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FFL: Week 4 | NFL: Week 4

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
Romeo Doubs Sep 27 5:00pm CT
Romeo Doubs

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs will face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 and getting Jordan Love (knee) back at quarterback will be a huge coup for the Packers' pass-catchers, including Doubs. After a Week 3 where Doubs caught just one ball for 18 yards on two targets, Doubs has been a bit lost in the shuffle since Malik Willis has been quarterback over the past two weeks. A feather in his cap though is that Doubs routinely runs the highest percentage of routes per dropback amongst Packers wide receivers, so you know he's going to be on the field more than any other receiver. Consider Doubs a low-end flex option, even if Love returns under center for the Packers at home against the Vikings.

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Christian Watson Sep 27 4:50pm CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson will need some big plays to hit his fantasy ceiling in a tough matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Watson had his best production of the season, but it still wasn't enough to really warrant fantasy consideration as he caught two balls for 67 yards in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans after being left without a target in Week 2. Watson's snaps are also of concern, as they've steadily decreased from Week 1 to Week 3 as he's been rotated with some of the other receivers for the Packers. A Jordan Love (knee) return from injury will help Watson's outlook immensely, but for Week 4 against the Vikings, Watson is merely a flex option that you're hoping catches a long touchdown.

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Luke McCaffrey Sep 27 4:40pm CT
Luke McCaffrey

Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver Luke McCaffrey had a career-best 44 yards in their Week 3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals but should not be relied upon in any starting lineups this weekend. After catching three passes in the season opener, the Rice product was held off the scoresheet in Week 2. However, McCaffrey responded in Week 3 by logging the third-most snaps at the position and bringing in three passes. His best catch of the night came on a fourth down when quarterback Jayden Daniels found him for 30 yards. Fantasy managers should continue to view the third-round pick as a solid stash candidate. He could emerge as a consistent weapon in this offense later in the fall, but for now, he remains a high-risk play in DFS formats on Sunday.

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Austin Seibert Sep 27 4:40pm CT
Austin Seibert

Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert remained perfect through his Washington tenure on Monday night as he went 1-for-1 on field goal attempts and 5-for-5 on extra points. In his Commanders debut in Week 2, Seibert scored all of their points in a divisional win over the Giants, going a remarkable 7-for-7 on field goal attempts. Even though Seibert has spent time on several teams during his five-year career, he may have found a new home in the DMV. Given that their game against the Cardinals holds a high 50-point total, Seibert should have plenty of opportunities to put points on the board, which makes him an intriguing streaming option in deeper formats.

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Jayden Daniels Sep 27 4:40pm CT
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels enjoyed a breakout performance last week on Monday Night Football and looks to keep it rolling in the desert against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Last week, Daniels eclipsed 250 passing yards and threw for two scores for the first time in his career after relying primarily on his legs during the first two games of the campaign. With his incredible rushing ability, Daniels has scored over 30 PPR points twice. This week, he faces the Arizona Cardinals in a game with the highest point total of the week at 50, suggesting this could be a high-scoring affair and should open the door for significant fantasy opportunities. Daniels should be locked into all starting lineups and viewed as a high-end QB1.

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Josh Jacobs Sep 27 4:40pm CT
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has been solid all season but will face a stout Minnesota Vikings defense on Sunday at Lambeau Field. The Vikings are a top-seven in defensive EPA per rush. Having given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the running back position this season, Jacobs has a tall task ahead of him to carve out an RB1 week. That said, Jordan Love (knee) is questionable to return under center for the Packers, so the overall outlook on the Packers' chances against the Vikings is dramatically improved if Love is the quarterback. Jacobs' snaps have decreased in three straight weeks from 73% to 52%, but he is still firmly the workhorse in this backfield, even with Emanuel Wilson taking a handful of touches in the past week or two. Jacobs isn't quite an RB1 this week but is a solid RB2 in a tough matchup this week against Minnesota.

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Terry McLaurin Sep 27 4:30pm CT
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin broke out of a two-game slump last weekend on Monday evening and should be viewed as a WR2 with upside this weekend as he faces the Arizona Cardinals. Through the first two weeks, McLaurin caught eight passes for 39 yards but flipped the script last weekend as he hit the century mark on four catches with the eventual game-winning score. Even though he was not as productive over the first two weeks, he still saw 23.7% of the team's air yards, his best mark since the 2021 campaign. Given that Jayden Daniels is continuing to develop as a passer, fantasy managers should expect McLaurin's production to only improve as the season progresses. Facing a Cardinals defense that has allowed the 14th most points to opposing wideouts, McLaurin possesses a safe floor and a high ceiling, especially if this game opens up as the current 50-point total suggests.

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Noah Brown Sep 27 4:30pm CT
Noah Brown

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown logged a season-high 32 snaps in Week 3 and has quickly ascended the Washington depth chart. Brown signed with Washington late in August and did not suit up for the season opener. In Week 2, Brown caught three passes for an impressive 56 yards on just 20 snaps. He followed that up with an increase in his snap count to 32 (second-most at the position) as he caught another three passes, this time for just 29 yards. Fantasy managers should continue to view Brown as a stash candidate in deeper formats as he has flashed big-play ability throughout his NFL career. This weekend, he has a favorable matchup and could be considered as a flex option in DFS contests, given his affordable price.

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Zach Ertz Sep 27 4:30pm CT
Zach Ertz

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz remains a solid TE1 heading into Week 4. Ertz has seen his reception count increase weekly this season, as he finished Week 3 with a new ' high of five. He has seen at least four targets every week and averaged 42.7 receiving yards. While the Commanders have lacked a proven No.2 wideout, the veteran tight end has filled that void, at least temporarily. Fantasy managers should expect Ertz to continue to serve as a reliable option in the middle of the field for Jayden Daniels. This week, he has a favorable matchup against a weak Arizona defense, making him a safe floor play with solid upside in all formats.

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Brian Robinson Jr. Sep 27 4:20pm CT
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. will have an excellent opportunity to bounce back from his worst outing of the season this weekend as he stands as the lone running back on the Washington depth chart. Austin Ekeler (concussion) was ruled out earlier this week, and this should open the door for Robinson to see the vast majority of running back snaps this weekend. Robinson has seen a slight majority of attempts over Ekeler on the ground but has typically ceded passing duties to the former Charger. On Sunday, fantasy managers should feel comfortable starting the Alabama product in all formats this weekend, as he should have a stable three-down role. Even though he ran for just 33 yards last week, Robinson tallied 133 yards the week prior and should be viewed as a high-end RB2 against an Arizona defense that has allowed the 24th-most points to opposing running backs.

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Deebo Samuel Sep 27 4:10pm CT
Deebo Samuel

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, according to Tom Pelissero. The star wideout suffered a calf strain in Week 2 and was originally expected to miss multiple weeks, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. However, Samuel now has a chance to miss only one game and return to action this weekend. Through the first two weeks of the season, Samuel averaged 18.4 PPR points and tallied 164 receiving yards. If Samuel is able to suit up he should be locked into all lineups as a high-end WR2. If Samuel misses his second straight game, Jauan Jennings should slot in as the No.2 wideout behind Brandon Aiyuk.

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Malik Willis Sep 27 4:10pm CT
Malik Willis

The Tennessee Titans defense will face the Miami Dolphins in Week 4. This unit was in a great spot last week against a familiar foe in quarterback Malik Willis, who was cut by the Titans right before the season started. However, what transpired was a massive let down at home with the Titans surrendering 30 points to their former QB. This is a defense that has been good at limiting yardage totals but has really struggled to force turnovers (currently last in the NFL). Miami has not named a starting quarterback as of right now, but it seems likely that it will be Tyler Huntley, who was a more than serviceable backup for the Ravens. Still, this game projects to be very low scoring and with the Titans D/ST getting another shot at a backup quarterback, they should produce startable fantasy numbers in Week 4.

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Deshaun Watson Sep 27 4:00pm CT
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns offensive linemen Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and Jack Conklin (hamstring) have both been ruled for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders according to Mary Kay Cabot. This will be a tough blow for the Cleveland offense, as they will be without two of their starting lineman. Even though the Raiders will be without star pass rusher Maxx Crosby (ankle), they will have a much easier time getting to Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Fantasy managers looking to stream a potential defense should consider Las Vegas, as they should be in a position to record a high number of sacks, as Watson has already been sacked 16 times this season.

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DeAndre Hopkins Sep 27 4:00pm CT
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Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins heads into a primetime matchup vs. the Miami Dolphins in Week 4. The veteran enjoyed a breakout performance in Week 4 with over 70 yards and a score, finally looking back to full strength after dealing with a knee injury for over a month. One week is a tiny sample size, but Hopkins took back over as the lead receiver for the Titans vs. Green Bay and may continue that against Miami. Quarterback Will Levis continues to struggle with a bad offensive line and poor decision making, which hurts Hopkins' value, but it's worth noting that the duo torched Miami last season for 124 yards and a touchdown. Hopkins is back in flex territory as of now, but keep expectations tempered.

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Jordan Love Sep 27 3:50pm CT
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The 25-year-old was able to log a limited practice every day this week and could return to action after missing the previous two weeks. Love was diagnosed with a knee injury following their Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil. Over the past two weeks, Malik Willis has led Green Bay to two straight victories and will get another start if Love is unable to suit up. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to any updates regarding Love, as he should be started in all formats if he is a 'full-go.'

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Calvin Ridley Sep 27 3:50pm CT
Calvin Ridley

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley faces the Miami Dolphins in Week 4. Ridley put up a near-dud last week with only one-catch for nine yards after torching the Jets lockdown secondary a week prior. Through three weeks it's fairly evident that he will be a boom/bust player given the inconsistencies of quarterback Will Levis, along with the emergence of DeAndre Hopkins last week. While Ridley was looking like the clear-cut top option in this passing attack, he took a clear back seat to Hopkins in Week 3 so that is definitely something to monitor. The way to beat Miami is on the ground so it's likely this upcoming game won't feature a ton of passing volume, making Ridley a risky WR3.

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Tank Dell Sep 27 3:40pm CT
Tank Dell

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (chest) was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The sophomore wideout suffered a chest injury in last week's game against the Minnesota Vikings and was not able to log a practice throughout the week. Dell will now set his sights on returning in Week 5 when the Texans face the Buffalo Bills. The 24-year-old has had a modest start to the season but did post a season-best 62 yards in last week's game but has yet to find the end zone. Fantasy managers should expect Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs to see the majority of targets this weekend, with Robert Woods and Xavier Hutchinson rotating as the No.3 option.

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Tyjae Spears Sep 27 3:40pm CT
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears faces the Miami Dolphins this coming Monday night in Week 4. The sophomore running back put up his highest yard total of the season last week with 61, and was on the field quite a bit when the Titans were playing catch up vs. Green Bay. He's still been a clear RB2 behind Pollard in terms of opportunities, but with how poor Miami is at defending the run and Spears ramping up in the passing game, he could be a sneaky good option for a flex spot, albeit in deeper leagues.

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Joe Mixon Sep 27 3:40pm CT
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game with an ankle injury. Mixon suffered the injury in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears and was held out of action last weekend. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to any updates regarding the 28-year-old's status over the weekend. The Texans will already enter this game shorthanded with wideout Tank Dell (chest) and No.2 running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) already ruled out. If Mixon misses his second-straight game, fantasy managers should expect Cam Akers to lead the backfield again in a favorable matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have allowed the 29th most points to running backs this season.

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Ja'Marr Chase Sep 27 3:30pm CT
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) does not carry an injury designation and is set to play on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Chase opened the week on Wednesday as a limited participant with a shoulder injury but logged a full practice on Thursday and Friday. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable locking the LSU standout in their lineup as a high-end WR1 for the remainder of the season. After starting the season slowly through the first two weeks, Chase broke out in a big way on Monday night as he caught six passes for 118 yards and two scores against the Washington Commanders.

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