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FFL: Week 7 | NFL: Week 7

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 DFS Pickem Plays: Week 7

Player Notes
Drake Maye Oct 19 5:10am ET
Drake Maye

The Jacksonville Jaguars defense/special teams unit has a chance for decent fantasy production in Week 7 against the New England Patriots. Third-overall pick Drake Maye will get his second consecutive start after throwing three touchdowns and two interceptions last week against the Houston Texans. Maye is a young QB with a big arm, so he will take chances, meaning a potential for multiple turnovers. However, the Jaguars defense is one of the worst in football, so in general, it is hard to trust them in fantasy. They did get their first interception of the season last week against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, but it is hard to imagine a ceiling beyond that. Even Deshaun Watson didn't turn the ball over against them. In about as good a matchup as they will get this season, the Jaguars D/ST is a decent play in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Oct 19 3:30am ET
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle enters a Week 7 home matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in the midst of one the hottest streaks of his career. Last week in a win versus Seattle he hauled in five of six targets for 58 yards and two touchdowns. He is now on a four-game touchdown streak and tied for the most receiving touchdowns in the league at any position, with five. Kansas City's pass defense in fantasy has been mediocre but has taken an interesting route to get there. The Chiefs have been the ninth-toughest on wide receivers, but have been taken to task by opposing tight ends. They have given up 14.3 TE points per game, good for league-worst, while the second-easiest team -- the Rams -- are averaging 11.3 in Yahoo default scoring, by far the biggest margin between any two consecutively-ranked teams in the NFL. Kittle will certainly be fired up to take on the Chiefs given San Francisco's loss in Super Bowl LVIII and is a no-doubt fantasy TE1.

From RotoBaller

Cam Little Oct 19 3:20am ET
Cam Little

Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little is worth considering in starting lineups in Week 7 against the New England Patriots. The rookie kicker only had one field goal and one extra point last week in London against the Chicago Bears, but should have a busier week in London against a worse Patriots defense. Since missing a field goal in Week 2, Little has hit every attempt, so efficiency is not a worry. His longest field goal on the year is 53 yards, so he has a decent leg. Little's fantasy inconsistency has come down to the Jaguars offense not playing that well this season. However, with some of their weapons returning from injury and the offense steadily playing better, a much better matchup for the Jaguars offense should mean more points than the 16 they scored last week. Fantasy managers should be fine starting Little in their fantasy lineups in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Oct 19 3:00am ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram is a must-start in Week 7 against the New England Patriots in London. With no injury designation this week, Engram's hamstring injury seems to be behind him. The veteran tight end made a splash on his return with 10 catches for 102 yards on 10 targets. Despite returning from injury, Engram was the top target for Trevor Lawrence on the day. While the plethora of receiver options may make it hard for that trend to continue, Engram easily profiles as a TE1 given this week's solid matchup with the Patriots. The Bears have one of the best defenses in the league so far this season, so the Patriots should serve as an easier matchup for the Jaguars offense. Even if Lawrence spreads the ball around more than last week, Engram should put up mid to high-tier TE1 numbers in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Christian Kirk Oct 19 2:40am ET
Christian Kirk

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk makes for a decent flex play in London against the New England Patriots in Week 7. The veteran receiver was overshadowed by Evan Engram and Gabe Davis last week but has the potential to return to previous form in a good matchup. Engram dominated the targets and could continue to do so, but Kirk going forward should be more involved than his three catches for 39 yards on six targets from last week against the Chicago Bears. He combined for 22 targets in Week 3 and Week 4, so he has shown capable of earning plenty of targets to be a good fantasy option. As long as Trevor Lawrence spreads the ball around more than last week, expect Kirk to return to form as a solid flex option against a much weaker Patriots secondary in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Oct 19 2:30am ET
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has great upside once again in Week 7 against the New England Patriots in London. There is a chance BTJ is shadowed by talented young corner Christian Gonzalez, but given the rookie receiver out of LSU has the potential for a long touchdown on any given play, there is no way that means fantasy managers should bench him. BTJ has been stellar to start his rookie campaign but was held quiet by the terrific Bears secondary last week. As long as Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense continue to improve on a rough start to the season, BTJ has a chance for a big day, even with top target tight end Evan Engram (10 receptions for 102 yards last week) now back from injury. Start BTJ with confidence as a WR2 with WR1 upside in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

D'Ernest Johnson Oct 19 2:10am ET
D'Ernest Johnson

Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson could get more touches than usual with Travis Etienne Jr. questionable for Week 7's London matchup with the New England Patriots. Johnson has been third string behind Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby, but after Etienne Jr. went down with injury last week, Johnson had increased opportunities, garnering six carries for 28 yards and two receptions for 16 yards. The former Cleveland Brown isn't an exciting option but should get some chances against a weak Patriots run defense that got gashed by Joe Mixon last week. There is a possibiliTy Johnson gets only a couple of touches and Bigsby gets most of them, or Etienne Jr. does play and it's a dreaded three-way split, but it's also possible Johnson gets double-digit touches, and some goal-line carries. He is risky, but Johnson serves as an interesting flex play in deeper leagues in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Oct 19 2:00am ET
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will look for his first touchdown of the season when the team hosts the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7. So far, Aiyuk has disappointed fantasy managers, to say the least. In Week 5 versus Arizona, Aiyuk popped for eight catches on 12 targets for 147 yards but has failed to reach eight half-PPR points in each of his other five games. As one searches for an explanation, it's worth considering whether the absence of Christian McCaffrey is allowing defenses to play back more often, affecting Aiyuk's ability to get open deep. Whatever the cause, it's time to make Aiyuk prove he's back before considering him a WR1 or even a WR2. Kansas City represents the seventh-toughest matchup for fantasy wide receivers in Yahoo default scoring. Given the slump and matchup, to call Aiyuk a WR2 this week is probably generous.

From RotoBaller

Chris Boswell Oct 19 1:10am ET
Chris Boswell

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell will look to continue his excellent start to the season against the New York Jets in Week 7. This could prove to be a difficult home matchup for Pittsburgh as the Jets are surrendering just 18 points per contest, the seventh-fewest in the NFL. Furthermore, the Steelers are yet to officially announce whether Russell Wilson or Justin Fields will serve as the team's starting quarterback on Sunday night. While a change under center may raise the ceiling of Pittsburgh's offense, it is also possible that it backfires and negatively impacts Boswell. The 33-year-old has been consistent and can still be started in a pinch, but fantasy managers may want to consider other options this week.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Addison Oct 19 1:00am ET
Jordan Addison

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison looked great throughout his inaugural campaign, ending the year with 10 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he's struggled this season, finding the end zone once. Granted, the wideout has only appeared in three of the Vikings' five contests. Still, fantasy managers have been disappointed with his lack of output. With Aaron Jones (hamstring) questionable for the Week 7 divisional encounter with the Lions, there is a chance Addison could get more involved. However, he's hard to trust in any situation, so fantasy managers may want to keep him out of the lineup until he turns it around.

From RotoBaller

Isaac Guerendo Oct 19 12:50am ET
Isaac Guerendo

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo will return to a backup role when the team hosts the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Last week during a win in Seattle, when starter Jordan Mason (shoulder) left the game during the second quarter, Guerendo filled in nicely with 10 carries for 99 yards, including a 76-yard run to put the game away for San Francisco. However, with Mason off the injury report after logging a full practice on Friday, Guerendo will probably be relegated to the one-to-five carries that he's logged this season when Mason has been healthy. The 6-foot, 221-pound fourth-rounder is a worthwhile stash while Christian McCaffrey (Achilles/calf) is out in case Mason gets hurt again, but he is not a viable starter in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Justin Jefferson Oct 19 12:50am ET
Justin Jefferson

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has played well this season, as expected, amassing 26 catches for 450 yards and four touchdowns. With the Vikings having won their first five games of the 2024-25 campaign leading up to a much-needed bye week, Jefferson will look to keep Minnesota atop the NFC North by earning a win over the Lions. The wideout has only three touchdowns in eight career meetings against Detroit. However, he's accumulated at least seven catches in five of those contests. Of course, Jefferson is always a must-start, although he could be even more productive for PPR managers in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Oct 19 12:50am ET
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is currently the fantasy TE9 in half-PPR scoring and will hope to stay steady against the New York Jets in Week 7. Freiermuth is playing on the vast majority of offensive snaps and has been the second-most targeted Steelers pass-catcher through the first six weeks of the season. Of course, all of these opportunities have come with Justin Fields under center, and there seems to be a strong possibility that Russell Wilson will take over as QB1 on Sunday night. Freiermuth's role in the offense should be consistent either way, but he may struggle to make much of an impact against a Jets defense surrendering the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. Although fantasy managers that have been rolling with Freiermuth may not have a better option available to them, the 25-year-old should only be viewed as a middling TE2 this week.

From RotoBaller

Sam Darnold Oct 19 12:40am ET
Sam Darnold

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold had a rough showing in the Week 5 win over the New York Jets. However, the signal-caller has played better than expected in 2024-25, throwing for 1,111 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions. With Minnesota off in Week 6, the team will return, hoping to remain atop the NFC North by earning a victory over the Lions in Week 7. The Detroit defense has been reliable this season. Unfortunately, the Lions lost Aidan Hutchinson (leg) for the foreseeable future. While Darnold was already worth a start in any fantasy format, his ceiling is now higher without Hutchinson in the equation.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Oct 19 12:40am ET
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has been very disappointing for fantasy over the past two weeks and will look to turn things around against the New York Jets in Week 7. Unfortunately for Pickens, the Jets give up the fourth-fewest fantasy points per contest to opposing wideouts. There is a strong possibility, however, that Pickens sees an uptick in downfield opportunities if Pittsburgh indeed gives Russell Wilson the start at quarterback on Sunday night. While the Steelers' QB1 is yet to be officially announced, Pickens mentioned on Friday that he has been catching extra passes from Wilson after practice in preparation for "his first start". Pickens earned more than seven targets per game with Justin Fields under center but the pair did not combine for any touchdowns through the first six weeks of the campaign. Fantasy managers can adjust their expectations slightly based on which quarterback gets the nod, but Pickens should be viewed as a risky WR3 regardless in this matchup.

From RotoBaller

Tank Bigsby Oct 19 12:40am ET
Tank Bigsby

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby has the potential for a big day in relief of Travis Etienne Jr. in Week 7 against the New England Patriots. The starting veteran back out of Clemson is questionable with a hamstring injury, and there is a decent chance he will miss out this week based on reports. Even if Etienne Jr. does play, Bigsby is a fine start as a flex play for Sunday morning in London, as he has been great in fantasy so far despite limited touches. If Etienne Jr. misses the game, Bigsby should get most of the work and be a high-upside RB2 in a great matchup. D'Ernest Johnson should also compete for touches, but when healthy, Bigsby has certainly earned the opportunity to shine no matter who is available in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Oct 19 12:30am ET
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris was outstanding in Week 6 and will look to carry some positive momentum into a Sunday night showdown with the New York Jets. Harris missed practice on Wednesday due to a rib injury but will not carry a designation into the weekend after participating in full on Thursday and Friday. Although the Jets have been solid against fantasy running backs this season, Bills rookie Ray Davis found success against them last week with 152 total yards. The Steelers are yet to officially announce their starting quarterback but Harris figures to get plenty of opportunities regardless. If Russell Wilson gets the nod, however, Harris could see additional carries near the goal line that he previously ceded to Justin Fields. For the time being, fantasy managers should continue to view Harris as a volume-based RB2 with a solid floor in most contests.

From RotoBaller

Brock Purdy Oct 19 12:20am ET
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has a tough test on tap as the 5-0 Kansas City Chiefs roll into Santa Clara on Sunday. Last week in Seattle, Purdy was on point, completing 18 of 28 attempts for 255 yards and three touchdowns en route to a win. He also rushed for 19 yards on four carries. Despite Kansas City's perfect record, their pass defense has been just okay, tied for 14th-toughest against fantasy quarterbacks in Yahoo default settings. Purdy will have a full complement of weapons -- besides Christian McCaffrey (Achilles/calf) and third receiver Jauan Jennings (hip). First-round pick Ricky Pearsall will make his NFL debut filling in for Jennings after the former suffered a gunshot wound in the preseason. Purdy is tied with Kyler Murray for the overall QB11 slot in fantasy PPG. Start him as a low/mid QB1 in the Super Bowl LVIII rematch, where he'll look to lift the 49ers above .500 for the first time in over a month.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Lawrence Oct 19 12:20am ET
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will look to continue his positive momentum against the New England Patriots in Week 7. The Jaguars will play in London for the second consecutive week and are looking to bounce back from their beatdown from the Chicago Bears in Week 6. The Patriots defense has been much worse than Chicago's this season, meaning Lawrence can easily improve on last week's 234 yards and two touchdowns on 23 completions. The former top pick doesn't have a ton of upside but makes for a decent streaming option this week. He seems like at least a solid QB2 and based on the matchup, a potential low-end QB1. With all his receiving weapons finally healthy, Lawrence has a good chance to continue his solid play from a fantasy perspective in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Warren Oct 19 12:10am ET
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren managed just 18 total yards on nine touches last week and will hope to make more of an impact against the New York Jets in Week 7. However, he may struggle to do so as the Jets have surrendered the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs in 2024. It is still yet to be confirmed who the Steelers are starting at quarterback between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, making their entire offense a bit difficult to evaluate. Nonetheless, Najee Harris (ribs) practiced in full on Thursday and Friday and is expected to lead Pittsburgh's backfield on Sunday night. Fantasy managers should pay attention to Warren's utilization as the season progresses, but the 25-year-old can't be considered anything more than a desperation flex play in deeper leagues this week.

From RotoBaller