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.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy may not be relied on earlier in the season, according to some reports, but he seems to be well on his way to getting more opportunities already. Andy Reid reportedly doesn't like to rely on rookies too heavily to begin a season, but Worthy has drawn praise from the head coach himself as well as his All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The superstar signal-caller said he loved Worthy's route running and how he plays with physicality. Those two attributes while catching passes from one of the best to ever throw the ball could equate to some big performances. Worthy has a path to playing time with an inconsistent receiver corps and his cost is low enough in fantasy drafts to be worth a stash for later.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman has done all the right things through training camp and preseason. He's regularly received praise from the coaching staff through media quotes and interviews. Just a couple of weeks ago, offensive coordinator Joe Brady said Coleman was able to do everything physically asked of him. Now, the Bills general manager Brandon Beane added to all of the praise. He stated, "The young man is super competitive, he loves ball, he's not afraid, he's working his tail off, his teammates believe in him, he has fun out there, he's serious." After the offseason overhaul, Coleman is competing with Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel, and Khalil Shakir for targets. His ADP of 104.6 reflects that he may not be a huge part of the offense right away, but can be a solid stash for the long haul.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers had some scouts and draft analysts second-guessing if he should be drafted over Marvin Harrison Jr. last April. The sixth-overall pick amassed over 3000 receiving yards at LSU in three seasons and hauled in 189 receptions for 21 touchdowns. Now, he's stepping into the WR1 role for the Giants who are in a state of flux in terms of figuring out their best roster moving forward. Daniel Jones returns this year behind center and Nabers is ready to feast on a steady diet of targets throughout the season. Like Harrison, Nabers doesn't have much competition when it comes to playing time and his part of the offense. He's ranked 41st overall in RotoBaller's half-PPR draft rankings for a reason while his ADP sits at 50.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was the fourth wideout off the draft board this past April. Thomas was a four-star recruit going into college and put together a high-quality resume at LSU in three seasons. According to many scouts and outlets, Thomas was the fourth-ranked receiver after the "big three," but he stepped into one of the better situations. Calvin Ridley moved to Tennessee, Christian Kirk has been dealing with a calf issue during the preseason, and Gabe Davis seems to be Thomas' main competition for more snaps and targets. Thomas displayed all the necessary tools to be a very good contributor, especially after impressing a lot of the coaching staff during training camp and preseason. Right now, in half-PPR formats, Thomas is ranked 96th overall on RotoBaller's draft rankings. He has a clear path to playing time and could be a bench stash to eventually win leagues.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell has fully recovered from being shot in the leg during the offseason and enters the 2024 season without any limitations. He built a firm rapport with C.J. Stroud last season, and the two should continue to connect early and often this year despite the Texans adding Stefon Diggs to the offense. Dell currently projects as the Texans' primary slot receiver. He caught a 34-yard touchdown in Week 1 of the preseason. As of now, there's no clear sign whether Dell, Diggs, or Nico Collins will emerge as Stroud's favorite target, but it appears to be anyone's title to win. With that in mind, Dell might be more of a value than Diggs or Collins given that he has a lower price tag. He's being drafted 25 picks after Collins and seven after Diggs despite having consistent WR2 upside in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel should be a major contributor in the passing game this season. The veteran wideout has been a versatile player throughout his entire career and could now command a large portion of the targets vacated by Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. While Samuel might not be as flashy as someone like rookie Keon Coleman, he's a dependable veteran who has reportedly earned immense favor among the Bills' coaching staff. Managers should not discount the support Samuel seems to have from the coaching staff, which should be enough to get him on the field often in 2024. Samuel is an appealing mid-round draft pick and could work his way into WR3/FLEX territory early in the season if he has a strong rapport with quarterback Josh Allen.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) is coming off one of the most impressive rookie years in NFL history. Now, he'll look to build off his historic campaign as he enters his second season in the league. Nacua has been battling a knee injury this summer, but he's expected to be back to 100 percent for the Rams' upcoming season opener. Once again, Nacua will operate alongside Cooper Kupp while catching passes from Matthew Stafford. Managers interested in Nacua should be aware that Kupp still has the makings of an elite wide receiver and could command plenty of volume this year. Nevertheless, Nacua has shown that he deserves plenty of passes thrown his way, too. Whether there are enough opportunities for both of them to thrive remains unclear, but at the very least, Nacua is a high-end WR2 with upside.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss at least the first four games of the regular season after he was placed on the PUP list amidst his torn ACL recovery. This will delay Brooks' NFL debut, and he'll face an uphill battle to emerge as the Panthers' No. 1 running back once he's healthy. While Brooks is undoubtedly the Panthers' franchise running back, it could be difficult for him to win the job over Chuba Hubbard in the middle of the season while recovering from a serious injury and still acclimating to the NFL caliber of play. In other words, a Week 5 return wouldn't necessarily mean he'd warrant a spot in your Week 5 starting lineup. At the very least, fantasy managers should tamper expectations when Brooks gets healthy and be prepared to exercise patience as he gets adjusted to the NFL.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert (oblique) returned to practice Sunday, Sept. 1.
From TheHuddle
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle will play fewer special teams snaps as the team prepares to give him increased looks out of the backfield in 2024, head coach Mike McCarthy told the media. Dowdle is projected to operate alongside Ezekiel Elliott atop the Cowboys' running back room this season. While Elliott may technically open the year as the starter, Dallas feels very confident in Dowdle's ability to be a three-down back and plans to get him very involved this year. With an ADP of 127, he's currently being drafted 43rd among all running backs in fantasy football. He has legitimate FLEX value down the stretch and could sneak into the RB2 tier in the event that Elliott misses time.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey did not register a touch during the 2024 NFL preseason. Many teams choose to rest their stars, and McCaffrey certainly fits that description. He's healthy and ready to go ahead of the upcoming season. Undoubtedly the best running back in the NFL, McCaffrey is coming off the second RB1 finish of his career in fantasy football. He eclipsed 2,000 scrimmage yards for the second time in his career last season and delivered a 21-touchdown campaign, which was a career-high. As long as McCaffrey stays healthy, he's the favorite to lead all running backs in fantasy points.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) was not seen at the portion of Sunday's practice open to the media, according to Pete Sweeney of Arrowhead Pride. Edwards-Helaire recently revealed that he's been dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. While that kept him out of some training camp sessions, it's unclear whether the diagnosis explains his absence from practice on Sunday. The Chiefs' first injury report of the year will be released Monday, which should provide some more context regarding Edwards-Helaire's status and availability. In the event that he can't suit up Thursday, veteran Samaje Perine and preseason standout Carson Steele would round out the remainder of the backfield behind Isiah Pacheco.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee) is 'preparing to play' in Week 1 but didn't say for sure that he would, he told reporters on Sunday, Sept. 1. 'Of course, I'm preparing to play,' said Hopkins. 'But, you know, there's measures (in place). We've got a long season, so I'm sure (the Titans) will make the right call.'
Fantasy Spin: Hopkins' comment is certainly a good sign, but the lack of a definitive answer means we'll have to keep an eye on the injury reports ahead of Week 1. Hopkins is a borderline WR2 entering the 2024 season.
From TheHuddle
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (shoulder) is reportedly likely to suit up for the Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. The star pass rusher was able to return to practice last week. He was also on the field on Sunday, which is good news heading into Thursday's opener. Jones suffered a shoulder injury in early August and missed all of the preseason as a result. However, the five-time Pro Bowler shouldn't need too much time to get ready. Over the last two seasons, Jones has recorded 26 sacks in 33 games, so his presence on the field is huge for this defense. Fantasy managers should check back for another update on Monday when the injury report is released.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice figures to be someone coming off fairly early in fantasy drafts. However, Rice is reportedly not being taken until sometimes the seventh or eighth round, according to the New York Post. There was some concern about Rice being suspended, but that won't happen this season. That means, fantasy managers in redrafts formats have nothing to worry about with Rice. It doesn't sound like Marquise Brown (shoulder) is going to be ready for the beginning of the season. The loss of Brown should only increase the value of Rice heading into the opener. Last season, Rice saw 102 targets during his rookie season with the team. The team hasn't added much competition, so Rice should remain the favorite wide receiver to quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs do have Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy, but Rice should still be a strong WR2 in basically all fantasy formats.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) is currently working his way back from an injury that cost him most of last season. The team has already placed the star back on the physically unable to perform list, which means he'll miss the first four games of the season. The hope is that Chubb would return to the field shortly after that, but that might not be the case. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says the goal should be getting Chubb back by mid-season. It's worth noting that the organization did not say this, but Cabot believes it'll take Chubb longer than expected considering he tore both his ACL and MCL last season. The Browns do have Jerome Ford who proved himself to be a viable option without Chubb last season. That being said, the Browns might play it safe and ride with Chubb until he feels fully healthy to return. At the end of the day, Chubb is going to return when he's ready, so fantasy managers expecting him to suit up in Week 5 might be disappointed.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (oblique) was back on the practice field on Sunday. Goedert picked up the injury about two weeks ago. The 29-year-old has been eased back into activities and should be fully ready for the season opener against the Green Bay Packers. Goedert is looking to bounce back after a down year in 2023. The good news is Goedert saw 83 targets last season in a fairly loaded Philly offense. That being said, Goedert should once again be heavily involved in the offense which should make him a viable TE2.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Johnny Wilson (concussion) is back on the practice field on Sunday. This is good news considering Wilson has been sidelined since mid-August while in concussion protocol. The 23-year-old was forced to miss both practices and preseason games due to this injury. Despite that, Wilson should be ready in time to play in the season opener against the Green Bay Packers. The sixth-round pick looks like he could be a solid red zone target, but he doesn't have much fantasy value out of the gate. The Eagles are fairly loaded at wide receiver, so it would take an injury or two for Wilson to see significant looks on this offense.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry is looking forward to the Week 1 Thursday night matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. "I'm excited," said Henry while speaking to the media on Sunday. "It's gonna be fun, so I'm looking forward to it." The 30-year-old has spent his entire career with the Titans, running for 9,502 yards and 90 touchdowns off 2,030 carries, adding 155 grabs for 1,458 yards and three touchdowns. While most assume Henry will have a tough time remaining an elite fantasy option in a Baltimore offense loaded with talent, a change of scenery could give the veteran enough motivation to become the NFL's top rusher once again. Regarding his fantasy potential versus the defending champs, Henry has amassed 447 yards and six touchdowns off 78 carries in four games versus the Chiefs throughout his career.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb recently agreed to a lucrative contract extension with the team. He hadn't been practicing during the stand-off. However, it appears Lamb is still in better shape than ever, with head coach Mike McCarthy stating that the wideout looks "jacked," referring to a noticeable increase in muscle mass from the end of last season. The 25-year-old had a monster season in 2023-24, amassing career-highs in catches (135), targets (181), receiving yards (1,749), and touchdowns (12). While the contract dispute was concerning for fantasy managers, it didn't cause his fantasy stock to drop in most leagues. With that said, Lamb will probably see more attention than ever during fantasy drafts after the latest update regarding his physique.
From RotoBaller