Fantasy Football Strength Of Schedule: Dak Prescott Has Tough Matchups Among Quarterbacks

Michael Fabiano | Jun 5, 2025

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott averaged 14.6 fantasy points per game in his eight starts from last season. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The National Football League has a strength of schedule formula that's easy to understand ... take the opponents' records from the previous season, add up the wins and losses and calculate a percentage for all its upcoming opponents.

In the world of fantasy football, we use a similar method. Instead of using team records, we use the number of fantasy points allowed (FPA) by a defense the previous season against a single offensive skill position.

For example, the Dallas Cowboys allowed an average of 20.9 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks last season. So, any field general to face the Cowboys in the new campaign is “rewarded” 20.9 points. The more points a quarterback has compiled based on their upcoming opponents, divisional and otherwise, the easier the projected schedule.

As you can see from the list below, the difference between the easiest schedule and the most difficult isn’t significant. In fact, I’ve said myself that strength of schedule analysis can be heavily flawed because one season can be vastly different than the next. A great example of this is the Dallas Cowboys. After allowing an average of just 14.2 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in 2023, their defense allowed nearly 21 per game in 2024.

So, a Dallas defense that was seen as a difficult matchup for quarterbacks in terms of their 2024 strength of schedule projections was ultimately incorrect when used as a draft tool.

While flawed, this data is at the very least fun to look at from an informational standpoint. It can also be a useful tool in making decisions between non-elite players with similar value. Brock Purdy and Dak Prescott, for example, will be listed in close proximity in most QB rank lists, but Purdy gets the edge in value since his schedule is easier between the two.

Note: Players listed are the projected best fantasy players on each NFL team.

All Positions: RBs | WRs | TEs

2025 Fantasy Football Quarterback Strength Of Schedule

RK	Player	Team
1	Kyler Murray	ARI
2	Tyler Shough	NO
3	Matthew Stafford	LAR
4	Brock Purdy	SF
5	C.J. Stroud	HOU
6	Sam Darnold	SEA
7	Bryce Young	CAR
8	Justin Fields	NYJ
9	Trevor Lawrence	JAC
10	Baker Mayfield	TB
11	Cam Ward	TEN
12	Tua Tagovailoa	MIA
13	Michael Penix Jr.	ATL
14	Anthony Richardson	IND
15	Patrick Mahomes	KC
16	Bo Nix	DEN
17	Drake Maye	NE
18	Josh Allen	BUF
19	Jalen Hurts	PHI
20	Justin Herbert	LAC
21	Geno Smith	LV
22	Jordan Love	GB
23	Aaron Rodgers	PIT
24	Caleb Williams	CHI
25	Jayden Daniels	WAS
26	J.J. McCarthy	MIN
27	Joe Flacco	CLE
28	Lamar Jackson	BAL
29	Jared Goff	DET
30	Russell Wilson	NYG
31	Joe Burrow	CIN
32	Dak Prescott	DAL