More Strength of Schedule:
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The Strength of Schedule takes the results from all defensive performances last season and then applies the stats allowed against quarterbacks, running backs and receivers to determine who will have the easier schedule. This is determined by taking the best and worst venues for offenses to face and comparing those statistics allowed against the current NFL schedule for each team. Unlike strength of schedules used during the regular season which only considers the 32 defenses, this look back at last year considers the 64 venues that can happen – facing each defense either home or away.

To remove the effects of the really bad or good odd game, defensive performances last year have their best and worst game removed before determining their average fantasy points allowed for each position.

Three different views are given below – Weeks 1 to 6 show what players will face as they start the season. Weeks 1 through 16 are shown for a full season view and weeks 14 to 16 show the most common weeks for fantasy playoffs. Below that is the NFL schedule marked for each team to show when they have good (green) or bad (red) match-ups. Bye weeks are considered a bad matchup since the player is unavailable for your fantasy team that week. This is important especially considering the Dorey Rule – “draft as if the season only lasted the first six weeks”.

This analysis awards 0.1 points per rush yard and 0.05 points per pass yard. Touchdowns are worth six points.

Best Schedules:

Ryan Tannehill – He’s the only quarterback with just one game against a Top 20 defensive venue from last year but he was a disappointment in 2013 when he never really connected with Mike Wallace. At least he gets a better slate of games to improve in 2014.

E.J. Manuel – The rookie last year had the occasional good game but missed six with injury and still searches for his first 300 yard effort. but he only faces two defensive venues from the Top 20 worst matchups of last year. Picking up Mike Williams should help as well while Manuel progresses.

Robert Griffin III – This is one of the more promising situations since Griffin missed three games in 2013 while obviously still limited from his knee injury of 2013. He gets almost half his games against Top 20 easiest defensive venues and the addition of DeSean Jackson and Andre Roberts should only help even more.

Worst Schedules:

Cleveland quarterback – Just no breaks for the Brownies. The worst schedule by far – ten matchups in the Top 20 worst venues of 2013 and they won’t be sure who the quarterback will be until after the NFL draft if not the end of training camp. Not a recipe for success here.

Ben Roethlisberger – Big Ben usually plays better than his schedule but only one of the final nine games is a good matchup. Emmanuel Sanders is gone but Marcus Wheaton holds some promise and Lance Moore was added.

Tony Romo – The Cowboys have a brutal schedule and normally have one of the softest. Five of the final seven games come on the road and they already have the lengthy history of the December Choke. Romo should look much better early than later.

Week – By – Week

More Strength of Schedule:
Quarterbacks  |  Running Backs  |  RB w/ PPR  |  Receivers  |  RCV w/ PPR

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