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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 jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 4

Player Notes
Noah Fant Sep 26 8:40pm ET
Noah Fant

Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant was finally involved in Week 3. After catching three total passes in Weeks 1 and 2, Fant caught six passes for 60 yards in Week 3. He actually has 13 targets on the year which is solid for a tight end. Given the state of the tight end position in fantasy, the athleticism of Fant makes him an intriguing stash. If he can get anywhere close to his Week 3 output in Week 4, then Fant may be worth starting moving forward. However, outside of DK Metcalf, the Seahawks' pass catchers have been inconsistent. It remains to be seen how new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb will fully deploy his talented group of skill players.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Sep 26 8:40pm ET
Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith has a chance for a solid fantasy outing on Monday against the Detroit Lions. The Lions are 18th against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy in 2024. Their secondary has struggled to contain opposing wide receivers all season. The Lions are allowing 216.7 passing yards per game in 2024 and only 76.7 rushing yards per game. They are the definition of a pass funnel. Smith has been solid in 2024. His two interceptions in Week 3 were a result of fluky plays that were not necessarily Smith's fault. He is starting to round back into his 2022 form after a disappointing 2023 season. This is a great game for Smith to fully hit his stride. There should be plenty of points to go around as two talented offenses clash. If you need a start in Week 4 then you could do a lot worse than Smith.

From RotoBaller

Zach Charbonnet Sep 26 8:40pm ET
Zach Charbonnet

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet is a risky play in Week 4. The Seahawks will face the No. 1 defense against opposing running backs when they visit the Detroit Lions. To make matters worse for Charbonnet, fellow running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique) has a chance to play in this game after returning to practice this week. If Walker plays, then Charbonnet should be benched in all fantasy leagues. Even if the Seahawks ease Walker in, there is not enough to go around against such a good run defense. If Walker is out, Charbonnet may have flex value. However, the Lions have been successful in shutting down James Conner. Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, and Kyren Williams in 2024. Keep a close eye on the injury report for Walker given that this is a Monday night game.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Sep 26 8:40pm ET
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf is on a quest to score in his third straight game. Metcalf has logged at least 104 yards and a touchdown in each of the last two games. He has been a stud in fantasy and currently sits as the WR7. While Metcalf has been a huge red zone target in recent years, it is encouraging to see him scoring long touchdowns this season. He has scored from 71 yards and 56 yards in the last two games. He is facing a Lions defense in Week 4 that is 31st in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers and No. 1 in fantasy points allowed to running backs. As such, the Seahawks will have to throw to generate offense in this game. There is nothing about this matchup that should scare you in Week 4. Metcalf has a chance to deliver high-end WR1 value yet again.

From RotoBaller

Christian McCaffrey Sep 26 8:30pm ET
Christian McCaffrey

A report earlier on Thursday suggested that San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles, calf) could miss two more months after visiting with a specialist in Germany this week. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan said later in the day that "we'll probably turn it up here in the next couple of weeks... we'll start testing it out here sooner rather than later." The earliest that McCaffrey can resume practicing with the team will be before the Week 6 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks since he was placed on Injured Reserve before Week 2. Whenever the Niners designate CMC to return from IR, he'll then have three weeks to return to action. An exact timeline for the 28-year-old's return is unclear, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect it to happen in Week 6. In the meantime, Jordan Mason will continue operating as the lead back and will have RB1 upside in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Jason Myers Sep 26 8:30pm ET
Jason Myers

Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers continues to be consistent. He missed his first kick of the season in Week 3 but still managed to score seven fantasy points thanks to a 56-yard field goal and a couple of extra points. The Seahawks are entering a tough matchup against the Detroit Lions. Both teams should be able to score points consistently. The Seahawks will likely need to call on Myers' leg early and often in this game. He should have plenty of opportunities for field goals of various lengths and extra points. If the Lions' passing defense continues to bend, the Seahawks should not have a problem moving the ball up and down the field.

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Bo Nix Sep 26 8:30pm ET
Bo Nix

The Seattle Seahawks defense/special teams faces a tough matchup against a talented Detroit Lions offense in Week 4. Detroit is fifth against opposing D/STs in 2024. This Seahawks group has been solid in 2024. However, they have only been matched up against quarterbacks such as Bo Nix in his first start, Jacoby Brissett, and Skylar Thompson. In their defense, they managed to wreck those offenses, but Detroit will be a far different test. To make matters worse, this game is in Detroit where the Lions, especially quarterback Jared Goff, play notoriously well. Additionally, the Seahawks may be without a couple important starters along the defensive line in Week 4. The Seahawks D/ST will have several more weeks where they are worth streaming but they are better left out of lineups in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Sep 26 8:30pm ET
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett is a borderline flex start in Week 4. Outside of a down week in Week 2, Lockett has pushed for, or exceeded, 10 fantasy points in each of the Seahawks' other two games. The Seahawks will battle a Lions team that is No. 31 in fantasy against opposing wide receivers. There are no cornerbacks in the Lions secondary that should be able to shut down any of the Seahawks' wide receivers. However, it is unclear how the target share will shake out. When Lockett sees at least seven targets. He has been a solid fantasy play. If wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba gets going in this game, then Lockett may see a dip in production. You would be rolling the dice with Lockett, but he seems to have a relatively safe floor.

From RotoBaller

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Sep 26 8:30pm ET
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been a frustrating player in 2024. Outside of his Week 2 explosion for 23.7 fantasy points, Smith-Njigba has been under seven fantasy points in each of his other two games. It seems as though Smith-Njigba's value may be tied to wide receiver Tyler Lockett. When Lockett has a solid game, Smith-Njigba sees a dip in production and vice versa. Unfortunately, it makes these players impossible to predict in fantasy. Smith-Njigba is a younger and more exciting player than Lockett. However, Lockett is a savvy veteran who has the trust of the Seahawks' coaching staff and quarterback Geno Smith. Smith-Njigba is far too talented to keep off the field, so talent has a chance to win out in this case.

From RotoBaller

Marvin Harrison Jr. Sep 26 7:40pm ET
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (quadriceps) was limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Harrison is a new addition to the team's injury report this week, but the fact that he's practiced two days in a row means that he doesn't really appear to be in danger of missing a Week 4 tilt against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The 22-year-old first-rounder looked to be just fine while running around at practice on Thursday, so fantasy managers need to leave him locked into all starting lineups this week. Harrison had a dud in his NFL debut in Week 1 with one catch for four yards against the Buffalo Bills, but Arizona has fed him the last two weeks, and he's racked up nine catches (19 targets) for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Harrison could easily go off again against a porous Washington secondary in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Darius Slayton Sep 26 7:30pm ET
Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (thumb) is officially active for the divisional matchup on Thursday night to kick off Week 4 action versus the visiting Dallas Cowboys. Slayton injured his thumb in the Week 3 win over the Cleveland Browns but was limited in practice all week and will suit up against Dallas. X-rays on his thumb came back negative. The 27-year-old will be wearing a splint on his injured right thumb, which could give him issues trying to haul in passes. So far through three weeks in 2024, Slayton has been in the shadow of both rookie Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson in terms of target share from quarterback Daniel Jones. Slayton belongs on the waiver wire in most 12-team fantasy formats and won't be a recommended flex play in Week 4 against the Cowboys. He has seven catches on 10 targets for 66 yards and no TDs through three games.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Sep 26 7:30pm ET
George Kittle

Updating a previous report, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) sounds like he expects to return this Sunday in Week 4 against the visiting New England Patriots. Kittle said he's "very excited to play football" and is "feeling fantastic." The 30-year-old injured his hamstring in practice last week and was unable to play in the Week 3 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, but he's been limited in practice for two days so far this week and is apparently trending in the right direction to play this weekend. It's welcome news for quarterback Brock Purdy, who relied almost exclusively on receiver Jauan Jennings last Sunday. Kittle is a must-start TE1 in fantasy if he's back in action, especially with receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) potentially missing another game. Kittle has 11 catches (13 targets) for 116 yards and a touchdown in his two games played in 2024.

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Trey McBride Sep 26 7:10pm ET
Trey McBride

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (concussion) missed another day of practice on Thursday. McBride suffered a head injury in the Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions and is currently in the league's concussion protocol. The fact that McBride has yet to practice this week is a bad sign for his availability this Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Fantasy managers that have McBride as their starting TE should have already been looking for a backup plan if he doesn't get the green light from an independent neurologist to play. If McBride is eventually ruled out, Elijah Higgins is most likely to serve as the pass-catching tight end for Arizona. However, he'll still be more of a long shot for fantasy purposes as a touchdown-dependent TE2. If anything, receivers Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch will see more looks from quarterback Kyler Murray.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Walker III Sep 26 7:00pm ET
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique) was on the practice field on Thursday in the period of practice open to the media. Walker has missed the last two games due to an oblique injury that he suffered in the season-opening win over the Denver Broncos. His return to practice on Thursday, though, gives him a chance to return for Monday night's meeting against the Detroit Lions on the road. The hard part for fantasy managers is that the game is on Monday night, so difficult decisions might have to be made if Walker is questionable to play. In the last two games with Walker sidelined, Zach Charbonnet has 32 carries for 129 yards rushing and three touchdowns, adding eight receptions for an additional 47 yards through the air. Walker's return on Monday would obviously be bad news for Charb's fantasy value in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Sep 26 6:50pm ET
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) put in a second straight limited practice this week on Thursday. Kittle injured his hamstring in practice last week and could not get cleared to play in the Week 3 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. While it remains unclear if the 30-year-old will play in Week 4 against the New England Patriots, the fact that he's been on the practice field twice this week give him at least a shot at ending his absence at just one game. If Kittle ends up being active on Sunday, he should be thrown back into starting fantasy lineups everywhere, especially since there's a good chance that receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) will miss another game. With both Kittle and Samuel out last week, Jauan Jennings went for 175 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Brock Purdy would certainly love to get Kittle back this weekend against an underrated defense.

From RotoBaller

Josh Palmer Sep 26 6:40pm ET
Josh Palmer

After being limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (calf, elbow) returned to a full practice on Thursday. Palmer did not practice all of last week before missing the Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now that the 25-year-old is back to practicing in full, he should be ready to return in Week 4 against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs as long as he doesn't have a setback on Friday. Most fantasy managers won't want to trust Palmer in a WR4/flex spot if he comes back this weekend, though, especially with quarterback Justin Herbert's (ankle) availability up in the air. In the first two weeks of the season in 2024, Palmer caught just four of six targets for 34 yards and no touchdowns. Palmer's return will take targets away from rookie Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.

From RotoBaller

Justin Herbert Sep 26 6:30pm ET
Justin Herbert

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) was listed as a limited practice participant on Thursday for the second straight week after aggravating a right high-ankle sprain in the Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Herbert has had discussions with the team about him sitting out this weekend with the team's bye coming in Week 5, but the 26-year-old is "doing everything he can" to suit up this Sunday to face the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs and doesn't "think that's the way we're heading." He will most likely be listed as questionable on the final injury report on Friday, but it appears that Herbert is going to try and tough it out this Sunday. If something changes, Taylor Heinicke would likely start under center after replacing Herbert briefly last weekend. Herbert's mobility will surely be limited if he plays against KC, where he'll be a low-end QB2.

From RotoBaller

Deebo Samuel Sep 26 6:20pm ET
Deebo Samuel

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) was in uniform and back on the practice field during the early portion of practice open to the media on Thursday. It's unclear exactly how much Samuel got done in practice, but our guess would be that he'll wind up limited on the final injury report. Samuel strained his right calf in the Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and didn't play in last week's loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. The 28-year-old didn't practice on Wednesday, but now that he has returned to practice, he could have a shot to return this Sunday when the team hosts the New England Patriots. Still, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if Samuel misses another contest with an injury that initially was expected to keep him out multiple weeks. Jauan Jennings had over 150 receiving yards and three scores with Samuel and tight end George Kittle (hamstring) out in Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Sep 26 6:20pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) was listed as limited in practice again on Thursday. "We'll see. We'll give him up to game time," head coach Matt LaFleur said. Love said earlier this week that he was very close to playing in the Week 3 in over the Tennessee Titans. It sounds as though he'll be questionable on Friday's final injury report, with a game-time decision coming on Sunday morning at Lambeau Field to determine if he'll face the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Love suffered a Grade 1/2 MCL sprain of his left knee in the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and has missed the last two games. Malik Willis has game-managed the club to two straight victories, but Love's return would certainly open up Green Bay's offense and make receivers Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson more fantasy relevant.

From RotoBaller

Davante Adams Sep 26 6:10pm ET
Davante Adams

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) was added to the Week 4 injury report on Thursday and was listed as a limited participant in practice. Mid-week additions to the injury report are usually never a good thing, so fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on Adams' practice status on Friday and final designation on the injury report heading into Sunday's game at Allegiant Stadium against the Cleveland Browns. If the 31-year-old is limited again on Friday, he'll probably be listed as questionable to play in Week 4. After going for 110 yards and his first touchdown of the year in the Week 2 win over the Ravens, Adams caught four passes for only 40 yards in the Week 3 loss to the Panthers. Adams is a must-start in fantasy when he's active, but his status is now in question this weekend. If Adams doesn't play, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker would see more targets.

From RotoBaller