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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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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 6

Player Notes
Austin Ekeler Oct 9 6:20pm CT
Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (heel) was listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) missed the first practice of the week. Ekeler missed Week 4 due to a concussion but returned to action in the Week 5 win over the Cleveland Browns to touch the ball eight times for 97 scrimmage yards. Robinson had only seven carries for 18 yards but managed to find the end zone twice. The Commanders are going to continue to monitor B-Rob's knee heading into their Week 6 showdown in Baltimore against the Ravens, so even if he's active again this Sunday, Ekeler could pace Washington's backfield in snaps and touches. Jeremy McNichols also had seven carries for 44 yards and a score in Week 5 and could continue to have a role, which isn't great for Ekeler's fantasy upside. Consider Ekeler a WR3/flex option in PPR formats for Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Noah Brown Oct 9 6:20pm CT
Noah Brown

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (groin) was listed as limited for the first practice of the week on Wednesday. It's an upgrade for Brown, who missed practice all of last week before sitting out of the Week 5 win over the Cleveland Browns. While there's no guarantee he'll return this Sunday to face the Baltimore Ravens, the 28-year-old is at least making progress and could have a shot to be active. Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus got some more run behind WR1 Terry McLaurin last weekend with Noah Brown sidelined. Through three games in his first year in D.C., Noah Brown has caught only nine passes on 10 targets for 111 yards and no touchdowns. Washington's offense has looked great under impressive rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels so far in 2024, but Noah Brown is merely a deep-league stash.

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Oct 9 6:10pm CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (ankle) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. This is good news for fantasy managers as Watson missed the Packers' Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Watson has been underwhelming in fantasy in 2024. A combination of injuries and the absence of Jordan Love for a couple of games has significantly impacted Watson's production. He only has five receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown in 2024. That is good for 19 fantasy points in five games in PPR scoring. With the emergence of wide receiver Jayden Reed, Watson has likely lost his grip on the No. 1 wide receiver role in Green Bay. Even if he can return in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals, fantasy managers should wait and see how Watson fares before deploying him in their lineups.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Oct 9 6:00pm CT
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) was a DNP at practice on Wednesday. Robinson has been excellent in 2024 en route to 325 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He has added eight receptions for 68 yards. Robinson has thrived with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels propelling the Commanders offense to the top of the league. His yards per carry average of 4.5 is a carry high and his five rushing touchdowns already match his career high in that category. As such, Robinson has consistently delivered RB2 numbers in fantasy. Hopefully, his absence from practice is simply for rest. However, fantasy managers will need to keep an eye on his practice status over the next couple of days. While the Commanders' matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6 is not ideal for running backs, Robinson would still have a chance at goal-line opportunities.

From RotoBaller

Spencer Rattler Oct 9 5:50pm CT
Spencer Rattler

New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler is slated to start for an injured Derek Carr (oblique) when the Saints meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. Rattler was a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was once considered a future first-round pick during his early college days. However, he did not quite live up to expectations and ended up falling to the fifth round. Still, Rattler is a promising prospect with a lot of talent. The Saints have a solid group of skill players in place and a solid defense which should support Rattler. Rookie quarterbacks tend to struggle in the NFL which is unfortunate for a Saints team with playoff aspirations. However, the team clearly feels as though Rattler is ready to step in for a short period of time. Hopefully, he can continue to support production for running back Alvin Kamara (hip/hand) and wide receivers Rashid Shaheed (hip) and Chris Olave.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Oct 9 5:50pm CT
Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) has been announced to have torn his oblique. Carr suffered the injury in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs. He had already been announced to miss multiple weeks, but the fact that this injury is a tear is concerning. Carr had been supporting fantasy relevance for running back Alvin Kamara (hip/hand) and wide receivers Rashid Shaheed (hip) and Chris Olave. It appears as though the Saints will turn to rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler while Carr nurses back to health. While Rattler is a promising prospect, it is uncommon for rookie quarterbacks to experience high-end success in the NFL. Even so, Rattler will have a solid group of skill players around him. Carr has thrown for 989 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. After a red-hot start, Carr had hit a bit of a skid in recent weeks. He will look to get back on track upon his return from injury.

From RotoBaller

Alvin Kamara Oct 9 5:40pm CT
Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (hip/hand) was listed as a DNP in practice on Wednesday. Kamara is the No. 1 running back in fantasy and his absence from practice is a huge concern for fantasy managers. Kamara came out of Week 5's tilt with the Kansas City Chiefs banged up and it appears to have carried over into this week. Kamara has rushed for 388 yards and a whopping five touchdowns in 2024. He has added 23 receptions for 214 yards and a receiving touchdown as well. He has looked like the vintage Kamara that fantasy managers know and love. Fantasy managers should monitor the situation closely to see if Kamara's status for Week 6 is in jeopardy. The Saints offense as a whole is banged up with quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) expected to miss multiple weeks and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (hip) joining Kamara on the sidelines on Wednesday.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson Oct 9 5:30pm CT
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) is expected to miss multiple weeks. The Colts have also suggested that Pittman may be placed on injured reserve. Pittman was a non-participant in practice on Wednesday and is listed as doubtful heading into this weekend. This is unfortunate news for fantasy managers as Pittman had just started to come alive. He had at least 113 receiving yards or a touchdown in his last two games. That may be attributed to the presence of quarterback Joe Flacco in the lineup rather than a struggling Anthony Richardson. However, it could be some time before fantasy managers find out if Pittman is able to build on that momentum. Pittman has recorded 22 receptions for 238 yards and a touchdown in 2024. For now, fantasy managers will have to stick him in their IR spot and hope for the best.

From RotoBaller

Rashid Shaheed Oct 9 5:30pm CT
Rashid Shaheed

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (hip) did not practice on Wednesday. This is worth monitoring for fantasy managers as Shaheed has been excellent in 2024. Shaheed has 19 receptions for 338 yards and three touchdowns this season. That includes a game in which he recorded a zero in the box score. Veterans are often provided rest days on Wednesdays, especially if they have an existing ailment so this could be precautionary. However, fantasy managers will need to pay close attention to this situation leading up to the weekend.

From RotoBaller

Tommy Tremble Oct 9 4:40pm CT
Tommy Tremble

Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble (concussion) was held out of the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Tremble suffered a scary-looking concussion in the Week 5 loss to the Chicago Bears and is in the league's concussion protocol this week. He still has two more days to improve, but just based on how he looked on Sunday, it would be a surprise if he suited up this weekend against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. Tremble being inactive in Week 6 would open up more playing time for rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders, but fantasy managers should be able to find better TE2 streaming options. Ian Thomas (calf) practiced in full on Wednesday and could come off Injured Reserve to play this weekend, but he, too, should be avoided in fantasy. In four games in 2024, Tremble has only seven receptions for 59 yards. He's off the fantasy radar.

From RotoBaller

Diontae Johnson Oct 9 4:30pm CT
Diontae Johnson

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (ankle) was listed as a limited participant in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Johnson was also limited with his ankle injury last week but still played in the Week 5 loss to the Chicago Bears and caught only three passes for 23 yards against a strong Bears defense. Unless the 28-year-old suffers a setback later this week, he should be fine to play in a Week 6 tilt against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. Ever since quarterback Andy Dalton took over for Bryce Young in Week 3, Johnson has a total of 18 receptions on 33 targets for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Despite his disappointing showing in Week 5, Johnson should be trusted as a solid WR2 for fantasy managers this Sunday in a much better matchup against the Falcons defense.

From RotoBaller

Trey Sermon Oct 9 4:20pm CT
Trey Sermon

Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon (collarbone) popped on the Week 6 injury report after not practicing on Wednesday. In addition to Sermon, Jonathan Taylor (ankle) also missed practice and could be in danger of missing his second straight game in Week 6 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans. If Sermon is indeed in danger of missing this weekend's game, the Colts could be down to Tyler Goodson and Evan Hull in their backfield against Tennessee if both Taylor and Sermon cannot suit up. The 25-year-old Sermon was a great plug-and-play flex for fantasy managers that threw him into their lineups in the Week 5 loss to the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars, as he saw a season-high 10 carries for 38 yards and his second touchdown of the year while adding six receptions for 25 yards through the air. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on the practices statuses of both Sermon and Taylor the rest of the week.

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye Oct 9 4:13pm CT
Drake Maye

Dynasty | The Patriots are starting quarterback Drake Maye this week. Dynasty Analysis: The Patriots chose to start the season with Jacoby Brissett at the helm and the results turned out to be about as expected. New England is 1-4 and have a real chance of seeing their season spiral out of control, so they're turning to the rookie. It's a best-case scenario for Maye as he shouldn't be under too much pressure as the team has simply looked anemic. Still, there is a real lack of offensive talent on this team, so it's fair to wonder just how this is going to go. Maye's dynasty value should rise with some solid performances.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Tank Dell Oct 9 4:13pm CT
Tank Dell

Dynasty | The Texans have placed wide receiver Nico Collins on injured reserve. Dynasty Analysis: Collins has gone from an afterthought, to a serviceable receiver, to a possible lineup staple, to a WR1, to perhaps the best receiver in fantasy leagues over the past three years. This is a major buzzkill as he has been flat-out dominant. Savvy owners who aren't competing right now could make a "buy low" play for his services to a team desperate to win, but you're not likely to get him. Unfortunately, he's going to be out for at least four weeks and that should open up targets for Tank Dell, Stefon Diggs, Dalton Schultz and others.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Aidan O'Connell Oct 9 4:13pm CT
Aidan O'Connell

Dynasty | The Raiders will replace Gardner Minshew at quarterback with Aidan O'Connell. Dynasty Analysis: The Raiders are 2-3 and while Minshew hasn't been awful, he also hasn't done anything to make anyone believe this looks like a playoff team. With Davante Adams likely on the way out, this is starting to look a little like a lost season for Las Vegas, so it makes sense for them to see if O'Connell can provide a spark. In his 11 games last year, he threw for 2,218 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interception looking relatively average most Sundays. At this point, the Raiders are likely going to be scouting the college scene pretty hard in search of who may be their next signal caller. If O'Connell falls on his face, they could also scour the trade market (Russell Wilson could be available). Minshew can be dropped in dynasty leagues while O'Connell is back on the map.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Michael Pittman Jr. Oct 9 4:10pm CT
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice. In addition to Pittman, Josh Downs (toe) also popped on the Week 6 injury report and didn't practice. It's not a great start to the week for Pittman and Downs, but they still have two days left to get back onto the practice field. Given his injury and the fact that we still don't know if quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) will play this Sunday against the division-rival Tennessee Titans, Pittman's fantasy outlook is a bit up in the air. He had 11 receptions for 88 yards and no touchdowns in the first three weeks with Richardson at the helm but has exploded for 11 catches for 150 yards and his first touchdown of the year in the last two weeks with Richardson injured. Pittman's fantasy upside may actually be higher if Richardson misses another week.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Oct 9 4:00pm CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ribs) is good to go on Thursday night, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Kittle was a limited participant during the first two practice sessions of the week but was able to upgrade to full participation on Wednesday. The 31-year-old should be locked into all starting lineups as he faces a Seattle defense that has allowed the 19th-most points to opposing tight ends. Kittle has found the end zone in each of the past three games he has played in and averaged 61.7 yards and 6.3 receptions during this span. He should be viewed as a TE1 and should also be considered as a solid flex option in all DFS formats on Thursday evening.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Warren Oct 9 3:50pm CT
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (knee) was limited during Wednesday's practice, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since Week 3 after suffering a knee injury early in that game. The 25-year-old was initially deemed doubtful for this weekend's game, according to his head coach, Mike Tomlin, but seeing him participate in practice early in the week is a promising sign. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week. If Warren can suit up against the Las Vegas Raiders, he should be viewed as a solid flex option in PPR formats, given his pass-catching ability. If he cannot play, Najee Harris should see a heavy workload with Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) already ruled out.

From RotoBaller

Zack Moss Oct 9 3:50pm CT
Zack Moss

Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (foot) did not practice on Wednesday, according to Mike Petraglia. Petraglia further noted that the running back did walk out in his uniform but could not participate in any drills. The 26-year-old suffered the injury in Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Before the injury, Moss logged nine carries for 24 yards and added three catches for 28 yards. Through the early part of the season, Moss has been deployed as the lead back in Cincinnati, with Chase Brown serving as the No.2 option. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Moss' status during the week, as he could be in danger of missing Sunday's game. After totaling just over 40 yards through the first two weeks of the season, Brown has tallied at least 50 all-purpose yards in each of the past three games and could be a high-end RB2 on Sunday if Moss were to be held out of action.

From RotoBaller

Russell Wilson Oct 9 3:40pm CT
Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) was a full participant in practice for the first time in over a month on Wednesday, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Wilson suffered a calf injury before the season opener, which allowed Justin Fields to take over starting duties. While fantasy managers should still expect Fields to remain the starting QB for the time being, Wilson could eventually take over the job in the coming weeks, given that he is now at full strength. Last week, Fields went 15-for-27 in their loss to the Dallas Cowboys and threw for just 131 yards. Fantasy managers in superflex formats should consider stashing Wilson, as he could move to the top of the depth chart if Fields continues to struggle.

From RotoBaller