Mon May 18 8:54pm ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a strength-of-schedule ranking for the quarterback position. We used our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the “Reports” heading. We took each team’s schedule and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last season by 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 which quarterbacks might have the easiest schedules for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.
| RANK | TEAM | AVG. OPP FANTASY PPG ALLOWED |
| 1. | Raiders | 18.33 |
| 2. | Jets | 18.44 |
| 3. | Bears | 18.48 |
| 4. | Dolphins | 18.7 |
| 5. | Broncos | 18.74 |
| 6. | Chiefs | 18.75 |
| 7. | Chargers | 18.93 |
| 8. | Bills | 18.98 |
| 9. | Buccaneers | 19.05 |
| 10. | Patriots | 19.07 |
| 11. | Steelers | 19.12 |
| 12. | Lions | 19.13 |
| 13. | 49ers | 19.17 |
| 14. | Panthers | 19.25 |
| 15. | Rams | 19.4 |
| 16. | Falcons | 19.42 |
| 17. | Cardinals | 19.44 |
| 18. | Packers | 19.44 |
| 19. | Seahawks | 19.59 |
| 20. | Ravens | 19.69 |
| 21. | Saints | 19.76 |
| 22. | Cowboys | 19.82 |
| 23. | Bengals | 19.87 |
| 24. | Vikings | 19.91 |
| 25. | Colts | 19.98 |
| 26. | Commanders | 20.07 |
| 27. | Jaguars | 20.22 |
| 28. | Giants | 20.23 |
| 29. | Texans | 20.23 |
| 30. | Titans | 20.33 |
| 31. | Browns | 20.39 |
| 32. | Eagles | 21.09 |
The Eagles have the easiest fantasy schedule for quarterbacks. This is good news for a possible Jalen Hurts turnaround. He doesn’t carry nearly the same price tag as last year, so he might be worth the gamble. The Eagles also have a new offensive coordinator this season, which is likely a good thing after the last few years. Things are looking up for Hurts, especially when you consider this schedule.
There are also some unknowns that get easy quarterback schedules this year. The Browns, Titans, Texans, and Giants round out the top five. We aren’t even sure who is starting right now for the Browns, and even once that is decided, their fantasy outlook isn’t especially promising. However, an easy schedule and some new weapons at receiver could help whoever wins the starting job earn a few fantasy starts along the way.
Two second-year quarterbacks are especially intriguing. Both Cam Ward and Jaxon Dart have favorable schedules. Dart already showed his potential last year, but he needs to learn how to stay on the field. If that happens, his ceiling is huge this year. Ward had a so-so rookie season but is looking a lot better because of additions to the receiver room in Tennessee. Plus, he is another year older. Ward could take a big step forward in Year 2.
The Raiders top the list for the most difficult quarterback schedule. This is not good news for rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He was already iffy because of a lack of offensive weapons, and the Raiders’ offensive line can also be shaky. Mendoza could struggle during his rookie season because of all of this, making him a risky pick on draft day.
The Jets also have big concerns at quarterback with Geno Smith starting, and they face the second-hardest schedule for quarterbacks. Smith did get some upgrades on offense, but there are still plenty of concerns. Plus, he is coming off a rough season, which only adds to the risk. He is looking like a very risky option on draft day.
The Bears, Dolphins, and Broncos round out the top five most difficult quarterback schedules. Caleb Williams and Bo Nix are two high-profile quarterbacks on the list. You might want to move them down a spot or two in your rankings because of the schedule, though. They should still have good seasons but could have a few stumbles along the way.
Malik Willis finally gets another chance to start for the Dolphins. He heads to a team that still has plenty of offensive questions, especially at receiver. Willis also faces the fourth-toughest quarterback schedule in addition to those concerns. This is not ideal for his fantasy outlook.
We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy quarterbacks. So we crunched the numbers for all schedules from Weeks 15-17, which is the fantasy playoff period for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing which quarterbacks have the easiest playoff schedules certainly doesn’t hurt, especially in the big-money contests.
| RANK | TEAM | AVG. OPP FANTASY PLAYOFF PPG ALLOWED |
| 1. | Dolphins | 16.29 |
| 2. | 49ers | 17.04 |
| 3. | Jets | 17.36 |
| 4. | Broncos | 17.41 |
| 5. | Seahawks | 17.74 |
| 6. | Chiefs | 17.76 |
| 7. | Eagles | 17.86 |
| 8. | Bears | 18.08 |
| 9. | Commanders | 18.08 |
| 10. | Texans | 18.44 |
| 11. | Buccaneers | 18.45 |
| 12. | Lions | 19.22 |
| 13. | Patriots | 19.28 |
| 14. | Bengals | 19.33 |
| 15. | Cardinals | 19.46 |
| 16. | Chargers | 19.76 |
| 17. | Steelers | 19.89 |
| 18. | Packers | 19.9 |
| 19. | Colts | 20 |
| 20. | Raiders | 20 |
| 21. | Ravens | 20.13 |
| 22. | Cowboys | 20.15 |
| 23. | Panthers | 20.25 |
| 24. | Bills | 20.31 |
| 25. | Titans | 20.64 |
| 26. | Browns | 20.78 |
| 27. | Falcons | 20.86 |
| 28. | Saints | 21.08 |
| 29. | Giants | 21.5 |
| 30. | Jaguars | 21.76 |
| 31. | Vikings | 22.06 |
| 32. | Rams | 22.28 |
The Giants are the lone team to finish in the top five on both lists, so Dart is looking even better for fantasy teams. He could be set up for a huge second season and gets a chance to shine during the fantasy playoffs. New York has the fourth-easiest playoff schedule for quarterbacks.
The Rams have the easiest playoff schedule for quarterbacks. Matthew Stafford is coming off an MVP-caliber season. You can draft him later than the elite fantasy quarterbacks, making him a good platoon option for fantasy teams. He might be worth pairing with another similar quarterback and spot-starting them throughout the season. Stafford could be a difference-maker during the fantasy playoffs.
The Vikings, Jaguars, and Saints make up the rest of the teams with top-five easiest playoff schedules for quarterbacks. Trevor Lawrence and Tyler Shough look even better because of this. Both have high upside for the coming season and could produce big numbers when it matters most.
The Dolphins, Jets, and Broncos all rank in the top five for most difficult quarterback schedules during both the regular season and playoffs. This is not ideal for any of those options on draft day. Again, it is hard to shy away from Nix, but it is concerning to see him facing such difficult schedules for both the regular season and fantasy playoffs.
The 49ers and Seahawks also have difficult playoff schedules. Brock Purdy is always capable of a huge game, but he isn’t a surefire No. 1 fantasy quarterback. His poor playoff schedule might make fantasy owners shy away from him on draft day. He may not be worth the risk.
As mentioned earlier, both the Dolphins and Jets already have quarterback concerns, so difficult schedules for both the regular season and playoffs are major red flags for their fantasy options.
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.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson topped 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in 2025 and was one of the most impactful fantasy receivers in the league over the second half of the year. Wilson played the final eight weeks of the season on a 119-catch, 1,647-yard, 15-touchdown pace that made him the WR2 over that stretch. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR34, his ranking may seem low for a 26-year-old wideout who just helped to win leagues, but almost all of Wilson's damage was done while Marvin Harrison Jr. was either sidelined or playing through injury. Wilson's full-season pace across the ten games in which Harrison saw at least 30 offensive snaps falls to a much more pedestrian line of 44 receptions, 530 yards, and three scores. Arizona is also likely to field a much more balanced offense in 2026 after throwing the ball at a near record level once Jacoby Brissett took the starting job in Week 6. The Cardinals added Tyler Allgeier through free agency before spending the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Jeremiyah Love. The team also drafted quarterback Carson Beck at the top of the third round, while Brissett and the team are currently in a contract dispute. With an eye clearly on the future and a loaded 2027 draft class, there are no guarantees of who will be under center for Arizona by year's end, potentially hurting the stock of all Cardinals pass catchers and further impacting Wilson's sell window.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson took advantage of an early-season opportunity to finish as the TE8 in half-PPR formats in 2025. With five-time Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb missing meaningful time with a high-ankle sprain, Ferguson's 13.6 fantasy points per game through Week 7 were enough to make him the TE1 to that point. Unfortunately, with Lamb returning to health and George Pickens experiencing a true fourth-year breakout, Ferguson was unable to sustain that pace down the stretch, finishing as the TE22 over the final 11 weeks of the season. With the Cowboys deploying 11 personnel at one of the league's highest rates, and the team capable of trotting out two bona fide Alphas even in two-receiver sets, Ferguson's ceiling will always be capped in a fully healthy Dallas offense, though the same is true for all but the truly elite tight end talents around the NFL. Ferguson's advantage comes in running with one of the most high-powered offenses in the league while providing injury insurance to not just one, but two capable target-earners. Having already shown his ability to win weeks when called upon, the 27-year-old Ferguson comes into 2026 as RotoBaller's dynasty TE13.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers broke the single-season rookie reception record in 2024, and while injuries largely defined his second season, when healthy, he was still a force. Bowers missed five total games, was shut down twice, and was clearly affected throughout the year by a bone bruise and PCL sprain. However, in his two healthiest games of 2025 (Week 1 to begin the season and Week 9 when initially returning from injury), he caught 17 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, finishing as the TE2 and TE1 while averaging 27.8 half-PPR points. At only 23 years old, Bowers is RotoBaller's TE1 and one of the most valuable players in all of dynasty. Klint Kubiak arrives in Vegas having deployed heavy personnel packages at one of the league's highest rates with Seattle, and with no Jaxon Smith-Njigba-type on the Raiders' roster, Bowers could see one of the highest first-read target shares in the league. Now tied to 2026 first overall pick Fernando Mendoza for the foreseeable future, Bowers has a chance to dominate for a long time at a position that can provide a league-winning advantage for fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki has finished outside the top 20 at the position in three of the last four seasons, and while missing four games in 2025 with a pectoral injury, his TE40 fantasy finish marked the worst result since his rookie season. Gesicki's spot on the depth chart is relatively enviable, often working as the third option in the passing game. But with Ja'Marr Chase earning more than 170 targets in each of the past two seasons and Tee Higgins averaging 101 looks of his own in that span, there is less available work for a third option, particularly when acknowledging the pass-catching prowess of running back Chase Brown. The Bengals' high-powered offense is always capable of providing spike weeks, but without an injury ahead of him, predicting when those weeks might come for Gesicki can be a frustrating task that often leaves him out of starting lineups. Entering his age-31 season, he remains a must-roster dynasty player, simply for what he can provide as injury insurance should one of the team's elite target-earners miss time, but at RotoBaller's TE48, Gesicki offers very little standalone value.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders QB Kirk Cousins took a majority of the reps with the first-team offense at practice Wednesday, May 20, and the 'expectation' is that Cousins will open the season as the starter, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com.
Fantasy Spin: Although Fernando Mendoza will ultimately have his chance to run the offense, it appears that Cousins could open the season under center. Cousins should be in the QB2 mix if he starts.
From TheHuddle
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) was seen working out on the side for most of Tuesday's OTA practice session, according to Alaina Getzenberg. Palmer had a season to forget in 2025 in his first year with the Bills after opening his NFL career with four years with the Los Angeles Chargers. The 26-year-old played in just 12 games and caught 22 of his 37 targets for 303 yards and no touchdowns, the first time in his five-year career that he didn't score at all. Palmer also missed both of the Bills' playoff games and finished out the season on Injured Reserve with an ankle injury. The former third-round pick by the Chargers in 2021 out of Tennessee is still rehabbing his ankle in May, although he should have plenty of time to get ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener this fall in early September. After the addition of deep threat DJ Moore and rookie wideout Skyler Bell, Palmer figures to have an even tougher path to consistent targets from quarterback Josh Allen. Palmer isn't even inside RotoBaller's top-100 WR rankings for the upcoming 2026 season.
From RotoBaller
The Las Vegas Raiders are "counting" on All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby (knee) being ready to go at training camp this summer as he continues to rehab from offseason knee surgery, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. Head coach Klint Kubiak said he wouldn't be surprised if Crosby was ahead of schedule. Crosby was seen at OTA practice on Wednesday, although he only stretched with his teammates. He isn't expected to practice during OTAs and mandatory minicamp. "He's still the first one in this building every day, working. He's a leader on our team, and when he's out there, you feel his presence. And yes, we're counting on him being there for training camp, and I wouldn't be surprised if Maxx [is] ahead of schedule," Kubiak said. The 28-year-old wasn't happy about being shut down early last year despite dealing with a torn meniscus in his knee. The Raiders agreed to trade Crosby to Baltimore in early March, but the deal fell through, leaving him back in Sin City. As long as he doesn't suffer a setback in training camp, Crosby has a good chance to be ready for Week 1 on Sept. 13. He's still one of the league's best pass-rushers and will be expensive in IDP fantasy formats.
From RotoBaller
The Las Vegas Raiders continue to ease quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL draft, into the offense this offseason, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. During the team period during Wednesday's OTA practice, veteran QB Kirk Cousins was the first signal-caller on the field, followed by Aidan O'Connell and then Mendoza. Head coach Klint Kubiak didn't give a specific timeline for when he would like to name a starting QB, and said the answer will reveal itself during training camp this summer. The expectation is that Cousins will begin the year as Vegas' starter, given his experience and familiarity with Kubiak's offense from their time together when Kubiak was the QB coach and offensive coordinator for three seasons with the Vikings from 2019 to 2021. Kubiak said Cousins is the "leader the team is counting on now." Cousins, 37, obviously isn't much of a dynasty asset, and in redraft fantasy leagues in 2026, it might only be a matter of time before Mendoza is given the starting job. Cousins might have familiarity with Kubiak's offense, but he won't have many weapons outside of running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers. In single-year leagues, RotoBaller has him ranked as the QB33.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders new head coach Klint Kubiak is excited to get to work with tight end Brock Bowers, whom he called a "football robot from heaven," according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. Bowers, the 13th overall pick in 2024 out of Georgia, didn't disappoint in his first year in the NFL, catching 112 of his 153 targets for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games to finish as the No. 1 TE in fantasy. The 23-year-old battled a knee injury in his sophomore season, though, which limited him to just 12 games, and he finished with a disappointing 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns on 86 targets, which put him at the TE10 mark when all was said and done. Now past his knee injury and set to work with quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza (the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft), Bowers is the top dynasty TE and should also be considered one of the top targets at the position in redraft fantasy leagues in 2026. Kubiak figures to make Bowers a huge part of the passing game in his first year in Vegas, especially since the Raiders' top receivers are Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told reporters on Wednesday that he plans to retire at the end of the 2026 season, per ESPN. Rodgers recently signed a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh and reported to the team's facilities for offseason workouts on Monday. While the 42-year-old is no longer the same player he once was at his peak, he still threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns while leading Pittsburgh to the AFC North title and a playoff berth in 2025. Rodgers enters 2026 as a four-time MVP, four-time first-team All-Pro, 10-time Pro-Bowler, and the MVP of Super Bowl XLV. He's fifth on the NFL's all-time passing yardage leaderboard, and can pass Peyton Manning for third on the all-time passing touchdown list if he throws for 13 or more scores in 2026. Regardless of what happens this upcoming season with the Steelers, he will go down as one of the best quarterbacks of his era and the history of the NFL.
From RotoBaller
After recording 36 receptions for 630 yards and five touchdowns across 12 games at Notre Dame in 2025, wide receiver Malachi Fields was selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. On paper, Fields appears to be in a good spot to make an immediate impact as a rookie with New York. Star Giants wideout Malik Nabers (knee) recently underwent a second procedure on his surgically repaired right knee, and the team lost wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson to the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Even if Nabers makes a full recovery and is ready for the start of 2026, Fields could have a chance to beat out veterans Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton (abdomen), and Calvin Austin III for the team's WR2 role. At 6'4" and 205 lbs., Fields has the physical profile to be a dangerous outside receiver who can win on downfield routes and in the red zone. His dynasty stock is rising coming out of the 2026 Draft.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) battled through a nightmarish season in 2025. After losing his starting job to Colts veteran Daniel Jones (Achilles) in training camp, Richardson Sr. fractured his orbital bone during pre-game warmups in October after a freak accident with a stretch band. While Richardson Sr. is expected to be ready to go for the start of 2026, he does not appear to be in the team's plans for the future. Jones is locked in as the Colts QB1, and Richardson Sr. may enter 2026 behind Riley Leonard on the Indianapolis quarterback depth chart as well. Without a change in scenery, it may be tough for Richardson Sr. to provide any fantasy value. At the same time, Richardson Sr. is entering just his age-24 season and still offers elite rushing potential at the quarterback position if he can ever get another starting opportunity. In the deepest of dynasty leagues, Richardson Sr. could be worth buying and stashing in a bench spot while his value is at its lowest.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent WR Cedrick Wilson (Dolphins) signed with the Detroit Lions Wednesday, May 20. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
From TheHuddle
Across 17 games in 2025, Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner recorded 52 receptions for 519 yards and six touchdowns on 68 targets. The 24-year-old also recorded 10 carries and scored a touchdown with his legs, as the Seahawks frequently lined him up under center to operate quarterback sneaks. While Barner should continue to play a role in the Seattle offense in 2026, there's reason to believe his fantasy value may have peaked in 2025. Even in a relative breakout year, Barner averaged just four targets per game. He doesn't bring much explosiveness down the field either, as he's averaged 9.3 yards per catch on 82 career receptions. Finally, Seattle may look to shift more of its receiving work in 2026 to second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo, whom the team selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. In dynasty formats, managers may want to consider cashing in their Barner stock ahead of the 2026 season.
From RotoBaller
After being drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens spent most of his rookie year as an afterthought in his team's offense. Giddens spent a significant portion of the season as a healthy scratch on game days and finished the year with just 96 yards from scrimmage on 26 touches across nine contests. As long as star Colts running back Jonathan Taylor can stay healthy, Giddens has no path to fantasy-relevant production in Indianapolis. However, the 22-year-old appears to have a clear path to the Colts RB2 role, with 2026 seventh-rounder Seth McGowan currently profiling as his strongest competition. Should Giddens emerge as the primary backup in Indianapolis, he would carry obvious handcuff appeal behind Taylor, who has amassed 690 touches over the past two seasons. In deeper dynasty leagues, Giddens could be a worthy buy-low candidate.
From RotoBaller
Across two seasons since signing with the Green Bay Packers, running back Josh Jacobs has collected just under 2,900 yards from scrimmage and 30 touchdowns. Green Bay has leaned on Jacobs as its workhorse back, and he's delivered in a big way. Jacobs could play an even larger role in the Packers' offense in 2026, as the team let running back Emanuel Wilson walk in free agency and currently has the unproven duo of Chris Brooks and MarShawn Lloyd penciled in as its backup running backs. However, Jacobs is now entering his age-28 campaign and has accumulated significant mileage on his legs, having recorded at least 260 touches in all seven of his NFL seasons. Heading into 2026, dynasty managers may want to consider selling Jacobs at what could be the peak of his value.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers said that 2026 will be his final season.
Fantasy Spin: Rodgers is familiar with Mike McCarthy's offensive scheme, so he should not have any problems with the offense. He posted solid numbers last season but will not be more than a No. 2 fantasy quarterback in 2026.
From TheHuddle
The Arizona Cardinals have made it clear that they are interested in signing wide receiver Michael Wilson to a long-term contract extension this offseason as he enters the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. "Michael is everything we want in our program to be about," general manager Monti Ossenfort said in February. Wilson exploded in the second half of 2025 for a breakout season, finishing with 78 catches for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns after he had an 8-52-1 line five games into the campaign. It was the first time that he recorded 1,000 yards, and the first time he had played in every game of the season. The 26-year-old former third-rounder in 2023 out of Stanford is due to make $3.9 million in 2026. Although the Cardinals' offense won't be nearly as pass-happy as it was in 2025, Wilson's performance in the desert last year has boosted both his dynasty and redraft fantasy stock as he'll continue to work with veteran QB Jacoby Brissett in 2026. He's now up to No. 34 in RotoBaller's dynasty/keeper WR rankings for the upcoming season.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots second-year wide receiver Kyle Williams increased his protein intake in the offseason and is now at 193 pounds after playing at "185 soaking wet" as a rookie in 2025, according to Mark Daniels of MassLive.com. Williams, the 69th overall pick in the third round last year, finished with 10 catches, 209 yards, and three touchdowns in his first year in the NFL. The 5-foot-11 wideout has elite speed and had some impressive highlight-reel touchdowns, but he caught only 42.9% of his targets from quarterback Drake May, and he knew that he needed to improve his playing strength. "I knew that I needed to get my lower half stronger and bulk up a little bit, coming across the middle, getting off and press and all that type of stuff. So that was one of my biggest emphases, mobility and just putting on a little weight," Williams said. The former Washington State product is still an enticing long-term dynasty hold, but in redraft leagues in 2026, he could be hard-pressed for a significant role after the Patriots signed Romeo Doubs in free agency. New England is also expected to trade for Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Brown at some point, which could push Williams further down the WR depth chart.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) was the first QB up in both team and individual drills on Wednesday during the team's second OTA practice, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Shedeur Sanders was second in individual drills, followed by Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green. In team drills, Gabriel was second behind Watson with the first-team offense, while Sanders mostly worked with the second team. The 30-year-old Watson looks to be fully recovered from a twice-torn Achilles tendon that kept him out for all of the 2025 campaign. He will be competing primarily with Sanders for the starting gig under center in 2026, although offseason reports have suggested that Watson is in the unofficial lead, primarily because he's made 72 starts in the NFL and is a three-time Pro Bowler. A report surfaced earlier this week that Watson and new head coach Todd Monken have hit it off, which insinuates that the Browns are leaning toward naming Watson as their starter eventually. Although Watson looked like a future star with the Houston Texans earlier in his career, he's been a massive bust in Cleveland and won't be much more than a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues if he wins the starting QB job over Sanders.
From RotoBaller