasy football. Gibson is still averaging 8.9 fantasy points per game (PPR) over the last four weeks, so he remains a relevant name in deeper fantasy leagues.

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Michael Wilson Oct 6 8:20pm CT
Michael Wilson

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson played a crucial role in the passing game, recording five catches for 78 yards in Sunday's 24-23 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Wilson has shown flashes of fantasy relevance this season, but he needed to demonstrate consistency before managers could fully trust him. This week, he did just that, ranking among the top three on the team with six targets. Quarterback Kyler Murray did overthrow Wilson on what could have been a go-ahead 60-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. It's clear that Wilson has earned Murray's trust, and while he may not yet be a reliable starter, he's a name to watch on the waiver wire ahead of the Cardinals' Week 6 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

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Jayden Reed Oct 6 8:20pm CT
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed was a major factor in the Packers' victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5. Reed was second on the Packers in targets (6) while catching four balls for 78 yards, including a 53-yard deep catch in the first quarter through multiple Rams defenders that helped to set up a Josh Jacobs rushing score to cap off the drive. In addition to his receiving, Reed also added two rushing attempts for 19 yards. Despite a solid game without a score, Reed is still the top receiving target for the Green Bay offense and should have some better days ahead. Week 6 brings the Arizona Cardinals to Lambeau Field, where Reed should be considered a high-end WR2 in fantasy.

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Ja'Marr Chase Oct 6 8:13pm CT
Ja'Marr Chase

Dynasty | Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had ten catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns in a loss against the Ravens. Dynasty Analysis: If you can't understand why the Bengals haven't just made him one of the league's highest paid wide receivers, you're not alone. Chase was as dominant as ever in this one as Baltimore just couldn't cover him. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as the Bengals fell 41-38 in an overtime classic, falling to 1-4 in the process. Chase remains an elite weekly play and quite possibly the top player in dynasty leagues. However, dynasty managers sure would feel better if an when Chase gets his money.

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Lamar Jackson Oct 6 8:13pm CT
Lamar Jackson

Dynasty | Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson completed 26-of-42 passes for 348 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, adding 55 rushing yards in an overtime win against Cincinnati. Dynasty Analysis: Jackson has picked up where he left off last season and this was just the latest epic fantasy performance from last year's MVP. Jackson made some truly dynamic plays and while the Ravens were lucky to win the game, it certainly wasn't because of anything he didn't do. Jackson remains an elite-level QB1 in dynasty leagues and clear trade target for any team in contention.

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