Thu May 23 11:12am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
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.
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 5
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (hip) has been downgraded to out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings in London. He suffered the injury during the first half and was unable to re-enter the contest. The television broadcast showed a camera angle of Jones limping on the sideline while expressing discomfort and frustration when he tried to run. He finished Sunday's contest with seven rushing yards for 29 yards on the ground, as well as a 24-yard reception. If there's any good news here, it's that the Vikings conveniently have a Week 6 bye, meaning Jones will have a full 14 days to recover before his next game. In the interim, Ty Chandler will lead the Minnesota backfield. Chandler figures to operate as a mid-range fantasy RB2 in the Vikings' productive offense.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson wasn't able to do much damage against the Minnesota Vikings last week. The 25-year-old rushed eight times for 27 yards as the primary backup to Josh Jacobs. This was a disappointing outing for Wilson after a 50-yard performance in Week 3. The assumption is that Wilson should continue to remain involved during the upcoming Week 5 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. However, Wilson will have a limited ceiling as the backup to Jacobs, so fantasy managers should be able to find a more viable option elsewhere.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (hip) is questionable to return for Sunday's Week 5 matchup against the New York Jets. The veteran back suffered a hip injury during the second quarter of their matchup in London. The assumption is that Jones will be held out until halftime to be further evaluated. In the meantime, Ty Chandler figures to take over as the primary back with Myles Gaskin getting mixed in as well. Jones rushed seven times for 29 yards with one reception for 24 yards before exiting the contest.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange figures to draw another start ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Fellow tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) is likely to miss his fourth game in a row on Sunday. Strange has eight receptions on 14 targets for 96 yards over the last three games. He has been seeing nearly 70 percent of the snap count since the absence of Engram. The 23-year-old should see a handful of targets which could give him some TE2 appeal for Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens DE Yannick Ngakoue was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster for Week 5's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
From TheHuddle
Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson is expected to see more involvement during Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts are going to be without Jonathan Taylor (ankle) for at least one game. Head coach Shane Steichen said that the team plans to use a committee approach at running back. Trey Sermon figures to lead the charge with Goodson and Evan Hull being mixed in behind him. Goodson hasn't seen much of the field this season, but could serve as change-of-pace option or receiving back for Week 5. The Colts could use a run-heavy approach with quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) considered doubtful. Goodson should find a way to get involved, but remains a desperation option in deep leagues.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 19-of-24 passes for 180 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a loss against Atlanta. Dynasty Analysis: With 11 touchdowns, two interceptions, and 1,164 passing yards through four weeks, it's clear Mayfield's resurgence last year was no fluke. He's in complete control of the offense and is a QB1 option moving forward. While his age (29) dampens his dynasty value, he's turning into more than just a streaming option. You simply have to wonder just how much the Browns regret moving on from Mayfield in favor of an expensive and ineffective Deshaun Watson.
Dynasty | Falcons receiver Drake London had 12 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons come-from-behind overtime win against Tampa Bay. Dynasty Analysis: Kirk Cousins struggled mightily the first month of the season, but London was somehow able to salvage some decent value in the short-term. Tonight was different as Cousins unleashed 58 pass attempts and targeted London 13 times on the night. While we need to see more before locking in London as a true WR1, he's certainly good enough to be a solid weekly starter moving forward.
Dynasty | Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts had seven catches for 88 yards in a win against Tampa Bay. Dynasty Analysis: It only took Kirk Cousins throwing the ball 58 times (and posting the 15th highest single-game passing yardage total in league history) to unlock the potential of Pitts. Even with all that, Drake London and Darnell Mooney still had 29 targets combined to lead the way, compared to the eight for Pitts. While this was a good bounce-back, he still seems to be a secondary option in an offense seemingly determined to fail to get two of their best players (Pitts and Bijan Robinson) the football. Pitts is still a TE1 in dynasty leagues, but that's more because of the inconsistency of the position than his own usage rate.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Bo Melton could see a larger role in the offense during the upcoming Week 5 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Melton has mainly served as depth through the first four games of the season. He has one reception on three targets for 28 yards through four games. However, the Packers are without Romeo Doubs (suspension) and Christian Watson (ankle) is considered doubtful for Week 5. That being said, Melton could work his way into the third wideout role behind Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks. The assumption is that the move up the depth chart will mean more targets for Melton. However, Melton shouldn't be considered anything more than a desperation option in deep leagues given he doesn't have much of a track record of success.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Rams are hopeful that WR Cooper Kupp (ankle) will be able to return to action for their Week 7 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, as long as there are no setbacks in practice, according to multiple sources.
Fantasy Spin: Kupp will miss his third consecutive game this week because of a high ankle sprain but could be back on the field following the Rams' Week 6 bye. WR Tutu Atwell has been the team's top receiver in Kupp's absence and can be at least a flex option in most fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard (pectoral) is expected to play during the Week 5 matchup against the Houston Texans. This is great news after Bernard went down during the Week 2 matchup versus the Baltimore Ravens. He returned to practice last week and has slowly been working his way back. This is great news for the Bills defense considering Bernard had 143 combined tackles and 6.5 sacks last season. His return is going to be a major lift for this defense.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle (rib) is expected to play in Week 5's game against the Arizona Cardinals, according to a source.
Fantasy Spin: Kittle was listed as questionable on the injury report after participating in just one of the team's three practice sessions during the week on a limited basis. If he is declared active, he should be a starting option in all fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram (hamstring) is considered to be a long-shot to play in Week 5's game versus the Chicago Bears, according to multiple sources.
Fantasy Spin: Engram, who is in danger of missing his fourth consecutive game, had been listed as questionable on the injury report after logging three limited practice sessions during the week. He can be a starting option in fantasy leagues if he is cleared to play but owners should have alternate options available in case he's ruled out.
From TheHuddle
San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner (ankle) is expected to play in Week 5's game versus the Arizona Cardinals, according to a source. He had been listed as questionable on the injury report after only participating in one of the team's three practice sessions during the week on a limited basis.
From TheHuddle
Houston Texans wide receiver Robert Woods (foot) is expected to suit up for the Week 5 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The veteran wideout landed on the injury report this week with a foot issue. He sat out of Thursday's practice before getting in a limited session on Friday. Woods hasn't made much of an impact on the field this season. He has three receptions on five targets for 28 yards through four games. There aren't a ton of chances for Woods behind Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell in the receiving game. He won't be a viable fantasy option while the other three wideouts are healthy.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Malachi Corley has been declared inactive ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The rookie wideout hasn't seen any action in the passing game since Week 2. The Jets have a Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mike Williams, and Xavier Gibson, so Corley isn't needed right now. It seems a bit odd that the Jets wouldn't want to involve their third-round rookie in some way. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore Corley in redraft formats, but he's worth stashing in most dynasty formats.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins pass rusher Jaelan Phillips (knee), who was placed on injured reserve last week, was diagnosed with a partially torn ACL, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. We did not know Phillips' specific injury when he announced his season was over, but now we have a confirmed diagnosis. Phillips will require full ACL reconstruction surgery and could still be ready for the 2025 season. Nevertheless, this is a major blow for both Miami and its talented defender. Injuries have been a burden on Phillips' promising, young career; he tore his Achilles on the MetLife Stadium turf in 2023.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) is expected to play against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday despite being listed as questionable, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Warner suffered the injury during last week's win over the New England Patriots, but it shouldn't impact his availability for this week against the Cardinals, an NFC West foe. The 27-year-old remains one of the NFL's best defenders, registering 27 tackles, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, one sack, and one touchdown through just four games so far. He's a top option in all IDP fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (ankle), who had been listed as questionable, is expected to be active for Sunday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Although Diggs missed practice on Friday, he evidently has progressed enough to play since then. The 26-year-old has 18 tackles through four games but is still looking to force his first turnover of the 2024 season. This week, he'll be tasked with slowing down a Steelers passing attack that features Justin Fields and George Pickens.
From RotoBaller