RB Strength of Schedule
Tue May 28 9:03am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
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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The Paur Report
Arizona Cardinals right tackle Jonah Williams (knee) is expected to miss some time due to a knee injury. The team is still assessing the full extent of the injury and determining a timeline for his return. Williams, who signed a two-year, $30 million contract with the Cardinals this offseason, was a left tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals before transitioning to right tackle in 2023. With Paris Johnson stable on the left side, Williams' injury leaves a gap on the right side of the line. Veteran swing tackle Kelvin Beachum, who previously started 48 games at right tackle for the Cardinals from 2020-22, filled in on Sunday. However, Beachum struggled, allowing two sacks and two additional hurries on quarterback Kyler Murray. This change will likely negatively impact the effectiveness of Murray and the rest of the Arizona offense.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) is in danger of missing two straight games. The superstar back was declared inactive a few hours before the season opener against the New York Jets on Monday. There was some controversy about backup running back Jordan Mason knowing he was going to start on Friday, but the team insisted that McCaffrey was a game-time decision. Now, it sounds like McCaffrey could sit out against the Minnesota Vikings this weekend. It's a short week and Minnesota does play on a turf, so it wouldn't be shocking to see the 49ers play it safe. They didn't seem to miss a beat with Mason running all over the Jets defense. The 49ers are likely going to draw this out all week, but fantasy managers who have McCaffrey rostered should get a backup plan ready for in case he does miss Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts defensive back JuJu Brents (knee) has been placed on the injured reserve on Tuesday. It appears the young corner has suffered a season-ending knee injury. The organization isn't sure of the specifics of the injury, but it sounds like Brents is done for the season. This is a tough blow for the former second-round pick that only played in nine games last season due to injury. The Colts could be in a tough spot here without a ton of viable options in the secondary. It's likely that Samuel Womack or Dallis Flowers gets an extended look, but the loss of Brents is certainly a downgrade for this defensive unit.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills defensive end Dawuane Smoot (toe) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. It's a short week and it doesn't sound like Smoot is going to have enough time to get ready to play. He also sat out of the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. The hope is that Smoot can rest during Thursday's game and be able to suit up for the Week 3 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The former third-round pick is expected to be a rotational player on this defense. He has been a rotational player throughout most of his career, but he did record 36 tackles and six sacks in 16 games (10 starts) with the Jaguars in 2021. His absence is unlikely to have much of an impact on this defense.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back La'Mical Perine has been released by the organization on Tuesday. Perine joined the Packers a few weeks ago after getting cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers at the end of August. Perine was on the Packers practice squad, but they needed to move him in order to make room for tight end Johnny Lumpkin. Through three seasons, Perine has 340 rushing yards and two touchdowns between the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs. The 26-year-old will look to catch on elsewhere as a depth option.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Bryce Hall (ankle) has been placed on the injured reserve on Tuesday. This knocks him out for at least the next four games, but he's likely done for the rest of the season. The former fifth-round pick suffered a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula during the Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders. Hall signed with the Bucs this past offseason after playing the last four seasons with the New York Jets. He was expected to be a depth option in the secondary, but now his season is most likely over. In a corresponding move, the Bucs have signed defensive back Keegan Isaac who figures to take over Hall's role on defense.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) was limited in practice on Tuesday. Phillips tore his Achilles during the 2023 season. The Dolphins have been managing his reps early in the season as a result. Phillips is a game-breaking pass rusher. He recorded one sack in Week 1 during the Dolphins' win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Dolphins will need more excellent play out of Phillips in Week 2 if they have any hope of slowing down Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (undisclosed) is expected to return to practice on Wednesday, Sept. 11, per sources.
From TheHuddle
The Carolina Panthers placed defensive end Derrick Brown (knee) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, and he will miss the rest of the 2024 season after injuring his knee in the season-opening loss to the division-rival New Orleans Saints. Brown is expected to undergo a full repair of his meniscus. The former seventh overall pick in 2020 out of Auburn was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2023, when he finished with a career-high 103 tackles (57 solo), two sacks, seen tackles for loss, 15 QB hits, an interception and six pass breakups in 17 starts for the Panthers. Carolina's season had already gotten off to a terrible start after getting blow out by the Saints in Week 1, and now they are losing their best pass-rusher heading into Week 2. Things are setting up for another long season in Carolina. Fantasy managers can obviously continue to avoid the Panthers defense/special teams unit.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry wasn't brought in to get 30 carries per game, head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday, Sept. 9. 'We didn't bring Derrick in here to be the guy that gets the ball 30 times a game,' Harbaugh said. 'He's done that before. That's really not the plan. The plan is Derrick, Lamar, Mark (Andrews), Isaiah (Likely), Zay (Flowers), Bate (Rashod Bateman) and Nelly (Nelson Agholor). That's kind of the plan in this offense going forward.'
Fantasy Spin: Henry wasn't necessarily expected to get the kinds of massive workloads he got in Tennessee, if for no other reason than Lamar Jackson takes a lot of carries himself, as he did in Week 1. The biggest concern for Henry was his lack of involvement on passing downs, which makes him reliant on game script to get a big workload. Henry remains a borderline RB1, but that will change if he proves to be touchdown-dependent.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson will not be placed on the commissioner's exempt list following the latest sexual assault allegation against him, per source on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
From TheHuddle
Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (hamstring) was limited in practice on Tuesday. Ramsey has been battling the injury since before Week 1 but was able to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Ramsey is one of the defensive pillars for the Dolphins. His absence would significantly affect their ability to cover the Buffalo Bills' wide receivers this coming Thursday. However, given that he was able to play this past week, his limitations in practice are likely precautionary.
From RotoBaller
The Detroit Lions signed kicker Greg Joseph to the practice squad on Tuesday. Joseph spent the offseason with the Green Bay Packers but was cut at the conclusion of the preseason. The Lions have second-year player Jake Bates on their roster as the current starter. He connected with all four of his kicks on Sunday night against the Rams. The addition of Joseph to the practice squad may have simply been a depth move by the Lions.
From RotoBaller
In case fantasy managers were at all concerned, quarterback Josh Allen (left hand) was a full participant in Tuesday's walk-through. Head coach Sean McDermott had previously confirmed that Allen was cleared to practice and ultimately play in Thursday's upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins. Allen is an iron man and is no stranger to playing through injury. The good news is that his injury occurred to his non-throwing hand. While it may affect ball security, it should not affect Allen's ability to perform. Allen threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns while adding 39 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Week 1. He will look to build on those numbers in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent CB Kevon Seymour (Ravens) worked out for the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
From TheHuddle
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington (quadriceps) did not practice on Tuesday. Washington has been battling a quadriceps injury that ultimately cost him the game on Sunday. With running backs Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane also banged up, the Dolphins offense is already fraying. Washington has a chance to make a name for himself in an offense that suits his skill set. He will have to hope he can ramp up his practice participation to have any chance of playing on Thursday night against the Bills.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh stated that running back Derrick Henry will not be overloaded this season like he has in years past with the Tennessee Titans. Henry finished Week 1 with 13 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. That is a far cry difference from his former workload. It is understandable that the Ravens would curb Henry's workload. They are playing for February rather than September. Still, it is unfortunate for fantasy managers that Henry will not receive the same volume we have grown accustomed to. Hopefully, he can be efficient with his touches in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is next in line to receive an extension from the team. After quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb received top-of-market extensions, Parsons appears poised to receive a similar deal as a defensive pillar. Parsons is relishing in the opportunity to play free and prove that he is worthy of a high-end contract extension. Parsons stated on Tuesday "I just want to prove to the front office that I'm the best player, and I can do it consistently at an all-time high". Look for Parsons and the Cowboys D/ST to wreak havoc yet again in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins WR Malik Washington (quad) did not practice on Tuesday, Sept. 10. OL Liam Eichenberg (shoulder), LB Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) and CB Jalen Ramsey (hamstring) were limited. LB David Long Jr. (finger) practiced in full.
From TheHuddle
Miami Dolphins RBs Raheem Mostert (chest) and De'Von Achane (ankle) did not participate in the team's walk-through on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Fantasy Spin: Mostert and Achane each missed time last season, which likely prompted Miami to move up in the draft to select Jaylen Wright this spring. While Wright was inactive in the opener, it was likely one because teams rarely have four running backs active on game day and Jeff Wilson brings value on special teams. If Mostert and Achane cannot play on Thursday against the Buffalo Bills, there is a distinct possibility Wright finishes as a top-15 back and Wilson is worth a flex play.
From TheHuddle
