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FFL: Week 5 | NFL: Week 5

RB Strength of Schedule

Tue May 28 9:03am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Robinson setup for big season


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the running back 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 running backs last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the running backs with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the running backs that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  RB SOS  
1. Green Bay Packers 356.01
2. Houston Texans 361.46
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 361.46
4. Las Vegas Raiders 361.48
5. Seattle Seahawks 362.28
6. Buffalo Bills 363.19
7. Arizona Cardinals 363.76
8. Dallas Cowboys 363.9
9. Jacksonville Jaguars 364.51
10. Washington Commanders 364.86
11. Chicago Bears 364.89
12. Indianapolis Colts 365.41
13. San Francisco 49ers 365.86
14. New Orleans Saints 366.49
15. New York Jets 368.23
16. Detroit Lions 368.49
17. Philadelphia Eagles 369.05
18. Minnesota Vikings 369.06
19. Carolina Panthers 369.88
20. Cleveland Browns 370.34
21. Kansas City Chiefs 371.71
22. New York Giants 372.21
23. Los Angeles Chargers 373.19
24. Denver Broncos 373.32
25. Cincinnati Bengals 373.66
26. Los Angeles Rams 374.09
27. Baltimore Ravens 374.16
28. New England Patriots 375.60
29. Atlanta Falcons 376.19
30. Miami Dolphins 377.49
31. Tennessee Titans 378.2
32. Pittsburgh Steelers 378.72


The two teams with the easiest fantasy schedules for running backs are the Steelers and Titans, which is interesting because both teams could platoon running backs. The Steelers split the work between Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. And the Titans are likely to use both Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. All four backs could be setup for solid seasons with favorable schedules. It is always scary to take a back that might split work but seeing these positive schedules could make pulling the trigger on them a little easier come draft day. All four could be top flex plays for fantasy teams.

The Dolphins had huge success running the ball last year and could have similar solid production this season with the third easiest fantasy schedule for running backs. Devon Achane is really looking good in year two. He is expected to get more work and likely lead the backfield in touches. Raheem Mostert had a career season last year and a great schedule but he carries a little more risk. He is 32 years old and now has rookie Jaylen Wright pushing him for playing time. Just something to keep in mind come draft day.

The Falcons are another team with a top-five favorable running back schedule, making Bijan Robinson a very intriguing pick this year. Robinson had a bit of a disappointing rookie season, but a new coaching staff and really favorable schedule make Robinson a huge breakout candidate. He is moving up draft rankings in a hurry and is capable of finishing first overall in fantasy running back scoring because of his skill set.

Rhamondre Stevenson is a possible rebound candidate. He was slowed by injury last year but is back healthy and with the fifth easiest schedule for running backs. Stevenson has shown in the past he can be a big-time fantasy back. Things are looking up for him this year, making him a good buy-low candidate.

The Packers had the easiest fantasy schedule for quarterbacks but get the toughest for running backs. This isn’t great news for new back Josh Jacobs. It is hard to bet against the productive back, though. You just might want to temper expectations for him this coming year. Jacobs could have a few down weeks, especially for his standards.

The Texans signed Joe Mixon to shore up their running back spot, but he carries some concerns. He wasn’t highly productive the last few seasons besides all his scores and now gets the second toughest schedule for running backs. Plus, the Texans are likely to be a pass heavy team, which could limit his workload a little. Mixon could end up being a boom or bust player.

Tampa also has a unfavorable fantasy schedule for running backs. Rachaad White had a big season last year but padded his numbers because of all his work in the passing game. That might be a similar scenario for him, having a tough time to run with this schedule. The positive for White is he is very good in the passing game. You have to worry about his rushing totals, though.

The Raiders haven’t really settled on a starting running back, but Zamir White is likely to get first shot at the job. That is great news for his fantasy value but the not so great news is his tough fantasy schedule. This could limit the ceiling of White a little. He has risk to begin with because it isn’t 100 percent certain he wins the job. This makes him a bit of a scary pick for fantasy teams.

Kenneth Walker didn’t have quite the breakout second season many hoped but was fairly productive with his work. And the good news is Zach Charbonnet didn’t really put a big dent in his workload. The Seahawks seem happy with Walker as the lead back. The unfortunate news for Walker is he has the fifth toughest fantasy running back schedule. Walker might fail to reach his lofty expectations once again in year three.

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy running backs. 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 running backs with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.

  RB PLAYOFF SOS  
1. San Francisco 49ers 291.43
2. Washington Commanders 325.2
3. Houston Texans 327.8
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 332.03
5. New York Jets 337.57
6. Cleveland Browns 340.8
7. Las Vegas Raiders 341.1
8. Miami Dolphins 348.27
9. Chicago Bears 350.37
10. Buffalo Bills 350.53
11. Arizona Cardinals 352.8
12. Dallas Cowboys 358.87
13. Detroit Lions 359.7
14. New York Giants 365.67
15. Kansas City Chiefs 366.53
16. Green Bay Packers 368.97
17. Seattle Seahawks 370.23
18. Carolina Panthers 377.15
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 378.37
20. Los Angeles Chargers 380.73
21. Jacksonville Jaguars 381
22. Baltimore Ravens 381.43
23. Cincinnati Bengals 383.50
24. Philadelphia Eagles 391.07
25. New England Patriots 397.95
26. Indianapolis Colts 398.40
27. Denver Broncos 399.53
28. Tennessee Titans 401.63
29. Los Angeles Rams 403.92
30. New Orleans Saints 406.33
31. Minnesota Vikings 407.87
32. Atlanta Falcons 422.4

 

There are two teams with a top-five favorable schedule for fantasy running backs for both the regular season and playoffs. Those teams are the Falcons and Titans. Atlanta actually has the easiest fantasy playoff schedule for running backs. Robinson was looking good even before hearing this news but looks even better now. He is making a strong case to be the second running back off the board come draft day.

And Pollard and Spears are intriguing running back options with schedules that could produce big for both during the regular season and playoffs. You just have to worry about one back emerging to grab most of the work. If that happens, one of these backs could end up being a bust.

Minnesota has the second easiest playoff schedule for running backs. Aaron Jones has some injury concerns after the last few seasons, but he could be setup for a big workload with an unsettled quarterback situation in Minnesota. Jones has some good upside with his new team, especially during the playoffs.

One other team to mention for the playoff is New Orleans. Alvin Kamara isn’t getting any younger but remains the lead back and still productive. He still seems to have something left in the tank and could be a big fantasy factor for at least one more season, especially when it matters most in the playoffs. He could be a difference maker, having the third easiest fantasy schedule for running backs.

Houston is the lone team in both the top five for the toughest regular season and playoff fantasy running back schedules. This is an obvious concern for Mixon. He is looking more and more like a player you might to avoid come draft day. He might have some big games along the way in this great offense, but you have to wonder about his consistency and playoff performance.

So the top rated fantasy back, Christian McCaffrey, also has the toughest fantasy playoff schedule for running backs. You aren’t fading McCaffrey because of this. He is one of those rare backs that it doesn’t really matter who he plays. McCaffrey will produce. We still think he is the clear No. 1 fantasy back. He can still get it done in the playoffs.

Washington has Brian Robinson and Austin Ekekler likely splitting the work at running back, which hurts both their fantasy values. They also get the second most difficult playoff schedule for running backs. We wouldn’t reach too early for either back because of this.

The Steelers have the easiest fantasy running back schedule during the playoffs but fourth toughest for the playoffs. This is a tough one. Both backs have potential for good things, showing they can co-exist last year and produce well for fantasy teams. You just have to wonder if fading in the playoffs will make all that good work during the regular season all for nothing.

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.

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Aaron Rodgers Oct 1 3:00pm ET
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (knee) was sacked five times in the ugly loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4, and during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, he said he is feeling "a little banged up" and his knee is "a little swollen." The four-time NFL MVP is coming off a torn Achilles from last season, so any lower-body injuries are concerning. However, the 40-year-old did not express any concern about his status moving forward, so he should be ready to suit up against the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday. The Vikings have been a mid-level defense against fantasy quarterbacks, so Rodgers is not worth rolling the dice on in single-QB formats. Rodgers has completed 64.1% of his passes for 849 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception in his first four full games with the Jets.

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Mike Tomlin Oct 1 2:40pm ET
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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard Isaac Seumalo (pectoral) has yet to make his 2024 season debut after suffering a pectoral injury in the preseason. However, head coach Mike Tomlin said there's a chance the veteran could return for the Week 5 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. The veteran has played in 98 career games and started all 17 contests for the Steelers last season. With starting offensive linemen Nate Herbig (shoulder), Troy Fautanu (knee), and James Daniels (Achilles) all expected to miss the rest of the season, Seumalo's potential return couldn't come at a better time. Dallas has allowed 145.8 rushing yards per game, so Justin Fields and Najee Harris could rack up plenty of yards in the showdown between two iconic organizations.

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Christian Watson Oct 1 2:40pm ET
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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (ankle) suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Week 4 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but he is not expected to be placed on Injured Reserve, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. High-ankle sprains can be tough to come back from quickly, but Watson reportedly has a mild case. Either way, he is likely to miss Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams. Dontayvion Wicks, who caught five of his 13 targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4, is one of the top waiver wire options this week, as he'll see an enhanced role as long as Watson is sidelined. Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs could see slight boosts in their roles, too.

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Kyle Dugger Oct 1 2:30pm ET
Kyle Dugger

New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (ankle) exited the Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers early due to an ankle injury. However, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reports that while Dugger is still gathering information on his ailment, the injury is not expected to be serious or hold him out of action long-term. The standout defensive back might miss some time, but the good news is that he should be able to return soon. Dugger has totaled 20 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection through his first four games of the year.

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Sterling Shepard Oct 1 2:20pm ET
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed veteran wideout Sterling Shepard to the active 53-man roster on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. Shepard was promoted to the active roster from the practice squad for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles and caught three of his five targets for 51 yards. Rookie wideout Jalen McMillan (hamstring) missed Week 4 with a hamstring injury, and second-year speedster Trey Palmer (concussion) suffered a concussion and exited the win early. Star wideout Mike Evans (knee) missed practice on Monday, but there's no indication that he is at risk of missing the Week 5 game against the Atlanta Falcons. As for Shepard, he can be utilized as a low-end flex play in deep formats if McMillan and Palmer don't suit up on Thursday night.

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Tyquan Lewis Oct 1 2:20pm ET
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Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis (elbow) is being placed on Injured Reserve, according to NFL.com. Lewis is dealing with an elbow injury, but the ailment is not considered to be season-ending. The 2018 second-round pick out of Ohio State has spent his entire seven-year career with the Colts and has racked up 112 total tackles, 15 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception, 10 pass deflections, and 27 run stuffs in 69 career games. His earliest return date is Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings, as a trip on the IR requires players to sit out at least four contests.

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Alex Highsmith Oct 1 2:10pm ET
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Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) has already been ruled out of the Week 5 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, per head coach Mike Tomlin. Highsmith missed the Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts due to a groin injury and is set to miss a second consecutive contest. The 2020 third-round pick out of Charlotte posted 21.5 sacks in his last two seasons and has one sack this year in three games, so it's a noteworthy absence of the fierce Pittsburgh defense. While he's out, expect T.J. Watt to see additional attention during his pass-rushing opportunities.

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Davante Adams Oct 1 1:20pm ET
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According to a league source with knowledge of the situation, the Las Vegas Raiders are growing open to the idea of trading wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring). The source said the Raiders have begun reaching out to teams to gauge interest in the veteran wide receiver, who was inactive in the Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns due to a hamstring injury. It remains to be seen if something will actually happen by the trade deadline late in October, but the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs are several teams that could be looking for upgrades at wideout. The six-time Pro Bowler would be an excellent addition to any offense looking for more production at wideout, as he has five career 1,000-yard seasons. Adams has 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown through three games in 2024, but it's unclear if he'll be available to play in Week 5 due to his hamstring issue.

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Justin Fields Oct 1 1:10pm ET
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he is preparing for quarterback Justin Fields to start again versus the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 5. Russell Wilson (calf) will reportedly do more in practice this week, and the Steelers are coming off their first loss of the year in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts, but the team appears to be sticking with Fields for at least another week. Despite his first loss as the starter, the 25-year-old Fields put up his best numbers of the year, throwing for 312 yards and a touchdown while carrying the ball 10 times for 55 yards and two more scores to almost lead the Steelers to a comeback win on the road. If Fields continues to play the way he has been as a dual threat at the position, it seems hard to imagine Pittsburgh turning to Wilson anytime soon. Fields will have high-end QB2 value in fantasy against Dallas in primetime.

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Russell Wilson Oct 1 1:10pm ET
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said the team is somewhat in the same boat still with quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) this week, although he will be doing more work in practices. According to Steelers.com's Teresa Varley, Tomlin said he's preparing for Justin Fields to make yet another start in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Although the Steelers lost for the first time in 2024 in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts, Fields threw for over 300 yards and a touchdown and scored two rushing TDs in a valiant comeback effort. The 35-year-old Wilson has been battling a calf strain since training camp and has been relegated to backup duties in Pittsburgh for now. However, if Wilson doesn't suffer a setback as he ramps up this week, he could officially be active as Fields' backup on Sunday night in Pittsburgh.

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Jared Goff Oct 1 11:13am ET
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Dynasty | Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 18-of-18 passes for 292 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a win over Seattle. Dynasty Analysis: He also caught a touchdown pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown. His effort featured the most completions in a game without an incompletion in NFL history. Goff was masterful on the evening and has complete control of this Lions offense here in his fourth season. A relative "throw-in" years ago in the Matthew Stafford trade, Goff continues to impress. He'll remain being a low-end QB1 or high-end QB2 as we move forward.

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba Oct 1 11:13am ET
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Zach Charbonnet Oct 1 11:13am ET
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Mason Rudolph Oct 1 11:13am ET
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Dynasty | Titans quarterback Will Levis injured his shoulder and was replaced by Mason Rudolph in a win against Miami on Monday night. Dynasty Analysis: Levis completed the game going 3-for-4 for 25 yards with one interception on the night. After spending the rest of the game roaming the sidelines and not getting medical attention, it's fair to wonder just how "injured" he was. Tennessee is saying he's the starter moving forward, but his play has been less than inspiring this season. In fact, Levis now has 12 touchdowns and ten interceptions over his 13 games in the NFL, with four of those scores coming in his first ever start. The ice is getting thin in Tennessee.

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Tyler Huntley Oct 1 11:13am ET
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Dynasty | Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley completed 14-of-22 passes for 96 yards, adding 40 rushing yards and a touchdown in a loss against Tennessee. Dynasty Analysis: Huntley's fantasy day was saved with his rushing yards, but the Dolphins offense looks absolutely lost without Tua Tagovailoa right now. Tyreek Hill (four catches for 23 yards), and Jaylen Waddle (four for 36), have been relegated to fantasy benches and Huntley doesn't look like the quarterback who is going to salvage any of this right now. In short, this is a mess. Huntley isn't worth a dynasty roster spot after this performance.

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Jaylen Wright Oct 1 10:50am ET
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Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright toted the rock nine times for 32 yards in the team's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans, failing to bring in his lone target. The rookie running back averaged 3.2 YPC on his nine touches, out-gaining backfield mate De'Von Achane on his ten carries (1.5 YPC). For the second week in a row, Wright has been the more efficient runner than Achane, albeit on fewer touches. It's unclear what type of role the fourth-round pick will have when running back Raheem Mostert (chest) returns to the field. However, no Dolphins skill player can be trusted for fantasy purposes in this version of the team's offense. They'll square off against one of the better defensive matchups in their Week 5 outing when they hit the road and travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots. Despite this, Wright is not in consideration for fantasy managers, and the remaining Dolphins' offensive pieces will continue to receive downgrades until (if) quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) returns from injured reserve.

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Will Levis Oct 1 10:40am ET
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Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo recorded one catch for five yards in the team's win over the Dolphins on Monday night. With quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) exiting early, Okonkwo was not a factor, seeing just three targets in the game as the Titans relied heavily on the running game. The three targets were actually a season-high for the tight end, who has not become a big part of the Titans' offense yet. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for options at the position, and Okonkwo can be left on the waiver wire.

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Jaylen Waddle Oct 1 10:40am ET
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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle hauled in 4-of-6 targets for a team-leading 36 yards in Monday night's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Waddle matched running mate Tyreek Hill for the team lead in receptions while earning one less target. It's the second time in three weeks that the former has led the latter in receiving. However -- like Hill -- it's his third-straight outing with single-digit fantasy points. Despite the fourth-year wideout's output, he's racked up just a 15.1% target share on the team through four weeks, while the 30-year-old speedster is sitting at 23.1%. It's becoming increasingly difficult to trust any Miami skill player sans quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), regardless of work. Fortunately for the Fins, they'll get one of the more enticing matchups this weekend when they take on the New England Patriots -- a defense that's given up the fifth-most passing yards to opposing offenses. However, the 25-year-old is nowhere near the WR2 lock he was earlier in the season. He'll be a low-end WR3 for the contest.

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Jared Goff Oct 1 10:30am ET
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The Seattle Seahawks defense/special teams had a tough outing in Week 4. After being one of the top units through the first three weeks of the season, the Seahawks allowed 389 yards and 42 points in Week 4. They also allowed Lions quarterback Jared Goff to go 18/18 through the air. The jury is still out on how good this defense actually is. This game turned out to be a track meet and resulted in 71 total points between the two teams. The Seahawks D/ST did manage to record three sacks against a talented Lions O-line. That is encouraging going forward. The Seahawks have now recorded 14 sacks on the season.

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Tyreek Hill Oct 1 10:30am ET
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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill caught 4-of-7 targets for 23 yards in the team's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football. He added 19 yards on three carries. Hill's receiving yardage is a new season-low, while the four catches he racked up were the most since he had seven way back in Week 1. The Dolphins offense as a whole has been largely disappointing since losing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) in the team's loss to the Bills in Week 2, and the veteran wideout now has three consecutive single-digit fantasy point outings. On a positive note, Hill still garners a 23.1% target share on the team, but his managers are in a tough spot, considering that a top-three pick was used on him in this summer's drafts. Miami's next time out will be a juicier matchup when they hit the road to square off against the New England Patriots. However, expectations of the 30-year-old's output must be tempered as this offense doesn't move the same without their field-general. Hill will again be a low-end WR2 for the matchup.

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