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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 5

Player Notes
Jaylen Wright Oct 1 9:50am CT
Jaylen Wright

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright toted the rock nine times for 32 yards in the team's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans, failing to bring in his lone target. The rookie running back averaged 3.2 YPC on his nine touches, out-gaining backfield mate De'Von Achane on his ten carries (1.5 YPC). For the second week in a row, Wright has been the more efficient runner than Achane, albeit on fewer touches. It's unclear what type of role the fourth-round pick will have when running back Raheem Mostert (chest) returns to the field. However, no Dolphins skill player can be trusted for fantasy purposes in this version of the team's offense. They'll square off against one of the better defensive matchups in their Week 5 outing when they hit the road and travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots. Despite this, Wright is not in consideration for fantasy managers, and the remaining Dolphins' offensive pieces will continue to receive downgrades until (if) quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) returns from injured reserve.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Oct 1 9:40am CT
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo recorded one catch for five yards in the team's win over the Dolphins on Monday night. With quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) exiting early, Okonkwo was not a factor, seeing just three targets in the game as the Titans relied heavily on the running game. The three targets were actually a season-high for the tight end, who has not become a big part of the Titans' offense yet. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for options at the position, and Okonkwo can be left on the waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Waddle Oct 1 9:40am CT
Jaylen Waddle

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle hauled in 4-of-6 targets for a team-leading 36 yards in Monday night's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Waddle matched running mate Tyreek Hill for the team lead in receptions while earning one less target. It's the second time in three weeks that the former has led the latter in receiving. However -- like Hill -- it's his third-straight outing with single-digit fantasy points. Despite the fourth-year wideout's output, he's racked up just a 15.1% target share on the team through four weeks, while the 30-year-old speedster is sitting at 23.1%. It's becoming increasingly difficult to trust any Miami skill player sans quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), regardless of work. Fortunately for the Fins, they'll get one of the more enticing matchups this weekend when they take on the New England Patriots -- a defense that's given up the fifth-most passing yards to opposing offenses. However, the 25-year-old is nowhere near the WR2 lock he was earlier in the season. He'll be a low-end WR3 for the contest.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Oct 1 9:30am CT
Jared Goff

The Seattle Seahawks defense/special teams had a tough outing in Week 4. After being one of the top units through the first three weeks of the season, the Seahawks allowed 389 yards and 42 points in Week 4. They also allowed Lions quarterback Jared Goff to go 18/18 through the air. The jury is still out on how good this defense actually is. This game turned out to be a track meet and resulted in 71 total points between the two teams. The Seahawks D/ST did manage to record three sacks against a talented Lions O-line. That is encouraging going forward. The Seahawks have now recorded 14 sacks on the season.

From RotoBaller

Tyreek Hill Oct 1 9:30am CT
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill caught 4-of-7 targets for 23 yards in the team's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football. He added 19 yards on three carries. Hill's receiving yardage is a new season-low, while the four catches he racked up were the most since he had seven way back in Week 1. The Dolphins offense as a whole has been largely disappointing since losing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) in the team's loss to the Bills in Week 2, and the veteran wideout now has three consecutive single-digit fantasy point outings. On a positive note, Hill still garners a 23.1% target share on the team, but his managers are in a tough spot, considering that a top-three pick was used on him in this summer's drafts. Miami's next time out will be a juicier matchup when they hit the road to square off against the New England Patriots. However, expectations of the 30-year-old's output must be tempered as this offense doesn't move the same without their field-general. Hill will again be a low-end WR2 for the matchup.

From RotoBaller

Devon Achane Oct 1 9:10am CT
Devon Achane

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane rushed ten times for 15 yards and brought in all three of his targets for an additional 14 yards in Monday night's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Woof. The carries, targets, receptions, and yards were all season-low marks for Achane. He was out-gained on the ground by quarterback Tyler Huntley (40), wide receiver Tyreek Hill (19), and backfield mate Jaylen Wright (32), who all racked up fewer carries than the second-year RB. While Wright was more efficient with his work, he didn't receive his first touch until halfway through the second quarter. It's an outing to forget for the former Aggie, but fantasy managers have to be disappointed, as it's the second contest in a row in which he's failed to score more than single-digit fantasy points. The former third-round pick will have a better matchup his next time out when the team takes on the New England Patriots in Week 5. However, it's hard to trust him as anything more than an RB3 for the time being, with Miami's offense in a tailspin.

From RotoBaller

Zach Charbonnet Oct 1 9:10am CT
Zach Charbonnet

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet was limited to two carries for 15 yards but did record five catches for 39 yards in a loss to the Lions in Week 4. With Kenneth Walker III returning to action, Charbonnet was not involved in the run game as Walker saw a team-high 12 carries. The UCLA product salvaged his night with his pass-game work and he could keep that going moving forward. However, with Walker back in the mix as the lead back, Charbonnet's value and upside are limited. He had some good games with Walker out, but it appears that Charbonnet will take a bit of a back seat in the running-back pecking order.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Oct 1 9:00am CT
Nick Chubb

The Cleveland Browns will open the 21-day practice window for Nick Chubb (knee), and Browns coach Kevin Stefanksi expects the talented running back to return to practice on Wednesday. Chubb has been on the Physically Unable to Perform list but once he practices the Browns will have 21 days to put him on the active roster. Chubb is coming off a brutal knee injury that he suffered last season and required two surgeries and will likely take a while to ramp up activities in practice and get in game shape. Fantasy managers will want to be patient with the return of the star running back but this is good news from a fantasy perspective. Chubb will have Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman to contend with in the Browns' backfield once he does return to games and it is unclear how he will respond to the injury.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Huntley Oct 1 8:50am CT
Tyler Huntley

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley completed 14-of-22 passes for 96 yards in the team's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans, adding 40 yards and a touchdown on the ground on eight carries. It looked like Huntley and the Fins' offense were off to a good start on their first drive of the game, picking up 30 yards on their first two plays from scrimmage. However, two plays later, he'd throw a swing pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill out of the backfield, which fell incomplete. Upon further review, it was a backward pass that Tennessee challenged and gained possession of. He would later save his night with a rushing score in the fourth quarter -- Miami's first touchdown since the first quarter of Week 2 -- but that would be all the offense they could muster. It's another disappointing day for the Dolphins as a whole. Whether Huntley will again get the start in Week 5 when the team takes on the New England Patriots is unclear. He should not be in fantasy managers' lineups despite the excellent matchup.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Oct 1 8:30am CT
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) is reportedly "symptom-free" and is on track to return to the field as soon as Week 8 according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Tagovailoa is eligible to return from the IR in Week 8 and could be back on the field by then after suffering a concussion in the team's Week 2 loss to the Bills. With a history of concussions, Tagovailoa's return to the field was not a given but it looks like he is eyeing a comeback from his latest scary head injury. The Dolphins are now 1-3 and the offense is struggling mightily without Tagovailoa on the field.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Oct 1 8:00am CT
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff on Monday night against Seattle and led the team in receiving with two catches for 80 yards. Williams saw just two targets in the game but showed his big-play ability by turning in the 70-yard TD. The Alabama product can turn a few touches into a big fantasy day because of that big-play threat. It makes him a little bit risky week-to-week but he has mostly rewarded fantasy managers this season. Williams will have to fight for targets with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta in the Lions' offense but his explosiveness on the outside makes him fantasy viable.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Oct 1 7:50am CT
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery scored a rushing touchdown in Week 4 against Seattle, carrying 12 times for 40 yards and a 1-yard score while adding one catch for 40 yards on Monday night. The Lions' power back showed off his strength by shaking off a tackle in the backfield on his touchdown run but was not overly efficient at 3.3 yards per carry in this game. Jahmyr Gibbs was the featured runner against Seattle with 14 carries for 78 yards and two TDs. Montgomery continues to be heavily involved in tandem with Gibbs and there has been plenty of fantasy production to go around for the talented duo. Montgomery has also shown he can be productive catching passes out of the backfield which only adds to his fantasy value. He should be a fantasy RB1 moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Oct 1 7:50am CT
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six passes for 45 yards and a touchdown and also threw a touchdown pass to Jared Goff on Monday night against Seattle. St. Brown caught all six of his targets but didn't see a massive workload as the Lions' had their ground game going as well in the game. Against a good Seahawks' secondary, St. Brown worked mostly the short field with his long completion in the game being 17 yards. He was able to execute a 7-yard trick play in which he found Goff for a passing touchdown as well which helped his fantasy night. The former USC star should continue to emerge in this offense as the season progresses but there is a lot of competition for looks with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in the backfield and Jameson Williams coming on at wide receiver.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Walker III Oct 1 7:40am CT
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III had a massive Week 4 upon his return from an oblique injury. Walker rushed for 80 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries. The starting role was firmly in Walker's hands as he out-touched running back Zach Charbonnet 16 to seven. Walker looked awesome evading Lions defenders and ripping off chunk plays. He accounted for three of the Seahawks' four touchdowns and kept them in the game until the end. When Walker has played this season, he has looked the best that he has looked possibly in his entire career. He remains firmly in the RB1 conversation when the Seahawks take on the New York Giants in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Oct 1 7:40am CT
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf finished Monday night's game with seven receptions for 104 yards. He did lose a fumble in the first half that proved to be costly as the Seahawks were never able to close the one-touchdown gap with the Lions. Metcalf has now gone over 100 yards in three straight games. This offense looks really good in 2024 and should only continue to improve as the players and coaching staff get more comfortable. Unlike in previous seasons, this Seahawks regime has made it a point to force-feed Metcalf the ball. He is currently on pace for 153 targets which would shatter his previous career high. Look for Metcalf to continue his excellent run when the Seahawks play the New York Giants in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Oct 1 7:40am CT
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett caught five passes for 61 yards in Week 4. Lockett continues to be a solid security blanket for quarterback Geno Smith and has hovered around five receptions in most games. He did only manage to draw nine targets to DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 12 each. Even so, Lockett remains an important part of this offense. He may not deliver consistent WR2 value anymore, but he should continue to be a fantasy asset worth rostering. Lockett should continue his solid play in Week 5 against the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Oct 1 7:40am CT
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw football's version of a perfect game, completing 18-of-18 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns against the Seahawks on Monday night. Goff's 18 completions without an incompletion set an NFL record and he caught a touchdown pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown for good measure. The former No. 1 overall pick turned in the QB4 performance on the week as the Lions racked up 42 points on the night. It was by far the best game of the season for Goff and could signify a breakout moving forward for the signal caller of a talented and diverse Lions' offense.

From RotoBaller

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Oct 1 7:40am CT
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba earned 12 targets against the Detroit Lions on Monday night. Smith-Njigba would finish Week 4 with eight receptions for 51 yards. Smith-Njigba has been wildly inconsistent in 2024. He has two games with 12 or more targets and two games with three or fewer. As such, he has been a solid or great start in two games and a fantasy liability in two others. Still, Smith-Njigba is much more of a full-time player in 2024 than he was in 2023. If he can string together a couple of solid games in a row, then he will give fantasy managers a lot more confidence moving forward. For now, he is a good spot start if you need a flex player.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Oct 1 7:40am CT
Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith threw for 395 yards and a touchdown in Week 4. He also threw an interception, but he added 38 yards with his legs. Smith's statistical output resulted in 22.6 fantasy points as he continues his solid season. Smith has been consistent in throwing one touchdown in every game in 2024. However, his completion percentage has been high, and he is not slouching as a runner in 2024. Most notably, Smith's chemistry with wide receiver DK Metcalf is seriously propelling this offense. Smith should once again have a chance to deliver high-end QB2 or low-end QB1 numbers in Week 5 against the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

Jason Myers Oct 1 7:40am CT
Jason Myers

Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers only managed to deliver two fantasy points on Monday night. Myers was 3/3 on extra points. However, Myers' lone field goal attempt came from 62 yards at the end of the first half. The kick would have been a career-high. The Seahawks also scored four touchdowns, but they went for two on one of them which left points on the field for Myers. The Seahawks' offense continues to consistently be in scoring positions in 2024. As such, Myers should have no shortage of opportunities to continue scoring points. Keep him in your lineup and enjoy the benefits.

From RotoBaller