Thu May 23 11:12am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Prescott setup for big success
Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the quarterback position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the quarterbacks with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the quarterbacks that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.
QB SOS | ||
1. | Miami Dolphins | 313.6 |
2. | Cincinnati Bengals | 314.77 |
3. | Los Angeles Chargers | 317.32 |
4. | Denver Broncos | 317.38 |
5. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 320.33 |
6. | Houston Texans | 320.74 |
7. | Buffalo Bills | 321.01 |
8. | Philadelphia Eagles | 323.71 |
9. | Kansas City Chiefs | 325.08 |
10. | Washington Commanders | 325.12 |
11. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 326.4 |
12. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 328.45 |
13. | New York Jets | 329.06 |
14. | New England Patriots | 329.64 |
15. | Cleveland Browns | 330.31 |
16. | Los Angeles Rams | 330.72 |
17. | Arizona Cardinals | 331.54 |
18. | Indianapolis Colts | 331.69 |
19. | Seattle Seahawks | 332 |
20. | Atlanta Falcons | 332.73 |
21. | Baltimore Ravens | 333.05 |
22. | San Francisco 49ers | 333.05 |
23. | Detroit Lions | 334.13 |
24. | Las Vegas Raiders | 334.38 |
25. | New York Giants | 334.72 |
26. | New Orleans Saints | 336.27 |
27. | Minnesota Vikings | 337.2 |
28. | Dallas Cowboys | 339.64 |
29. | Chicago Bears | 340.70 |
30. | Tennessee Titans | 343.69 |
31. | Carolina Panthers | 345.54 |
32. | Green Bay Packers | 349.53 |
The Packers have the easiest fantasy schedule for quarterbacks. Jordan Love already had a breakout season last year and could take his game to an even higher level this season. Love is shaping up to be a really intriguing QB1 this season. He is a player on the rise and seems setup for even more success this year.
A couple second-year quarterbacks have really favorable schedules, Will Levis and Bryce Young. Both seem like good No. 2 fantasy quarterbacks to take a chance. Their teams did well in upgrading the talent around them this offseason and a favorable schedule bodes well for them to take some steps forward this year.
Caleb Williams was the No.1 overall pick and the Bears gave him plenty of firepower to work with in year one. Williams has a lot of good going for him this year and could be the C.J. Stroud of this year’s rookie class. And having a favorable fantasy schedule helps Williams even more.
A couple veterans with favorable schedules are Dak Prescott and Derek Carr. Prescott is the one that stands out the most. The Cowboys are lacking top options at the running back spot, so it would not surprise if the Cowboys are really pass-heavy offensively. Prescott could really rack up the numbers this year.
There are some big-name quarterbacks on the opposite side of things, having very tough fantasy schedules. Tua Tagovalioa has the toughest schedule of all. He struggled a little down the stretch last year and now has the most unfavorable schedule for any fantasy quarterback. This is a little concerning.
Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and whoever is starting in Pittsburgh, likely Russell Wilson, are other veteran quarterbacks that have a top-five unfavorable schedule for fantasy quarterbacks. Burrow is not a huge concern for us because we think they will still have success throwing the ball and he has a ton of talent around him at receiver. Herbert is a concern. The Chargers lost their top two receivers and could be a lot more run-heavy with a new coach in place. Herbert has some red flags for him this coming year, making him a bit of a risky pick for fantasy teams. Wilson is another veteran with a tough schedule. He also has Justin Fields pushing him to play, so Wilson is going to be a boom or bust fantasy pick.
We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy quarterbacks. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the quarterbacks with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.
QB PLAYOFF SOS | ||
1. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 292.02 |
2. | Houston Texans | 299.33 |
3. | New York Giants | 301.93 |
4. | Miami Dolphins | 307.48 |
5. | Los Angeles Rams | 308.45 |
6. | Detroit Lions | 312.4 |
7. | Arizona Cardinals | 313.15 |
8. | Kansas City Chiefs | 313.45 |
9. | Buffalo Bills | 313.6 |
10. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 317.53 |
11. | Cincinnati Bengals | 318.03 |
12. | Baltimore Ravens | 318.25 |
13. | Green Bay Packers | 322.48 |
14. | Indianapolis Colts | 322.83 |
15. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 328.78 |
16. | Philadelphia Eagles | 331.23 |
17. | Cleveland Browns | 331.95 |
18. | Minnesota Vikings | 334.68 |
19. | Atlanta Falcons | 336.18 |
20. | Carolina Panthers | 338.62 |
21. | Seattle Seahawks | 338.65 |
22. | Las Vegas Raiders | 341.18 |
23. | Los Angeles Chargers | 341.22 |
24. | New York Jets | 344.3 |
25. | New Orleans Saints | 346.68 |
26. | Chicago Bears | 347.07 |
27. | Tennessee Titans | 348.42 |
28. | New England Patriots | 355.23 |
29. | Denver Broncos | 355.35 |
30. | Dallas Cowboys | 359.62 |
31. | Washington Commanders | 359.92 |
32. | San Francisco 49ers | 363.47 |
There is just a team that makes both the top-five favorable quarterback schedule for the regular season and playoffs. That team is the Cowboys. So Dak Prescott has the third easiest playoff schedule in addition to having the fifth easiest regular season schedule. Prescott was a player looking pretty good even before seeing these schedules, so you might want to bump him up a few spots in your rankings after seeing this. Prescott could be a league winner in 2024.
The 49ers actually have the easiest fantasy quarterback schedule for the playoffs. So Brock Purdy could have a great run during the fantasy playoffs. He always has a high weekly ceiling, so things are looking great for him this postseason.
Now some rookie quarterbacks round out the team of having top-five fantasy quarterback playoff schedules. Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix and Drake Maye are all likely starting for their teams later in the season, so they should help fantasy teams during the playoffs. They all have some question marks surrounding them but could be worth the gamble, especially if you have a dependable starter already on your roster. These rookies could make some noise late in the season.
On the opposite side of things, the Dolphins are the only team to have both a top-five unfavorable fantasy quarterback schedule for the regular season and playoffs. We already had a few concerns for Tagovalioa even before these schedules were released. And now seeing he has very challenging schedules for both the regular season and playoffs make him a player you might want to avoid come draft day.
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars have the toughest schedule for the playoffs. Lawrence has not lived up to expectations to date. He could have his best season to date this year, but his schedule during the playoffs is concerning. Lawrence could struggle when it matters most.
C.J. Stroud is the biggest name of any quarterback with a top-five unfavorable playoff schedule. We aren’t too concerned about this because some players can rise above the challenge. Stroud is one of those players. Things will be tougher for him in year two, but he will also progress and get better. Plus, he has Stefon Diggs added to the mix, which should improve that passing game even more.
Daniel Jones is another quarterback with a challenging playoff schedule. He is another fringe draft pick to begin with, so seeing him possibly have struggles down the stretch causes more trepidation when it comes to possibly drafting him. He might be another player to just steer clear of come draft day.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 3
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave led the team in production in Week 3, catching all six of his targets for 80 yards and snagging the go-ahead touchdown with two minutes left in what ended up being a 15-12 loss to the Eagles. Olave was also on the receiving end of New Orleans' longest play of the day, a 29-yard pass that helped to set up his eventual score. Olave's production was one of the few bright spots in the game as Derek Carr fought against heavy pressure and had a difficult time delivering the ball to other receivers. Fellow wideout Rashid Shaheed came up empty on his five targets and Alvin Kamara ended up as the second-leading receiver with three catches for 40 yards. In Week 4, the Saints face the Atlanta Falcons, who just gave up 110 yards and a touchdown to Rashee Rice.
From RotoBaller
Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed had five targets in the New Orleans Saints' 15-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3. Unfortunately, he finished the game without a single reception to the dismay of fantasy managers (not to mention Saints fans) who were expecting another big game against a secondary that has looked vulnerable in the young season. The explosive receiver, who caught a touchdown in each of the first two games in 2024, was in line for another score on two occasions in the game. On the first attempt, Derek Carr underthrew Shaheed, forcing him to turn back into his defender just to get a hand on the ball. Then in the fourth quarter, Darius Slay was in the right place at the right time to disrupt what would have been a 25-yard score. Shaheed and the Saints will try to get back to their high-scoring ways against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
The New Orleans Saints D/ST put up a solid effort from a fantasy perspective in Week 3. In what was expected to be a shootout between two dynamic offenses, the Saints gave up only 15 points in their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The squad had four sacks in the game, seven tackles for a loss, and recorded two takeaways. Safety Tyrann Mathieu intercepted a pass in the Saints' end zone to start the second quarter and the Eagles' next possession ended on a Jalen Hurts fumble, forced by defensive end Carl Granderson and recovered by Willie Gay. Perhaps most exciting was the blocked punt by J.T. Gray in the third quarter that set New Orleans up at Philadelphia's 27-yard line. Unfortunately, the Saints seemingly had no answer for Saquon Barkley on Sunday who ended the game with 147 rushing yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Pending Monday's results, the Saints D/ST ranks fifth in fantasy points scored and could be in store for another double-digit game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
The New Orleans Saints relied heavily on running back Alvin Kamara against the Eagles in Week 3. He ended the game with 26 carries for 87 rushing yards and caught all three of his targets for 40 yards through the air. Kamara handled the ball nine times on the Saints' 17-play opening drive that chewed up half of the first quarter and later turned to him on seven consecutive plays across their first two drives of the second half. New Orleans remained dedicated to force-feeding their dynamic back even though their offensive line could not make much headway against Philadelphia's defensive front. Over the first two weeks of the season, Kamara had 10 runs of 10 yards or more but didn't break a gain that big until the fourth quarter when he turned loose for 16 yards, one of just five carries that went for more than five yards on Sunday. In Week 4, Kamara and the Saints will face off against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers tight end Eric Saubert was minimally involved but efficient in the team's passing game during a 27-24 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles. Saubert, filling in for George Kittle (hamstring), did good work in the run-block game and caught two-of-two targets for 41 yards. There are no updates on Kittle's injury at this time, but there are no indications that he's dealing with a multiple-week injury. Even if Kittle were to miss again, it seems likely that Sunday's performance is on the high side of what might be expected from Saubert in Week 4 versus the New England Patriots.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell could not reel in his only target of the day in the team's 21-16 win over the Chicago Bears. Mitchell took the biggest hit in snaps with the return of WR Josh Downs, who missed the season's first two games with an ankle injury. Mitchell played on just seven snaps, running two routes, receiving one target. Fantasy managers who were keeping the rookie on their radar will want to make note of the loss of opportunities with the return of Downs. He can remain benched in all formats barring any significant changes in playing time moving forward.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings erupted in a 27-24 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles on Sunday. All he did filling in for Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) was catch 11 of 12 targets for 175 yards and three touchdowns, not only nearly doubling Malik Nabers' overall WR2 performance, but leading all players at any position in fantasy thus far in Week 3. For gamers who took a lineup risk, Jennings caught the wide-open ones and the ridiculous ones alike, catching 10 straight after having the ball jarred loose on his first target. Jennings' output today obliterates his previous best outing when he had 94 yards and two touchdowns in the last game of his rookie year, 2021. Samuel Sr. is not expected to reclaim his starting role next week at home against the New England Patriots, so Jennings is in line for more opportunities to produce. He'll be a top waiver target in most leagues heading into Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon ran the ball two times for 16 yards and a touchdown in the team's win over the Chicago Bears. Sermon was out-touched by RB Jonathan Taylor 23-2, but he did receive a carry on the goal line, and he was able to punch in for a touchdown. It's clear that Taylor is the only fantasy-viable running back in this offense given the current splits in usage, but it is worth noting that Sermon has been the only back outside Taylor to see touches on the season. Fantasy managers with Taylor on their roster should look to ensure they are rostering Sermon in the event of injury. Aside from that, Sermon is off the radar in the team's upcoming Week 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught four of his five targets for 36 yards in the team's 21-16 win against the Chicago Bears. While Pittman has retained his elite target share in this offense, the team's lack of production through the air has continued to hurt his fantasy production. Pittman led the team in snaps with 47, was tied with WR Alec Pierce for most routes run with 20, and tied with WR Josh Downs for most targets with five. Pittman and the Colts now gear up for a Week 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a defense that has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers in the young season. Given his lack of production thus far paired with a tougher matchup, fantasy managers can view Pittman as a WR3/4 option in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 16 times for 83 yards during Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals. He didn't catch a pass in the contest, but he did take a lateral from Amon-Ra St. Brown for an extra 20 yards into the end zone. He finished the day with over 100 scrimmage yards and the score, giving him 16-plus fantasy points in each of the Lions' three games this year (PPR scoring). Gibbs has been out-produced by David Montgomery so far, but both running backs have emerged as very strong fantasy options. The 22-year-old is a fringe RB1 heading into Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown turned eight targets into seven catches for 75 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals. The 24-year-old has bounced back ever since a subpar Week 1 performance. In two games since then, he has 18 catches, 194 yards, one touchdown, and more than 43 fantasy points (PPR). Despite his role in a crowded offense, St. Brown should continue to be started as a strong WR1 option in all fantasy leagues ahead of Week 4 versus the Seattle Seahawks.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs grabbed three of his five targets for 22 yards in the team's 21-16 win over the Chicago Bears. This was Downs first game played this season, being sidelined for a few weeks with an ankle injury he suffered over the summer. Downs was implemented into a starting role in the matchup, replacing the spot where WR Adonai Mitchell had played for the first two games. Downs was also tied with Michael Pittman Jr. for most targets with five. While it is encouraging for fantasy managers to see Downs reclaim a starting role in his return from injury, he, alongside the other Colts' receivers, have all struggled to produce with the lack of volume in this passing offense. He'll gear up for a Week 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that's allowed the eighth-fewest points to receivers this season. Fantasy managers in most formats can leave Downs on the bench in their upcoming matchup, with the exception of managers in deeper leagues in need of a flex option.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk once again disappointed in a 27-24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. His final line amounted to five catches of 10 targets for 48 yards and no touchdowns. While technically an improvement from last week -- which was itself an improvement from Week 1 -- today's game had to sting for fantasy managers. Aiyuk's inefficiency juxtaposed with backup wideout Jauan Jennings' capture of all three receiving categories was frustrating, especially since we're almost a month removed from Aiyuk starting team workouts after a lengthy holdout. It's worth noting that Aiyuk's fantasy day -; and the 49ers' -; could have ended very differently had quarterback Brock Purdy seen him streaking down the middle wide-open behind the Rams' secondary in San Francisco's penultimate drive. Aiyuk's frustration was apparent when he was involved in a scuffle after San Francisco's last-gasp lateral play bounced off his hands near the Rams' sideline. There are no indications that any disciplinary action will follow. Perhaps Aiyuk will have renewed fire when the 49ers host the New England Patriots in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery rushed 23 times for 105 yards and one touchdown during Week 3 versus the Arizona Cardinals. He also caught all three of his targets for an additional 17 yards through the air. Montgomery has looked incredible so far this season, totaling 285 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. He has found the end zone in each of the Lions' three games so far, producing even more fantasy points than fellow running back Jahmyr Gibbs. As the Lions continue to emphasize winning games through the rushing attack, Montgomery remains a fringe RB1 option in fantasy football. He's a must-start running back for Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan re-affirmed his commitment to Will Levis as the team's starting quarterback ahead of Week 4, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Levis' poor play and poor decision-making have been a major factor in the Titans' 0-3 start, but the organization is still holding out hope that the former second-round pick can turn things around. Through three games so far, Levis has 579 passing yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also has 86 rushing yards, 15 sacks, and three lost fumbles. Outside of the moderate rushing production, these are abysmal numbers from the 25-year-old. Perhaps he'll be able to bounce back next week against a declining Miami Dolphins team that is dealing with major offensive struggles amidst injuries to Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), Skylar Thompson (rib), and Raheem Mostert (chest).
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce caught one of his two targets for 44 yards in the team's 21-16 win against the Chicago Bears. Pierce's 44-yard grab from QB Anthony Richardson came in the second quarter and was the team's longest play from scrimmage. The third-year receiver has been the most productive pass-catcher for the Colts this season but fell behind Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs in targets on Sunday. While Pierce has put together a string of productive games for Indy, the Colts' passing offense under Richardson remains inconsistent and underwhelming in terms of volume. The Colts now gear up for a Week 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that's allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers this season. With his lack of a floor and a tougher matchup, fantasy managers should look elsewhere for a WR3/Flex option next week.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) will undergo an MRI on Monday, he told David Newton of ESPN.com. Thielen exited in the second half of Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders after suffering an apparent hamstring injury while making a diving touchdown catch. The veteran flashed a strong rapport with Andy Dalton in their limited time together on Sunday afternoon, catching three passes for 40 yards and the touchdown. Thielen noted that he and the team will know more about his injury after Monday's MRI. If he's cleared to play in Week 4, he'd rank as a solid WR3/FLEX play in an offense that has suddenly shown signs of life with Dalton under center.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos defense/special teams unit really outperformed expectations in the 26-7 Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. They held Tampa to just one touchdown on the day while creating two turnovers and seven sacks of quarterback Baker Mayfield. Safety Brandon Jones was the star of the day, picking off a pass in the first quarter and recovering a fumble late in the game, while Dondrea Tillman led the Broncos D with two sacks. Through Sunday's games, Denver's D/ST ranks second in Week 3 in fantasy points, behind only the Green Bay Packers D/ST. The Broncos defense doesn't have any big names, but they've been pretty solid through the first three weeks of the season. In Week 4, they'll be a deep-league streaming option, at best, against a New York Jets offense that looked much better in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (knee) will undergo further evaluation on Monday, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. The quarterback played through the injury on Sunday against the Houston Texans, throwing for 181 yards and four touchdowns. He has led the Vikings to an improbable 3-0 start and hopes to keep that momentum going into Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers. Based on his postgame comments, it doesn't sound like Darnold is too considered about his knee injury. However, he did mention that he's not sure yet whether it will limit him in practice this week. Fantasy managers invested in Darnold and the other Vikings playmakers should continue to monitor the quarterback's status when injury reports come out on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. If healthy and active, Darnold ranks as a low-end fantasy QB1.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds surprisingly came into the Week 3 matchup on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a team-high 138 receiving yards on nine catches (13 targets) through the first two weeks. Reynolds wasn't able to maintain that momentum in Sunday's 26-7 win over the Bucs, though, as he caught both of his targets for 36 yards. His two targets ranked fifth on the team behind fellow wideouts Courtland Sutton, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and rookie Troy Franklin. The 29-year-old will continue to have a role all year in this offense as long as he remains healthy, but he will most likely battle for targets behind Sutton on a weekly basis with the likes of Humphrey and rookies Franklin and Devaughn Vele, who was a healthy scratch in Week 3. Reynolds is rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues and should stay on the waiver wire in Week 4 against the New York Jets.
From RotoBaller