Guest of the League
Dimes Best Ball SFlx 72
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

This Week in the TFC (8-1)

Player Notes
Breece Hall Aug 4 2:40pm CT
Breece Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall is a coveted target for fantasy managers in drafts heading into the 2024-25 campaign. He is already projected to be heavily involved in the offense. However, it appears Hall's role could be more significant than initially expected, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers implying that the 23-year-old is his top option in progression on goal-line routes. After Hall's rookie year was cut short by injury, he returned last season to run for 994 yards and five touchdowns off 223 carries, adding 76 catches for 591 yards and four scores. With that said, Rodgers and Hall collectively need to stay healthy. But if that happens, the 2022 No. 36 overall pick could easily surpass his production from a season ago in 2024-25.

From RotoBaller

Keon Coleman Aug 4 2:20pm CT
Keon Coleman

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman has had a promising training camp. More importantly, he continues to build chemistry with quarterback Josh Allen. With that said, Coleman continues to shine, with the Bills posting a video showing the rookie making an impressive catch during Sunday's session. Buffalo took Coleman with the No. 33 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft after amassing 115 catches for 1,506 yards and 19 touchdowns across three collegiate seasons. While the Bills have Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir, among others, fighting for the right to be the No. 1 option for Josh Allen, it appears Coleman is already at the top of the depth chart heading into Week 1.

From RotoBaller

DeVonta Smith Aug 4 2:10pm CT
DeVonta Smith

According to Philadelphia Eagles receivers coach Aaron Moorehead, wideout DeVonta Smith has been solid during training camp. "He's had as good of a camp that he's had probably since I've been here with him," said Moorehead recently. "His confidence is through the roof and he's continuing just to master his craft. He's getting in that good part of his career that as long as he's doing the things he's doing, he's going to be hard to cover." The 25-year-old inked a three-year, $75 million contract extension this offseason after posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and finding the end zone 14 times during that span. While the arrival of Saquon Barkley could jeopardize Smith's volume, there's no reason fantasy managers can't get another 1,000-yard campaign out of him in 2024-25.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Legette Aug 4 1:50pm CT
Xavier Legette

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (leg) left practice on Sunday due to injury. According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, X-rays on the rookie's lower leg were negative. However, he's not out of the woods just yet, with Rapoport adding an MRI is on the horizon to determine the extent of the injury. The 2024 No. 32 overall pick is coming off a hamstring issue, which kept him from participating in offseason workouts ahead of training camp. While he appeared healthy in a video released shortly after, the latest news from Panthers' practice on Sunday isn't a promising sign regarding his durability. Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen will see targets regardless. Yet, players like Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall Jr. could see more attention from Bryce Young if Legette is sidelined for an extended period.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Daniels Aug 4 1:13pm CT
Jayden Daniels

Dynasty | Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will start the team's preseason opener on Saturday. Dynasty Analysis: One of the most polarizing prospects in recent memory, Daniels will attempt to stake his claim to the mantle of "franchise savior" starting this week. His last college season was dominant but there are real questions about how his game translates to the next level. At this point, he's a top three 2QB / Superflex rookie and dynasty managers who drafted him are looking forward to his debut.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jayden Daniels Aug 4 11:10am CT
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is set to play in the team's first preseason game against the New York Jets. This isn't shocking news after Daniels was taken as the No. 2 overall selection in this year's draft. He will get his first taste of NFL action next weekend as the organization is hopeful Daniels is their quarterback of the future. It's worth noting that the Commanders haven't revealed their starter for Week 1. Both Marcus Mariota and Daniels have been given first-team reps in camp. The assumption is Daniels will start the season opener, but we'll wait and see how Daniels looks in the preseason opener.

From RotoBaller

Josh Jacobs Aug 4 11:00am CT
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (groin) was back on the practice field this weekend. This is good news after Jacobs missed practice on Thursday due to a minor groin issue. The injury appears to be behind him as Jacobs is back on the practice field. The Packers haven't tipped their hand to which back is going to be the starter heading into Week 1. The assumption is that Jacobs would lead the charge after signing almost a $50 million multi-year deal over the offseason. Possibly, Jacobs and AJ Dillon will split up the workload which would hinder the value of both players. Nonetheless, Jacobs is back on the field so fantasy managers don't have to worry about this injury lingering into the regular season.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Wright Aug 4 10:50am CT
Jaylen Wright

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright has impressed the coaching staff early in training camp. Wright has been doing all the right things and is putting himself in good position heading into the season. The fourth-round rookie appears ready to make an impact on the field, but will have to battle for snaps. Both Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane are ahead of Wright on the depth chart. However, head coach Mike McDaniel has shown he's not scared to use his rookies after seeing what Achane did last season. The Dolphins should be able to find a way to get the speedy back involved, but it probably won't be enough snaps to carry every week fantasy value.

From RotoBaller

Tyrone Tracy Jr. Aug 4 10:30am CT
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has reportedly been impressing the organization early in training camp. The fifth-round rookie appears to be taking the lead in the competition for the second string job in the backfield. Tracy's ability in the short yardage passing game appears to be giving him the advantage over Eric Gray and Dante Miller. It's worth noting that Tracy spent a majority of his career as a wide receiver in college before switching to running back last season. That being said, Tracy certainly has the skillset to get the job done as a receiver in the backfield. However, it's uncertain how much of a usage Tracy could have behind Devin Singletary. Regardless, Tracy is someone to keep an eye on during training camp and in the preseason.

From RotoBaller

Cade Otton Aug 4 10:20am CT
Cade Otton

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton could be utilized differently under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. This new system is reportedly going to have a bunch of shifts and motions to bait defenses. It's structured to give playmakers space and create advantages in matchups. Otton praised this scheme and said it allows players to do what they do best. It sounds like this new system gives players some freedom which could be a good thing for the Bucs offense. Otton has 89 receptions for 846 yards and six touchdowns through his first two seasons in Tampa Bay. Possibly, this new scheme will help Otton improve his game and find new ways of getting open and making plays.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Aug 3 9:30pm CT
Joe Burrow

Newly-acquired Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki has shown early chemistry in camp with quarterback Joe Burrow. Gesicki, who is 28 years old, has even racked up a few impressive one-hand catches during drills with Burrow. The seasoned tight end will be on his third team in three years after a one-year stint in New England and projects to lead a TE room with veterans Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson and rookies Erick All Jr. and Tanner McLachlan. Gesicki is the TE29 (ADP No. 243) in NFFC drafts. The former Dolphin still has some juice and will play with the best quarterback he's ever had. He'll be a target in best ball formats and can be picked up off the waiver wire in others with a chance to be a sneaky sleeper. In 2021, Gesicki amassed a career-high 73 receptions for 780 yards on 112 targets but has been limited to 61 catches for 606 yards over 34 games in the last two seasons with the Dolphins and Patriots.

From RotoBaller

Cooper Kupp Aug 3 9:30pm CT
Cooper Kupp

Los Angeles Rams veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) is believed to be "all the way back," as per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. According to Fowler, the Rams' offense evidently "runs through Kupp." The 31-year-old wideout finished 2023 as the fantasy WR24 on a PPG basis after a season where he was never truly healthy, suffering injuries during the regular season and pre-season. However, three years ago, Kupp finished as the overall WR1 on the back of a historic Triple-Crown winning season and then began 2022 at an equally historic pace through nine games before going down with an ankle sprain. Whether Kupp is actually back is yet to be determined, but if his disappointing 2023 is more a product of health than a regression of skill, he could have an excellent bounce-back season. Kupp is the 39th player off the board in NFFC drafts (WR21) and has Puka Nacua to compete with for quarterback Matthew Stafford's targets. It's unclear exactly how those targets will shake out, but a fully healthy Kupp and Nacua are certain to terrorize opposing defenses all season.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Aug 3 9:20pm CT
Geno Smith

After missing several practices, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (knee, hip) is expected to return to practice early next week. His testing came back clean, not revealing "anything significant," and the Seahawks can breathe a collective sigh of relief. The 33-year-old gives Seattle's offense its best chance of success, which accounts for his loaded wide receiver corps. This is still a situation to monitor, as we've yet to see him return to practice in full, but if Smith is healthy, there is a lot to be excited about with Ryan Grubb's new offensive scheme in Seattle. The 11-year veteran is RotoBaller's QB22 in superflex rankings and is an attractive sleeper target at his ADP (No. 101 on Sleeper). Geno is just two years removed from a 30-touchdown, 4,282-yard season while completing nearly 70% (69.8) of his passes.

From RotoBaller

Marvin Mims Aug 3 9:20pm CT
Marvin Mims

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. had a hot-and-cold practice on Saturday but showed off his explosive play prowess nonetheless. During the early portion of practice, Jarrett Stidham placed a beautiful ball just out of reach of the fingertips of Mims, who couldn't complete the diving grab. The second-year wideout then caught a ball during Bo Nix's go, but he saved his biggest play of the day for last. In an end-of-game, win-or-go-home hypothetical situation, the Broncos' offense was down to 4th-and-18, and Stidham completed his pass to Mims this time for 23 yards, keeping the drive alive. He also flashed his explosiveness in stints during his rookie season, and Denver's WR room is wide open behind Courtland Sutton. He'll be vying for targets with fellow wideouts Josh Reynolds and rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin. Mims is a late-round choice in fantasy drafts right now at WR72 with an NFFC ADP 185, making him worth a flier in best ball and deep leagues as a big play threat.

From RotoBaller

Tyreek Hill Aug 3 9:13pm CT
Tyreek Hill

Dynasty | The Dolphins and Tyreek Hill have agreed to a restructured contract. Dynasty Analysis: The contract includes $65 million in guarantees, bringing his four-year total in guaranteed money to $106.5 million, tops in history for a wide receiver. This should ensure Hill stays in Miami for at least the next three years and that's music to the ears of any dynasty manager as he posted another great season in 2023 with 119 catches for 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns. Hill could easily be the WR1 in any season and is an easy target for any contending dynasty team. This contract locks him in to elite status for the foreseeable future.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Luke Schoonmaker Aug 3 6:00pm CT
Luke Schoonmaker

Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker (groin) was unable to practice on Saturday. It sounds like the second-year tight end is dealing with a minor groin issue. For now, Schoonmaker is considered as day-to-day. The Cowboys might hold him out of practice for a few days until he's back to full health. The expectation is Schoonmaker will be the No. 2 tight end behind Jake Ferguson this season. He finished with eight receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games last season. There probably won't be a ton of fantasy value for Schoonmaker with Ferguson ahead of him on the depth chart.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Aug 3 6:00pm CT
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle) is back to participating in practice on Saturday. This comes a day after Jennings was limited to side work due to a minor ankle issue. Luckily, Jennings is back and hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy during Saturday's practice. Jennings figures to compete for the No. 3 wideout role in training camp. He has seen less than 40 targets in two of his first three seasons in the league. However, an increased role to the No. 3 spot could give him more fantasy value.

From RotoBaller

Rashid Shaheed Aug 3 5:40pm CT
Rashid Shaheed

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (hamstring) is a little banged up after Saturday's practice session. Head coach Dennis Allen said Shaheed is dealing with hamstring tightness and will be evaluated on Sunday. This is not good news for an already thin wide receiver group in New Orleans. Shaheed figures to have a decently sized role in the offense this upcoming season. He hauled in 46 receptions for 719 yards and five touchdowns through 15 games last season. There should be more information on the severity of the injury later in the weekend.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Brown Aug 3 5:40pm CT
Anthony Brown

The Carolina Panthers have signed defensive back Anthony Brown on Saturday. The organization has reportedly signed Brown after having the veteran defensive back do a workout for the team this weekend. The 30-year-old has spent a majority of his career as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. His best season came in 2021 when he recorded three interceptions and 59 tackles in 16 games. He should provide solid depth for the Panthers defense heading into the regular season.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Aug 3 5:30pm CT
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) has reportedly looked impressive early in camp. The veteran quarterback has gone through nine practices in camp and did a 90-min scrimmage on Saturday. Head coach Robert Saleh said it looks like Rodgers hasn't missed any time. The 40-year-old is less than a year removed from a torn Achilles. Despite that, Rodgers says he was 95 percent healthy heading into training camp. The first chance for Rodgers to get back into game action would be Saturday in the preseason opener against the Washington Commanders. It remains to been see if Rodgers is ready for that next step.

From RotoBaller