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
Dynasty | The Colts have rebuffed trade inquiries for quarterback Anthony Richardson. Dynasty Analysis: Richardson has clearly not developed as quickly as the Colts had hoped he would, but it seems they're also not willing to sell him for pennies on the dollar, either. Had Joe Flacco ignited the offense yet again this week, things may have changed. However, Richardson could be in line to start again this year if Flacco struggles. Regardless, Richardson's dynasty value is falling quickly and he needs to show something soon to recoup it.
Dynasty | The Panthers are reportedly holding on to quarterback Bryce Young through the trade deadline. Dynasty Analysis: Young was famously benched earlier this season in favor of Andy Dalton. However, he's played better after replacing Dalton the past couple of weeks, perhaps instilling a glimmer of hope with a Carolina team that paid dearly for his services. Young will likely keep starting games until he regresses again (likely for the final time as a Panther) or shows enough for the franchise to continue building around him. Regardless, his dynasty value is near zero already after a disastrous start to his career.
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that quarterback Lamar Jackson (back, knee) "will be playing on Thursday night" to kick off Week 10 action against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. Jackson was not listed on Monday's practice report but did not practice on Tuesday after dealing with back and knee injuries last week. The 27-year-old front-runner for a second straight MVP award had a perfect passer rating in the Week 9 blowout win over the Denver Broncos, going 16-for-19 for 280 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, so his injuries didn't limit him whatsoever. In the first meeting against Cincy in an overtime win in Week 5, Jackson had a season-high 348 passing yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions while adding 12 carries for 55 yards. Fantasy managers can't be expecting that again, but the dual-threat QB will be a must-start, high-end QB1 this Thursday.
From RotoBaller
The Las Vegas Raiders named Scott Turner as their new interim offensive coordinator on Tuesday and also named Joe Philbin as their interim offensive-line coach while adding Turner's father, Norv, as a senior offensive advisor. Scott Turner was previously the team's passing-game coordinator after joining the team last year following three years as the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders. He was a quarterback at UNLV in college and spent time with the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings during his NFL playing career. Turner will now be tasked with running an offense that could be benching QB Gardner Minshew II in favor of Desmond Ridder as they head into their Week 10 bye. With Jakobi Meyers as the team's WR1 as well, expect Vegas' offense to continue to struggle to move the ball consistently.
From RotoBaller
Despite NFL teams calling about quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick last year, the Carolina Panthers will keep him, according to a source. Teams were gauging if the Panthers were already ready to give up on the top pick from 2023, and the answer for now is no. The 23-year-old had a disastrous rookie campaign and was benched this year for veteran Andy Dalton after two poor showings to open his sophomore season. A thumb sprain for Dalton has opened the starting door back up for Young the last two weeks, and it seems likely he'll make a third straight start in Week 10 versus the New York Giants in Germany this Sunday after leading the team to their second win in Week 9 against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. Young still has lots of improvements to make and will be a low-end QB2 for fantasy managers in superflex leagues if he's starting in Europe.
From RotoBaller
The Minnesota Vikings signed free-agent kicker John Parker Romo on Tuesday, according to sources, after placing rookie Will Reichard (quadriceps) on Injured Reserve. Romo, a former undrafted free agent that played for the New Orleans Saints, was with the Vikings in the offseason and is now on track to make his NFL debut in Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Reichard will be required to miss at least four games, so if Parker holds his own, he could be the Vikings' kicker until Reichard is healthy enough to return. The 27-year-old Romo is a third-year kicker from Virginia Tech and went 17-for-19 on his field-goal attempts (long of 57 yards) while kicking for the San Antonio Brahmas in 2023 in the XFL. Fantasy managers will want to avoid Romo moving forward.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Bengals running back Zack Moss will reportedly miss the rest of the season with a neck injury. Dynasty Analysis: Well, that escalated quickly. The Bengals traded for Khalil Herbert today and that move makes even more sense now. The loss of Moss puts Chase Brown squarely in the driver's seat to make a short and long-term impression as the starter. As for Moss, this is concerning as it was slated he was going to miss "at least" the rest of the regular season, meaning he may not even be back for the playoffs should the Bengals claw their way in. His dynasty value is trending in the wrong direction at this point.
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (hamstring) was not at practice on Tuesday, which represents a second straight missed practice after he was listed as a DNP on Monday's estimated practice report. After apparently getting hurt in the Week 9 blowout win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Likely is dealing with a hamstring injury that could keep him out of Thursday night's divisional battle against the Cincinnati Bengals. The 24-year-old will likely need to practice on Wednesday to avoid being ruled out entirely. After a 100-yard performance and a score in the season opener, Likely has failed to come anywhere close to that production since and has seen Mark Andrews become a much bigger contributor at the position. Even if Likely returns to practice on Wednesday and is active on Thursday night, he won't be a recommended fantasy play in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
The Cincinnati Bengals placed both running back Zack Moss (neck) and rookie tight end Erick All Jr. (knee) on season-ending Injured Reserve on Tuesday. Both Moss and All suffered season-ending injuries in the Week 9 blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders, with All sustaining a torn ACL, which means he might not be ready for the start of the 2025 season next fall. To help replenish the backfield and replace Moss, Cincy acquired RB Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears on Tuesday. Herbert should immediately slot in as the team's RB2 behind Chase Brown. All, 24, has now torn the ACL in his right knee for the second time in just over a year. He'll finish his first NFL season with 20 receptions for 158 yards and no scores. The good news for Moss is he won't need surgery on his neck. The 26-year-old had 74 carries for 242 yards and two TDs while catching 23 passes for 187 yards and another score in eight games.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard (quad) is being placed on Injured Reserve, forcing him to miss at least the next four games. In a corresponding move, the team signed free-agent kicker John Parker Romo. Reichard, a rookie sixth-round pick out of Alabama, was a perfect 14 of 14 on his field goal attempts before missing two kicks in the Sunday Night Football victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Evidently, his injury is somewhat to blame, and he will now be sidelined for the next stretch of games. Romo has not attempted a kick in the NFL, but he made 17 of his 19 field goal tries with the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL in 2023.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers are trading for Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Preston Smith, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. The 2015 second-round pick by the Washington Redskins has spent the last six years with the Packers and has collected at least eight sacks in each of the last three seasons. Smith is set to join a talented outside linebacker room headlined by T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, who combined for 26 sacks in 2023. The Steelers also acquired Mike Williams on Tuesday, so it's evident the team is looking to set up for a legitimate playoff run after several years without a postseason victory.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (back, knee) is not practicing on Tuesday leading up to the Thursday Night Football contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jackson did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday last week and was listed with back and knee injuries but returned to full practice on Friday before posting a perfect passer rating and three touchdowns in Sunday's win over the Denver Broncos. The team might just be managing Jackson's workload as the season reaches the second half of the year, but fantasy managers should monitor his status and see if he carries an injury designation on Wednesday's final injury report. When active, the two-time MVP is a clear must-start in all matchups.
From RotoBaller
The Tennessee Titans are not looking to trade All-Pro defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, according to NFL insider Dianna Russini. Russini said one team called Tennessee just to see if he was available, and the answer was a firm "no." The 2019 first-round pick has been in some trade rumors as the Titans stare down a lost season, but the two-time Pro Bowler is not expected to be moved. Simmons will have two more years on his four-year, $94 deal after this season wraps up. He has totaled 259 tackles and 29.5 sacks through his first 75 career games.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers were interested in trading for New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton ahead of the NFL trade deadline, but the organization sent a fifth-round pick to acquire New York Jets wideout Mike Williams instead. According to Jeremy Fowler, the Giants value Slayton and likely had a higher asking price or were not interested in trading him altogether. It appears Slayton could remain with the G-Men despite trade rumors circulating. The 27-year-old has racked up 32 receptions for 469 yards and one touchdown in 2024. Assuming he remains in New York, he'll continue to be a low-end flex play in favorable matchups for WRs. However, Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson have been the clear No. 1 and No. 2 options in Daniel Jones' passing game.
From RotoBaller
The Cleveland Browns released veteran defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. The 31-year-old appeared in five games for the Browns this season, totaling six tackles and one sack. Jefferson has spent time with six NFL organizations and has compiled 198 tackles, 27.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and 15.5 run stuffs in 108 career games. There might be interest around the league for his services, as defensive line depth has become more of a focal point.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Tampa Bay tight end Cade Otton had eight catches for 77 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Chiefs. Dynasty Analysis: Otton now has a whopping 31 targets over the past three weeks after the Bucs were ravaged by injuries that wiped out their receiving corps. His last three weeks have also produced over 250 yards and three scores, pushing him all the way up to TE5 on the season. While this pace seems unsustainable, Otton has put his stamp on being no longer a forgotten man, even when Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (or another receiver) are around later this year or next. His dynasty value has taken a major turn for the better,
Dynasty | The Bengals have acquired running back Khalil Herbert from the Bears in exchange for a seventh round pick. Dynasty Analysis: Herbert was the odd man out in Chicago, so trading him seemed to make sense. Zack Moss is dealing with an injury that is now going to keep him out indefinitely. Herbert should slide in as a decent backup for Chase Brown, who suddenly has high-end RB2 value at the very least with Moss down and out for the time being. Herbert should be on rosters as he's one injury away from real in-season value again.
Dynasty | The Cowboys have placed quarterback Dak Prescott on IR. Dynasty Analysis: The awful season for the Cowboys has taken a turn for the worse as Prescott will now miss at least the next four weeks. This is a disaster for Dallas in a season full of them as the 3-5 Cowboys will now turn to Cooper Rush. Prescott's dynasty value has started to sink a touch as he's posted a mediocre season thus far.
Dynasty | The Dallas Cowboys have acquired wide receiver Jonathan Mingo. Dynasty Analysis: The Panthers will receiver a fourth round pick in exchange for Mingo and a seventh round selection. Mingo was a second round pick just last season, but has posted just 55 catches for 539 yards thus far in 24 career games. Dallas must see something they like here as their season doesn't exactly lend itself to be "buyers" at the trade deadline. Mingo is still a decent bench stash in dynasty leagues, but it's hard to see him being a difference maker, especially with Cooper Rush at the helm.
Dynasty | The Steelers have acquired wide receiver Mike Williams from the Jets. Dynasty Analysis: The Jets will receive a fifth-round pick in exchange for Williams, who clearly fell out of favor in New York. The Steelers have been in the mix for just about any wide receiver available and settled for Williams in the end. This could end up being good for both parties, however, as Williams excels on the deep ball, which just happens to be Russell Wilson's specialty. While Williams' production has hit the skids in recent years, this should be enough to stop his dynasty value slide and keep him on rosters.
