Picking the right quarterback for your fantasy football team makes all the difference. Like the real NFL, your team is dead on arrival if you select the wrong quarterback in your draft. That said, we must research to identify our team’s best players correctly.
Today, we look at the strength of schedules (SOS) and see which quarterback has the most optimal paths to allow your fantasy football team to thrive.
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Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: QB Edition
We need to ask one question before we start the article and break down all 32 teams’ rankings and their fantasy analysis attached to the ranking.
What is Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule?
What exactly is the SOS?
FantasyPros explains SOS as each team’s strength of schedule (SOS) displays the relative ease or difficulty of their matchups for the season. This is based on each opponent’s fantasy points allowed to a position, adjusted for strength of schedule. Favorable matchups receive better matchup star ratings.
Now, let’s break down each level of our SOS while I provide some analysis to help you navigate their average draft position (ADP) with the SOS and make the perfect, informed decision on more than 35 quarterbacks.
Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Five Stars
Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAX)
After a mediocre season, the Jaguars retooled the weapons around this young stud. Trevor Lawrence just received a new contract, gathered some new weapons through the draft, signed some new weapons in free agency and now has the easiest SOS in the NFL. His average draft position (ADP) was too high last year, but this year, at 101 overall, he is a sleeper pick for your team.
Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young (QB – CAR)
After an abysmal 2023, the Panthers and Bryce Young receive a five-star SOS. Hopefully, this ranking helps kickstart a dead offense last year. Bryce Young received a route running guru in Diontae Johnson this year while also drafting Xavier Legette. Don’t sleep on Bryce Young, who should be available on your waiver wire.
Tennessee Titans
Will Levis (QB – TEN)
If you follow my work, you know I don’t like Will Levis long term. However, with his new weapon core and an easy SOS, Will Levis can be the last-round quarterback who elevates your team to victory with his 143rd overall ADP. Levis can gather points in a bunch, as he was one of the top quarterbacks in deep throw attempts. I expect more of the same gunslinger mentality in 2024.
Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love (QB – GB)
Choosing which Packers pass-catcher will have a great week will become tedious through 2024. Instead, draft their leader, Jordan Love at 58, to access this strong SOS and all the pass-catching options in Green Bay.
Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy + Sam Darnold (QB – MIN)
We don’t know who the starter will be, but this is the antithesis of the Jordan Love scenario. I’d rather roster the pass-catchers than take a stab at the quarterback situation here. Either play will be a waiver wire selection anyway, so you don’t need to waste anything more than a last-round pick if you believe in the signal-callers in Minnesota.
Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson (QB – IND)
Anthony Richardson is the easiest ‘My Guy’ this season. He possesses the Konami Code with his mobility and he provides a rocket arm that can reach every blade of grass on the field. They upgraded the weapons around him, and now he gets a five-star SOS. Lock him up at 47th overall and win the position weekly.
Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Four Stars
Detroit Lions
Jared Goff (QB – DET)
Jared Goff produces monster-level stats. Jared Goff in a dome does the same thing. Jared Goff plays 14 games in a dome this season. Goff is a late-round option in this potent offense to give you a solid floor this season. Don’t forget he was QB7 last season.
Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams (QB – CHI)
Drafting a rookie quarterback is always scary for fantasy football purposes. However, Williams receives a trio of wide receivers that most veteran quarterbacks would love to have. My issue with Caleb Williams is his top-100 ADP when I could draft players like Trevor Lawrence later in the draft.
New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr (QB – NO)
Derek Carr has been on my last two Scott Fish Bowl teams. It has not been pretty. Carr had six 300+ games in 2023, and that was with a vanilla offense. The Saints are bringing in more motion to help elevate their offensive output. Carr provides a floor for your fantasy team but no ceiling.
Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR)
Matthew Stafford has a cannon of an arm with weapons to help create offense in Los Angeles. The concern with Stafford is Cooper Kupp‘s age. If Kupp has fallen off or his body is giving up at his age, Stafford will have fewer weapons than advertised.
Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson (QB – CLE)
The Cleveland Browns figured out their offense toward the end of the season. However, that was with Joe Flacco. Even with this strong SOS, it may be best to avoid Watson and have him prove to the world he has returned to form on someone else’s roster.
Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL)
The current MVP has been granted a strong SOS this season. He gets the return of a healthy Mark Andrews and, hopefully, a sophom*ore-year breakout from Zay Flowers. Lamar Jackson is an electric player who completed the fourth-most hero throws, which shows off his game-changing abilities. Draft him with ease in the fourth round.
Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Three Stars
Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith (QB – SEA)
The Seattle Seahawks have a plethora of pass-catching options to choose from if you want a piece of this offense. Geno Smith was the QB5 two seasons ago, but he regressed last season. Most of Geno’s career has been average at best; let’s believe what people show us in 2024. We can find a better option under center.
New England Patriots
Drake Maye + Jacoby Brissett (QB – NE)
Drake Maye may be an electric player when it’s all said and done, but right now, the Patriots are a tough team to watch. We want players from good teams, not projects. We don’t even know if he will start the year or if Brissett could start leading to the Kurt Warner/Eli Manning setup from years ago. Fade Maye for redraft this season.
Atlanta Falcons
Kirk Cousins (QB – ATL)
An aging quarterback coming off an Achilles injury with an average SOS has my heart and soul screaming, “It’s a trap.” Kirk Cousins may be the best quarterback the Falcons have had in a few years, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Michael Penix Jr. sees time on the field by the end of the season.
Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels (QB – WAS)
A Konami Code rookie has entered the NFL. He will create fantasy production on the ground and in the air. The Commanders should also be behind most weeks, meaning many opportunities. Jayden Daniels can become a top-12 quarterback just due to his rushing. At his 102 ADP, he should be on your radar.
Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC)
It’s Patrick Mahomes; don’t get too fancy. He is the best QB in the league for a reason.
Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Two Stars
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield (QB – TB)
If there is one quarterback I’m avoiding, it’s Baker Mayfield. He had a fantastic year last year, but the majority of his career has been a roller coaster in the accuracy department. Now he loses his offensive coordinator, who helped him reach new levels, and with that, we should leave Mayfield, too.
Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott (QB – DAL)
Dak Prescott has a tough SOS this season. However, the Cowboys have yet to fix their running back woes so the team will rely on Prescott’s right arm again.
New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers (QB – NYJ)
Aaron Rodgers is a wizard under center. However, he is aging and coming off an injury. If I’m fading Cousin for that reason, I must also fade Rodgers.
New York Giants
Daniel Jones (QB – NYG)
Daniel Jones has not thrown more than 20 touchdowns since 2019. He receives Malik Nabers in the draft, but that will not be enough to challenge this tough SOS.
Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud (QB – HOU)
C.J. Stroud is going to be a good quarterback. My issue is his lack of mobility, this tough SOS and his ADP, which is higher than that of players like Anthony Richardson. He is a great player, but the ADP has me worried he can’t live up to the hype in 2024.
Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert (QB – LAC)
Justin Herbert is immensely talented at his position. However, his weapons are lackluster in an offense that wants to pound the rock. Typically, Justin Herbert is one of our favorite options under center, but his ADP plummeted to 93rd overall this year. With players like Trevor Lawrence and Jayden Daniels later in the draft, you should fade Herbert in 2024.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI)
With the tush push still allowed in the NFL, Jalen Hurts, and his rushing upside can trump any issues with his SOS. Hurts is surrounded by talent, especially with new running back Saquon Barkley in town. You will need a piece of this offense, and the most fruitful piece on the Philadelphia tree is Jalen Hurts.
Las Vegas Raiders
Gardner Minshew + Aidan O’Connell (QB – LV)
Can I say don’t do it and move on? Camp reports state that neither quarterback looks excellent. Sadly, the Raiders entered the season with backup quarterbacks facing a tough SOS. This duo is an easy fade in 2024.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Russell Wilson + Justin Fields (QB – PIT)
Both quarterbacks have their positives but also their negatives. Both of them should be on the waiver wire to start the season, but if, for some reason, Justin Fields wins the positional battle, he will grant your team upside play at the quarterback position regardless of the SOS.
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow (QB – CIN)
Joe Burrow is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. The Bengals put a bandaid fix on their running back room, which means Burrow should see more passing opportunities this season. Burrow should resemble Prescott from 2023, which we want on our team regardless of the SOS.
Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray (QB – ARI)
Kyler Murray is a Konami Code quarterback with an electric rookie at wide receiver. With a second year in this offense, Kyler Murray should provide top-10 fantasy numbers for your fantasy team.
Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA)
A team built for speed, Tua Tagovailoa can provide monster weeks for you. However, he also disappears in games, making it challenging to believe he’s the answer in redraft. From Week 9 on, Tagovailoa was QB20 on the season. That’s a risky proposition for your fantasy team.
Denver Broncos
Bo Nix (QB – DEN)
A rookie quarterback on a bad offense is a losing bet. Add in the fact that Bo Nix faces a tough SOS, and I’m okay with looking elsewhere for my quarterback.
San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy (QB – SF)
Brock Purdy led the NFL in yards per attempt, passer rating and QBR. He is also surrounded by talent, which means Purdy has a chance to duplicate his 2023 this year. His SOS is the only thing standing in his way, and at 84th overall, there are better options for ceiling play later in the draft.
Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: One Star
Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen (QB – BUF)
Josh Allen faces the toughest SOS in the NFL this season, but should that stop us? I don’t think it should be the main reason, but Allen lost his primary weapon in Stefon Diggs. The Josh Allen Show will repeat in Buffalo this season as he carries the team. With his ADP sitting at 17th overall, I’d rather wait for Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson or Anthony Richardson.
Remember to read all the fantastic work here at FantasyPros and good luck this offseason.
Fitz’s Fantasy Football Draft Primers
- Quarterback Fantasy Football Draft Primer
- Running Back Fantasy Football Draft Primer
- Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Draft Primer
- Tight End Fantasy Football Draft Primer
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