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.
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The Paur Report
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers enters Week 4 after another elite performance in the 21-15 win over the Browns, where he hauled in eight catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Nabers has quickly become the primary pass catcher for Daniel Jones, leading the NFL with 37 targets and 22.83 fantasy points per game through three weeks. The defense of the Dallas Cowboys have been more vulnerable to wide receivers, ranking 15th against the position and allowing 594 passing yards through three games. This offers some opportunity for Nabers, but Dallas still holds opposing WRs to 25.90 fantasy points per game. His volume gives him a high floor, but managers can still hope for continued greatness in this divisional matchup.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants running back Devin Singletary enters Week 4 following a solid performance in the 21-15 win over the Browns, where he rushed for 65 yards on 16 carries and added four receptions for 43 yards. Singletary is averaging a respectable 15.5 fantasy points per game in 2024 (ranked as the 13th RB overall), primarily thanks to his usage as the Giants' lead back. The Dallas Cowboys defense has been the worst defense against the run, allowing the most rushing yards in the league with 557 in only three games. Singletary's volume gives him a safe floor, and Dallas' porous run defense provides the potential for him to be a No. 1 back in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones enters Week 4 (on Thursday) following a solid showing in the 21-15 win over the Browns, where he posted 236 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 20 rushing yards. Jones is averaging 14.9 fantasy points per game in 2024, with 67 rushing yards, four passing TDs, and two interceptions. The Dallas Cowboys' defense has been poor this season, ranking fourth in fantasy points allowed to QBs, averaging 19.39 fantasy points per game in 2024. Jones looks to take advantage of the matchup. His rushing upside may be crucial, and he has some upside (especially with rookie phenom Malik Nabers on his side), but he's still a risky fantasy start in this tough divisional matchup.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick has been signed from the practice squad to the active roster on Tuesday. He spent the first three weeks on the practice squad, but he saw game action in each of the last two contests. The Lions were going to be forced to sign him anyway if they brought him back up from the practice squad again this week. Patrick will now stick on the active roster as depth going forward. He has hauled in three of his five targets for 20 yards in two games with the Lions. Patrick put together multiple successful seasons as a member of the Denver Broncos. The veteran wideout probably won't be fantasy relevant, but is a nice depth piece to have on the roster.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (thumb) was a limited participant during practice for the second day in a row. This doesn't come as much of a surprise after Slayton was forced to exit early during Sunday's game. However, the 27-year-old returned to the game and his testing on his hand came back clean. That being said, the Giants are likely just being cautious with Slayton as they head into a short week. Hopefully Slayton can be upgraded to full on Wednesday with a game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday. If he misses Week 4, Wan'Dale Robinson and Malik Nabers should see increased looks in the offense. Both wideouts have been viable options for this offense early in the season.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Keaontay Ingram has been waived by the organization on Tuesday. Ingram was the odd man out with Kareem Hunt being added to the active roster. There was no more room for Ingram with Carson Steele, Samaje Perine, and now Hunt all in the mix while Isiah Pacheco (leg) recovers. Ingram rushed for 134 yards on 62 attempts over parts of two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He didn't play a single snap despite being active for the game last week. The 24-year-old will look to catch on elsewhere as depth.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos reportedly had free-agent linebacker Kwon Alexander in for a visit on Tuesday. The former fourth-round pick was a Pro Bowl linebacker with Tampa Bay, but has mainly been used as depth over the last few years. The 30-year-old had 41 tackles, one sack, and one interception in nine games (two starts) with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Alexander should be healthy now and appears ready to contribute to an NFL roster. He should still have something left in the tank and his presence should be an asset to this Denver defense, assuming he does sign there.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (foot) is expected to miss several weeks of action. This news comes a day after Oluokun was forced to exit early during Monday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. The star linebacker is reportedly dealing with plantar fasciitis, which is something that is really only healed by rest. Ventrell Miller took over after Oluokun left on Monday and figures to see increased playing time going forward. The loss of Oluokun is huge considering he has recorded over 170 tackles in each of the last three seasons.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers left guard Isaac Seumalo (pectoral) has a chance to play in Week 4. He suffered his injury prior to the opening of the regular season and has yet to play in 2024. He is a huge piece of a much improved Steelers O-line. Should Seumalo return this week he would provide a massive boost for Steelers running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. Additionally, Seumalo would help quarterback Justin Fields, and by extension, wide receiver George Pickens and tight end Pat Freiermuth. If he is unable to play in Week 4, then fantasy managers can find comfort in the fact that Seumalo appears to be close to returning. This situation is worth monitoring for everyone rostering Steelers skill position players.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (hamstring) may be on his way to missing time. The rookie has contributed to the defensive turnaround that the Seahawks have displayed thus far in 2024. New head coach Mike Macdonald has this unit playing at a high level and Murphy has six total tackles and a half-sack. The Seahawks D/ST has been one of the better units in fantasy thus far. It is the No. 1 defense in passing yards allowed per game. Additionally, the defense has given the offense shorter fields which has increased the fantasy output of Seahawks skill players. The Seahawks indicated that Murphy may miss time by signing defensive tackle Matt Gotel to their practice squad. Hopefully Murphy's absence will be short in order to keep the Seahawks defense playing at as high a level as possible.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) is in the concussion protocol. Ekeler is also being treated for a laceration on his ear. Ekeler was having a productive night before his injury. He recorded three carries for 35 yards and a touchdown, and two receptions for 22 yards. Ekeler also returned a kick 62 yards to set up the Commanders in excellent field position which ultimately led to a touchdown. The news is a bummer for fantasy managers who were getting surprisingly good production out of Ekeler in all three games this season. He may not be the same player that he was with the Chargers, but he has had flex value. If Ekeler cannot play in Week 4, then Brian Robinson Jr. figures to see a boost in an already solid workload. The only other running back on the Commanders' active roster is Jeremy McNichols so it remains to be seen if they will bring anyone else in.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt was signed to the active roster on Tuesday. Hunt was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad after the loss of Isiah Pacheco (fibula). While he was inactive in Week 3, he appears to be on track to play in Week 4. Hunt returns to Kansas City after a productive five seasons in Cleveland. At 29 years old, Hunt is a relatively inefficient running back at this stage in his career. However, he has a nose for the end zone. In 2023, Hunt rushed for 411 yards and nine touchdowns. He was primarily a short yardage option and only averaged 3.0 yards per carry. With Samaje Perine and Carson Steele in line ahead of Hunt, he does not figure to have a lot of fantasy value. However, should either of those two players get hurt, Hunt should still have enough juice to be a solid flex play in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders RB Austin Ekeler (concussion) is in the concussion protocol, head coach Dan Quinn told reporters Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Fantasy Spin: If Ekeler has to miss time, Brian Robinson Jr. should get a nice bump in usage, making him a fringe RB1 against a vulnerable Arizona Cardinals defense.
From TheHuddle
Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram (hamstring) is in question to play against the Houston Texans in Week 4, head coach Doug Pederson told reporters Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Fantasy Spin: Considering the short week, there's a good chance managers will need to find a pivot option for Engram again.
From TheHuddle
Kansas City Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt was signed to the active roster from the practice squad, and RB Keaontay Ingram was released Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Fantasy Spin: Hunt now joins the backfield with Carson Steele and Samaje Perine. It's likely to be a heavy rotation with Steele working on early downs and Perine on passing downs. Where Hunt fits in isn't yet clear so it's best to temper expectations until the splits are revealed. Steele is an RB3 while Perine and Hunt can be viewed as RB4 types.
From TheHuddle
Detroit Lions LB Derrick Barnes (knee) and DL Marcus Davenport (elbow) were placed on the Reserve/Injured list on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The Lions also signed WR Tim Patrick off the practice squad and added him to the active roster.
From TheHuddle
Updating a previous report, free-agent DE Yannick Ngakoue (Bears) was signed to the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
From TheHuddle
New York Giants CB Adoree' Jackson (calf) and CB Andru Phillips (calf) did not practice on Tuesday, Sept. 24. DL Dexter Lawrence (foot), CB Nick McCloud (knee), LB Micah McFadden (back) and WR Darius Slayton (thumb) were limited. OL Jermaine Eluemunor (thumb) and C John Michael Schmitz (knee) practiced in full. The Giants held a walk-through on Tuesday, so the report is an estimation.
From TheHuddle
Philadelphia Eagles WR Britain Covey (shoulder) was placed on the Reserve/Injured list on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The Eagles also added TE Jack Stoll off their practice squad and signed WR John Ross to replace Stoll on the practice squad.
From TheHuddle
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday that he doesn't expect veteran running back Dalvin Cook to play in Week 4 on Thursday Night Football against the division-rival New York Giants. Cook will have to wait another week to make his Cowboys debut in 2024. The team will continue to roll with Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott and Deuce Vaughn in their backfield on a short week. Dowdle, Zeke and Vaughn have combined to average a weak 3.5 yards on 49 rushing attempts through the first three games in 2024. If that continues, the 29-year-old Cook will surely get his opportunity, but there's no guarantee he'll be much better after averaging 3.2 yards per carry on 67 rushing attempts last year with the Jets. For now, Cook will bide his time on the practice squad and can be left to the waiver wire in most fantasy formats.
From RotoBaller
