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

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Player Notes
Greg Joseph Sep 27 1:50am ET
Greg Joseph

New York Giants kicker Greg Joseph was the team's lone source of offense in Thursday night's 20-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, nailing all five of his field goal attempts. Joseph was perfect on the night, including a 52-yard strike, accounting for all 15 of the Giants' points. While the Giants' offense struggled to find the end zone, Joseph's consistency kept them within striking distance throughout the game. Fantasy managers relying on Joseph were rewarded with a strong performance, but the lack of offense from the Giants and the eventual return of Graham Gano may limit his opportunities in future matchups.

From RotoBaller

Darius Slayton Sep 27 1:40am ET
Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton provided a few big plays in Thursday's 20-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, catching three of five targets for 56 yards. Slayton averaged an impressive 18.7 yards per reception, with his longest catch going for 28 yards, but he was unable to find the end zone. He was also open deep on one of his missed targets, but Daniel Jones underthrew him, thwarting a potential big gain. While his downfield ability added some spark to the Giants' passing game, the limited volume kept his fantasy output modest, making Slayton a boom-or-bust option reliant on big plays for fantasy value.

From RotoBaller

Devin Singletary Sep 27 1:20am ET
Devin Singletary

New York Giants running back Devin Singletary had a quiet night in Thursday's 20-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, managing just 24 rushing yards on 14 carries for a lackluster 1.7 yards per attempt. Singletary's longest run of the evening went for just five yards, as he struggled to find running lanes against a tough Cowboys defense. He was also a non-factor in the passing game, catching just one pass for 14 yards and failing to score a touchdown. With such limited production, Singletary's fantasy outlook remains concerning, as his volume isn't translating into meaningful fantasy points heading into Week 5, especially against a strong Seattle Seahawks defense.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Sep 27 1:10am ET
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones put up another efficient performance in Thursday night's 20-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but failed to throw a touchdown while completing 29 of 40 passes for 203 yards. Jones averaged seven yards per attempt but couldn't find the end zone, and his late interception with 23 seconds left ended the Giants' final chance at a comeback. He added only three rushing yards on the ground and was sacked once, offering little in the way of his usual dual-threat upside. Fantasy managers expecting a bounce-back will need to see improvement from Jones in Week 5, as his (and the Giants) lack of scoring is a concern, especially with a late-game injury to Malik Nabers.

From RotoBaller

Tucker Kraft Sep 27 12:40am ET
Tucker Kraft

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (shoulder) upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday. He had been limited on Wednesday. Kraft has delivered suboptimal production despite being the Packers' top tight end through the first three weeks of the season. So far, he has just six catches for 77 yards and zero touchdowns. This week, the 23-year-old faces off against the Minnesota Vikings. While Minnesota's defense has played exceptionally this season, they've also allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Kraft is a low-end TE2 whose fantasy value is largely dependent on finding the end zone.

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Raheem Mostert Sep 27 12:40am ET
Raheem Mostert

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (chest) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday. It was somewhat promising to see Mostert, who hasn't played since Week 1, get on the field in some capacity a full four days before Miami's game against the Tennessee Titans. Having Mostert available would be great for a Dolphins offense in need of playmakers amidst injuries to quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) and Skylar Thompson (ribs). All signs point to Tyler Huntley starting under center for Miami, and their best shot at defeating Tennessee might be running their offense through the rushing attack. De'Von Achane still remains atop the Dolphins' backfield, but a healthy Mostert might see enough volume to make him an RB3 in fantasy football. Managers should continue to monitor the injury reports and check to see whether Mostert gets an official designation on Saturday.

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Jaylen Warren Sep 27 12:30am ET
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (knee) missed a second consecutive practice on Thursday. Now, less than three days until Pittsburgh's Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts, it looks like Warren is trending toward being inactive, though Friday's injury report should provide more context surrounding his status. If he is indeed sidelined, Najee Harris would see a few more opportunities in his existing role as the Steelers' No. 1 running back. Such a situation would also lead to additional volume for veteran Cordarrelle Patterson, who becomes a low-end RB3/FLEX play in leagues with 14 teams or more.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Sep 27 12:30am ET
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (calf, quad) logged his second consecutive limited practice on Thursday. His status for Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings is still in the air, but perhaps Friday's injury report will be able to provide additional context. Reed has produced mixed results over the last two weeks but will trend upward if quarterback Jordan Love (knee) is able to return on Sunday. When Reed and Love last played together in Week 1, the young receiver broke free for 158 rushing yards, 33 rushing yards, and two total touchdowns. Reed ranks a WR3/FLEX if he plays this weekend, and he would jump to the WR2 tier if Love is also active.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Sep 27 12:20am ET
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (rest) practiced in a full capacity on Thursday, according to the team. He had missed practice on Wednesday, but it was merely to give him a little rest, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that he was back on Thursday. Harris could be headed for an expanded role in Week 4 with Jaylen Warren (knee) trending in the wrong direction. If Warren can't play, Harris, who has already been productive as Pittsburgh's top running back, would likely see extra opportunities. He's a fringe top-24 fantasy running back heading into this week's clash against the Indianapolis Colts.

From RotoBaller

Micah Parsons Sep 27 12:10am ET
Micah Parsons

Dallas Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons (left foot) was carted to the locker room during the final minutes of Thursday's game against the New York Giants. The defensive standout was in visible pain, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said Parsons only had a slight limp when he saw the linebacker in the locker room postgame. Fowler noted that Parsons told a teammate, "Yeah, I'll be good." Fortunately for the Cowboys, they have 10 full days until their next game, giving Parsons a little extra time to get healthy. Assuming his postgame comments are accurate, it doesn't sound like he'll miss much time, if any at all.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Sep 26 11:30pm ET
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) finished Thursday's NFC East clash with the Cowboys by amassing 12 receptions (15 targets) for 115 yards. The rookie had a stellar showing in the Week 3 meeting with the Cleveland Browns, so expectations were high. While Nabers delivered as advertised, he suffered a concussion late in the fourth quarter. It's certainly not the news fantasy managers want to hear. Fortunately, the Giants have extra time before the Week 5 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. However, if Nabers isn't available, Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton will be the favorites to pick up the slack.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Sep 26 10:30pm ET
Lamar Jackson

The Buffalo Bills defense/special teams, one of the best units in fantasy football through three weeks, draws one of the worst matchups of the Week 4 slate. The Baltimore Ravens average the most yards per game in the NFL. Behind Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, they also average the second-most rush yards per game. With a lack of pass attempts, there are fewer opportunities for the Bills to add sacks and interceptions to their totals. Jackson has only been sacked three times, tied for the second-fewest among quarterbacks who have started all three games. Fantasy managers should look for a better defensive matchup on the waiver wire to start in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Ray Davis Sep 26 10:20pm ET
Ray Davis

Fresh off his first career touchdown, Ray Davis enters Week 4 as one of the best running back bench stashes across the league. The Bills are committed to a dedicated rushing attack, leaning on James Cook early in games as they build their leads. Davis spells Cook on early downs, while Ty Johnson enters the game on third downs. Consecutive blowouts have boosted Davis' opportunities. He's averaging eight carries per game over the last two contests. In Buffalo's one close game (Week 1), he was handed the rock just three times. Should Cook suffer an injury, Davis would be a plug-and-play option. For now, keep the rookie at the end of fantasy football benches.

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Myles Garrett Sep 26 10:10pm ET
Myles Garrett

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (Achilles, foot, thigh) was upgraded to a limited participant during Thursday's practice. Garrett missed practice to open the week, but was a limited during Thursday's session. It sounds like the superstar pass rusher plans to play through his injuries. This might be something the teams needs to maintenance throughout the season and give Garrett rest days. They can't afford for Garrett to miss any games. Garrett has six tackles and two sacks through the first three games of the season. His absence would be a huge blow to this defensive unit.

From RotoBaller

Keon Coleman Sep 26 10:10pm ET
Keon Coleman

Khalil Shakir has emerged as the top wide receiver in the Buffalo offense, so where does that leave Keon Coleman? The rookie caught his first professional touchdown against the Jaguars in Week 3, but that was his only catch of the game. The coaching staff held Coleman out of the first quarter due to showing up late for meetings. Then came a blowout, which brought the rookie back to the bench. Therefore, the route participation number isn't as concerning as it might seem, but there's still a big group clamoring for targets. Despite the plus matchup against the Ravens, Coleman needs to remain on fantasy football benches until he sees a steady, reliable target share.

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Curtis Samuel Sep 26 10:10pm ET
Curtis Samuel

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel was brought to Buffalo to potentially be one of the top passing-game options for Josh Allen. Through three weeks, he's played exactly 27% of snaps in every contest. On the season, Samuel has seven targets and six receptions for 40 yards. He also has one rush for no gain. Khalil Shakir is blossoming in the slot and the Bills like the blocking ability Mack Hollins brings on the outside. Without regular usage in the offense, Samuel isn't considered a good fantasy football option against the Baltimore Ravens. To take it a step further, he doesn't need to be rostered in standard-sized redraft leagues.

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David Njoku Sep 26 10:00pm ET
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) was back on the practice field on Thursday. This is a welcoming sight as this was Njoku's first practice since September 6. It still remains unclear if Njoku will suit up for the Week 4 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Friday's practice session should go a long way to determining whether or not Njoku plays. There's a chance that Njoku is on a snap count considering he hasn't played since Week 1. If healthy, Njoku should be a low-end TE1 against a Raiders defense that has struggled to slow down the tight end this season.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Kincaid Sep 26 10:00pm ET
Dalton Kincaid

Week 4 may be the Dalton Kincaid breakout game fantasy managers have been waiting for. The Buffalo Bills tight end has only registered eight catches for 85 yards and one touchdown through three games. Blowouts took him off the field early in the last two games, but that may not be the case on Sunday night. The Ravens should score enough to keep pace with the Bills. Plus, the Ravens are the best rush defense in the league and have allowed the second-most receptions and yards to tight ends this season. Fire up Kincaid as a TE1 in fantasy football lineups this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Khalil Shakir Sep 26 10:00pm ET
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has yet to miss on any of his 14 targets in 2024 and is cementing his status as the team's go-to option at wide receiver. In Week 4, Shakir draws a Baltimore secondary that is the worst defense against the pass through three games. CeeDee Lamb is the only opposing WR1 who didn't top 100 yards against the Ravens. Rashee Rice and Davante Adams each hit triple digits. While Shakir doesn't go downfield as much, he's set for a safe PPR floor against this shaky secondary. With what projects to be a more competitive game than we've seen from Buffalo in the last couple of weeks, Shakir is at worst a flex in lineups.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Addison Sep 26 9:50pm ET
Jordan Addison

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. It seems that Addison is on track to play in Week 4 after getting in back-to-back limited practice designations. Addison hasn't played since suffering an ankle injury in Week 1. It wouldn't be shocking to see Addison on a snap count during his first game back. If active this weekend, Addison should be a low-end WR3 at worst. The Vikings are limited on offensive weapons and Addison was playing well before the injury, so he should be a solid WR2 once he's back to full health.

From RotoBaller