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”.

A Bye week is considered a “bad” week though everyone has one. It really only matters if it falls in the first six weeks.

This analysis awards and 0.05 points per pass yard. Touchdowns are worth four points.

Best Schedules:

Tampa Bay – The first pick in the NFL draft also gets to inherit the softest passing schedule in the league with half of his games against bottom 20 venues. The reality though is that the Buccaneers are still a fledgling offense installing a new scheme this year with a rookie quarterback. Great schedule still not enough to merit too much confidence here.

Matt Ryan – This is encouraging since Ryan already comes off a four year stretch of solid stats and now manages to only face two defensive venues that ranked in the 20 toughest last year. One more decent year out of Roddy White and a healthy season from Julio Jones could produce even better stats for 2015.

Eli Manning – He enjoyed a bounce back season in 2015 with 4410 yards and 30 touchdowns and that almost entirely came from just one player – Odell Beckham Jr. who really did not explode until the second half of the year. Now Manning gets a second season with Beckham – and a full 16 games – plus Victor Cruz will return and all that with an advantageous schedule.

Worst Schedules:

Peyton Manning – More than half his games come against top 20 defenses but Manning has always been bigger than his schedule. A bigger concern will be the plans to have him throw less to save his arm for the post season plus a new found running game with C.J. Anderson.

Ben Roethlisberger – He always has one of the worst passing schedules in the league thanks to playing in the AFC North and yet he still perseveres with a a good year that includes at least a few great games. The schedule may not be a friend but it has never so no reason to downgrade Big Ben.

Philip Rivers – Trade rumors swirled and his longevity in San Diego is in serious question. But the Chargers starter is going to face a tougher slate of games this year and even starts out on a tougher note. He’s always flirted with being in the range of fantasy starters but this year may be just another of him being nothing more than a solid backup to own.

Week – By – Week

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

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