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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
Davante Adams Sep 27 2:00pm CT
Davante Adams

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) has been ruled out for the upcoming Week 4 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Yikes, Adams was added to the injury report on Thursday as a limited participant due to a hamstring issue. It appears that injury was fairly serious as the team has already ruled him out for this weekend. That is going to leave a massive void to be filled, which is going to be tough given the Raiders lack of viable options. Wideout Jakobi Meyers figures to remain heavily involved and is on the WR3 radar. Also, tight end Brock Bowers has been used all over the place and is a strong TE1 without Adams on the field.

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Greg Joseph Sep 27 2:00pm CT
Greg Joseph

The Dallas Cowboys defense had a nice bounce-back outing on Thursday evening as they did not allow a touchdown en route to defeating the New York Giants. This was a nice step in the right direction for one of the top defenses in football last season, as they served up 72 points over the past two weeks. On Thursday, they contained the New York offense when they approached the red zone as kicker Greg Joseph put all 15 points on the board himself. The Cowboys tallied one interception late in the game, courtesy of Amani Oruwariye, and one sack, thanks to edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence. However, the Cowboys could be without Micah Parsons (ankle), who suffered an ankle injury last night and had to be carted off. Nonetheless, fantasy managers should continue to view Dallas as a high-end defense heading into Week 5 when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aubrey Sep 27 1:50pm CT
Brandon Aubrey

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey went 2-for-3 on field goal attempts and a perfect 2-for-2 on extra point attempts on Thursday evening. Aubrey made his first field goal of the evening from 60 yards out in the third quarter and later made his second from 40 yards out. His lone miss was from 51 yards that came with just 30 seconds left in the game. The Notre Dame product now enters Week 5 with a stellar 92.3% on attempts with an impressive 6-for-7 from 50+ yards out. Aubrey's longest field goal of the campaign came last week from 65 yards out, which set a new franchise record. The 29-year-old remains the top kicker in fantasy due to his incredible length strength and should always remain locked into all starting lineups.

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Rome Odunze Sep 27 1:50pm CT
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze (hip) has been removed from the injury report ahead of the Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The rookie wideout popped up on the injury report on Thursday when he was limited in practice. However, he was able to get through a full session on Friday and appears to be fine heading into the weekend. Odunze finished with over 100 yards and a touchdown last week, but he could see a dip in usage going forward. Fellow wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) was a full participant during Friday's practice and is questionable to play on Sunday. This would be Allen's first time suiting up since the season opener. He saw 11 targets in Week 1 and figures to be an important part of the offense going forward. Odunze should be in the mix as a low-end WR3 for Week 4.

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Alvin Kamara Sep 27 1:40pm CT
Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (hip, ribs) was able to get on the practice field for Friday's session. This is good news after Kamara sat out of Wednesday's practice, but has been involved each of the last two days. The fact that Kamara has practiced two days in a row should mean that he'll be fine for the Week 4 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Unless he suffers a setback, Kamara should be a must-start fantasy option for this Week 4 contest. He has 285 rushing yards and four touchdowns through the first three games of the season.

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Keenan Allen Sep 27 1:40pm CT
Keenan Allen

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) was upgraded to a full participant during Friday's practice session. That is good news considering Allen was limited during the first two sessions of the week. Despite that, Allen was given a questionable tag ahead of the Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. He has a chance to get back on the field for the first time since Week 1. That being said, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Bears have Allen on a snap count this weekend. Allen saw 11 targets in the season opener, but is also battling with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze for targets on this offense. Fantasy managers should consider Allen as a flex play, assuming he's cleared to play in Week 4.

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Jalen McMillan Sep 27 1:30pm CT
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (hamstring) picked up an injury during Friday's practice session, according to head coach Todd Bowles. His availability for Week 4 is uncertain, but it's never a good sign when a player suffers an injury this late in the week. The Bucs will likely wait and see how McMillan feels over the next few days before they make a final decision. The third-round rookie has been quiet early in the season, but could see an increased role with Mike Evans (knee) and Chris Godwin (neck) both on the injury report. McMillan will be off the fantasy radar, assuming both wideouts are available to play this Sunday.

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Micah Parsons Sep 27 1:20pm CT
Micah Parsons

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons (ankle) could end up missing some time after suffering an injury during Thursday's win over the New York Giants. The superstar pass rusher has reportedly suffered a high-ankle sprain. The organization hasn't yet given a timetable for Parsons, but it wouldn't be shocking if he does miss time. Luckily, the Cowboys do have 10 days off before they play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5. Parsons has been off to a slow start with only 14 tackles and one sack through the first four games. However, his absence would be a significant blow to this defense going forward.

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Marshawn Kneeland Sep 27 1:20pm CT
Marshawn Kneeland

Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) could be in danger of missing some time after suffering an injury during Thursday's game against the New York Giants. This is bad timing for the Cowboys with Micah Parsons (ankle) also picking up an injury during that game. The team hasn't given a timetable for Parsons, but they expect Lawrence to miss multiple weeks due to a foot injury. Not good news considering Lawrence has been a solid contributor for the Cowboys. He has 14 tackles, three sacks, and four tackles for loss through four games. Chauncey Golston or Marshawn Kneeland are next in line to see increased snaps with Lawrence likely out a few weeks.

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Diontae Johnson Sep 27 1:00pm CT
Diontae Johnson

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (groin) is listed as questionable to face the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday in Week 4. Johnson popped up on the Week 4 injury report after missing practice on Thursday, but he was able to return to the practice field on Friday, giving him a shot to play this weekend. Johnson's status looms even larger after Carolina placed fellow wideout Adam Thielen (hamstring) on Injured Reserve earlier this week. If Johnson is limited or out in Week 4, that takes out the Panthers' top two receiving options for veteran Andy Dalton. Even if Johnson suits up on Sunday, rookie Xavier Legette should be in for an expanded role, making him worth a look as a WR4/flex play in deeper fantasy leagues against a Bengals defense that isn't scaring anyone. Jonathan Mingo would serve as Carolina's No. 2 WR if Johnson isn't given the green light.

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Nico Collins Sep 27 12:40pm CT
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) was seen at practice on Friday and is trending toward playing in Week 4 on Sunday versus the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. Collins was added to the Week 4 injury report after putting in a limited practice on Thursday. Fantasy managers should check back to see what Collins' official status is for the weekend, but even if he's questionable, it appears that he's on the right side of questionable after not missing any practice time this week. The 25-year-old pass-catcher should be in all starting fantasy lineups against a porous Jags defense if he's active, especially with fellow wideout Tank Dell (chest) unlikely to play. Collins went over 100 yards receiving in each of the first two weeks despite the addition of Stefon Diggs in the offseason, and he currently leads the league with 112.7 yards per game.

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Jordan Addison Sep 27 12:30pm CT
Jordan Addison

After missing the last two games with an ankle injury, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) plans to play in a big Week 4 divisional game at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. After a second straight day of limited practice on Thursday, Addison said that he's "ready to go" and expects to play on Sunday. Fantasy managers will want to check Minnesota's final injury report on Friday, but all signs are pointing towards Addison making his return this weekend, which is certainly good news for the 3-0 Vikings. It's bad news for anyone that has plucked Jalen Nailor off the waiver wire in recent weeks, though, after he has scored a touchdown in each of the team's first three games of 2024. Addison, who had 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2023, caught just three of four targets for 35 yards in the season-opening win over the New York Giants.

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Tank Dell Sep 27 12:30pm CT
Tank Dell

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (chest) was not seen at the portion of Friday's practice that was open to the media. Dell also missed the first two practices of the week and is considered unlikely to play in Week 4 against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. Dell also injured his hand/wrist at the end of the Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but the good news is that none of his injuries are considered long-term. Check back later for Houston's final injury designations, but fantasy managers should be moving Dell to their benches for the week. Nico Collins (hamstring) also popped up on the injury report this week, but he appears to be fine to play. Both Collins and Stefon Diggs will have higher ceilings and floors this week if Dell is officially ruled out, as will struggling tight end Dalton Schultz. Dell has been the clear WR3 this year and has nine catches for 99 yards through three weeks.

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Sam LaPorta Sep 27 12:20pm CT
Sam LaPorta

After missing practice on Thursday, Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle) was back at practice on Thursday. LaPorta was likely a limited participant, but either way, the fact that he's back on the practice field is a great sign and will give him a chance to suit up in Week 4 on Monday night against the visiting Seattle Seahawks. However, if LaPorta is ultimately questionable and up in the air to play, it will present fantasy managers with a difficult decision with Detroit's game this week coming on Monday. The 23-year-old was carted to the locker room after injuring his ankle in the Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals but eventually returned. LaPorta has disappointed with only eight catches for 94 yards and no touchdowns in three games in 2024, but if he's on track to play, he needs to remain locked into all fantasy lineups. If LaPorta cannot play against Seattle, Brock Wright would again see a role boost.

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Marvin Harrison Jr. Sep 27 12:20pm CT
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said there are no concerns with rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (quadriceps) for the Week 4 contest versus the Washington Commanders. Harrison was added to the injury report this week but was able to put in limited practices on both Wednesday and Thursday. It sounds like the 22-year-old was just getting a little extra rest this week and should be fine to suit up this Sunday. Harrison laid an egg in his NFL debut in the Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills but has been heavily involved the last two games, catching nine of 19 targets for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Fantasy managers surely would like to see more efficiency from the Harrison-Kyler Murray combination, but the fourth overall pick in this year's draft remains a must-start in fantasy lineups. Harrison could have another banner day against a suspect Commanders secondary in Week 4.

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Deebo Samuel Sep 27 12:10pm CT
Deebo Samuel

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) has a chance to return in Week 4 against the New England Patriots a week earlier than expected, but a lot is riding on his practice status on Friday. Samuel did not practice on Wednesday before returning to a limited session on Thursday. "The best athletes seem to heal at a little better rate... The reason he's on the field is because he hit all the markers," general manager John Lynch said. Fantasy managers will want to check back for Samuel's official injury designation for the weekend. The 28-year-old will likely be questionable, at best, and even if he does suit up on Sunday, he could be on a pitch count. After initially injuring his calf, Samuel was expected to be out for two to three weeks. Jauan Jennings went off for 175 yards and three touchdowns in the Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams with both Samuel and tight end George Kittle (hamstring) out.

From RotoBaller

DeVonta Smith Sep 27 12:10pm CT
DeVonta Smith

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (concussion) was not seen at the portion of Friday's practice open to the media. Smith also didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday, so he's trending towards being ruled out for the Week 4 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday after suffering a concussion on a cheap shot in the Week 3 win over the New Orleans Saints. Fantasy managers will want to check back for the 25-year-old's official status later in the day, but there's a good chance they won't have him available this weekend. A.J. Brown (hamstring) returned to practice on Friday after missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but it's still unknown if he'll play against Tampa. If both Brown and Smith are unable to go, tight end Dallas Goedert could be in line for another monster game.

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Jake Ferguson Sep 27 12:00pm CT
Jake Ferguson

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson caught all seven of his targets for 49 yards in Thursday's victory over the New York Giants. This was another strong outing for the 25-year-old as he caught six of his 11 targets for 95 yards last week against the Baltimore Ravens. After missing the second game of the season due to an MCL sprain, the tight end has bounced back quite well and should be viewed as a safe TE1 going forward. Ferguson has established himself as the clear No.2 pass-catching option behind CeeDee Lamb and should see a consistent amount of targets on a weekly basis. Ferguson should be locked into all starting lineups next weekend even though he will face a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

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Joe Mixon Sep 27 11:50am CT
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) was seen at Friday's practice, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. Mixon did not practice during the first two sessions earlier this week, so this could open the door for the 28-year-old to return to action this weekend. Mixon sat out last Sunday's game due to an ankle injury. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to Friday's injury report, as it should provide clarity on Mixon's status heading into the weekend. If he were to miss his second straight game, fantasy managers should expect Cam Akers to lead the backfield once again against the Jacksonville Jaguars, as No.2 running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) has not yet practiced this week.

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A.J. Brown Sep 27 11:50am CT
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) returned to practice on Friday, according to Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice. The standout wide receiver has been sidelined over the past two weeks due to a hamstring injury. This is a great sign to see Brown back at practice and could open the door for him to return this weekend after his two-game absence. Fantasy managers should monitor the injury report later, as Brown will likely carry a designation into the weekend. The 27-year-old would be a welcome addition to the wide receiver room this weekend as No.2 wideout DeVonta Smith (concussion) has not yet practiced this week due to a concussion. If Brown is able to suit up on Sunday, he should be viewed as a high-end WR1. If he misses his third-straight game, fantasy managers should expect tight end Dallas Goedert to serve as the 'go-to' option for Jalen Hurts.

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