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FFL: Week 1 | NFL: Week 1

WR Strength of Schedule

Fri May 31 10:52am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

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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Dallas Goedert Sep 7 1:10am ET
Dallas Goedert

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert had a quiet night in Friday's win over the Packers. A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Saquon Barkley did most of the heavy lifting on the offensive end. As a result, Goedert finished with only four grabs for 31 yards. Without question, nobody is expecting the veteran to be a top fantasy tight end in 2024-25. However, fantasy managers are still hoping he'll play better than last season, especially under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. At any rate, the Eagles will get some rest before getting ready for the Falcons in Week 2. Goedert isn't a viable starting option outside deep, multi-tight end formats. Yet, the upside is still there for those who may be desperate.

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Malik Nabers Sep 7 1:10am ET
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New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers is poised for a potential fantasy breakout in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. Following an impressive preseason, the rookie has demonstrated his big-play potential and ability to stretch the field, which aligns well with the Vikings' vulnerability to passing yards. Nabers' speed and route-running could exploit this weakness, with the Giants likely to target him frequently to showcase his explosive plays. Nabers is a flex option at the very least, especially in deeper leagues, making him a player to watch this week.

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Tucker Kraft Sep 7 1:10am ET
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Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft had a pretty quiet night in the stat sheet in the Packers' 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Sao Paulo on Friday night. Kraft caught 2-of-3 targets for 37 yards, but the story is that Kraft was the TE1 in snaps and routes well over presumptive starter Luke Musgrave. Per Nathan Jahnke of PFF, Kraft dominated routes per dropback 30-8 and also in snaps as Kraft ran all but three snaps. Even if Kraft's utilization going forward remains as it was in Week 1, Kraft is still a streaming option if you need a tight end, not as somebody you need to plug into fantasy lineups immediately. Of course, there's the Jordan Love aspect, as Love left the game with an undisclosed lower-body injury. If Love plays in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, Kraft is a mid-range fantasy TE2 with volume-based upside.

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Wan'Dale Robinson Sep 7 1:10am ET
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Jalin Hyatt Sep 7 1:10am ET
Jalin Hyatt

New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt has the potential to be a boom-or-bust flex option in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. Hyatt, who showcased his game-breaking speed as a rookie last season, could see a breakout opportunity this week. His deep-threat ability could be a nightmare for Minnesota's shaky cornerbacks, especially with Daniel Jones showing increasing trust in the young wideout downfield. With the Vikings struggling in pass coverage and the Giants' offense poised for more vertical attacks, Hyatt is a sneaky flex option in deeper leagues this week.

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Darius Slayton Sep 7 1:10am ET
Darius Slayton

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Graham Gano Sep 7 1:10am ET
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New York Giants kicker Graham Gano enters Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings as a sneaky yet reliable fantasy option. Despite only playing eight games last season, Gano is healthy again and has a career average field goal percentage of 83.7%, including an impressive 43-for-64 from 50+ yards. With the Giants offense projected to struggle to move the ball effectively, Gano could see few field goal opportunities on Sunday. Look elsewhere on the waiver wire until we get more answers about the Giants offense.

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Daniel Jones Sep 7 1:00am ET
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Jake Elliott Sep 7 1:00am ET
Jake Elliott

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Christian Watson Sep 7 1:00am ET
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson had a minor impact on the Packers' 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, as he caught just 3-of-5 targets for 13 yards, but hauled in a two-yard pass from Jordan Love in the third quarter to salvage his fantasy day. That touchdown was one of three red-zone targets on the night for Watson, but he was regularly involved in the offense throughout the night as he had multiple chances to score. Watson ran the third-most routes of the Packers' receivers and earned the third-most snaps at 63%, per PFF's Nathan Jahnke. As a wide receiver who is dependent on the big play, Watson is going to be more boom or bust as a fantasy asset. He's a low-end WR3 or flex play when the Packers head home to host the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, but that's if Jordan Love is good to go following Love's injury-related exit in Week 1.

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Devin Singletary Sep 7 1:00am ET
Devin Singletary

New York Giants running back Devin Singletary will be the uncontested lead back in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. While Singletary has shown flashes of efficiency, averaging 4.16 yards per carry in 2023, he has struggled to find consistent fantasy relevance as a lead back in his career (he has never hit the 1,000-yard mark in five seasons). This week's matchup against a Vikings defense that allowed the eighth-fewest yards to rushers last season (98.7 per game) doesn't bode well for Singletary's upside. With the Giants likely in a pass-heavy game script, he's a low-ceiling FLEX play in PPR formats at best.

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Joe Burrow Sep 7 12:50am ET
Joe Burrow

The New England Patriots' defense falls outside the top-12 units in fantasy football for Week 1. The Patriots are set to kick off their season against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Cincinnati has an offense with plenty of firepower, but there are real questions about their pass-catching group this week with Ja'Marr Chase (personal) questionable and Tee Higgins (hamstring) doubtful. There's a chance that the Bengals could be without their top two receivers, leaving Joe Burrow with Andrei Iosivas, Jermaine Burton, and Trenton Irwin at his disposal. But even if the Bengals do find themselves short-staffed on Sunday, New England will still be difficult to trust in fantasy football. The Patriots have one of the worst offenses, which means the Bengals should win the time of possession battle and therefore be gifted extra opportunities to score. New England also suffered key losses this offseason, headlined by Matthew Judon being traded to Atlanta and Christian Barmore (blood clots) being sidelined until further notice. With a tough matchup and reduced playmakers, the Patriots' defense lacks fantasy appeal in Week 1. You can probably find better options on the waiver wire.

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DeVonta Smith Sep 7 12:50am ET
DeVonta Smith

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith looked good in Friday's win over the Green Bay Packers. Although A.J. Brown was more productive, amassing five grabs for 119 yards and a touchdown, Smith still finished the night by pulling in seven catches for 84 yards. Fantasy managers would have loved to see the wideout find the end zone. However, it was an acceptable showing, especially with the sloppy field conditions in Brazil. Nonetheless, the Eagles will head home for a few days off before meeting the Atlanta Falcons for Monday Night Football in Week 2. Managers should keep Smith starting in all fantasy setups.

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Joey Slye Sep 7 12:50am ET
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K.J. Osborn Sep 7 12:50am ET
K.J. Osborn

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Jayden Reed Sep 7 12:40am ET
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed was the offensive star for the Packers in their 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil on Friday night. Reed took a jet sweep for a 33-yard touchdown early in the second quarter and then caught a 70-yard touchdown just a few minutes later on the next Packers' possession. As the most dynamic playmaker for the Packers, Reed was a menace all over the field and was second on the team in targets next to Romeo Doubs. Reed is off to a great start to his second season in green and gold and is primed to build off of a rookie campaign that saw him score 10 touchdowns and put up over 900 yards from scrimmage. The Packers play the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 and Reed should be considered a low-end WR2 in fantasy as long as Jordan Love is the starting quarterback, as Love left the game late in Week 1 with a leg injury.

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Ja'Lynn Polk Sep 7 12:40am ET
Ja'Lynn Polk

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk will make his NFL debut against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. A second-round pick out of the University of Washington, Polk could open the year as New England's No. 2 wide receiver. As the preseason wrapped up, both he and K.J. Osborn were competing for that role with Demario Douglas in line to serve as the No. 1 receiver. It's possible that Osborn draws the start given his experience in the NFL, but there's no denying that Polk flashed real potential this summer and will be on Osborn's heels, at the very least. Polk should be rostered in most dynasty leagues but lacks redraft appeal, especially with the Patriots projected to finish last in the NFL this year.

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A.J. Brown Sep 7 12:40am ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown looked good in the Week 1 win over the Packers. While the field conditions in Brazil weren't ideal, the wideout still had a stellar outing, leading his team in receiving by amassing five catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. Brown received a lucrative three-year, $96 million contract extension this offseason after piecing together back-to-back 1,400-yard receiving seasons. Without question, fantasy managers were certainly pleased with his performance on Friday night. With a win, Philadelphia will head home to await the Atlanta Falcons for a Week 2, Monday Night Football matchup. Of course, Brown should remain starting in any fantasy format imaginable.

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Romeo Doubs Sep 7 12:40am ET
Romeo Doubs

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs put together a modest fantasy effort in the Packers' 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil on Friday night. Doubs led the Packers in targets with seven, catching four of those targets for 50 yards. Of the group of wide receivers, Doubs ran the most routes on the team and also led the receivers with an 87% snap share, per Nathan Jahnke of PFF. Even though Doubs ran the most routes and earned the most snaps, he's still a bit of a risky proposition to start in fantasy, especially with a potential Jordan Love injury at the end of Week 1 to factor in. The utilization for Doubs makes him a bit safer as a player you know will be on the field a ton, but with that safety comes the fact that Doubs was a bit touchdown-dependent last season. Consider Doubs a low-end WR3 for fantasy in Week 2 if Love is the starter at quarterback.

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Josh Jacobs Sep 7 12:30am ET
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs finished his first game with the Packers in bounce-back fashion in their Week 1 34-29 loss to the Eagles in Brazil. Jacobs had a nightmare first half where he had six carries for just four yards on the ground. Jacobs' second half was excellent as he reeled off a few nice runs including a 32-yard scamper in the fourth quarter as he finished with 84 yards rushing on 16 carries, while catching 2-of-3 targets for 20 yards on the night. Carrying the rushing volume for the Packers to the tune of 80% of the carries in the backfield, Jacobs was relied upon as the workhorse with MarShawn Lloyd ruled inactive and Emanuel Wilson seeing four carries. Against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, Jacobs should be a high-end RB2, but if Jordan Love's injury at the end of the game forces somebody else other than Love to start at quarterback, Jacobs' fantasy value would take a bit of a tumble.

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