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.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is sore after Week 1 but should be good to go in practice this week according to a report from NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Jackson missed Monday's practice to open a long week of preparation for Week 2 against the Raiders after facing the Chiefs in the NFL opener on Thursday night. But the expectation is he will be back practicing the rest of the week. Jackson rushed 16 times for 122 yards in the opener and was 26-of-41 passing for 273 yards and a touchdown. His rushing usage stands out and makes him one of the top quarterbacks in fantasy. He should be locked and loaded as QB1 against Las Vegas after this report.
From RotoBaller
The New York Jets defense struggled to slow down the San Francisco 49ers in a 32-19 loss in Week 1's Monday night game. New York picked up three sacks but was unable to force any turnovers as the 49ers kicked six field goals to down the Jets in the season opener. The Jets got sacks from Sauce Gardner, Micheal Clemons, and Tony Adams but also allowed the 49ers to roll up 401 yards of total offense with Christian McCaffrey inactive. That being said, things should be much easier for New York in Week 2's matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle provided fantasy managers with modest production in the team's 32-19 home-opening victory against the New York Jets. The colorful 30-year-old finished the night in a three-way tie for the team lead in targets with five, which he parlayed into four receptions for 40 yards. In recent memory, Kittle has been the quintessential boom/bust fantasy asset at a boom/bust position but still managed to finish as the TE5 in half-PPR scoring last season. He surely has better -- and worse -- weeks coming. Fantasy players who drafted the "Tight End University" co-founder should keep rolling him out there until further notice, including in Week 2 when the Niners go to Minnesota to take on the Vikings.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught one of his two targets for a six-yard gain in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Conklin was quiet in his season debut, although he was on the field a lot. The 49ers dominated the time of possession battle in this contest, resulting in Aaron Rodgers attempting just 21 passes. Conklin could have bigger games ahead of him but he is not a must-hold in redraft leagues as the Jets prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein made his lone extra-point try and did not attempt any field goals in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Zuerlein's number was not called often as the Jets were down big after halftime and attempted two-point conversions following both of their second-half touchdowns. Zuerlein will have better days ahead in more favorable matchups. He will now prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson caught six of his 11 targets for 60 yards in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1's Monday night game. Wilson got off to an extremely hot start as he hauled in 46 receiving yards on four catches during the Jets' 70-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter. He was mostly quiet for the remainder of the game, however, as he watched Allen Lazard pull down two touchdown catches after halftime. That being said, Wilson's 11 targets were encouraging as he is the clear alpha in the passing attack. Wilson will be a rock-solid WR1 in fantasy heading into Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk disappointed in Monday night's 32-19 victory over the New York Jets in Santa Clara after spending the preseason seeking an extension and asking to be traded while only participating in team meetings. This led to head coach Kyle Shanahan easing the former Sun Devil into game action and limiting his snaps in Week 1. At times during Monday's matchup, Aiyuk looked less-than-sharp, including dropping a sprawling, but catchable ball in the back corner of the end zone. He finished in a three-way tie with Jauan Jennings and George Kittle for the team target lead with five but only caught two for 28 yards. Time will tell how long it will take for Aiyuk to shake off the rust, but it should be sooner than later that he settles into his usual WR2 value. He'll try to get it going against the Vikings in Minnesota in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard caught six of his nine targets for 89 yards and two touchdowns in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football in Week 1. The Lazard/Aaron Rodgers connection from Green Bay appears to be alive and well with the Jets as the two hooked up for a 36-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Lazard's second touchdown came from Tyrod Taylor late in the fourth quarter in garbage time. That being said, Lazard had a career year with Rodgers two years ago with the Packers and he could easily emerge as the No. 2 receiver in New York. He is worth a look on waivers heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams was not targeted in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Williams was on a pitch count after tearing his ACL early last season and he wound up playing just a handful of snaps for the Jets, mostly in the red zone. The goose egg from Williams is concerning but the Jets indicated heading into the game that they would be easing the veteran into action in the early going. Williams should slowly ramp up activity over the next few games but he will also have to contend with Allen Lazard, who caught two touchdowns on Monday night. For now, Williams is just a bench stash in deep fantasy leagues heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 13 of his 21 passes for 167 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1's Monday night game. Rodgers got the Jets off to a fast start, engineering a 70-yard drive punctuated by a Breece Hall three-yard touchdown run in the first quarter but the New York offense struggled after that. It didn't help that the 49ers strung together several long drives that ate up much of the clock. San Francisco ultimately dominated the time of possession as they had the ball on offense for just under 39 minutes in the game. Rodgers' lone touchdown pass went to Allen Lazard in the third quarter. On the bright side, Rodgers looked healthy after tearing his Achilles back in Week 1 last season. He will be a high-end QB2 in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Breece Hall carried the ball 16 times for 54 yards and a touchdown while hauling in five of his six targets for 39 yards in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Hall scored the first touchdown of the game on a three-yard run with 3:57 left on the clock in the first quarter. The veteran running back showed why he was a top-five pick in most fantasy leagues as he was busy in the passing attack, finishing third on the team in targets and receiving yards while also dominating the RB touches for the Jets, ceding just two touches to Braelon Allen. Hall will be a locked-in RB1 heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings led the team in receiving in Monday night's 32-19 victory over the New York Jets by catching all five of his targets for 64 yards. Jennings, drafted by San Francisco in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft, has spent most of his career in relative obscurity but was rewarded with an extension in the offseason through 2025. Jennings has only once surpassed seven targets in a game and Monday's performance was the second-highest total of his career. Jennings did a good job of finding soft spots in New York's zone defense throughout the night. He'll probably never be a standout, but in San Francisco's high-powered offense, he could be useful in fantasy if something were to happen to Deebo Samuel Sr. or Brandon Aiyuk, especially since he appears to be ahead of rookie Jacob Cowing and first-round pick Ricky Pearsall may need some time to get up to speed after suffering a gunshot wound following a banged-up preseason. That said, fantasy managers should look elsewhere for wide receiver help in Week 2 at Minnesota, especially as Aiyuk continues to shake off the rust this week at practice.
From RotoBaller
The San Francisco 49er's defense and special teams were exceptional in their Week 1 matchup against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. They forced a turnover on just their fourth snap, with linebacker Fred Warner stripping the ball from Jets running back Breece Hall and defensive lineman Maliek Collins recovering it on New York's 32-yard line. Another critical moment was when Rodgers threw an interception intended for Garrett Wilson, which was deflected by Deommodore Lenoir and caught by linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles. Additionally, Leonard Floyd recorded his first sack as a 49er in the second quarter, evading Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker to bring down Rodgers on third down. Floyd is quickly establishing himself alongside former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa. The 49er's defense is set to be a strong option again next week as they face a Minnesota Vikings team led by Sam Darnold.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody had an exceptional performance in Week 1 against the New York Jets, setting a franchise record by making six field goals. The second-year kicker was perfect on the night, going six-for-six with field goals from 46, 51, 31, 53, 23, and 42 yards in the game. He also converted both of his extra point attempts, contributing 20 of the 49ers' 32 points. Moody's impressive showing highlights his potential as a strong fantasy option, especially with the 49ers' high-powered offense ensuring plenty of scoring opportunities.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason had a standout performance in place of the injured Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) during Monday night's game against the New York Jets. With McCaffrey ruled out before the game, Mason seized the opportunity, rushing 28 times for 147 yards and one touchdown. Although Mason entered the game with only 83 career carries over two seasons, he has consistently shown potential, averaging 6.0 yards per carry as a rookie and 5.2 yards per carry in 2023. Mason exploited openings effectively throughout the game, supported by the robust 49ers offensive line and a strategic game plan from head coach Kyle Shanahan. Mason should be a top priority on the waiver wire this week. If McCaffrey is sidelined again next week, Mason would be a must-start. Even if McCaffrey returns, Mason remains a valuable handcuff for the rest of the season.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. delivered a solid all-around performance in the team's Week 1 win over the New York Jets. Samuel totaled 77 yards from scrimmage and scored a rushing touchdown, with five receptions for 54 yards and eight carries for 23 yards. He also attempted a pass that resulted in a four-yard sack. With star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) sidelined, Samuel and backup Jordan Mason stepped up to help secure San Francisco's first win of the 2024 season. Samuel remains a top fantasy option, whether as a receiver or a running back, as the 49ers prepare to take on the Vikings in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had a solid outing in leading his team to a decisive victory over the New York Jets on Sunday night. Purdy completed 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards and did not record any touchdowns or turnovers. The Jets' defense, missing edge rusher Haason Reddick due to a holdout, failed to apply significant pressure. The 49ers took control of the game by halftime, allowing Purdy to focus on game management rather than pushing for big plays. San Francisco dominated possession, holding the ball for 38 minutes and 40 seconds and scoring on eight offensive drives before taking a knee on their final possession. The 49ers ran 70 plays compared to the Jets' 49. As the season progresses, expect Purdy to deliver higher-scoring performances, with his next opportunity coming against the Vikings on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan clarified that running back Christian McCaffrey's (calf) injury did not involve a setback but was simply too bothersome for him to play effectively on Sunday. Despite practicing all week, McCaffrey's calf issue has been intermittent and proved too troublesome for this game. During the ESPN postgame interview, Jordan Mason mentioned he was informed on Friday night that he would be starting, but Shanahan corrected this, stating that Mason was only told he would likely see significant playing time and didn't confirm the starting role until the day of the game. Shanahan addressed the situation to prevent any potential league repercussions. The excellent news is McCaffrey did not suffer a setback, and he will have six days to recover before the 49ers face the Vikings in Week 2. McCaffrey remains a must-start if available, while Mason is his top backup and must start if McCaffrey is sidelined again.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle didn't have the best start to his 2024 season. The 26-year-old was expected to split up the touches with veteran Ezekiel Elliott during Sunday's season opener. The two of them did split up the carries, but Dowdle failed to do much with them. He rushed eight times for 26 yards while hauling in one reception for six yards in the blowout win. Elliott didn't do much better on the ground with 40 yards, but he was able to find the end zone. The expectation is that these two will continue to split up the job until one of them pulls away with it. That being said, Dowdle should still have some streaming value in Week 2, but he has lost some appeal after that lackluster start.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Sean Clifford is set to be the backup option for the Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. It was uncertain who was going to start for the Packers with Jordan Love (ankle) facing a multiple week absence. Head coach Matt LaFleur cleared that up on Monday by naming Malik Willis the starter for Week 2. He also mentioned that Clifford is set to back him up, so he'll be elevated from the practice squad. Normally, someone becoming the backup isn't noteworthy, but this case is a little different. Willis has only been with the Packers for a few weeks and has yet to prove himself at the professional level. Clifford has been with the Packers for a full season and he should know the offensive scheme fairly well. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Packers turn to Clifford if Willis fails to impress them. Fantasy managers don't need to be jumping at the waiver wire to grab the former fifth-round pick. However, it wouldn't be shocking if Clifford does get snaps at some point in the next few weeks. Neither quarterback is going to be a viable fantasy option in most formats.
From RotoBaller