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 jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: The Weekly Bender: Bizarro Football
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Studs and Duds: Week 3
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Monday Night DFS Pickem Plays
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 3
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 3
- 49ers DT Javon Hargrave (triceps) could miss rest of season
- Bengals RT Trent Brown exits due to knee injury
- Lions' Marcus Davenport (triceps) likely to miss rest of season
- Raiders’ Pierce stands by ‘business decision’ comment; QB change possible
- Ravens add OLB Yannick Ngakoue to practice squad
- Chargers S Derwin James suspended 1 game for illegal hits
- Chargers RT Joe Alt (knee) likely out vs. Chiefs
- Davante Adams Next Team Odds: Jets open as strong favorite
- Raheem Morris reflects on Falcons' tough loss, OL injuries
- Week 3 MNF: Jaguars-Bills Preview, Props, Prediction
- Lions DE Marcus Davenport's season in jeopardy
- Browns' Wyatt Teller facing IR; Myles Garrett day-to-day
- X-rays negative for Chargers QB Justin Herbert (ankle)
- Vikings await MRI on QB Sam Darnold (knee)
- MCL sprain for Falcons RT Kaleb McGary
- NFL roundup: Rams zip past 49ers in final seconds
- Vikings QB Sam Darnold (knee) to undergo MRI exam
- Dolphins’ Skylar Thompson suffers chest injury, Tim Boyle in at QB
- Eagles WR DeVonta Smith (concussion) leveled by fierce hit
- Chargers QB Justin Herbert (ankle) questionable to return against Steelers
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 4 | Bucky Irving is a Must Pickup
- Fantasy Six Pack: to Cash In on Jauan Jennings | 2024 Fantasy Football Trade Targets Week 4
- Fantasy Six Pack: arnold Stuns Texans | 2024 Fantasy Football Recap Week 3
- Fantasy Six Pack: ta Smith, Trey McBride Sustain Concussions | 2024 Fantasy Football Injury Impact Week 3
- Fantasy Life: A Changing of the Guard in Tampa Bay?
- Fantasy Life: Rashid Shaheed, Devin Singletary Fantasy Outlook: Week 3 Sheesh Report
- Fantasy Life: NFL Bad Beats: Falcons/Chiefs, Another Survivor Wipeout, and More
- Fantasy Life: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 4: Target Jauan Jennings, Bucky Irving
- Fantasy Life: Fantasy Football Upgrades, Downgrades, & Adds: Week 4 Utilization Report
- Fantasy Life: Josh Allen Running For His Life on Monday Night Football?
The Paur Report
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis rushed seven times for 22 yards and a touchdown in the team's 47-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also caught one pass for one yard. Davis' first NFL touchdown came with just over four minutes remaining in the game to put the Bills ahead by 37 points. With the victory in hand, Josh Allen and other starters had already moved to the bench. With a healthy James Cook and Ty Johnson filling in on third downs, Davis isn't anything more than a complementary running back in the Buffalo offense. Fantasy managers should view him as insurance in case Cook gets injured.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman saw just one target on Monday Night Football, but he made the most of it. The rookie scored his first NFL touchdown on a 24-yard catch midway through the second quarter. That was Josh Allen's second passing touchdown of the night and the Bills' third score overall. By halftime, the Bills built a 27-point lead, and Coleman did not need to be involved any further to secure the victory. James Cook, Khalil Shakir, and Dalton Kincaid are ahead of Coleman in the offensive pecking order, keeping Coleman as a boom/bust wide receiver in Week 4 against Baltimore.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid caught three passes for 41 yards and a touchdown in the team's 47-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Josh Allen kept a first-quarter play alive with his legs and found Kincaid in the back of the endzone for a six-yard score. Earlier on that drive, Allen connected with Kincaid on a 28-yard gain. The reception total is still on the lower side, but the Bills barely threw in the second half with a 27-point lead that eventually ballooned to 37. With the touchdown, Kincaid finished as a top-five fantasy football tight end in Week 3. He'll hope to keep that status in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns in a dominant victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also added 44 yards on the ground on six carries. A large chunk of his production, including all of his touchdowns, came in the first half. The Bills jumped out to a 27-point halftime lead, scoring a touchdown on all five of their drives in the first half. Allen found Dalton Kincaid, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Ty Johnson for his touchdown passes. Even with the blowout, Allen finished as the QB1 for the week. The Bills travel to Baltimore in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rushed the football 11 times for 39 yards and a touchdown while adding four catches for 48 yards in the team's 47-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bills opened the game throwing more often than running, although Cook finished the first drive with his touchdown. Due to another blowout win, Cook only touched the ball once in the fourth quarter. Cook's 87 total yards were his fewest of the young season, but he still managed to end the week as an RB1 in PPR formats. With his work on the ground and through the air, the soon-to-be 25-year-old will remain an RB1 against a tough Baltimore defense in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught all six of his targets for 72 yards and a touchdown in a blowout victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Quarterback Josh Allen looked for the slot receiver early in the game and later connected with him on a 27-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown on the Bills' fourth drive. All of Shakir's production came in the first half. With a 27-point halftime lead, the Bills didn't need to throw much in the second half. Shakir has cemented himself as Allen's top option in the passing game and will be a WR3 when the Bills travel to Baltimore in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver Luke McCaffrey bounced back in a big way on Monday night. After catching three passes for 18 yards in his NFL debut, the Rice product was held out of the box score last weekend. However, on Monday, McCaffrey caught all three of his targets for 44 yards, good for second-most among Washington pass catchers. His best play of the night came on a fourth down where Washington needed just two yards but the 23-year-old went on to pick up 30 and set up their first score of the evening. This was an excellent rebound game for the young wideout as he continues establishing himself as the No.2 receiver in this offense. For now, McCaffrey remains an excellent stash candidate and is a name to keep a close eye on going forward as he continues to build a connection with his fellow rookie QB.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss played well in Monday's loss to the Commanders. The 26-year-old finished the night with 12 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown, finding the end zone off a one-yard carry late in the contest. He also got involved as a pass-catcher, bringing in five of his six targets for 39 yards. While Chase Brown was more involved than in the first two games of the season, ending with seven touches for 62 yards, it's clear Moss is the preferred option out of the backfield. With two touchdowns in the Bengals' first three games of the 2024-25 campaign, Moss remains a starting fantasy option in Week 4 versus the Carolina Panthers.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels flirted with perfection on Monday night as he went 21-for-23 with 254 passing yards and two scores. He added 40 yards and a score on 11 carries on the ground. After earning his first professional victory last week against the Giants, the former number-two overall pick took a significant step forward this evening. Daniels was poised in the pocket all night and had his best game as a passer. After Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler punched in the first two scores on the ground, Daniels took the rest of the game into his own hands as he ran in a score before halftime and threw two passing scores in the second half, including his first-ever passing score that came from the one-yard line to lineman Trent Scott. Later in the fourth, Daniels would throw the eventual game-winning score to his No.1 wideout Terry McLaurin from 27 yards out. Fantasy managers should view the former LSU Tiger as a QB1 going forward, as not only did he flash the elite upside as a runner, but he was beginning to settle in as a passer. He is a must-start next week as he travels to the desert to face the Cardinals.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. ran for 33 yards and a score on 16 carries in their victory on Monday evening against the Cincinnati Bengals. He caught his lone target for four yards through the air. After posting a career-high in rushing yards last week, Robinson saw a steep drop in production but finished with a solid fantasy game, thanks to the goal line score in the first quarter. Jayden Daniels took a significant step in his development this evening as he threw for his first and second career touchdown passes while only logging two incompletions, which took some work off Robinson. Fantasy managers should still expect Robinson to be a serviceable RB2 on an offense that continues to improve weekly. He is a solid start in all formats against the Arizona Cardinals next week.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin led the team in receiving with 100 yards and a score. He caught four of his six targets. After tallying only 39 receiving yards through the opening two weeks, McLaurin had a much-needed breakout game on Monday night. This was highlighted by an impressive 27-yard TD catch, which eventually became the game-winner. Quarterback Jayden Daniels took a significant step forward in his development as a passer on Monday, which suggests that McLaurin could be in store for even bigger games going forward. He is a must-start WR2 next weekend as he will face the Arizona Cardinals in what should be another high-scoring affair.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz led the team with five receptions in their victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. The veteran tight end was given many looks during crunch time and was Jayden Daniel's safety net in the middle of the field. The 33-year-old has emerged as the No.2 pass-catcher in the first three weeks in this offense and has seen at least four targets in every game. Ertz should be viewed as a safe low-end TE1 going forward as he has built a strong connection with his rookie QB and should always be in line for consistent targets given the uncertainty at wide receiver behind Terry McLaurin. Ertz should be a priority waiver-add if you need a tight end and should be started in all standard formats next week in Arizona.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas had a stellar showing in Monday's loss to the Commanders. With Tee Higgins (hamstring) back in the lineup, most assumed Iosivas would cool off after scoring twice in the Week 2 clash with the Chiefs. However, that didn't happen, with the wideout ending the evening by amassing five receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. It's reasonable to assume Higgins will get more involved in the Bengals' upcoming matchup with the Carolina Panthers. Still, Iosivas deserves at least a flex spot in fantasy lineups in Week 4 based on his last two performances.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) made his 2024-25 debut on Monday night versus the Commanders. The wideout missed the team's first two games because of a hamstring injury. Unfortunately, his presence didn't help, with the Bengals remaining without a win after three weeks. Higgins didn't look horrible on Monday night, catching three passes (six targets) for 39 yards. Understandably, fantasy managers were still hoping for more. But Higgins has a favorable matchup against the Panthers on the horizon in Week 4, so he warrants a spot in the starting lineup in any fantasy format.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase caught six of his seven targets for 118 yards in Monday's loss to the Commanders. The former LSU Tiger also had two touchdown grabs, finding the end zone off a 41-yard toss from Joe Burrow early in the first quarter before scoring again in the fourth. Unfortunately, the Bengals remain winless, with the team losing their third contest of the season. But the Cincinnati offense is clicking, with Chase finally having a potent fantasy outing after subpar showings in the last two games. As always, keep the 24-year-old in the starting lineup when the Bengals meet the Panthers in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had a stellar showing in Monday's meeting with the Washington Commanders. The signal-caller finished this one with 324 yards and three touchdowns off 29-for-38 passing. He added one carry for four yards. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, as the Bengals will now fall to 0-3 on the year. After a quality performance in Week 2 in the narrow loss to the Chiefs, Burrow kept it going, giving fantasy managers reason to remain optimistic heading into Week 4 versus former Bengals starter Andy Dalton and the Carolina Panthers. Keep Burrow rolling in all fantasy formats.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales reiterated that veteran quarterback Andy Dalton is the starting QB after he led the team to their first win of the season over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3 on Sunday. "Andy's our quarterback. He gives us our best chance to win," Canales said. Carolina decided to bench Bryce Young, the first overall pick in 2023, after two disastrous outings to begin his sophomore campaign. Dalton proceeded to go 26-for-37 for 319 yards with three touchdowns and no interception in a surprising 36-22 win over Vegas. The Red Rifle instantly made the Panthers' offense better in his first start of the year, and while Young is expected to start again at some point in 2024, this is Dalton's show for now. QB-needy fantasy managers in superflex leagues could do worse than Dalton in a pinch heading into Carolina's Week 4 meeting against his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) won't return to Monday's meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals. The veteran had only three touches. However, he ran for 35 yards and scored a touchdown off a 24-yard carry in the second quarter, adding two catches for 22 yards. Ekeler hasn't been the reliable fantasy option he was during his time with the Los Angeles Chargers. But after finding the end zone on Monday night, fantasy managers will monitor his health more closely heading into the Commanders' Week 4 game versus the Arizona Cardinals. With Ekeler out of the equation, Jeremy McNichols should get the scraps left over by Brian Robinson Jr. for the remainder of Week 3.
From RotoBaller
The Baltimore Ravens signed free-agent defensive back Yannick Ngakoue, who last played for the Ravens in 2020, on Monday to give them extra pass-rush help, according to a source. The 29-year-old pass-rusher has 69 career NFL sacks with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears and the Ravens. He will begin on Baltimore's practice squad but should eventually join the active roster. Ngakoue was a Pro Bowler in his second year in the league in 2017, when he had a career-high 12 sacks, 30 tackles (24 solo) and a league-leading six forced fumbles in 16 games played. In 13 contests with the Bears last year, Ngakoue had 22 tackles (13 solo), four sacks, six tackles for loss and seven QB hits. In nine games for Baltimore back in 2020, he had 11 solo tackles and three sacks.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (head) is uncertain to return to Monday's Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The veteran back is currently being elevated for a concussion after hitting his head during the third quarter of Monday's game. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Commanders play it safe and hold out Ekeler for the rest of the game. Before exiting, Ekeler rushed three times for 35 yards with a touchdown on the ground. He also hauled in both his targets for 22 yards in the receiving game. His absence should mean more playing time for fellow back Brian Robinson Jr. during the second half of this game.
From RotoBaller
