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FFL: Week 11 | NFL: Week 11

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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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 11

Player Notes
Dalton Kincaid Nov 14 1:40pm ET
Dalton Kincaid

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) was not present at practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week after injuring his knee in the Week 10 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Kincaid is probably going to have to put in some work in Friday's practice to even have a shot at suiting up this Sunday when the Bills take on the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Fantasy managers should already be preparing a backup plan in case the 25-year-old is ruled out this weekend. In that scenario, Dawson Knox would be on the TE1 radar, especially if receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) misses his third straight game. Rookie wideout Keon Coleman (wrist) has already been ruled out. Fantasy managers were expecting more from Kincaid in his sophomore campaign, as he's currently averaging 6.5 half-PPR points per game, which ranks 22nd among all TEs.

From RotoBaller

Sam LaPorta Nov 14 1:30pm ET
Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) was the team's only player that did not take part in practice on Thursday. LaPorta suffered a sprained AC joint in his shoulder in the team's Week 10 win over the Houston Texans and is in danger of missing this Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after missing practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. The 23-year-old second-year tight end will need to get onto the practice field on Friday to give himself a shot to suit up in Week 11. If he is unable to do so, expect Brock Wright to see an increased role on offense for Detroit, putting him in play as a TE2 sleeper in a game the Lions are favored by two touchdowns. It's been a disappointing sophomore year for LaPorta fantasy-wise after he finished as the TE1 in 2023 -- he's currently the TE11 in half-PPR scoring -- but he did find the end zone for the third time in Week 10.

From RotoBaller

Davante Adams Nov 14 1:30pm ET
Davante Adams

There was no sign of New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (illness, wrist) during the early portion of practice open to the media on Thursday. Adams has been under the weather this week but is also dealing with a wrist injury and did not practice with the rest of the team on Wednesday. The 31-year-old veteran's status is now in question heading into a Week 11 tilt against the visiting Indianapolis Colts this Sunday. If he is unable to return to practice on Friday and play against Indy, Garrett Wilson, who leads the NFL with 100 targets, would receive extra attention from the Colts' defense with Xavier Gipson and rookie Malachi Corley starting in three-receiver sets. In his four starts with New York since being acquired from the Raiders, Adams has 20 catches, 206 yards and one touchdown. When active, he's a must-start for fantasy managers despite more frustrations from the Jets.

From RotoBaller

Tyreek Hill Nov 14 1:20pm ET
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins wide receivers coach Wes Welker said that wideout Tyreek Hill's performance is not being affected by his wrist injury. Hill and Jaylen Waddle "are starting to realize how perfect we have to be" to work their way open with the way opposing teams are defending them and jamming them at the line of scrimmage. The Cheetah recently acknowledged that he's playing through a torn ligament in his wrist, but apparently it's not negatively affecting him on game days. The 30-year-old scored his first touchdown in Monday night's win over the Los Angeles Rams since the season opener, but he also had just three catches for 16 yards. In the two previous games since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned, Hill's production improved (10 catches for 152 yards). Hill's numbers most certainly are down in 2024, but he remains a must-start in fantasy with Tagovailoa back.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Nov 14 1:13pm ET
Aaron Rodgers

Dynasty | Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is likely to play next season. Dynasty Analysis: Rodgers indicated as much this week and while he's one of the most unpredictable players (and maybe people) out there, it makes sense. In short, it's hard to see Rodgers accepting this season as his last after the Jets have failed to reach any of their expectations, fired their coach, and dealt with massive turmoil. At this point, Rodgers is a QB2 or bench player unless things really turn around and his dynasty value is going to continue to fall.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Sam Darnold Nov 14 1:13pm ET
Sam Darnold

Dynasty | Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy had a second surgery to repair damage in his knee. Dynasty Analysis: While this may sound terrible, it really isn't that concerning as it won't affect his timeline much. The bigger concern for McCarthy managers is the fact Sam Darnold has played really well this season, making McCarthy more of a luxury at the moment. Regardless, he should get his chance to start next season on time unless Darnold really sets the league on fire here over the second half of the season and forces Minnesota to change course. His dynasty value is stable.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Rico Dowdle Nov 14 1:10pm ET
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy gave running back Rico Dowdle a ringing endorsement on Thursday, saying, "He's the lead back. Rico needs to touch the ball." Fellow backfield mate Ezekiel Elliott returned from a one-game absence for disciplinary reasons in the Week 10 blowout loss to the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, with Dowdle seeing 12 carries for 53 yards and catching all three of his targets for three yards. The 26-year-old likely would have had a much better day had the Cowboys not fallen behind by a significant margin on the scoreboard. Zeke had six carries for 22 yards and lost a fumble. Dowdle played 52% of the offensive snaps compared to Elliott's 22%. Dowdle will continue to be Dallas' lead RB, but with quarterback Dak Prescott (shoulder) now done for the year, it makes Dowdle a lower-upside RB3/flex for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Michael Pittman Jr. Nov 14 1:00pm ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was back on the practice field for the second straight day on Thursday. Pittman has been dealing with a back injury for a while now and missed the Week 10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. However, he was listed as a full practice participant on Wednesday, signaling that he could return this Sunday to face the New York Jets, as long as he doesn't suffer a setback. It's good news for the Colts, but fantasy managers will justifiably have some reservations about starting the 27-year-old wideout this weekend, especially with struggling second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson getting his starting job back against a formidable defense. Pittman is Indy's WR1 when healthy, but it's led to only a 30-366-2 line through nine games in 2024. If he's active against the Jets, Pittman should be viewed as more of a touchdown-dependent WR3/flex.

From RotoBaller

Dameon Pierce Nov 14 12:40pm ET
Dameon Pierce

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (groin), who has missed the team's last two games due to a groin ailment, is close to returning to action, according to a league source. Pierce has only 14 rushing attempts on the year in four games played, but he's gone for 98 yards (career-high 7.0 yards per tote) and a touchdown and is averaging 40 yards per kickoff return. It remains to be seen if the 24-year-old will be able to do enough in practice this week to have a shot at playing on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys, but even if he does return in Week 11, he'll most likely be eased in and will work behind workhorse Joe Mixon. Dare Ogunbowale has been serving as Houston's RB2 behind Mixon with Pierce sidelined. At best, Pierce is a handcuff option for fantasy managers that have Mixon in their starting lineups on a weekly basis.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Nov 14 12:10pm ET
Caleb Williams

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus reiterated on Thursday that rookie quarterback Caleb Williams will start on Sunday against the division-rival Green Bay Packers in Week 11. Since their bye in Week 7, the Bears have lost three straight games and have not scored a touchdown in the last two games. Williams, the first overall pick back in April, has looked pretty terrible since the bye, completing 50.5% of his pass attempts and taking a whopping 18 sacks. The Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron earlier this week, but they will move forward with Williams as their starter under center -- the alternative is backup Tyson Bagent. The 22-year-old Williams can't be much worse in Week 11 against the Packers as he's been the last three weeks, but fantasy managers in superflex leagues shouldn't be expecting a whole lot as a low-end QB2 in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Nov 14 12:10pm ET
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is 1-3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens' Week 11 opponent, and 17-5 against the other AFC North teams. The Steelers are the only team against which Jackson has thrown more interceptions (seven) than touchdowns (four). Pittsburgh has won seven of its last eight meetings against the Ravens. Despite the poor showings against the division rival, Jackson is leading a Ravens offense that ranks first in total yards (440.2) and points (31.8), making him the front-runner to win the MVP award for the second straight year. He has thrown 22 touchdowns and one interception in his last eight games. The 27-year-old is relying more on his arm than his legs and leads all QBs in fantasy points. However, he could be in for another subpar day (by his standards) this Sunday, as Pittsburgh has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Mingo Nov 14 10:00am ET
Jonathan Mingo

New Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jonathan Mingo will make his team debut on Monday against Houston, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports. The former second-round pick lasted fewer than two years with the Carolina Panthers, who shipped him and a seventh-round pick to Dallas for a fourth-rounder at the trade deadline. Mingo had 12 catches on 26 targets in nine games with the Panthers this year, keeping him well off the fantasy radar. Even with the change of scenery, it's difficult to envision Mingo making much of an impact on a Cowboys offense playing without quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) for the rest of the season.

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Aaron Rodgers Nov 14 9:40am ET
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who will turn 41 years old next month, told reporters that he is leaning toward returning for the 2025 season. The veteran quarterback is under contract for another year with the Jets, which would be his 21st season in the NFL. Asked if he still wants to play next season, Rodgers said, "I think so, yeah." New York is 3-7 through 10 games and earlier this season fired head coach Robert Saleh. Once a fantasy lineup stalwart, the former MVP has mostly been relegated to a QB2 option in Superflex leagues during his Jets tenure.

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Christian Barmore Nov 14 9:20am ET
Christian Barmore

New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore (blood clots) is likely to practice for the first time since the diagnosis on Thursday, according to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The star tackle has not played at all this season after posting a career-best 8.5 sacks and 64 tackles in 2023. The 2021 second-round pick earned a four-year extension from New England earlier this year that made him the highest-paid defensive player in team history. For now, Barmore remains on the non-football illness list, but practicing once again would be an encouraging step that puts him on track to return.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Nov 14 8:30am ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown will take on the division-rival Washington Commanders on Thursday night football in Week 11. The 27-year-old has failed to find the end zone since Week 7 but has averaged 92.2 receiving yards per game and has just one game with fewer than 80 yards receiving all year. This matchup is going to determine who ends up as the No. 1 seed in the NFC East heading into Week 12, and the Eagles will be looking Brown's way often to keep the pressure on a Washington defense that has started to turn things around over the past few weeks. The Commanders are a solid matchup, and recently acquired cornerback Marshawn Lattimore will not be making his Washington debut this week. Consider the Eagles star receiver a top-five option in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

DeVonta Smith Nov 14 8:30am ET
DeVonta Smith

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith will face off against the Washington Commanders on Thursday night football in Week 11. The 26-year-old has had some limitations in practice the past few weeks due to a hamstring injury, but he was again left off of the final injury report and is a full go for the team's Week 11 divisional matchup. Smith was not needed last week against a spiraling Dallas team, seeing just three targets and tallying only 14 yards receiving. With that said, the team will need all hands on deck to stop Washington Thursday night, and with newly acquired cornerback Marshawn Lattimore not making his Commanders debut, the Eagles will look to exploit the below-average pass defense. Smith has had some disappointing outings since the Week 5 bye, but he is still a strong WR2 option and remains a must-start in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Goedert Nov 14 8:30am ET
Dallas Goedert

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert will take on the Washington Commanders on Thursday night football in Week 11. The 29-year-old made his return to the field last week from a hamstring injury and found the end zone on a limited snap count. He picked up a DNP on Monday in practice with an ankle injury but was left off the final injury report Wednesday and is good to go for Thursday night. Washington is middle of the pack against fantasy tight ends this season, so the matchup should not scare anyone away from starting Goedert. With that said, there is a chance the Eagles will take a run-heavy approach in the contest to keep the high-powered Washington offense off the field as much as possible, potentially leading to a light target share for the veteran. Consider Goedert a fringe TE1 in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Jake Elliott Nov 14 8:30am ET
Jake Elliott

Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott will face off against the Washington Commanders on Thursday night football in Week 11. The 29-year-old had his second-best fantasy performance of the season last week against the Dallas Cowboys, nailing two short field goals and converting all four of his extra-point attempts. The Commanders' defense is much better than the Cowboys at the moment, so expecting another easy outing for the veteran is a bit of a stretch. However, there is a real chance this game becomes a shootout with two high-powered offenses vying for the No. 1 spot in the NFC East, leading to a solid night for Elliott. Consider the Eagles kicker a boom-or-bust streamer like we have for the majority of this season in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Hurts Nov 14 8:20am ET
Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will face off against the division-rival Washington Commanders on Thursday night football. The 26-year-old is the QB1 overall since the Eagles' Week 5 bye, averaging 28.1 fantasy points per game. His four-game streak of no turnovers came to an end early last week against the Dallas Cowboys, but Hurts was able to turn things around quickly and score four total touchdowns en route to a dominating win. Both Washington and Philadelphia's defenses have performed well over the past few weeks, but there is no reason to believe both high-powered offenses won't be trading scores back and forth the majority of the night. While some of his weapons were limited in practice in a short week, the Eagles will head into the game at full strength in that regard, making Hurts a top-three fantasy option for Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Saquon Barkley Nov 14 8:20am ET
Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will take on the Washington Commanders on Thursday night football in Week 11. The 27-year-old had a quiet Week 10 performance against the Dallas Cowboys that left fantasy managers frustrated. He failed to find the end zone and tallied 78 yards which was just the second time this year that he had fewer than 100 total yards in a game. Barkley should see more usage this week in a divisional showdown for first place in the NFC East against a Washington defense that has turned things around over the past few weeks. The matchup should not worry fantasy managers, but they do rank top 15 against opposing fantasy running backs. With all of that said, Barkley is a set-it-and-forget-it RB1 facing off against his division rival.

From RotoBaller