WR Strength of Schedule
Fri May 31 10:52am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Lamb could top last season
Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the receiver 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 receivers last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the receivers with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the receivers that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.
| WR SOS | ||
| 1. | Denver Broncos | 531.34 |
| 2. | Los Angeles Chargers | 536.08 |
| 3. | Miami Dolphins | 537.31 |
| 4. | Kansas City Chiefs | 549.96 |
| 5. | Las Vegas Raiders | 552.89 |
| 6. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 554.85 |
| 7. | New England Patriots | 555.93 |
| 8. | Buffalo Bills | 556.13 |
| 9. | Houston Texans | 561.75 |
| 10. | San Francisco 49ers | 565.73 |
| 11. | New Orleans Saints | 566.06 |
| 12. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 566.19 |
| 13. | Cincinnati Bengals | 566.32 |
| 14. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 570.07 |
| 15. | Baltimore Ravens | 571.77 |
| 16. | Seattle Seahawks | 573.41 |
| 17. | Minnesota Vikings | 573.91 |
| 18. | Philadelphia Eagles | 574.46 |
| 19. | Carolina Panthers | 575.49 |
| 20. | Los Angeles Rams | 575.79 |
| 21. | Washington Commanders | 575.91 |
| 22. | Detroit Lions | 576.36 |
| 23. | Atlanta Falcons | 577.76 |
| 24. | New York Jets | 577.99 |
| 25. | Tennessee Titans | 578.06 |
| 26. | Indianapolis Colts | 578.18 |
| 27. | Cleveland Browns | 583.5 |
| 28. | Arizona Cardinals | 586.09 |
| 29. | New York Giants | 586.93 |
| 30. | Chicago Bears | 601.21 |
| 31. | Dallas Cowboys | 608.4 |
| 32. | Green Bay Packers | 610.22 |
The Packers have the easiest fantasy schedule for receivers. Jayden Reed and Christian Watson could be setup for career best seasons with this schedule. These are guys you can get a little later come draft day and mid-round options that could be difference makers for fantasy owners.
CeeDee Lamb is considered the No. 1 overall fantasy receiver for many and his schedule helps make that claim even stronger. Lamb has the second most favorable schedule for receivers. Lamb was huge last year and could improve on that even more, especially since the Cowboys could struggle to run the ball with their current options.
The Bears, Giants and Cardinals also round out the top-five most favorable receiver schedules. Chicago has a great trio of receivers with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze. These guys could produce big as long as rookie Caleb Williams gets the job done at quarterback in year one. Moore has more to compete with for targets this year, but you still have to like his chances for a big season in year two with the Bears.
The Giants and Cardinals both have some question marks at receiver, but a couple rookies lead the way for both teams. Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison could have big rookie seasons with their new teams. These guys both have a chance to lead all rookie fantasy receivers in scoring.
On the opposite side of things, the Broncos have the most challenging schedule for receivers. The Broncos have all sorts of questions at receiver outside of Courtland Sutton. This is a unit of receivers you just might want to avoid come draft day. This schedule won’t make anything easier for this group.
The Chargers are a similar team to the Broncos, having openings and questions at receiver. So once again, it might be best to let someone else put Chargers receivers on their roster. Plus, the Chargers could be a lot more run heavy with a new coach running the show. The tough schedule and new offense make taking any Chargers receiver a bit of a risk.
There are two really good offenses on the list that have tough schedules for receivers. Both the Dolphins and Chiefs have a top-five least favorable schedule for receivers. The Dolphins have one of the best receiver duos in football, so it is tough to fade them because of this schedule. Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle should be able to produce big numbers once again in this offense.
The Chiefs are a little more concerning. This offense is a little matchup proof, but don’t have that elite receiver on their roster. Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown lead the way. Brown hasn’t been great in recent seasons and Rice is facing a suspension. These guys will carry some risk come draft day, especially after seeing this schedule.
Davante Adams is usually another star receiver that is matchup proof, but you have to wonder a little this year. He has some question marks at quarterback, which could hurt his production when you pair it with this schedule. Adams is dealing with the fifth toughest fantasy schedule for receivers.
We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy receivers. 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 receivers with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.
| WR PLAYOFF SOS | ||
| 1. | Los Angeles Rams | 501.93 |
| 2. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 515.53 |
| 3. | Kansas City Chiefs | 519.43 |
| 4. | New York Giants | 521.63 |
| 5. | Miami Dolphins | 532.77 |
| 6. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 534.53 |
| 7. | Houston Texans | 538 |
| 8. | Buffalo Bills | 540.87 |
| 9. | Las Vegas Raiders | 541.9 |
| 10. | Carolina Panthers | 549.33 |
| 11. | Cincinnati Bengals | 552.17 |
| 12. | Detroit Lions | 553.73 |
| 13. | Arizona Cardinals | 555.27 |
| 14. | Cleveland Browns | 555.4 |
| 15. | Minnesota Vikings | 560.93 |
| 16. | New England Patriots | 573.03 |
| 17. | Los Angeles Chargers | 573.1 |
| 18. | Tennessee Titans | 575.17 |
| 19. | Baltimore Ravens | 581.27 |
| 20. | Seattle Seahawks | 585.08 |
| 21. | New York Jets | 585.5 |
| 22. | Denver Broncos | 587.2 |
| 23. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 587.8 |
| 24. | Philadelphia Eagles | 589.73 |
| 25. | Green Bay Packers | 590.85 |
| 26. | Washington Commanders | 591.57 |
| 27. | New Orleans Saints | 604.13 |
| 28. | Dallas Cowboys | 609.73 |
| 29. | Indianapolis Colts | 614 |
| 30. | San Francisco 49ers | 641.53 |
| 31. | Atlanta Falcons | 644.93 |
| 32. | Chicago Bears | 647.98 |
The Bears and Cowboys are the teams that make both the top five easiest receiver schedules for both the regular season and playoffs. Chicago has the easiest for the entire playoffs. Once again, their top trio of receivers are looking pretty good come draft day.
Lamb continues to make his case to be the first receiver selected come draft day. He could have a monster season and finish strong as well with the fifth easiest schedule for the playoffs. Lamb might be the most surefire first-round pick come draft day.
The Falcons, 49ers and Colts also have a top-five favorable playoff schedule for receivers. Atlanta receivers were looking up to begin with, getting a legit quarterback throwing them passes this year. And this schedule makes their options look even better, especially Drake London. He could have a breakout season.
San Francisco has great options at receiver in Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. They are pretty safe picks come draft day. And they get a very favorable playoff schedule that could make them even more appealing to fantasy owners. These guys both have really solid floors come draft day in this offense.
Michael Pittman keeps getting it done as the No. 1 option for the Colts. If Anthony Richardson can become that true No. 1 at quarterback for Indy, Pittman would look even better. Pittman has produced in recent year despite having some quarterback issues. His game could go to a higher level this year if Richardson breaks out. Pittman could be a league winner if everything breaks his way in 2024.
The Chiefs and Dolphins are two of the best offenses in football but also the only two teams to make the top five most unfavorable receiver schedules for both the regular season and playoffs. This is a tad concerning for both teams, Again, it is tough to bet against Hill, but maybe you drop him down your rankings just few spots behind the other elite guys because of this. You hate to use an early round pick on a receiver to see him maybe not produce what he should come playoff time.
And as mentioned with the Chiefs, their top two receivers already face a few question marks, so maybe their tough schedules make them players to let someone else draft. Both Brown and Rice could be a little erratic.
The Rams actually have the toughest playoff schedule for receivers. They are another team with two of the best receivers in football. It is tough to bet against either Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp, but the playoff schedule is a little scary, especially for Kupp. He seems to be trending down at this stage of his career.
The Jaguars and Giants are the two other teams with a top-five unfavorable fantasy schedule for the playoffs. The Jags have Christian Kirk and Gabriel Davis as their top two receivers. Kirk is normally pretty steady but Davis can be boom or bust. Seeing his playoff schedule should bump him down a few spots in your rankings. It could be more of the same for Davis with his new team.
And the Giants are an outlier here, having an easy schedule for receivers during the regular season but the fourth toughest for the playoffs. This makes it tough come draft day. Their receivers could be good values for the regular season but disappoint when it counts. You do have to just make the playoffs, though, so we aren’t sure we shy away from Giant receivers just because of their tough playoff schedule. You still might be able to get good value with their options that help you win during the season.
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
Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) had a subdued performance against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, finishing with just 29 yards on four receptions despite being targeted a team-high 11 times. Allen missed a couple of key opportunities that could have turned his game around. In the first quarter, he was open down the sideline after a well-executed move, but quarterback Caleb Williams overthrew himan opportunity that could have resulted in a significant gain or even a touchdown. Later, Allen was targeted in the end zone for a potential touchdown, but he dropped a pass he typically would have caught. While the new offense may need some time to develop fully, seeing how frequently Williams looked to Allen is encouraging. Additionally, Allen entered the game with a heel injury and appeared to limp late in the match. Hopefully, he will recover for next Sunday night's game against the Houston Texans.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that there is no issue with quarterback Anthony Richardson's right hand after he hit it on an opponent's helmet late in Sunday's Week 1 loss to the division-rival Houston Texans. It wasn't the best performance for Richardson to open the season, as he continued to display a concerning lack of accuracy on open receivers, but fantasy managers aren't complaining after he produced three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in the 29-27 loss. The 22-year-old went just 9-for-19 passing for 212 yards, two touchdowns and a pick while adding 56 rushing yards on six carries and a third TD. You'll have to continue to take the good with the bad with Richardson after he played in just four games in his rookie season in 2023 due to a shoulder injury, but his upside is through the roof and it gives him high-end QB1 upside each week.
From RotoBaller
The Minnesota Vikings are being cautious with wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) after he left the team's 28-6 victory over the New York Giants in the third quarter. Before his departure, Addison hauled in 3-of-4 targets for 35 yards on a day where the Vikings did what they wanted against a hapless Giants squad. When asked about his young wideout, head coach Kevin O'Connell said, "He's got pretty significant soreness We'll just see. Still hopeful he'll have a chance this week, but we'll be smart with him." It's not exactly an encouraging endorsement for the 22-year-old, though it is good news that it is not the same ankle he injured previously. Minnesota will square up for an early-slate tilt in their home opener against the San Francisco 49ers in a tough matchup this coming Sunday. It would benefit Sam Darnold to have all of his weapons, but Addison is unknown for now.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore had a busy but ultimately unremarkable game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. He led the team with 36 receiving yards on five catches and added a 14-yard rush. Moore's day seemed at risk after he made two receptions for 12 yards and then took a hard fall out of bounds, prompting him to remove his helmet and struggle to get up. Fortunately, the injury was not severe; Moore walked off on his own and returned to the game shortly after that. Given the challenging matchup against cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, it was anticipated that Moore might have a subpar performance. However, he is expected to bounce back and perform better in the upcoming game against the high-scoring Houston Texans next week.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer and Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones are not expected to be suspended, as per Tom Pelissero. Palmer and Jones began brawling after a failed LA 2-point conversion with under four minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Both players were ejected and could still potentially be fined by the league, but they seem to have avoided missing time. The Raiders' DB was unavailable to the media after the game, but Palmer was and had a few interesting things to say. "They came and started throwing punches, but we're not going to be punching bags," said the fourth-year wideout. "So we had to defend ourselves." The 24-year-old racked up just four targets in the Chargers' 22-10 win as Jim Harbaugh deployed a run-centric scheme, culminating in LA rushing one more time (27) than they threw it (26). They'll take on the Panthers in Carolina this Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (undisclosed) was not seen at Monday's practice, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Well, this is mildly alarming. Jackson most recently produced a staggering 395 total yards with one touchdown and one interception in Baltimore's Thursday night 27-20 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also lost one fumble. There is no reason for Jackson's absence at practice, as the Ravens' first injury report of the week is released on Wednesday. However, we'll be able to learn more about this matter over the next few hours, with head coach John Harbaugh scheduled to speak with the media after practice. Baltimore will square off against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders in their home opener this Sunday. Josh Johnson is the only other QB on the Ravens' roster at this time.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift had a lackluster performance against the Tennessee Titans as the offense struggled to gain any momentum. Trailing 17-0 early, the Bears' offense could not find its rhythm. Swift managed a standout 20-yard carry, the longest play for the Bears all game, but only accumulated 10 yards on his remaining nine carries. He did catch a pass for a two-point conversion, but surprisingly, he did not record any other receptions. On a positive note, Swift was the lead back, with no other running back on the roster getting more than two carries. Swift will look to rebound next week against the formidable Houston Texans defense, which limited Colts RB Jonathan Taylor to under 50 rushing yards in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta had a mediocre night against the Los Angeles Rams. LaPorta caught four passes for 45 yards, with the longest reception being 18 yards, averaging 11.2 yards per reception. The Lions went with a very run-heavy offense on Sunday night, running the ball 31 times in their win. Jared Goff's favorite target through the air was his third-year receiver, Jameson Williams. LaPorta is still one of the most elite tight ends in the league, and fantasy managers should continue to start him without question going into Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 18 of 28 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in Sunday's 26-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Goff went against one of the weaker defenses in the league, but that can be excused some, considering it was only Week 1. However, things will only get more brutal as they face a much better Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense in Week 2. Goff should still be considered a mid-level fantasy quarterback, making him a mid-range QB2 heading into Week 2 against the Bucs.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp had 14 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Rams loss to Detroit on Sunday night. Dynasty Analysis: Well, that should answer any questions about Kupp being healthy. Now 31, Kupp is certainly on the "back 40" of his career but this night showed yet again he has the ability to win a fantasy game for a managers almost single-handedly. If Puka Nacua is out for an extended period of time, Kupp is going to be an elite-level option in the short-term. If you're a rebuilding team with Kupp on your roster, now is the time to cash out. Conversely, if you're searching for a title and need a veteran receiver, few are better.
Dynasty | Rams wide receiver Tyler Johnson had five catches for 79 yards in a SNF loss to Detroit. Dynasty Analysis: Johnson hasn't done much over his first four years in the league with Tampa Bay and Los Angeles but this was a notable performance after he received some glowing reports this off-season. With Puka Nacua possibly out for a while, Johnson could have a significant role moving forward. He looks like a solid waiver add this week in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had three catches for 13 yards in the Lions win against the Rams. Dynasty Analysis: It's just one week but it's also clear Jameson Williams is going to get more targets than last season. Still, this is likely going to be St. Brown's worst game and anyone who is getting anxious probably doesn't have the stomach for fantasy football. Stay the course. Things will get better. St. Brown is still a top-five option each week.
Dynasty | Rams receiver Puka Nacua re-aggravated his knee injury and was carted to the locker room during the Rams loss against Detroit. Dynasty Analysis: Nacua tried playing through what has been a bothersome knee ailment but was unable to do so on Sunday night. This is a significant concern as the Rams are going to be doing some testing to find out exactly what's going on. Nacua looks to be out in the short-term at the very least, so dynasty managers are likely going to need to look elsewhere for production. Stay tuned.
Dynasty | Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is week-to-week with an MCL sprain. Dynasty Analysis: This is significant as Ferguson was poised to become a low-end TE1 in an explosive Cowboys offense this season. Luke Schoonmaker is going to have a significant role should Ferguson miss time. This is a developing story but Ferguson's status should be closely monitored and dynasty managers may need to make some waiver wire plans this week to find a short-term option.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had a disappointing outing in Week 1's 26-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams. St. Brown was targeted six times, catching only three passes for 13 yards. Second-year receiver Jameson Williams was the star of the Lions offense last night, catching five passes on nine targets for 121 yards and a touchdown. St. Brown is still the most proven player on the Detroit offense, and fantasy managers have nothing to worry about as he will look to rebound in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams had an amazing game in Sunday's 26-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams. The third-year player had five catches on nine targets for 121 yards and a touchdown. The Alabama product also added one rush for 13 yards on the ground. Williams has been plagued with injuries since being drafted in 2022, but was still a 12th overall pick and can be very elite when healthy. Williams should become Jared Goff's favorite deep-threat receiver, boasting 4.4 speed and elite route running. Williams is still a risky start considering the amount of talent on this Lions team, but it is a good flex option for fantasy managers going into Week 2 against the Buccaneers.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a solid fantasy performance against the Los Angeles Rams, carrying the ball 11 times for 40 yards and a touchdown. Gibbs added four catches for 34 yards through the air. Although Gibbs is still splitting time with David Montgomery, he is a must-start, considering his high ceiling and elite pass-catching ability. He was tied for the second-most targets against the Rams and performed much better in the second half of the game. The Lions play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, who gave up 101 receiving yards to running backs in Week 1. Gibbs is a must-start and should be in all fantasy lineups versus Tampa Bay.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said on Monday that the distribution of touches between running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday wasn't where the team wanted it to be. Callahan said that Pollard ran the ball well, and in the second half, the Titans had trouble sustaining drives, which hindered opportunities to get Spears involved. In the end, Pollard out-touched Spears 19 to eight, and Spears played only 44 percent of the offensive snaps. Pollard finished with 16 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 12 yards in his Titans debut. Spears had only four carries for 21 yards and caught all four targets for 11 yards. It will be interesting to see how the touches are split in a tough Week 2 matchup at home against the New York Jets. In that one, both Pollard and Spears should be considered RB3/flex options.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said that wide receiver Darius Slayton (concussion) is in the league's concussion protocol. Meanwhile, receiver/kick returner Gunner Olszewski (groin) will be out for weeks. Slayton is officially questionable now for the team's Week 2 contest on the road in Washington against the division-rival Commanders after he caught three of his four targets for only 27 yards in a 28-6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 on Sunday while playing 72 percent of the offensive snaps. The 27-year-old is a starter alongside rookie Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson, but Slayton's fantasy ceiling and floor remain extremely low in a Giants offense that continued to look terrible in the season opener. If Slayton cannot clear the concussion protocol by this weekend, Jalin Hyatt is the best bet to take his spot as the G-Men's WR3 against Houston.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) will go through tests this week and could possibly play in Week 2 versus the Cincinnati Bengals. "We'll just see where he's at," Reid said. Hollywood suffered a sternoclavicular injury in the preseason opener and was forced to sit out last Thursday's season-opening win over the Baltimore Ravens. We'll have a better idea of whether Brown can make his Chiefs debut this Sunday when the team starts practicing again on Wednesday. Without Brown last Thursday against the Ravens, Rashee Rice and rookie Xavier Worthy were both busy, with Rice catching seven of nine targets for 103 yards and Worthy finding the end zone twice. Brown could be eased into KC's offense if he plays in Week 2, but eventually he will command plenty of attention from quarterback Patrick Mahomes and at least be in play as a WR4/flex.
From RotoBaller
