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.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (concussion) missed another day of practice on Thursday. McBride suffered a head injury in the Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions and is currently in the league's concussion protocol. The fact that McBride has yet to practice this week is a bad sign for his availability this Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Fantasy managers that have McBride as their starting TE should have already been looking for a backup plan if he doesn't get the green light from an independent neurologist to play. If McBride is eventually ruled out, Elijah Higgins is most likely to serve as the pass-catching tight end for Arizona. However, he'll still be more of a long shot for fantasy purposes as a touchdown-dependent TE2. If anything, receivers Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch will see more looks from quarterback Kyler Murray.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique) was on the practice field on Thursday in the period of practice open to the media. Walker has missed the last two games due to an oblique injury that he suffered in the season-opening win over the Denver Broncos. His return to practice on Thursday, though, gives him a chance to return for Monday night's meeting against the Detroit Lions on the road. The hard part for fantasy managers is that the game is on Monday night, so difficult decisions might have to be made if Walker is questionable to play. In the last two games with Walker sidelined, Zach Charbonnet has 32 carries for 129 yards rushing and three touchdowns, adding eight receptions for an additional 47 yards through the air. Walker's return on Monday would obviously be bad news for Charb's fantasy value in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) put in a second straight limited practice this week on Thursday. Kittle injured his hamstring in practice last week and could not get cleared to play in the Week 3 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. While it remains unclear if the 30-year-old will play in Week 4 against the New England Patriots, the fact that he's been on the practice field twice this week give him at least a shot at ending his absence at just one game. If Kittle ends up being active on Sunday, he should be thrown back into starting fantasy lineups everywhere, especially since there's a good chance that receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) will miss another game. With both Kittle and Samuel out last week, Jauan Jennings went for 175 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Brock Purdy would certainly love to get Kittle back this weekend against an underrated defense.
From RotoBaller
After being limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (calf, elbow) returned to a full practice on Thursday. Palmer did not practice all of last week before missing the Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now that the 25-year-old is back to practicing in full, he should be ready to return in Week 4 against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs as long as he doesn't have a setback on Friday. Most fantasy managers won't want to trust Palmer in a WR4/flex spot if he comes back this weekend, though, especially with quarterback Justin Herbert's (ankle) availability up in the air. In the first two weeks of the season in 2024, Palmer caught just four of six targets for 34 yards and no touchdowns. Palmer's return will take targets away from rookie Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) was listed as a limited practice participant on Thursday for the second straight week after aggravating a right high-ankle sprain in the Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Herbert has had discussions with the team about him sitting out this weekend with the team's bye coming in Week 5, but the 26-year-old is "doing everything he can" to suit up this Sunday to face the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs and doesn't "think that's the way we're heading." He will most likely be listed as questionable on the final injury report on Friday, but it appears that Herbert is going to try and tough it out this Sunday. If something changes, Taylor Heinicke would likely start under center after replacing Herbert briefly last weekend. Herbert's mobility will surely be limited if he plays against KC, where he'll be a low-end QB2.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) was in uniform and back on the practice field during the early portion of practice open to the media on Thursday. It's unclear exactly how much Samuel got done in practice, but our guess would be that he'll wind up limited on the final injury report. Samuel strained his right calf in the Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and didn't play in last week's loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. The 28-year-old didn't practice on Wednesday, but now that he has returned to practice, he could have a shot to return this Sunday when the team hosts the New England Patriots. Still, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if Samuel misses another contest with an injury that initially was expected to keep him out multiple weeks. Jauan Jennings had over 150 receiving yards and three scores with Samuel and tight end George Kittle (hamstring) out in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) was listed as limited in practice again on Thursday. "We'll see. We'll give him up to game time," head coach Matt LaFleur said. Love said earlier this week that he was very close to playing in the Week 3 in over the Tennessee Titans. It sounds as though he'll be questionable on Friday's final injury report, with a game-time decision coming on Sunday morning at Lambeau Field to determine if he'll face the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Love suffered a Grade 1/2 MCL sprain of his left knee in the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and has missed the last two games. Malik Willis has game-managed the club to two straight victories, but Love's return would certainly open up Green Bay's offense and make receivers Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson more fantasy relevant.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) was added to the Week 4 injury report on Thursday and was listed as a limited participant in practice. Mid-week additions to the injury report are usually never a good thing, so fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on Adams' practice status on Friday and final designation on the injury report heading into Sunday's game at Allegiant Stadium against the Cleveland Browns. If the 31-year-old is limited again on Friday, he'll probably be listed as questionable to play in Week 4. After going for 110 yards and his first touchdown of the year in the Week 2 win over the Ravens, Adams caught four passes for only 40 yards in the Week 3 loss to the Panthers. Adams is a must-start in fantasy when he's active, but his status is now in question this weekend. If Adams doesn't play, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker would see more targets.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) was limited at practice on Thursday due to a hamstring injury, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the NFL. Collins was not on Wednesday's initial injury report, so fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status during Friday's practice as it should provide clarity as we approach the weekend. The 25-year-old has continued his impressive 2023 breakout campaign by averaging 112.7 yards per game through the early part of the season with 18 total catches and one score. If Collins is able to suit up on Sunday, he should be viewed as a solid WR1 with a favorable matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (ribs) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, according to Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post. Thompson left last week's game early due to a rib injury and remains in questionable status. The Dolphins do not play until Monday this week against the Tennessee Titans, so Thompson will have an additional day to recover from his injury. Filling in for Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) last week, Thompson completed just 13 of his 19 attempts for 107 yards and no scores. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Thompson's status throughout the week, as Tim Boyle or Tyler Huntley could be called upon to start Monday's game.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) was a full participant in Thursday's practice and should be expected to see a full workload on Sunday when the Bengals face the Carolina Panthers. Chase would have been labeled as a limited participant on Wednesday, but the Bengals only held a walkthrough. Seeing Chase return to practice without limitations is a great sign and suggests the shoulder injury was minor and nothing serious. After being contained through the first two weeks of the season, the former national champion enjoyed a big game on Monday night as he caught six passes for 118 yards and two scores against the Washington Commanders. Chase should be viewed as a high-end WR1 every week and should never leave your starting lineup. When asked about his shoulder, Chase said, "I'm great."
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Chargers defense is a risky fantasy play in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bolts defense got the season off to a good start, scoring 14 fantasy points in Week 1 against the Raiders and 11 in Week 2 against the Panthers. They followed that up with a solid on-field performance against the Steelers in Week 3, but it only amounted to five fantasy points for the week. Week 4 against the Chiefs will be the toughest matchup so far, and with the Chargers offense expected to be limited even if starting quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) does play, the Chargers DST is well outside of the top-12 for the week.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle) did not practice on Thursday due to an ankle injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The sophomore tight end suffered a low-ankle sprain in last week's game against the Arizona Cardinals and was forced to leave the game early. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the injury report throughout the week as it should provide clarity on his status heading into the weekend. However, the Lions will face the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night which will provide the Iowa product an additional day to recover. Even though he has had a disappointing start to the season, the former second-round pick should still be viewed as a TE1 given his excellent rookie campaign. If LaPorta happens to miss Monday's game, Brock Wright should be viewed as a TE2 with upside.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (shoulder) was limited during Thursday's practice, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The 22-year-old was not on Wednesday's injury report, so this situation is worth monitoring closely, as the Texas standout could enter the weekend in questionable status depending on Friday's injury report. The former eighth-overall pick has been deployed as a workhorse running back through the first three games, seeing at least 14 carries and two catches in every game. Last weekend, he carried the ball 16 times and caught both of his targets for a combined 52 yards and a score. He remains a high-end RB1 simply due to the heavy volume he will see weekly and should remain locked into all lineups.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) could return to practice as early as next week, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. The 27-year-old suffered a torn ACL and MCL last season and has been on the PUP list since the beginning of the 2024 season. Earlier this afternoon, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that the team is loosely targeting a Week 7 return for the Iowa product. Seeing that he could return to practice next week is a great sign and suggests a Week 7 return could be possible. Before the season-ending injury, Hockenson was on pace to smash previous career highs in 2023 and could be in store for a strong second half, given how potent the Minnesota offense has looked early into the season.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker is a safe option in Week 4 fantasy lineups. Dicker was extremely accurate in his rookie season last year and has remained that way three weeks into his sophomore season. The only downside to Dicker's fantasy prospects is a slow moving Chargers offense going against a strong Kansas City Chiefs team this week. Dicker has one of the higher floors among fantasy kickers, but his ceiling is somewhat limited. He's made six field goals and four extra points through the first three weeks of the season.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze (hip) was limited during Thursday's practice due to a hip injury, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS. The Washington product was not on Wednesday's initial injury report, but seeing that he was only limited suggests it might not be a serious injury. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to Friday's injury report as it should provide clarity on the 22-year-old's status heading into the weekend. After two quiet outings in his first two professional games, the ninth-overall pick enjoyed a nice breakout last weekend as he caught six passes for 112 yards and a score. Odunze should be considered a WR3 with upside if he is a "full-go" against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears S Kevin Byard (back), TE Marcedes Lewis (rest), DL Zacch Pickens (groin), DB Terell Smith (hip), DL Darrell Taylor (knee, illness) and DL Andrew Billings (knee) did not practice on Thursday, Sept. 26. OT Darnell Wright (back), WR Keenan Allen (heel), FB Khari Blasingame (hand, knee), OT Braxton Jones (knee) and WR Rome Odunze (hip) were limited. OG Nate Davis (groin) and DE Montez Sweat (elbow) practiced in full.
From TheHuddle
Chicago Bears WR Keenan Allen (heel) was limited during practice Thursday, Sept. 26.
Fantasy Spin: Allen appears to have a decent chance to play this week after sitting out the Week 3 game. He should see a decent amount of targets if he is active and could be at least a flex option in fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Detroit Lions TE Sam LaPorta (ankle), S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle), C Frank Ragnow (pectoral) and OT Dan Skipper (ribs) did not practice on Thursday, Sept. 26. Also, DB Brian Branch (concussion), DL Alim McNeill (shoulder), DL Levi Onwuzurike (knee) and CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (hamstring) were limited and LB Alex Anzalone (concussion) practiced in full.
From TheHuddle