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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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Player Notes
Darnell Mooney Oct 21 12:10pm ET
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney had a useful day in PPR formats in Sunday's 34-14 loss to the Seahawks, nabbing five of eight targets for 46 yards. His 53 targets on the season are more than Terry McLaurin (49) and just two fewer than Stefon Diggs (55), so he clearly has value, but much of his fantasy production came in one blow-up game versus Tampa Bay in Week 5 when he tallied nine catches on a whopping 16 targets for 105 yards and two scores. That contest notwithstanding, the fifth-year pro is averaging four catches on six targets for 52 yards per game. The 26-year-old gets another shot at those same Bucs in Week 8, and while seeing his quarterback heave up 58 pass attempts again is not at all likely, if they try to shut down Drake London who torched them for 12-154-1 the last time out, Mooney and the other receivers would stand to benefit from his added attention.

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Kirk Cousins Oct 21 11:40am ET
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 24-of-35 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown but turned the ball over three times in a 34-14 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday. Two of the turnovers came via interception and the other was a fumble that turned into a scoop-and-score for the Seahawks. It was the fifth time in seven games that Cousins failed to record two or more touchdown passes and he now has seven picks in as many games. This was supposed to be a favorable matchup with a banged-up Seahawks secondary and Atlanta favored by three points, but instead, it was a lopsided affair that went in Seattle's favor. While it makes Cousins hard to trust as a weekly streaming option, the good news is that the 36-year-old gets the Buccaneers in Week 8, a team he threw for over 500 yards against with four TDs just a few weeks ago, so he'll get an opportunity to bounce back next week.

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Kyle Pitts Oct 21 11:10am ET
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts garnered nine looks from Kirk Cousins, tallying seven grabs for 65 yards in Sunday's 34-14 loss to the Seahawks. Although the 24-year-old failed to find the end zone for the sixth consecutive week, the target, reception, and yardage totals were all team-highs on the afternoon. The former first-round draft pick recorded seven catches or more just three times from 2021-23 but has now totaled seven catches in two of the last three games for Atlanta, so perhaps the arrow is starting to point up for him. He also was held without a catch in Week 4, so let's not get too ahead of ourselves. Week 8 brings a rematch with Tampa Bay, which saw 58 pass attempts from Cousins the last time out. A more balanced approach should be the expectation this time around, but Pitts did haul in seven for 88 in that contest and should be involved again.

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Bijan Robinson Oct 21 10:40am ET
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson totaled up 24 touches in Sunday's 34-14 loss to the Seahawks, with 21 rushes for 103 yards and a score while adding three catches for 40 yards. The number of rush attempts were a season high and he's now caught at least three passes in six of seven games for Atlanta. The 22-year-old flashed his big play ability with a 26-yard rush and a 26-yard catch-and-run, finishing the week within the top 12 at the position in fantasy. Fantasy managers will appreciate the added workload, but we'll see if it sticks as his previous high in rush attempts this season was just 18. On tap in Week 8 are the Buccaneers who the Falcons have faced once already and it ended up being a pass-heavy game script, with Robinson getting just 12 attempts for 61 yards and three catches for 16.

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Drake London Oct 21 10:10am ET
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London hauled in six passes on eight targets for 63 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-14 loss to the Seahawks. It was the sixth consecutive game in which the 23-year-old tallied at least six receptions and he's now scored in five of Atlanta's seven games. London's day perhaps could have been better had Kirk Cousins not killed a couple of drives with interceptions, but the 6-foot-4 wideout put himself in the mix as a WR1 for the week nevertheless. He should continue his stretch of consistent production in next week's matchup versus the Buccaneers, having racked up 12-154-1 against them back in Week 5.

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Jayden Daniels Oct 21 10:10am ET
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (ribs) underwent some initial X-rays on Sunday after he left the game against the Carolina Panthers. According to Jordan Schultz, those initial tests came back with no fractures to any of his ribs. The rookie phenom is still set to undergo some more tests on Monday as the team is taking a cautious approach to this injury. His status over the next couple of days will need to be monitored to understand the severity of the injury and if he'll need to miss any time moving forward. If he's unable to suit up in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears, Marcus Mariota will likely step in again as the starting quarterback.

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Theo Johnson Oct 21 9:50am ET
Theo Johnson

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson continues to struggle with another abysmal fantasy week in the team's 28-3 loss to their division rivals. The rookie out of Penn State didn't receive a single target while his counterpart, Daniel Bellinger caught his only target for 11 yards. The passing game struggled mightily with Daniel Jones only accounting for 99 yards through the air before Drew Lock entered the game and added six more. Johnson hasn't been able to string together any type of consistency right now, but neither has the tight end position as a whole for the Giants. His next chance to bounce back will be against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8.

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Andrei Iosivas Oct 21 9:30am ET
Andrei Iosivas

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas posted his first goose egg of the season against the Cleveland Browns. The second-year wideout finished the game with one target but didn't haul it in, and was not used in the running game. When Tee Higgins returned, Iosivas' target share dropped in each game. In fact, Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase received 14 targets combined. As long as the top receivers are healthy, Iosivas has a limited ceiling. He'll have another shot at finding the end zone against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8.

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Jalen Coker Oct 21 9:30am ET
Jalen Coker

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker struggled to find many targets or open field as did the rest of the passing game against the Washington Commanders. Coker finished the game with one target, one reception, and 10 yards. As a whole, the Panthers produced 85 total yards through the air as Andy Dalton was stifled all game long. The offense has now produced only three games with more than 10 points, which is going to limit Coker's upside until they can figure out their deficiencies.

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Chigoziem Okonkwo Oct 21 9:22am ET
Chigoziem Okonkwo

Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo hauled in four passes for 50 yards on four targets in a 34-10 loss at Buffalo in Week 7. This marked the young tight end's best game of the season, having failed to top 16 receiving yards up to this point. His 26-yard reception in the first quarter set up Tennessee's only touchdown drive of the game, and he displayed solid chemistry with new starting quarterback Mason Rudolph on the afternoon. With how unreliable this Titans passing attack continues to be, Okonkwo is still not a great option moving forward, but there may be ample opportunity next week in Detroit with the Titans likely playing catch-up.

Jordan Whittington Oct 21 9:20am ET
Jordan Whittington

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington was able to suit up on Sunday despite a shoulder injury throughout the week, but he didn't appear in the box score in this game. Whittington didn't receive any targets even though the Rams had a depleted receiver corps. Tyler Johnson and Tutu Atwell led the receivers while Demarcus Robinson received a target too. With Cooper Kupp (ankle) expected to return for their Thursday night matchup in Week 8, Whittington's value seems to be on the decline in shallower fantasy leagues.

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Brock Bowers Oct 21 9:20am ET
Brock Bowers

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers continues to show he's their best offensive weapon. In his Week 7 game against the Los Angeles Rams, Bowers caught 10 passes on 14 targets for 93 yards. He's easily their best pass-catcher and chain-mover. He's also an absolute stud in PPR fantasy formats and currently ranks as the TE1 overall. His target volume could remain high even when lead receiver Jakobi Meyers (ankle) returns, and should be better than it was in the early season with Davante Adams was still a part of the team. Las Vegas will square off with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8, but matchups should be ignored when deciding to start or sit Bowers. He must be started.

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Daniel Carlson Oct 21 8:20am ET
Daniel Carlson

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson reminded the fantasy world that he's still great in the Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Carlson booted two kicks of 27 yards, two of 38 yards, and one of 47 yards, all without missing an attempt. He didn't have any opportunities for extra points. It was an uncharacteristic game for the seventh-year pro in that he had just ten field goal attempts through his first six games. While he's a great player at his position, the opportunities for days like this could remain few and far between. The Rams defense has been one of the league's worst. Next, the Raiders will face one of the league's best defenses when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs. Carlson is unlikely to get much volume and is mostly an option in very deep leagues.

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Aidan O'Connell Oct 21 8:10am ET
Aidan O'Connell

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II was substituted in when lead quarterback Aidan O'Connell (thumb) was forced out for the rest of the game due to an injury when the Raiders played the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7. The former Jacksonville Jaguar finished the game, but it was a dreadful outing. H completed 15 of 34 passes for 154 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. He also carried the ball once for two yards and lost a fumble. Las Vegas lost 15-20, so it's safe to say the giveaways were the difference. O'Connell seems to be set to miss time, so Minshew could start against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. He's difficult to trust against KC's elite defense, even in 2QB leagues.

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Zamir White Oct 21 6:50am ET
Zamir White

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (groin) was able to return to play in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams. He was only given three carries, which he took for 13 yards, and one catch, which he gained 14 yards on. It's likely that he was used minimally due to the injury he was recovering from. It's hard to draw conclusions based on a game like this. Even star players will sometimes see little to no work in their first game back from an injury absence. That said, he hasn't played well this season, and is best left on the bench in Week 8, when the Raiders face the Kansas City Chiefs and their elite run defense.

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Tre Tucker Oct 21 6:20am ET
Tre Tucker

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker hauled in three passes on eight targets for 37 yards and rushed one time for 11 yards in the team's loss to the Los Angeles Rams In week 7. He was mostly held in check despite being the top receiver option available for the team. All of Las Vegas' offense has been underperforming for most of the season save for tight end Brock Bowers. Moving forward, the second-year pro isn't an intriguing start option given the state of the offense. With wide receiver Davante Adams now on the Jets, Tucker is the WR2 for the team when Jakobi Meyers (ankle) returns to the lineup. The Raiders face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. Tucker an appetizing start for that matchup.

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Will McDonald IV Oct 21 5:50am ET
Will McDonald IV

The New York Jets defense struggled in Week 7, allowing 37 points and notching just one sack in a 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jets were shredded by Russell Wilson in his first start of the season as they allowed the Steelers to rack up 409 yards of total offense in the blowout loss on Sunday night. Their lone sack came from Will McDonald IV, who notched his eighth sack of the season. The Jets will look to bounce back in Week 8 against the New England Patriots.

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Allen Lazard Oct 21 5:40am ET
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard caught all four of his targets for 58 yards in a 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. Lazard finished third on the team in receiving yards in the lopsided loss, despite drawing only the four targets. Aaron Rodgers keyed in on his top two receivers in the contest, sending nine targets apiece toward Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. The addition of Adams last week in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders is expected to hurt Lazard the most, although he scratched out a decent game on Sunday night. Expect Adams to be more of a thorn in Lazard's side as the former gets more comfortable with his new team. Treat Lazard as a low-end flex option heading into Week 8 against the New England Patriots.

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Tyler Conklin Oct 21 5:40am ET
Tyler Conklin

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught all four of his targets for seven yards and a touchdown in a 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. Conklin did not rack up the yardage in this one but he salvaged his night with a one-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter of the contest on Sunday night. The veteran tight end has been a decent option as a fantasy tight end this season, catching 23 passes for 198 yards and one touchdown through seven games. He will be a TE2 in fantasy in Week 8 when the Jets take on the New England Patriots.

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Greg Zuerlein Oct 21 5:40am ET
Greg Zuerlein

New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein missed his lone field-goal attempt but added an extra point in a 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. Zuerlein has struggled of late as he has missed three field goals over the past two games and has made just eight of 13 through seven games this season. The Jets tried out other kickers last week in practice and could consider pursuing another option at the position again this week. Zuerlein will hope to remain the team's kicker heading into a Week 8 matchup against the New England Patriots.

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