QB Strength of Schedule
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.
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Bender's Favorite NFL DFS Pickem Picks: Week 4
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: RealTime DFS Strategy: Week 4
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 4
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 4
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Bender DFS Pickem Plays: Week 4
- Chiefs WR Rashee Rice (knee) leaves game vs. Chargers
- Broncos RB Tyler Badie injures back, out for rest of Jets game
- Packers WR Christian Watson (ankle) ruled out for rest of Vikings game
- Colts QB Anthony Richardson injures hip, out vs. Steelers
- No surgery for Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence (Lisfranc)
- Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) to miss game vs. Jaguars
- Packers QB Jordan Love active, CB Jaire Alexander out vs. Vikings
- Eagles RT Lane Johnson (concussion) out vs. Bucs
- Jaguars put standout LB Foyesade Oluokun (foot) on IR
- Chargers QB Justin Herbert (ankle) expected to start vs. Chiefs
- Packers QB Jordan Love to start against Vikings
- Browns place OT Trent Brown (knee) on IR, ending his season
- Dolphins QB Tyler Huntley to start Monday vs. Titans
- Chargers QB Justin Herbert (ankle) questionable vs. Chiefs
- Titans put CB Chidobe Awuzie (groin) on IR
- Eagles WR DeVonta Smith out, A.J. Brown questionable vs. Bucs
- Packers 'encouraged' QB Jordan Love on field, Sunday start uncertain
- Raiders WR Davante Adams, DE Maxx Crosby ruled out for Week 4
- Bills LB Terrel Bernard, CB Taron Johnson out vs. Ravens
- Cowboys LB Micah Parsons has high ankle sprain; DE could miss weeks
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Rankings
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Start-Sit Week 4 | The Week To Bench Patrick Mahomes?
- Fantasy Six Pack: IDP Football Rankings
- Fantasy Life: Tough Week 4 Start/Sit Decisions
- Fantasy Life: Best Bets for Bills vs. Ravens: Sunday Night Football Week 4
- Fantasy Life: Avoiding Bad-Team Bias in Betting
- Fantasy Life: Don't Rush Into Roster Decisions
- Fantasy Life: Fantasy Football Expert Roundtable: Who Can You Trust In Week 4?
The Paur Report
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 4
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell had a team-high 82 receiving yards with four grabs in Sunday's loss to the Bears. Jordan Whittington had more receptions. However, Atwell was arguably the Rams' top wideout in Week 4. It's apparent he'll remain more involved while Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) remain sidelined, so he has some value as a flex option when Los Angeles meets the Packers in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels went 26-for-30 for 233 yards and a score through the air on Sunday. He added 47 rushing yards and another score on eight carries. Even though the rookie sensation took a step back from a fantasy standpoint this weekend, he continued to develop as a passer, leading the Commanders to a third straight victory. Washington leaned on their rushing attack in this one which took the ball out of Daniels' hands. However, he salvaged his fantasy day with a nine-yard TD run in the third quarter and a 10-yard TD pass to Terry McLaurin late in the fourth quarter. Fantasy managers should continue to confidently start Daniels even though he faces a tough Cleveland Browns defense next week.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. led the way on the ground on Sunday afternoon as he totaled 101 yards and a score on 21 carries. He added 12 yards on three catches through the air. The Alabama product saw the lion's share of opportunities on the ground as Austin Ekeler (concussion) could not suit up for this game. This was the first time this season Robinson saw more than 20 carries. As the Commanders began to pull away, Jeremy McNichols saw most of the fourth-quarter attempts. Fantasy managers should continue to view Robinson as a solid RB2 going forward, as the Washington offense is humming on all cylinders.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington amassed 62 receiving yards off a team-high six catches in Sunday's loss to the Bears. With Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) out of commission, others have gotten more involved. Demarcus Robinson has struggled to remain relevant. However, Whittington had his best showing of the season in Week 4. With that said, he has a way to go before he earns a spot in most fantasy lineups, which applies to Week 5 against the Packers. But if the 23-year-old continues to produce from a volume standpoint, that could change for PPR managers, assuming Kupp and Nacua aren't back in the lineup soon.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols served as the No.2 running back on Sunday with Austin Ekeler (concussion) sidelined and enjoyed a career game as he punched in two scores with 75 total yards. McNichols tallied 68 of those on the ground, with the other seven coming through the air. Even though Brian Robinson Jr. saw most of the attempts, McNichols shined on the eight carries he saw as he scored on an impressive 27-yard run and found the end zone again later on a seven-yard carry. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Ekeler's status throughout the weekend, as McNichols could be a low-end flex play next weekend if he reclaims this No. 2 role next week.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams had 94 yards off 19 carries in Sunday's loss to the Bears. He added four catches for 10 yards. While the 24-year-old didn't have the three touchdowns he had in Week 3, he found the end zone once in Week 4. With at least one score in each of the Rams' four contests this season, Williams is a must-start in Week 5 versus the Packers, considering he'll remain even more involved while Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) remain on the shelf.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 224 yards and a pick off 20-for-29 passing in Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bears. While the signal-caller had another accurate outing, he continued to struggle. It's very apparent the injuries to Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) have significantly decreased Stafford's fantasy potential. With that in mind, he's not an ideal fantasy option for the challenging matchup versus the Packers in Week 5. Keep him out of the starting lineup.
From RotoBaller
The Buffalo Bills have declared OT Michael Edwards, CB Taron Johnson, LB Terrel Bernard, LB Edefuan Ulofoshio and C Will Clapp inactive for Week 4.
From TheHuddle
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette had six receptions for 66 yards in Sunday's loss to the Bengals. He also scored a touchdown, the first of his career, finding the end zone off an eight-yard toss from Andy Dalton. The rookie was quiet in the Panthers' first three games. However, with Adam Thielen (hamstring) on the injured reserve list, Legette should benefit, giving him value as a flex option in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing (shoulder) is questionable to return to Sunday's meeting versus the New England Patriots. The rookie hasn't done anything to benefit fantasy managers. However, his potential absence isn't ideal for a Niners' offense that has dealt with plenty of injuries over the last few weeks. With that said, there should be an update on his condition soon.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner (ankle) left the Week 4 game against the New England Patriots due to an ankle injury. He had seven total stops, four solo tackles, a pass defensed and a 45-yard interception return for touchdown before departing. He is questionable to return.
From TheHuddle
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (groin) finished Sunday's loss to the Bengals by amassing a team-high seven catches for 83 yards. He also scored, finding the end zone off a 21-yard pass from Andy Dalton in the third quarter. The wideout struggled during the first two weeks of the 2024-25 campaign. However, he has thrived since Dalton took over for Bryce Young. With at least seven catches and a touchdown in each of Johnson's last two games, he should be starting in all fantasy lineups when the Panthers meet the Bears in Week 5, assuming Dalton remains under center.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard finished the Week 4 loss to the Bengals by totaling 104 yards and a touchdown off 18 carries. He added four grabs for 17 yards. The 25-year-old didn't do much in the Panthers' first two games. However, with Andy Dalton now under center, Hubbard has thrived. With his added level of involvement, he's at least a flex option in Week 5 versus the Chicago Bears.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold went 20-for-28 for 275 yards, three touchdowns and one interception against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4. He also rushed for 15 yards on seven carries during the game.
Fantasy Spin: Darnold has thrown at least two touchdowns in every game this season and was able to connect with multiple targets in the passing game this week. He can be a possible low-end No. 1 quarterback in deeper leagues or a bye week replacement next week.
From TheHuddle
Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones rushed for 93 yards on 22 carries against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4. He also caught four passes for 46 yards during the game.
Fantasy Spin: Jones has been involved in both the running and passing game in every game this season and should continue to be a big part of the offense moving forward. He should be a starting option in all fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton finished Sunday's loss to the Bengals by throwing for 220 yards, two touchdowns, and one pick off 25-for-40 passing. He added three carries for nine yards. The veteran signal-called has played well since taking over for Bryce Young. The offense has also operated more efficiently. While things could change regarding the Panthers' quarterback plans, Dalton has earned a spot in multi-quarterback formats for the Week 5 clash with the Chicago Bears, assuming he remains under center.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ribs) returned to Sunday's meeting with the Patriots. The veteran didn't play in Week 3 against the Rams because of a hamstring injury, so the team is certainly happy to see him back on the field. Of course, with Kittle back in the mix, Eric Saubert's level of involvement will decrease significantly.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs earned eight targets in the Packers' narrow 31-29 loss to the division-rival Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. Despite Doubs' targeted involvement from returning starting quarterback Jordan Love, Doubs could only bring in four of those eight targets for 39 receiving yards. The Packers threw the ball a whopping 54 times and Doubs was on the field for 65-of-76 snaps per PFF's Nathan Jahnke, but Doubs could not find the end zone or provide some relief for fantasy managers that started him. The injury to Christian Watson (ankle) could condense some targets for the Packers if Watson misses time, but with the Packers heading west to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5, Doubs is a middle-of-the-road flex option.
From RotoBaller
According to Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, wide receiver Rashee Rice's knee injury "is not good." He revealed this during a halftime interview of Sunday's matchup with the Chargers, although he declined to provide specifics. Of course, fantasy managers are expecting the worst, hoping that Rice won't miss a significant amount of games. He'll likely undergo further testing soon, including an MRI. But with Rice likely out of the mix moving ahead, Skyy Moore, Xavier Worthy, and Travis Kelce should see added attention from Patrick Mahomes.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Bears running back D'Andre Swift had 93 rushing yards, seven catches, 72 receiving yards and a touchdown in a win against the Rams. Dynasty Analysis: Swift jumped off milk cartons across the country in this one and finally posted a decent game for the Bears. He had just 68 yards in the previous three games, so this was a much needed "get right" game for Swift as many dynasty managers had already bailed on him. Swift will need to string together a few solid performances before restoring confidence with many, but this was certainly a step in the right direction. He remains a dynasty hold as one game likely won't increase his value too much.
