RB Strength of Schedule
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.
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The Paur Report
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- Week 10 Inactives
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (foot, ankle) is considered doubtful to return for Sunday's Week 10 matchup against the New York Giants. It appears Sanders suffered some type of leg injury during the first half of this game. After further evaluation it sounds like the Panthers are likely going to hold him out for the rest of the game. Before exiting, Sanders rushed the ball twice as the primary backup to Chuba Hubbard. The absence of Sanders should mean a few more snaps for Hubbard during the second half of this game.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) has been activated from the Injured Reserve ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Detroit Lions. Collins missed the minimum four games on the IR after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4. The Texans could desperately use Collins on the field with Stefon Diggs (knee) done for the season. Currently, Collins is listed as questionable and considered a game-time decision for Sunday's game. Fellow wideout Tank Dell (back) is also banged up, but is expected to play. If active, Collins would likely be on a snap count and could be a risky option for Week 10.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) will suit up for the Week 10 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCaffrey is set to make his season debut after missing the few first months due to a lingering Achilles issue. The return of McCaffrey should mean that Jordan Mason falls into the backup role which will decrease his value. There was uncertainty around how many snaps McCaffrey would play during his first game. It doesn't sound like he's going to be limited, so fantasy managers can get McCaffrey back in their lineups ahead of this Week 10 matchup.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass struggled early in the season, but has cleaned it up over the last few weeks. In fact, Bass has six straight field goals and 9-of-10 extra point attempts over the last three games. The 27-year-old knocked down a 61-yard field goal during last week's win over the Miami Dolphins. It appears the early struggles for Bass are behind him. Fantasy managers should restore faith in him ahead of the Week 10 against the Indianapolis Colts.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers appears to have moved into the primary backup role in the backfield. Last week, Akers rushed six times for 46 yards in the win over the Indianapolis Colts. Fellow back Ty Chandler appears to have moved into the third string role now. That means, Akers should see a handful of carries behind Aaron Jones most weeks. Akers is unlikely to have reliable value while being the backup, but is worth holding in deep leagues and dynasty formats as he's only one injury away from being the starter. The 25-year-old can be avoided for Week 10, but is worth a stash.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) is being considered a game-time decision ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Hill re-aggravated a wrist injury earlier in the week and was held out of practice on Friday and Saturday. Now, Hill's status is currently up in the air as they will likely wait until warmups before making a final decision on him. Jaylen Waddle figures to be the primary receiving option if Hill is unable to play. Both Odell Beckham Jr. and Malik Washington see should more snaps as well, but they aren't exactly reliable fantasy options. It sounds like fantasy managers are going to be forced to wait until Monday to know Hill's final injury status.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. could see a decent dose of targets if Tyreek Hill (wrist) is ruled out for Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams. Beckham could be a vocal point against his former team if this game turns into a shootout. The Rams defense ranks 23rd in fantasy points allowed per game to wide receivers and allow the 12th most yards per game. Despite Beckham's highest target count being three in any game this season, he could be considered a streaming option if you have any bye week or injury issues. If Hill plays, Beckham likely won't be a fantasy factor. Monitor the status of Hill leading up to Monday Night's contest.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin has been one of the more reliable kicking options in the league this season. The veteran kicker has connected on a career-best 93.3 percent of his field goal this season. McLaughlin has only missed one field goal and one extra point heading into the Week 10 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The 28-year-old has made three extra points and one field goal in each of the last two games. The Bucs will have a tough challenge against the 49ers defense this weekend. Despite that, McLaughlin is still worth a look as a streaming option for Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers LB Preston Smith will make his debut with the team in Week 10's game against the Washington Commanders. He had been acquired in a trade with the Green Bay Packers Tuesday, Nov. 5.
From TheHuddle
Pttsburgh Steelers WR Mike Williams will make his debut with the team in Week 10's game against the Washington Commanders. He had been acquired in a trade with the New York Jets Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Fantasy Spin: Although it's hard to predict how quickly Williams will learn Pittsburgh's offensive scheme and build chemistry with his teammates, he could become a viable flex option in deeper fantasy leagues over the coming weeks.
From TheHuddle
Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders has seen his workload increase over the last few weeks. This offense looks to be back on track with Tua Tagovailoa under center once again. Last week, Sanders made both of his field goals while converting all three of his extra point attempts in the loss to the Buffalo Bills. He figures to continue having plenty of chances with the Dolphins offense rolling again. They'll get a favorable matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10. Sanders should be worth a look for fantasy managers seeking a streaming option for Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance could be involved in certain packages during Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Lance has filled a depth role in Dallas ever since being traded by the 49ers, and even with Dak Prescott (hamstring) mulling season-ending surgery, Prescott still remains the Cowboys' No. 2 quarterback behind Cooper Rush. Even if Lance does see the field versus Philadelphia, he's not expected to have a major role. Fantasy managers can continue to leave him on waivers.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams is expected to be active against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Less than one week after being traded from the New York Jets, Williams is slated to make his Steelers debut. The veteran filled a depth role in New York but still managed to offer a solid veteran presence, catching 12 passes for 166 yards along the way. He's off the fantasy radar for the moment.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the New York Giants in Germany. The rookie was activated from the non-football list earlier this week. While Brooks did log three full practices in a row, the Panthers are being extra cautious and holding him out one more game. He'll get extra time to prepare for NFL action during the Panthers' bye before making his NFL debut in Week 12. Even when Brooks returns, it looks like Chuba Hubbard will be the primary running back in Carolina.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones will start against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jones' promotion to the QB1 role comes in the midst of a potentially season-ending injury to Trevor Lawrence (shoulder), who has 14 total touchdowns and six interceptions this season. Sunday will represent Jones' first game as a Jaguar. His tough matchup and reduced skill set drop him outside the fantasy-relevant tiers this week.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) could end up being shut down for the rest of the season, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini. The former No. 1 pick has been diagnosed with an AC joint sprain and is inactive for Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings, leaving Mac Jones to start in his place. If this is indeed the end of the season for Lawrence, he'll have finished 2024 with 2,004 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, six interceptions, 113 rushing yards, and three rushing scores.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions DE Za'Darius Smith (personal) is not expected to play in Week 10's game against the Houston Texans, according to a source. After coming to the Lions in a trade with the Cleveland Browns Tuesday, Nov. 5, Smith participated in just one of the team's three practice sessions during the week.
From TheHuddle
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (right hamstring) is active for Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction after New York activated him from injured reserve on Saturday. The veteran has been sidelined since the season opener, in which he went 2-for-2 on field goals. A favorable matchup against the Panthers gives Gano top-12 appeal this week.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble (back) is inactive for Week 10 against the New York Giants. He had been listed as questionable after logging a full practice on Friday. Despite his improved practice status, Tremble will miss his second game in a row and fourth game in the last five weeks. His absence creates additional opportunities for rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders, who has 16 catches over his last four games.
From RotoBaller
The Carolina Panthers have declared DE Charles Harris, OT Ikem Ekwonu, CB Shemar Bartholomew, DT Jaden Crumedy, TE Tommy Tremble, S Jammie Robinson and RB Jonathon Brooks inactive for Week 10.
From TheHuddle
