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
Bender's DFS Pickem Plays: Week 7
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (ankle) and tight end Hayden Hurst (groin) are listed as doubtful ahead of the Week 7 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Johnston suffered an ankle injury last week and as a result he hasn't been able to practice this week. There's a chance he gets better before Monday, but fantasy managers should have a backup plan. Joshua Palmer and Ladd McConkey (hip) would see an uptick in targets if Johnston is unable to play. As for Hurst, he hasn't been much of a factor this season anyway. He has six receptions for 59 yards and zero touchdowns in four games. Will Dissly figures to continue having an increased role with Hurst unlikely to play.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DJ Chark (groin) is listed as questionable ahead of the Week 7 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Chark was recently designated to return from the injured reserve and could make his season debut on Monday. He has been limited in practice this week, but still has a chance of suiting up. The Chargers could certainly use the help with Quentin Johnston (ankle) and Ladd McConkey (hip) both on the injury report as well. If both of them sit, Chark could have a bigger role on Monday, but isn't expected to be a significant contributor on the run-heavy Chargers offense.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (hip) is listed as questionable ahead of the Week 7 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The rookie wideout has been limited in practice this week due to a hip issue. He did exit early during last week's game, but McConkey returned to action and finished out the contest. The Chargers are already in terms of weapons at wide receiver, so losing McConkey would put them in a bad spot. Joshua Palmer figures to be the focal point of the passing attack if McConkey does end up sidelined on Monday.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph will start in Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills. Will Levis (shoulder) is still questionable. However, Levis will get the week off, with Rudolph taking over under center. While the move may slightly increase the Titans' chances of picking up the win, the signal-caller hasn't played well as a starter, amassing an 8-4-1 record while accumulating 2,797 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions dating back to his tenure in Pittsburgh. As a result, fantasy managers shouldn't consider him a starting option in Week 7, although he has some value in deep Superflex setups for those who are desperate.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest) was activated from the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List on Saturday. While the rookie was in line to play along, the latest update makes things official. He was shot in the chest during an armed robbery attempt before the start of the 2024-25 campaign, so Week 7 will mark his official debut. However, it's tough to say how much work Pearsall will receive. But even if he plays more than expected, he'll need to battle with Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel Sr., and George Kittle for targets.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (illness) is questionable for Sunday's matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. He's battling an illness, so his late addition to the injury report means there's a realistic chance he won't suit up in Week 7. The 23-year-old has played well this season, totaling 234 yards and five touchdowns off 51 carries. He's also caught 21 of his 24 targets for 136 yards. With the Seahawks losing their last three contests, the team could certainly use him. In the meantime, fantasy managers should snag Zach Charbonnet off waivers, where available. If Walker doesn't get on the field, Charbonnet is worth starting in any fantasy format.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) won't play in Sunday's NFC North clash against the Detroit Lions. The 27-year-old recently returned to practice. While he's moving in the right direction regarding his return to the field, fantasy managers will need to wait a little longer. There's a chance Hockenson will be back in the lineup for the Week 8 clash with the Los Angeles Rams. However, it's more realistic to assume he'll make his 2024-25 debut for the Week 9 matchup versus the Indianapolis Colts. Of course, anything can change moving forward, so fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation. In the meantime, it will be Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver splitting starting duties, although neither man can be considered a viable fantasy option.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Browns have activated running back Nick Chubb. Dynasty Analysis: Chubb will make his much-anticipated return in week seven against the Bengals. His presence will be a welcome one by a Browns team that's 1-5 and flailing miserably. Cleveland traded Amari Cooper this week and Deshaun Watson looks like an absolute shell of himself, so anything the Browns get from Chubb will be important. Dynasty managers should be cautious as his role is likely not going to be a huge one for a few weeks. Still, it will certainly be nice to see him back after last year's gruesome injury.
Dynasty | The Steelers are planning on starting Russell Wilson at quarterback this week. Dynasty Analysis: Wilson has worked his way back from a calf injury and will replace Justin Fields in the starting lineup. It's a curious move as Fields has the team at 4-2 and tied for first place in the AFC North. Still, the Steelers are clearly hesitant in unleashing Fields as a passer and have made their game plans extraordinarily conservative on offense. Fields is likely to play in this one and Wilson is going to have precious little time to prove he should continue to start. In short, this looks like a situation to avoid for the foreseeable future in terms of dynasty lineups.
Dynasty | The Jets are planning on Davante Adams playing at full strength this week. Dynasty Analysis: Adams was traded to the Jets this week and apparently the plane flight magically cured his injury. Dynasty managers won't complain as Adams has reportedly looked great in practice and is excited to be reunited with Aaron Rodgers. The Jets still have major problems and Adams is going to still need to build chemistry in the offense, so he should be viewed as more of a WR2 at the moment. Stay tuned.
The San Francisco 49ers D/ST unit faces the Kansas City Chiefs in a Week 7 Super Bowl LVIII rematch in Santa Clara on Sunday. The 49ers D has been performing well, scoring touchdowns in two of the last three games. Last week in Seattle, they collected three turnovers, one sack, and allowed 24 points. Despite the 5-0 record Kansas City's offense hasn't been super efficient, ranking 15th in points per game and 11th in yards per game. They haven't taken care of the ball particularly well either, sitting in an eight-way tie for the 9th-most turnovers lost. San Francisco's defense is healthy, and so is Kansas City's offense besides the continued absence of Rashee Rice (knee), who they lost for the season in Week 3. Despite the Chiefs' offense being not-so-scary statistically, quarterback Patrick Mahomes II has been sacked the seventh-fewest times and is unlikely to provide 49ers D/ST managers with much in the way of a points-allowed bonus. The 49ers are the 13th-ranked D/ST unit in RotoBaller's Week 7 rankings.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard remains a solid streaming option in Week 7, facing the Detroit Lions. The 23-year-old has remained perfect throughout the season, going 9-for-9 on attempts and 16-for-16 on extra-point attempts. During the first five games, Reichard has averaged 8.6 PPR points per game and made at least two field goal attempts in three games. The Alabama product has also made three attempts from over 50 yards. Facing the Detroit Lions in what is projected to be a high-scoring affair, given the projected 50.5 point total makes Reichard a safe option with solid upside on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (foot) is listed as questionable for Monday's game according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. White opened the week as a limited participant during Thursday's and Friday's practice. However, the 25-year-old was able to upgrade to full participation on Saturday, which is a positive sign for his availability on Monday evening. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor White's status throughout the weekend. If White can suit up, fantasy managers should expect Tampa Bay to split opportunities between their running backs, which makes Bucky Irving and White low-end RB2s, with Sean Tucker projecting to be a flex option facing a tough Baltimore rush defense.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers could be pushed up the depth chart on Sunday if Aaron Jones (hamstring) cannot suit up. Jones is currently listed as questionable and could be a game-time decision. The Vikings traded for Akers from Houston earlier this week, which could suggest that Jones may not be able to play. In Houston, Akers saw work as the lead running back when Joe Mixon (ankle) was sidelined and tallied a modest 9.3 PPR points per game during a three-game stretch. While Ty Chandler will likely see most attempts in Jones' absence, Akers could carve out a solid workload and be a viable desperation flex option in 14+ team formats.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) is off the injury report and good to go for Monday's game, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The veteran wideout was held out of practice on Thursday and Friday. However, on Saturday, Evans was able to upgrade to limited participation and avoided an injury designation ahead of Monday's game. Fantasy managers should feel confident starting the 31-year-old in all formats as he will face a weak Baltimore secondary who have surrendered the 29th-most points to opposing wideouts.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers kicker Anders Carlson will kick off against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Santa Clara. The younger brother of Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson will be the third kicker used by the 49ers in as many games since Jake Moody (ankle) and Matthew Wright (shoulder, back) both suffered injuries attempting to make tackles. Last season, Carlson spent his rookie year as the Green Bay Packers starting kicker from beginning to end but was cut during this year's preseason. Carlson was the 23rd-most productive kicker in fantasy but led the league in misses with 13. Any decent kicker that San Francisco puts out there is likely a decent fantasy option, given the team's offensive prowess, as seen last week with journeyman Wright's three field goals and three extra points made. Anyone streaming kickers or looking for a replacement could do worse than Carlson in Week 7.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler could have an increased role if No. 1 running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) cannot suit up. Jones is currently listed as questionable on the team's injury report and will likely be a game-time decision. If Jones is eventually ruled out, Chandler should be expected to be pushed to the top of the depth chart. When Jones left their previous game early, Chandler saw 14 attempts but tallied a mere 30 yards. Through the air, he caught two passes for nine yards. Facing a tough Detroit defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points to opposing running backs does lower Chandler's ceiling this weekend. However, if he is in the lead role, he is worth a look as a flex play simply for the potential volume.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) is considered "ahead of schedule" in his recovery process, according to Cameron DaSilva of USA Today. The 31-year-old tight end suffered a torn ACL in their playoff loss to the Detroit Lions last season, but head coach Sean McVay remains optimistic about his potential return this season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Higbee's status, as he could have a chance to return later this season. For the time being, Colby Parkinson should continue to see the majority of snaps at the tight end position. Through five games this season, Parkinson has averaged 7.1 PPR points per game.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) was not activated before their Week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram. Hines is still recovering from his torn ACL. However, the 27-year-old did log three full practices this week, which suggests he will return in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, Hines tallied only 36 yards on the ground with one score but caught 25 passes for 188 yards through the air. This weekend, fantasy managers should expect Nick Chubb (knee) and D'Onta Foreman to lead the backfield. When Hines does return, he should see most of his work on passing downs.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is denying that he has requested a trade. "I ain request a trade.. so that's a lie. I'm in an orange robe on the way to Knoxville.. #WhoDat," Kamara wrote on his X account. Rumors may be swirling that Kamara is unhappy in New Orleans after five straight losses, most recently a 33-10 beatdown at the hands of the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. The 29-year-old got off to a blazing start in 2024 with 80 rushing attempts for 362 yards (4.53 yards per tote) and five rushing touchdowns in the first four weeks, adding 17 catches for 174 yards and another score. But in three games since then, he has 76 yards on 31 carries for one touchdown and has caught 17 passes for 78 yards. It hasn't helped that QB Derek Carr (oblique) has missed the last two games. Kamara should improve once Carr returns, but that may not be for another week or so.
From RotoBaller
