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FFL: Week 7 | NFL: Week 7

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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Player Notes
Ja'Marr Chase Oct 20 10:00pm ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had five catches for 55 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Browns. The former LSU Tiger was relatively quiet in Week 6 against the Giants. While Tee Higgins was more productive in this one, Chase still found the end zone for the sixth time in the Bengals' previous five contests. With Cincinnati picking up another win, the team will look to get to .500 with a win over the Eagles in Week 8. Fortunately for fantasy managers, the Eagles have struggled to stop opposing wideouts this season, making Chase one of the top fantasy options.

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Cedric Tillman Oct 20 10:00pm ET
Cedric Tillman

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman caught eight of his 12 targets for 81 yards in a 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7. In his first game as a starter after the Browns traded away Amari Cooper, Tillman led the Browns in receiving yardage while finishing second in targets and catches in the close loss to the Bengals. The Week 7 performance easily goes down as the best of Tillman's two-year career. Fantasy managers in dynasty leagues should be checking the waiver wire this week to see if Tillman is still floating around out there as he could be Cleveland's No. 1 receiver for the remainder of the season. He will be worth a look as a flex against a leaky Baltimore Ravens pass defense in Week 8.

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Jerry Jeudy Oct 20 10:00pm ET
Jerry Jeudy

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy caught one of his five targets for 18 yards in a 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7. Jeudy appeared to be in line for a larger role with Amari Cooper traded to the Buffalo Bills earlier in the week but he instead remained an afterthought in the Cleveland offense while Cedric Tillman caught eight balls for 81 yards. Jeudy has shown flashes with the Browns this year but he will be tough to trust in fantasy going forward, even with a plus matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on tap in Week 8.

From RotoBaller

Mecole Hardman Oct 20 10:00pm ET
Mecole Hardman

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman had one catch for 17 yards, two carries for 38 yards, and a touchdown in the 28-18 win against the San Francisco 49ers. Hardman did not command many targets, but he capitalized on his opportunities with a score on the ground. With fellow wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster sidelined with a hamstring injury in this contest, Hardman had more opportunities to get involved. This matchup marked his second game back from injury, and Hardman's role will likely increase as the season goes on and he gets healthier. Hardman is familiar with Mahomes and the offense, so it shouldn't be long before we see more involvement from him. The Chiefs will take on the Raiders in Week 8. The Raiders are not a cakewalk matchup for wide receivers since they rank ninth in fantasy points allowed, but Kansas City gets their playmakers involved in unique ways, so Hardman could see some volume. Despite scoring in this week's contest, Hardman's role in the offense is undetermined, and he should be viewed as a desperation flex play until we get more information about his usage.

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Chase Brown Oct 20 10:00pm ET
Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown ran for 44 yards off 15 carries in the win over the Browns on Sunday. He added two catches for nine yards. The 24-year-old scored in each of his last three appearances. While he cooled off in this one, he still outperformed teammate Zack Moss, who didn't have a quality afternoon. It appears Brown will continue to lead the backfield, keeping him a starting fantasy option for Week 8 against the Eagles, but the continued presence of Moss in this backfield will cap Brown's fantasy upside.

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Tee Higgins Oct 20 9:50pm ET
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caught four of his eight targets for 82 yards in Sunday's win over the Browns. He also scored a touchdown, finding the end zone off a 25-yard throw from Joe Burrow in the third quarter. The wideout has looked great since returning from the hamstring injury that kept him off the field for the first two games of the 2024-25 campaign. But he's looked even better of late, scoring three times in the Bengals' previous three contests. Fantasy managers should keep him rolling for Week 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Jameis Winston Oct 20 9:50pm ET
Jameis Winston

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston completed five of his 11 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown in a 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7. Winston opened the game as the Browns' emergency quarterback but was pressed into service after both Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson got injured in the contest. Watson suffered what is believed to be a season-ending Achilles injury, while Thompson-Robinson's finger injury is not considered serious. It remains to be seen whether it will be Winston or DTR under center when the Browns take on the Baltimore Ravens at home in Week 8 but both quarterbacks should be added in superflex and two-quarterback formats this week as Watson's season appears to be over.

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Tyler Boyd Oct 20 9:50pm ET
Tyler Boyd

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tyler Boyd caught five passes on as many targets for 43 yards in a 34-10 loss to the Bills on Sunday. On a day in which the downfield passing attack was stymied by Buffalo, Boyd was a reliable short area target for new starting quarterback Mason Rudolph. The Titans ability to stretch the field is next to none, and if Rudolph continues to start for Tennessee, he may have to rely on quick-hitter throws to Boyd in an attempt to move the ball downfield. The longtime Bengal will still be behind Ridley and Hopkins in the receiving pecking order (as long as the latter is in Nashville), but he is trending up heading into a tough matchup with the Detroit Lions next week.

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Jauan Jennings Oct 20 9:50pm ET
Jauan Jennings

Per head coach Kyle Shanahan, the San Francisco 49ers hope to get wide receiver Jauan Jennings (hip) back for their Week 8 home matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. San Fran had a rough go on Sunday in their 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, losing wideouts Deebo Samuel Sr. (illness) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) in the first half. While Samuel was sick coming into this one, he'll have a good chance of being able to suit up next Sunday so long as the illness does not linger. Aiyuk, on the other hand, is feared to have suffered a torn ACL via initial reports. It isn't yet confirmed, but he'd be a long shot to suit up in Week 8 regardless. With the 49ers wide receiver corps suddenly depleted, Jacob Cowing, Ricky Pearsall, Chris Conley, and Ronnie Bell are the only active wideouts without a designation.

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Travis Kelce Oct 20 9:50pm ET
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had four catches for 17 yards on five targets in the win against the San Francisco 49ers. Kelce had the second-most targets among Chiefs pass catchers in this contest but could not eclipse 20 receiving yards or find the endzone. After the departure of Rashee Rice from the wide receiver corps, Kelce was vacuuming up targets across the middle of the field, but the Niners tried to eliminate him. Kelce should be the favorite to lead the team in targets every week moving forward, which should be the case in Week 8. The Chiefs take on the Las Vegas Raiders on the road next week. Kelce saw seven targets in each game against the Raiders last season, so he is one of the safest bets for volume at the tight end position. Fantasy managers should continue to view Kelce as a TE1 despite the poor showing this week.

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Nick Chubb Oct 20 9:50pm ET
Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb carried the ball 11 times for 22 yards and a touchdown while adding a 10-yard catch in a 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7. Chubb was playing for the first time since he tore his ACL in Week 2 of the 2023 season and received a thunderous ovation from the home crowd before the game. The veteran tailback did not disappoint as he punched in a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Cleveland went away from him in the second half as they went very pass-heavy, giving Chubb just one carry after halftime. The veteran running back should see his workload ramp up in the coming weeks as he works his way back into game shape. He will be an RB3 heading into Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens.

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Daniel Jones Oct 20 9:40pm ET
Daniel Jones

According to head coach Brian Daboll, New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones will remain the team's starter moving forward. The sixth-year QB finished up his day completing 14-of-21 passes for 99 yards, adding 20 yards on the ground over his five carries. The news comes after Jones was benched in the fourth quarter of the Giant's 28-3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles for Drew Lock. "Made a change in the fourth quarter when it was 28-3," said Daboll. "We had 100 yards, just to create a spark." It's worth mentioning that spark did not occur, as Lock led the team to three punts on his possessions, fumbling the ball twice. While the 27-year-old will garner most of the blame, there wasn't much good for the G-Men at all on Sunday. Additionally, the loss of starting left tackle Andrew Thomas (Lisfranc) was a massive blow to the team, and Jones was taken to the turf on seven separate occasions. Better days are ahead for the Duke product, but he'll get another staunch test in Week 8 when his team takes on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.

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Jameson Williams Oct 20 9:40pm ET
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was nearly a non-factor in the team's 31-29 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7. Williams saw just one target, which resulted in a catch for negative four yards, as Amon-Ra St. Brown had a big day and Kalif Raymond took on a more significant role. Coming off a two-game touchdown streak and consistent yardage production, Williams' minimal output was disappointing for fantasy managers. Despite this being his second one-catch performance of the season, Williams' speed and big-play potential make him a candidate for a bounce-back effort when the Lions host the Tennessee Titans in Week 8.

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Wan'Dale Robinson Oct 20 9:40pm ET
Wan'Dale Robinson

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson had a quiet performance in Sunday's 28-3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Robinson led the team with nine targets and six receptions, but he managed just 23 yards, averaging 3.8 yards per catch with a long of six yards. Despite leading the team in both targets and receptions, the Giants' passing game struggled, totaling only 105 yards from their quarterbacks. Robinson finished with 5.3 fantasy points, as the offense was stifled throughout the game.

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Joe Burrow Oct 20 9:40pm ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns. The signal-caller was relatively quiet in the Week 6 win over the New York Giants. However, things were different in Week 7, with Burrow completing his fifth game this season with at least two touchdown passes. He's been one of the top fantasy quarterbacks all year, so there's no reason why he shouldn't be featured in fantasy lineups in Week 8 versus the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Kareem Hunt Oct 20 9:30pm ET
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt had 22 carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the 28-18 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Hunt also had two receptions for five yards in this contest. Despite practicing fully this week, Clyde Edwards-Helaire was declared inactive in this game, which led to another Hunt takeover. Rookie Carson Steele had the second-most carries for the Chiefs with six, which he turned into 17 rushing yards. Hunt is the undisputed lead back for the Chiefs until the eventual return of Isiah Pacheco, making him an extremely valuable fantasy asset for the foreseeable future. Hunt will look to dominate again next week against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders rank 26th in fantasy points allowed to the running back position, so Hunt should have no issues in that contest. Hunt should be ranked as a solid RB2 every week.

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David Montgomery Oct 20 9:30pm ET
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (knee) was limited in Week 7 due to an early knee injury but returned in the 31-29 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Montgomery finished with nine carries for 31 yards and added three receptions for 39 yards, as second-year back Jahmyr Gibbs handled most of the workload. This marked Montgomery's first week without reaching double-digit fantasy points this season. Despite the setback, it's expected that Montgomery won't miss any time moving forward, and he should remain a crucial part of the Lions' offense as they prepare to face the Tennessee Titans in Week 8.

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Malik Nabers Oct 20 9:30pm ET
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers returned from a two-game absence due to a concussion in Sunday's 28-3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Nabers caught four of eight targets for 41 yards, averaging 10.3 yards per reception, with a long of 14 yards, and started the game strong with a 13-yard catch on the first offensive play. Despite leading the team in receiving yards, Nabers couldn't find the end zone and was part of a lackluster Giants passing attack that totaled only 105 yards. He finished with 6.1 fantasy points.

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Jayden Daniels Oct 20 9:20pm ET
Jayden Daniels

Per Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels (ribs) is set for more testing on Monday to assess the extent of his injury further. The rookie QB participated in just one series of the team's 40-7 dismantling of the Carolina Panthers before getting knocked out with a rib injury. Quinn also noted that it's unclear what play the injury occurred in. While Daniels was ruled out from the contest, he returned to the sidelines with a big smile, potentially indicating it was not a severe injury. Even if that's the case, expect Washington to play it cautiously with their young franchise quarterback. Marcus Mariota performed well in relief and would be presumed to be under center again if the 23-year-old can't suit up for their Week 8 home tilt against the Chicago Bears.

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Patrick Mahomes Oct 20 9:20pm ET
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 16 of 27 pass attempts (59%) for 154 yards and zero touchdowns in the 28-18 win against the San Francisco 49ers. Mahomes threw two more interceptions in this contest, bringing his total to a league-leading eight interceptions despite already having his bye week. Mahomes found the endzone on a rushing touchdown against the Niners, but that was the only silver lining. Mahomes has been one of the worst draft picks at the quarterback position this season, and there is not much optimism that it will change since the Chiefs remain undefeated after six games. This game also marks his second straight game with zero passing touchdowns. Mahomes will look to right the ship against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8. The Raiders rank 26th in fantasy points allowed to the quarterback position this season, so it will be an advantageous situation for the Chiefs quarterback. That said, Mahomes has not been good for fantasy, and benching him is reasonable at this point.

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