Guest of the League
Fantasy Championship Slow 4hr V
Championship $300 - FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

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.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Tight End Preview

Player Notes
Kimani Vidal Jul 22 6:20pm CT
Kimani Vidal

Los Angeles Chargers running backs Kimani Vidal and Isaiah Spiller are locked into a positional battle for the No. 3 running back spot behind Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins (Achilles). With Dobbins recovering from injury and Edwards no stranger to injury himself, this team's No. 3 running back is an important position. Spiller is the incumbent but also a product of the previous regime. Spiller has only rushed for a total of 137 yards on 2.5 YPC in two seasons in the NFL. Vidal was a sixth-round pick out of Troy in April's draft. With a solid size-to-speed ratio, Vidal is an exciting young prospect. If Dobbins and Edwards get and stay healthy through training camp, then it is more likely that this positional battle will come down to blocking acumen and special team play. Given that Vidal is the pick of the Harbaugh regime and Spiller has been so abysmal to start his career, Vidal may be able to separate himself. If he wins the job and Dobbins or Edwards gets injured, Vidal could be a sneaky fantasy add in a Chargers offense that projects to be run-heavy.

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Jul 22 6:10pm CT
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin has had a career marred by constant quarterback changes and organizational dysfunction. Through it all, McLaurin has recorded four straight 1,000-yard seasons. His talent has constantly been on display with highlight-reel catches, and he has been a consistently solid presence in Washington's receiving core. With rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels stepping in, McLaurin feels the Commanders offense could be headed somewhere special. For fantasy football's sake, hopefully, McLaurin is correct. Daniels brings stability to the quarterback position and should provide McLaurin and the other receivers with one single presence throughout the season. McLaurin has a chance to build on his 1,002-yard and four-touchdown season in 2023. As roughly the WR33 in fantasy drafts, McLaurin could provide your team with solid value even with a rookie quarterback slinging the rock.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Jul 22 5:50pm CT
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (illness) was once again absent from the team's practice on Monday. He was also unavailable for Sunday's session. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh did not have an update on Jackson's condition beyond the fact that he remains out with an illness. Jackson is coming off a season in which he threw for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns while running for 821 yards and five touchdowns. Jackson finished as the QB4 in fantasy in 2023. As such, fantasy managers are anxiously awaiting his return to the field. Given that he is suffering from an illness, hopefully, Jackson will be back on the field later this week.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Jul 22 4:10pm CT
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has been one of the best players at his position since entering the NFL as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The LSU product has the seventh-most receiving yards (3,717) in a player's first three seasons of all time and is part of one of the best QB-WR pairings in the league. With Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jaylen Waddle, among others receiving lucrative contract extensions this offseason, Chase was thought to be next in line. However, Bengals president Mike Brown suggested Chase is unlikely to be re-signed before the start of the regular season. "It's not so likely that this is the good time to negotiate," Brown said. "The offseason is a better time for that and we're going to try to keep focused on the football part. I'm not going to rule anything out, but I will tell you that the die has probably been cast." However, Brown said the team has every intention to keep him in Cincinnati long-term. "He's a key player next to Joe [Burrow]," Brown said. "He's our next one. He knows that. We know it. This may take a while. We are going to bend over backward to get it done. I can't tell you when." Either way, Chase has overall WR1 upside in fantasy football as long as Burrow remains healthy.

From RotoBaller

DeWayne McBride Jul 22 3:50pm CT
DeWayne McBride

Minnesota Vikings running back DeWayne McBride (undisclosed) is being placed on the non-football injury list, the team announced on Monday. McBride joined the organization as a seventh-round pick last year, but he did not appear in a game after spending the season on the practice squad. McBride was once a deep sleeper in fantasy football following his prolific college career at UAB which saw him rush for over 3,000 yards and 32 touchdowns in his sophomore and junior seasons combined. Heading into his second year as a pro, he'll likely have a tough time earning a role behind Aaron Jones, Ty Chandler, and Kene Nwangwu, especially since he's beginning the offseason with an injury.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Jul 22 3:30pm CT
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed was placed on the non-football injury list ahead of training camp, and he is not practicing on Day 1. However, the second-year playmaker said he suffered a minor toe injury at his youth camp, and it is "nothing to worry about." This is promising news for his availability later in camp as he looks to build off a strong rookie performance. The No. 50 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft posted 64 receptions for 793 yards and eight touchdowns and added 119 yards and two scores as a rusher in 2023. Although ascending quarterback Jordan Love is likely to spread targets around in 2024, Reed should continue to see manufactured touches and be a difference-maker in the red zone.

From RotoBaller

Nate Wiggins Jul 22 3:20pm CT
Nate Wiggins

Veteran defensive back Daryl Worley re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens, the team announced on Monday. Worley has spent the last three seasons with Baltimore after being with eight different organizations before the 2021 regular season. The 29-year-old played in 12 games in 2023 and racked up 12 tackles and one pass deflection. The Ravens added former All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson and first-round cornerback Nate Wiggins this offseason, so it would be a surprise if Worley sees an uptick in playing time heading into his ninth pro campaign.

From RotoBaller

MarShawn Lloyd Jul 22 3:20pm CT
MarShawn Lloyd

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (hip) is not practicing on the first day of training camp due to a hip injury, according to team reporter Rob Demovsky. The rookie out of USC is expected to have a role in the ascending Green Bay offense right away, so missing reps is not ideal. However, it's early in the offseason, meaning teams are going to be extra cautious with bumps and bruises. For now, this development should not affect his rookie fantasy football value. While Josh Jacobs is fully expected to be the lead back in 2024, Lloyd could have standalone value as a handcuff running back, and his role could increase as the season moves along, especially if Jacobs continues to regress after a disappointing final season with the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Turner Jul 22 1:20pm CT
Dallas Turner

The Minnesota Vikings announced that first-round linebacker Dallas Turner signed his four-year rookie contract on Sunday in order to report for the start of training camp this week. The Vikings traded up with the Jacksonville Jaguars in April's NFL draft to take Turner with the 17th overall pick out of Alabama. The 21-year-old was one of the top pass-rushers in this year's draft class after recording an SEC-leading 11 sacks in his final collegiate season in 2023. Turner is undersized for an edge rusher but makes up for it with his elite athleticism and is expected to be an immediate starter in Minnesota's defense. The Vikings are hoping that Turner can make up for the loss of Danielle Hunter, who is now playing for the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Sam Darnold Jul 22 1:20pm CT
Sam Darnold

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that quarterback Sam Darnold will take the majority of the first-team QB snaps in training camp this summer, although rookie first-rounder J.J. McCarthy will get some first-team work as well. This isn't breaking news, as the Vikings announced in early June that Darnold, a former first-rounder himself, would head to camp as the QB1 as they look to give McCarthy plenty of time to develop as their potential franchise signal-caller. Darnold looked sharp in offseason workouts and is working with the best supporting cast of his career in Minnesota. His fantasy stock is on the rise as a QB2 in fantasy and is ranked as the No. 17 QB by RotoBaller. However, Darnold is going to need to perform well in 2024 in his first year in Minnesota if he wants to hold off McCarthy all season long.

From RotoBaller

Daryl Worley Jul 22 1:13pm CT
Daryl Worley

Free-agent DB Daryl Worley (Ravens) re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens on an undisclosed deal Monday, July 22.

From TheHuddle

T.J. Hockenson Jul 22 1:10pm CT
T.J. Hockenson

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) will start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. It's not a surprise, although O'Connell said Hockenson is "well ahead of schedule" with his rehab from ACL surgery in late January. The 27-year-old tight end tore his ACL at the end of last season and is doubtful to be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 campaign despite being ahead of scheduled this offseason. In addition to coming off a major injury, Hockenson will be more of a fantasy question mark now that he's going from quarterback Kirk Cousins to a potential mixture of Sam Darnold and rookie first-rounder J.J. McCarthy this season. Even when Hockenson does return to the field in the regular season, he's likely to be eased in, so he should be considered more of a high-end TE2 stash in fantasy football drafts this fall.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Jul 22 1:00pm CT
Rashee Rice

Kansas City Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt said that there has been no discussion with the NFL regarding a possible suspension for wide receiver Rashee Rice. A potential punishment from the league is still a ways off as of right now. Everyone is expecting the 24-year-old second-year pass-catcher to open the 2024 season with a multi-game suspension following his involvement in a high-speed, multi-car crash back in April in which he was charged with aggravated assault, collision involving serious bodily injury, and collision involving injury. Rice has taken part in all offseason workouts and is present for the start of training camp. It's possible that he may avoid a suspension to open the regular season, but all expectations are that a suspension is eventually coming. With the suspension hanging over his head and after KC added Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy this offseason, Rice's fantasy stock has fallen and he's currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 39 fantasy receiver.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Jul 22 12:40pm CT
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs rookie first-round wide receiver Xavier Worthy (illness) missed training camp practice on Monday due to an illness. Worthy should be considered day-to-day this week and shouldn't be out long before rejoining the team at camp. The 21-year-old speedy pass-catcher also missed valuable time during OTAs and minicamp due to a hamstring injury, but he was present on the field for the start of camp this weekend. Durability may be a question mark for the 5-foot-11, 165-pounder, but his speed alone as a deep threat for quarterback Patrick Mahomes will make him worthy of a late-round flier in redraft fantasy drafts this fall, especially with Rashee Rice expected to open the 2024 campaign serving a suspension. RotoBaller has Worthy ranked as the No. 48 fantasy wideout heading into his first NFL season.

From RotoBaller

Joe Mixon Jul 22 12:30pm CT
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (undisclosed) has been held out of training camp practice the last few days, but head coach DeMeco Ryans said Mixon "will be fine." "I'm not worried out Joe." It's not a long-term injury for the 27-year-old, so he should be 100 percent in plenty of time for the start of the 2024 regular season this fall. Mixon's absence will give Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale, among others, more reps early in training camp in Houston's backfield. When healthy, the former Bengals RB will be the Texans' clear lead back in 2024. "Workhorse. He's an absolute workhorse, in every regard," offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik recently said of Mixon. He's joining an offense on the rise, but Mixon is probably going to need to be much more efficient as a runner than he was last year in order to finish as a top-12 fantasy back in his first year in Houston.

From RotoBaller

Kadarius Toney Jul 22 12:30pm CT
Kadarius Toney

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney was seen working as a running back during portions of the team's first training camp practice over the weekend. Toney had a disastrous 2023 season with the Chiefs, so perhaps the coaching staff is looking for creative ways to get the speedy wideout more involved this year. During wideout drills, Toney was present for 7-on-7 reps, alternating with the first-string offense and the third-string unit. Head coach Andy Reid didn't really give any clues to how the Chiefs might be using Toney differently this year. Not only does the former first-rounder need to show more in camp and the preseason this year in order to secure a roster spot, but he needs to stay healthy. The 25-year-old is currently on the outside looking in and is off the fantasy radar in single-year leagues.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Jul 22 12:20pm CT
Caleb Williams

The Chicago Bears have seen clear improvement from rookie first-round quarterback Caleb Williams in the early stages of training camp. Specifically, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has seen improvement in Williams' operation of the offense, from learning the verbiage to using cadence as a weapon. The first overall pick out of USC in April's NFL draft struggled in offseason practices while going up a strong Bears defense, but he appears to be taking the next step early this summer. The 22-year-old is going to need to keep it up as he gets closer to making his NFL debut this fall as the immediate starter under for the Bears in 2024. It's great news for fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues. Williams has an excellent supporting cast in Chicago, which should give him high-end QB2 appeal in redraft leagues, as well, in his rookie campaign.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Jul 22 12:20pm CT
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) expects to be full-go for the start of training camp this week after undergoing surgery on a torn ACL in his knee in November. Jones was not fully cleared during offseason workouts in the spring. He did not suffer any setbacks this summer that would keep him from being ready for Day 1 of training camp and he's not expected to start on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The G-Men looked closely at QBs in April's NFL draft, but they are adamant that Jones will be their starter in Week 1 against the Vikings. The 27-year-old is likely in a make-or-break year in New York in 2024 after starting just six games last year due to neck and knee injuries. He threw for just two touchdowns and six picks after a career year in 2022. Coming off a major injury with a suspect offensive line, RotoBaller has Jones ranked as the No. 25 fantasy QB.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Jul 22 12:10pm CT
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love will not practice at training camp until he has a new deal, according to general manager Brian Gutekunst. Love's camp informed the Packers of his decision on Saturday. Gutekunst said that a deal could get done in the coming days, but that deals also take time. "I feel we're close," Gutekunst said. While Love won't practice until he has a new deal, this isn't a holdout, as he's in the building and will take part in meetings. Love's extension is expected to exceed $50 million per year after he excelled in his first full season as the starter in 2023 with 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 17 regular-season starts. The 25-year-old also led the Packers to a playoff upset win over the Dallas Cowboys on the road. Contract aside, Love heads into the 2024 campaign as RotoBaller's No. 11-ranked fantasy QB after his big 2023 season.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Jul 22 12:10pm CT
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told the local media on Monday that quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) has been fully cleared for contact at training camp. Burrow made only 10 starts in his fourth NFL season in 2023 due to a right-wrist injury that required season-ending surgery. The 27-year-old is now a full-go for camp and the preseason and should be 100 percent for the start of the 2024 regular season this fall. As long as the first overall pick out of LSU in 2020 can stay on the field, he should be able to bounce back, although his injury history early in his career makes him a risk/reward midrange QB1 target in upcoming fantasy drafts. Burrow averaged a weak 6.50 yards per attempt in 2023, but he should have enough volume to give him a high fantasy ceiling in 2024. RotoBaller has Burrow ranked as the No. 7 fantasy QB.

From RotoBaller