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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
Rashee Rice Sep 29 9:43pm CT
Rashee Rice

Dynasty | Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice may have a torn ACL. Dynasty Analysis: This would be a significant blow to the title hopes of the Cheifs as Rice hasn't just been the best receiver on their team, but one of the best in the league. With 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns, Rice had been electric though three games. Unfortunately, it looks like a freak collision with Patrick Mahomes is going to end his season. We'll wait to see the diagnosis tomorrow but it seems clear his knee injury is significant. Stay tuned.

Kareem Hunt Sep 29 9:43pm CT
Kareem Hunt

Dynasty | Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt had 69 rushing yards on 14 carries in a win against the Chargers. Dynasty Analysis: He added two catches for 16 yards. Hunt surprisingly led the Kansas City running backs with 16 touches, while Carson Steele (three touches and a lost fumble), and Samaje Perine (five carries) were afterthoughts. This could be a big development in Kansas City after the Chiefs potentially lost Rashee Rice for the season. Hunt will need to show more next week to be trusted in lineups but he should be on dynasty rosters everywhere after today's surprise workload.

Budda Baker Sep 29 9:43pm CT
Budda Baker

Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker finished with 14 tackles, including 10 solo stops, in a 42-14 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 4.

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Travis Kelce Sep 29 9:42pm CT
Travis Kelce

Dynasty | Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had seven catches for 89 yards in a win against the Chargers. Dynasty Analysis: Kelce had been famously quiet over the first three weeks but Kansas City got him much more involved today. Unfortunately for the Chiefs (but fortunately for dynasty managers), Kelce is likely going to be much more of a necessity than a luxury moving forward if Rashee Rice has indeed suffered a season-ending injury. Kelce remains a solid option and possible buy low candidate for contending teams.

Jordan Mason Sep 29 9:42pm CT
Jordan Mason

Dynasty | 49ers running back Jordan Mason had 123 rushing yards, two catches, 37 receiving yards and a touchdown in a win against New England. Dynasty Analysis: Mason has been fantastic each and every week as he continues to keep the seat warm for Christian McCaffrey. While his short-term value is great, his long-term value is going to be in question when McCaffrey comes back. Still, Mason managers won't complain too much as he looks like the easy starter for at least another month. Mason is a locked and loaded RB1 until CMC makes his return.

Jauan Jennings Sep 29 9:42pm CT
Jauan Jennings

Dynasty | 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings had three catches for 88 yards in a win against New England. Dynasty Analysis: Another week, another solid game for Jennings. While this was a far cry from his 11/175/3 blow-up last game, he still led the 49ers in receiving yards for a second straight week and his six targets led the team. At this point, it's clear the 49ers don't really have an alpha receiver and Brock Purdy may just be good enough to keep Jennings, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk all valuable this season.

James Conner Sep 29 9:23pm CT
James Conner

Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner rushed 18 times for 104 yards and a touchdown and caught a nine-yard pass in a 42-14 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 4.

Fantasy Spin: Outside of his dud against Detroit, Conner has been a reliable option for the Arizona offense and for fantasy owners. He has scored in three of the four games, topping 100 yards twice.

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Jacoby Brissett Sep 29 9:23pm CT
Jacoby Brissett

New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett completed 19-of-32 passes for 168 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers, and he added two runs for three yards while fumbling three times with one lost.

Fantasy Spin: Brissett's passing yardage total was actually a season high, so that tells you a little about his fantasy appeal. He has just two passing scores and the one pick. Brissett isn't doing much, except for keeping the starting job warm for rookie Drake Maye. For fantasy purposes, Brissett should be avoided until absolutely desperate in 2QB leagues when the byes kick in.

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Ladd McConkey Sep 29 9:13pm CT
Ladd McConkey

Dynasty | Chargers rookie receiver Ladd McConkey had five catches for 67 yards and a touchdown in a loss against the Chiefs. Dynasty Analysis: While McConkey has yet to have a monster "blow-up" game, he's been about as consistent as a rookie can get with 24 targets, 176 receiving yards and a couple of scores through the first month of the year. He'll remain a decent high floor option moving forward and seems to have justified his late first round rookie pedigree thus far.

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Jayden Daniels Sep 29 9:13pm CT
Jayden Daniels

Dynasty | Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 26-of-30 passes for 233 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while adding 47 rushing yards and another score in a blowout win against the Cardinals. Dynasty Analysis: Daniels has now completed 82.1% (87-of-106) of his passes over first four games of his career.Not only is that an NFL record for a quarterback's first four career starts, it's highest completion percentage by a quarterback in any four game span since 1950. Let that soak in for a second as you re-evaluate his dynasty value, which is clearly that of an elite QB1 moving forward.

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Marvin Harrison Jr. Sep 29 9:13pm CT
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Dynasty | Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr had five catches for 45 yards and a touchdown in a loss against Washington. Dynasty Analysis: After a one-catch, four-yard performance in week one, Harrison has now scored in three straight games and four times overall. He's quickly establishing himself as Arizona's best pass catcher and has simply been "as advertised" thus far. Harrison should be locked in as a WR1/2 moving forward and looks the part of a top ten dynasty receiver already.

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Bobby Wagner Sep 29 9:13pm CT
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Washington Commanders LB Bobby Wagner finished with 11 tackles, including seven solo stops, and 0.5 sacks in a 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4.

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Marvin Harrison Jr. Sep 29 9:10pm CT
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Despite the Arizona Cardinals' struggles to score in Sunday's 42-14 loss to the Washington Commanders, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. found the end zone for the fourth time this season. In addition to the touchdown, Harrison Jr. caught five passes for 45 yards, securing all but one of his targets. He has emerged as a reliable playmaker for the Cardinals, someone they can depend on in tough situations. Harrison Jr. will likely remain a focal point in their game plan as the offense regains its scoring rhythm. Fantasy managers should continue to keep him in their starting lineups, even with a tough Week 5 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

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Colby Parkinson Sep 29 9:10pm CT
Colby Parkinson

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson hauled in 4-of-7 targets for 33 yards in Sunday's 24-18 loss to the Chicago Bears. His long gain of the day went for just 11 yards. Parkinson and the rest of the Rams' passing attack couldn't get much going on a day where their only touchdown came on the back of a three-yard score on the ground by Kyren Williams. Since the loss of superstar wideout Cooper Kupp (ankle), quarterback Matthew Stafford has not thrown for more than 224 yards or more than one touchdown in a single outing. The 25-year-old tight end has seen his volume tick up each of the past three weeks, but he's yet to have a standout game despite the lack of quality options in LA's aerial assault. His seven targets were a season-high, but 7.3 total fantasy points are only good enough for the current TE14 on the week. Unless circumstances drastically change around him, the former fourth-round pick will not be a recommended fantasy option in Week 5 when the team hosts the visiting Green Bay Packers.

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Zach Ertz Sep 29 9:03pm CT
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Washington Commanders TE Zach Ertz caught all three of his targets for 22 yards in a 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4.

Fantasy Spin: Ertz has a steady role in the offense, but he is limited to short, underneath routes. Despite his lack of upside, the tight end position is thin enough to give Ertz some streaming potential as bye weeks begin.

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Jonathan Mingo Sep 29 9:00pm CT
Jonathan Mingo

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jonathan Mingo racked up three catches and 24 yards on five targets in the team's 34-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The second-year wideout finished with the third-most yards and targets on the team but finished one reception shy of Chuba Hubbard for the same honor. The Panthers didn't get back into the win column in this one, but they at least made it a game against a Bengals squad starving for a win. After two weeks of an Andy Dalton-led offense, it is evident that the team is in much better hands with him under center. Mingo's five targets matched the previous season-high he accrued back in Week 1, but veteran WR Diontae Johnson and rookie Xavier Legette each accumulated double-digit targets in this one. The former second-round pick will be tough to trust moving forward as more than a dart throw option on a weekly basis until his usage ticks up in Carolina's passing attack. The Panthers will take on the 2-2 Chicago Bears on the road in Week 5.

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Jeremy McNichols Sep 29 8:53pm CT
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Washington Commanders RB Jeremy McNichols rushed eight times for 68 yards and two touchdowns and caugt a six-yard pass in a 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4.

Fantasy Spin: McNichols served as a the backup to Brian Robinson Jr. with Austin Ekeler sidelined, and McNichols certainly made the most of the opportunity. Despite the strong showing, McNichols is unlikely to have a role once Ekeler is ready to return.

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James Conner Sep 29 8:50pm CT
James Conner

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner delivered another solid performance in Sunday's 42-14 loss to the Washington Commanders, rushing 18 times for 104 yards and a touchdown. After managing just 17 rushing yards in the Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions, Conner quickly put those concerns to rest with a strong bounce-back effort. He ran the ball effectively, showing power to break through tacklers and displaying impressive bursts. Conner should remain a fixture in fantasy lineups, as the Cardinals' offense will likely continue to lean on him while trying to snap their scoring slump. The veteran running back will look to build on Sunday's performance in a tough matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5.

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Parris Campbell Sep 29 8:50pm CT
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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell caught all four of his targets for 17 yards and a touchdown during the team's 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 27-year-old scored on a one-yard grab for the Eagles' first touchdown of the game but did little else in this contest of note. The Eagles wide receiver corps combined for just 34 yards in this game with the absence of A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion). It is tough to say if Campbell will head back to the practice squad after this game with Britain Covey (shoulder, IR) out for the foreseeable future. His touchdown grab could have solidified his roster spot heading into the Eagles bye week, but he is not a name to keep an eye on for waiver purposes in redraft leagues.

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Jahan Dotson Sep 29 8:50pm CT
Jahan Dotson

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson caught two of his four targets for 11 yards during the team's 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The former first-round pick had yet another shot to break out or even prove he belongs as the No. 3 receiver in Philadelphia, but again came up short. None of the Eagles' wide receivers did much in this contest, as they combined for just 34 yards while tight end Dallas Goedert nearly doubled their total on his own. The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Eagles, as they should enter Week 6 with their top targets A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) for their game against the Cleveland Browns. Dotson should be ignored in all redraft leagues for the time being.

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