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FFL: Week 6 | NFL: Week 6

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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 6

Player Notes
Will Levis Oct 14 10:40am ET
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis went 16-of-27 for a mere 95 yards, with one touchdown and one interception in a 20-17 home loss vs. Indianapolis on Sunday. Coming off of a bye at home against one of the league's worst pass defenses, there was a bit of optimism that Levis would be able to get going in this one, but it was quite the opposite. Conservative play calling and poor overall play doomed this offense yet again, as Levis registered a 3.5 yards per attempt on the afternoon, the worst mark of his career. What's even more disappointing about the performance is that Levis faced pressure at a season-low rate, was not sacked once in the game, and still could not reach 100 yards passing against a bottom-five defensive unit. This offense may have just hit rock bottom, and because of that, no one can be trusted for fantasy right now outside of Tony Pollard. Up next is a tough road test in Buffalo next week.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Oct 14 10:40am ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 208 yards in Sunday's win over the New York Giants. The signal-caller didn't do much as a passer. However, he got it done on the ground by amassing 55 yards, although most of that was due to a 47-yard scramble in the first quarter for a score. After a five-touchdown outing against the Ravens, Burrow was quiet in Week 6, with the defense doing most of the heavy lifting. At any rate, the Bengals will look to keep it going in a Week 7 matchup with the Cleveland Browns. Burrow remains a must-start for that one.

From RotoBaller

Bijan Robinson Oct 14 10:15am ET
Bijan Robinson

Dynasty | Falcons running back Bijan Robinson had 95 rushing yards, three catches, ten receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win against Carolina. Dynasty Analysis: That's the good news. The bad news is the fact Tyler Allgeier had 18 carries (Robinson had 15) and scored a touchdown of his own. At this point, it is what it is - Robinson is a committee back who is going to be stuck in somewhere around a 60/40 touch-share with Allgeier for the foreseeable future. While he'll have RB1 days like this, he's also a player who has a lower floor than many had expected. Robinson's dynasty value is slipping a touch while Allgeier's is rising.

J.K. Dobbins Oct 14 10:14am ET
J.K. Dobbins

Dynasty | Chargers running back JK Dobbins had 96 rushing yards and a touchdown in a win against Denver. Dynasty Analysis: He added two catches for six yards. Dobbins was predictably busy in this one after Gus Edwards was put on IR this week. It's been a big-time bounce-back season for Dobbins, who had a season high 25 carries in this one. While he hasn't had a 100-yard game since the second week of the season, the thought Dobbins was going to be unable to return to his pre-injury form seem to have been put to rest. He'll be a solid RB2 moving forward and dynasty managers need to really look at him as a potential buy or sell depending on where they sit after six weeks.

Aidan Hutchinson Oct 14 10:14am ET
Aidan Hutchinson

Detroit Lions star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson (tibia) will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after undergoing emergency surgery Sunday to repair a compound fracture, per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Hutchinson suffered the injury while sacking quarterback Dak Prescott in the Lions' 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The third-year defensive standout completed the sack but immediately grabbed his leg upon hitting the ground and was carted off the field in an air cast. He'll now spend the night in a local Dallas hospital. It's a massive blow to Detroit's defense, as the 24-year-old led the league in sacks (6.5) entering Week 6 and is a formidable game-breaker off the edge. Defensive end Isaac Ukwu figures to pick up snaps with the injury to Hutchinson, and Detroit may seek help elsewhere with no other healthy defensive ends on the roster. The Lions will get a road matchup in Week 7 against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings.

Evan Engram Oct 14 10:00am ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was targeted often throughout the Week 6 loss to the Chicago Bears. After not playing since Week 1, Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars made up for lost time by targeting Engram 10 times in this game. He caught all 10 of them for 102 yards but unfortunately couldn't find paydirt. Whenever healthy, Engram is a top tight end, especially in PPR formats. The good thing for fantasy managers is that Engram's fantasy success doesn't depend on the team's success. He'll look to keep the momentum going against the New England Patriots in another London game in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Gabriel Davis Oct 14 9:50am ET
Gabriel Davis

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis posted his best game of the season in a 35-16 loss to the Chicago Bears. In the Jaguars' first of two London games, Davis posted five receptions for 45 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets. He was the second-most targeted pass-catcher on the team behind only Evan Engram. Three of his eight targets were in the red zone which is the most he's received in a single game so far this year. Davis and the Jaguars will stick around in England until they play the New England Patriots in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Lawrence Oct 14 9:40am ET
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence registered another QB2-level performance during the 35-16 loss to the Chicago Bears in London. The 25-year-old continues to struggle as the team fell to 1-5 on the year. He ended this game with 234 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception on 23-for-35 throwing. He added four carries for 17 yards and was sacked three times. The silver lining is that he has thrown for at least two touchdowns in each of the last three games, but the offense continues to sputter as they average just 18.8 points per game. He'll try to right the ship against the New England Patriots in another London game in Week 7.

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Tyler Allgeier Oct 14 9:40am ET
Tyler Allgeier

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown on 18 totes in Sunday's 38-20 victory over the Panthers, adding one catch for three yards as well. The third-year back has been good when given an opportunity, averaging 5.5 yards per carry so far this season. Bijan Robinson was productive as well, rushing for 95 yards and two scores, but with Robinson popping up on the injury report earlier in the week and the Falcons in control of this game, Allgeier garnered more opportunities than usual. Prior to this contest, he had yet to reach double-digit carries in a game this season. Next week the Falcons draw a weak rush defense against Seattle, a defense that is allowing 5.0 yards per carry which is sixth-worst in the NFL. The 24-year-old remains a strong insurance policy for Robinson managers and will be worthy of FLEX consideration in better matchups.

From RotoBaller

Kirk Cousins Oct 14 9:20am ET
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 19 of his 30 pass attempts in Sunday's 38-20 victory over the Panthers. The 36-year-old tallied 225 pass yards and threw just one touchdown pass, as it was the ground game that took over in this one with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier combining for 200 yards rushing and three TDs. Outside of his monster Week 5 performance, the veteran QB has been fairly pedestrian for fantasy, with only two multi-touchdown performances in six games, while Sunday marked just the second time this season that he didn't throw an interception. Next week's potentially high-scoring home date with Seattle makes him a viable streaming option though, and assuming the offense keeps progressing he should be at least a high-end QB2 most weeks with upside.

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Travis Etienne Oct 14 9:20am ET
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears with a hamstring issue and didn't return. Head coach Doug Pederson said on Monday that the 25-year-old is now considered week-to-week. The once bell-cow type of back hasn't seen more than 13 carries in a game this season and finished with six in Week 5 and three in Week 6 before leaving. He even went from 70% snap share in Week 1 down to 38% in Week 5. With Etienne's status unclear, Tank Bigsby will likely take on most of the snap share while D'Ernest Johnson will slot in as the backup.

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Jahmyr Gibbs Oct 14 9:10am ET
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs was efficient with his touches in the blowout victory over the Dallas Cowboys, but only turned in an RB2-level performance. The dynamic back finished with 63 yards on 12 carries and caught three of his five targets for 28 yards. This game was another instance where David Montgomery took over in the red zone and took the touchdowns instead of Gibbs. Despite that, Gibbs has remained at a higher value in PPR formats since he returned to being involved in the passing game. He might have a tough time against a stout Vikings defense in Week 7 though.

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Xavier Legette Oct 14 8:50am ET
Xavier Legette

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette scored for the second time in his career during the 38-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. He finished with four targets, three receptions, 23 yards, and one touchdown. The rookie's fantasy value has increased since Andy Dalton took over at QB and Adam Thielen (hamstring) went out with a hamstring injury. In that span, Legette has received 18 targets and turned them into 12 receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Legette and the Panthers will have to go to the air often next week as they take on the Washington Commanders in Week 7.

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Haason Reddick Oct 14 8:43am ET
Haason Reddick

New York Jets LB Haason Reddick hired Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha as his new agents, and they're already working with the Jets to resolve Reddick's holdout.

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Jared Goff Oct 14 6:50am ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff delivered a dominant fantasy performance in Week 6, finishing as a top-5 QB. Goff was highly efficient, completing 18 of 25 passes for an impressive 315 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for five yards on three attempts in Detroit's 47-9 blowout victory over the Dallas Cowboys. This strong outing highlighted Goff's continued effectiveness and secured a high output for fantasy managers this week. His performance placed him as a top-5 fantasy quarterback in Week 6, showcasing his consistency as a reliable starter. Goff's connection with key receivers helped power the Lions' offense in one of their most decisive wins of the season. Fantasy managers can look forward to Goff's potential for similar performances in favorable matchups moving forward. The 30-year-old is a high-end QB2 in a tough matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7.

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Cole Kmet Oct 14 6:20am ET
Cole Kmet

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet had a standout performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6, recording five receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns. Both of his touchdowns came in the first half, providing the Bears' offense with crucial momentum that carried into the second half. Kmet showcased his strength on his first touchdown, powering through a defender en route to the end zone. His second touchdown featured a perfectly executed route in the red zone just before halftime. Additionally, Kmet stepped up as the team's emergency long snapper after Scott Daly injured his knee in the first quarter. The Bears will enjoy a bye week next week before taking on the Commanders in Week 8.

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Caleb Williams Oct 14 6:10am ET
Caleb Williams

This Sunday, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams showcased his best performance of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In Week 6, he completed 23 of 29 passes for 226 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. After starting the game with two consecutive three-and-outs, Williams rebounded impressively, delivering some excellent throws in the red zone and making key plays as a scrambler. Although he threw one interception, it was one of the few missteps in an otherwise strong game. Additionally, Williams contributed 56 rushing yards on four carries, highlighting his dual-threat capability, which significantly boosts his fantasy value. Following a trip to London in Week 6, the Bears will enjoy a bye week, setting the stage for a highly anticipated matchup in Week 8 against the Commanders, featuring the top two picks of the 2024 NFL Draft.

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D'Andre Swift Oct 14 6:10am ET
D'Andre Swift

On Sunday, Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift delivered an impressive performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He tallied 17 carries for 91 yards, a touchdown, and four receptions for 28 yards. Swift was active throughout the game, contributing significantly to both the rushing and passing attacks. His efforts culminated in a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, a welcome sight for fantasy owners after he was vultured by Roschon Johnson the previous week. With this being Swift's third consecutive strong game, fantasy managers can likely put his rough start to the season behind them and confidently consider him a starting running back for the remainder of the year. The Bears will have a bye week next week before facing the Commanders in Week 8.

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D.J. Moore Oct 14 6:10am ET
D.J. Moore

In Week 6, Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore had a quiet outing against the Jacksonville Jaguars, finishing with four catches for 25 yards and no touchdowns. His performance could have been much more impactful if quarterback Caleb Williams had connected with him on a deep pass in the second quarter, as Moore had gotten behind the secondary. Unfortunately, Williams underthrew the ball, resulting in an interception rather than a touchdown for the Bears. Moore was also initially credited with a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but after review, it was determined he was down at the one-yard line. D'Andre Swift then scored on the next play. Moore's day was marked by missed opportunities, which he hopes to capitalize on in the coming weeks. He briefly left the field for the medical tent in the third quarter but returned at the start of the fourth quarter. The Bears will take a bye next week to regroup before facing the Commanders in Week 8.

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Keenan Allen Oct 14 6:10am ET
Keenan Allen

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen had a standout performance this Sunday against the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars secondary, delivering his best game of the season. He recorded five catches for 41 yards and two touchdowns, marking his first touchdown as a Bear. After starting the season with an injury, Allen looks to have regained his health. His early-season heel injury had sidelined him for two of the first five games, and even after returning in Week 4, he didn't appear to be fully himself. Both touchdowns came in the red zone, highlighting his potential as a significant threat near the goal line when healthy. The Bears will enjoy a bye week next week before taking on the Commanders in Week 8.

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