Strength of Schedule Report
@Jagibbs_23 November 12
The purpose of this article is to highlight the players at each position with the easiest and hardest remaining schedules with an emphasis on weeks 14-16 (Most leagues’ playoffs). It’s getting to the time of year when you need to start preparing your team for a playoff push, and acquiring one of these players might be just what you need to put your squad over the top. Conversely, if you have a player who has performed well but has a very tough matchup to close out the season, it might be worth considering trading them while their value is still high.
Each player will be followed by their weekly matchup, their DVOA against the respective positions, and the fantasy points allowed against the respective positions. Only the most favorable stat will be listed.
QB:
Blake Bortles
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
@ Ravens 31
vs Titans 21
vs Chargers 27
@ Titans 21
vs Colts 20
vs Falcons 20
@ Saints 32 32
Bortles has been a pleasant surprise this season for those who took a gamble on him. He’s currently tenth in fantasy points among QBs according to ESPN standard scoring, ahead of the likes of Andrew Luck, Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson, and Ryan Tannehill. I’m here to tell you that he could be even better over the course of his remaining seven games. Not a single matchup on the docket is intimidating, with the toughest opponent being the Titans who have a seventh-ranked pass defense DVOA. Coming off of a 381 yard performance against the Jets’ previously second-ranked pass defense, Bortles appears poised to be a solid top seven option the rest of the way and is owned in only 63.7% of leagues. To put the cherry on top, in the fantasy championship game Bortles squares off against the Saints who have given up 10 passing TDs in the past two weeks and rank dead last at defending the pass.
Ryan Tannehill
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
@ Eagles 10
vs Cowboys 18
@ Jets 16
vs Ravens 28
vs Giants 26
@ Chargers 27
vs Colts 20
Tannehill has been a big disappointment this year, and I don’t expect him to turn it around this week. He may not even get it going for a few weeks, but starting in week 13, Tannehill has possibly the most inviting schedule of any QB. He’s currently available in 30.2% of leagues, and he may be cut loose if he continues to struggle in the next few weeks. Keep an eye out, because he could be an asset down the stretch.
Andy Dalton
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
vs Texans 17
@ Cardinals 5
vs Rams 4
@ Browns 23
vs Steelers 13
@ 49ers 31 22
@ Broncos 1
The Red Rifle has proven the doubters wrong so far this season, as he enters week ten tied with Aaron Rodgers for fourth in QB points. I think there may be cause for concern though. He has already started to slow down, with less than 250 passing yards in each of the past three games. He also has matchups against three top five pass defenses over the remaining seven games, including a matchup in Denver against the historically good Broncos pass defense in the fantasy championship week. I’d look to sell Dalton if I could.
RB:
Charcandrick West
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
@ Broncos 12
@ Chargers 32
vs Bills 26
@ Raiders 19
vs Chargers 32
@ Ravens 14
vs Browns 30
West has broken out as Jamaal Charles’s replacement, averaging 125.5 combined yards over the past two weeks and scoring a TD in each game. He has a tough matchup this week against Denver, but following that he has a cakewalk to championship week, in which he draws a matchup against the hapless Cleveland Browns run defense. If you can make a move to get West, I would definitely do so. The talent is real, and he’s the workhorse for the Chiefs. I fully expect him to be a top 10 RB the rest of the way.
Jonathan Stewart
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
@ Titans 23
vs Redskins 22
@ Cowboys 31
@ Saints 23
vs Falcons 24
@ Giants’ 21
@ Falcons 24
Stewart got off to a slow start but has rewarded patient owners with a healthy 87.75 yards per game over his past four, while scoring three TDs over that span. Assuming he can remain healthy, Stewart is set for a heavy workload against seven straight weak run defenses. Stewart is also somewhat gamescript dependent, and the undefeated Panthers will likely be considered favorites in each of these games, meaning Stewart should get lots of carries. If you can get him cheap, Stewart could reward you with top 15 production from here on out.
Chris Ivory
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
vs Bills 26
@ Texans 20
vs Dolphins 28
@ Giants 21
vs Titans 23
@ Cowboys 31
vs Patriots 12
I will denote this one by saying I am slightly concerned about Ivory’s ability to remain productive over the course of the year. He has historically had injury issues and been less productive as seasons wear on. He has shown signs of fatigue this year too, averaging 28 yards per game and 1.53 YPC over the past three weeks. That being said, he has a very easy schedule from here on out and could continue his pace as the number four RB (standard scoring).
Devonta Freeman
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
vs Colts 22
vs Vikes 25
@ Bucs 11
@ Panthers 20
@ Jags 26
vs Panthers 20
Freeman currently leads the number two RB by a whopping 62 points (standard scoring). That gap will surely shrink following Atlanta’s week 10 bye, but look for Freeman to remain atop the RB leaderboard from that point on with this weak schedule. You’re likely not going to be able to get Freeman from his owner at this point, but if you are a current owner, this is just reassurance that your team’s anchor should continue to put up huge numbers over the remaining seven weeks of the fantasy season.
Mark Ingram
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
@ Redskins 22
@ Texans 20
vs Panthers 20
@ Bucs 11
vs Lions 29
vs Jags 26
Curious who the number two back that is 62 points behind Freeman is? That prestigious label goes to Mark Ingram, who appears poised to maintain his pace for his final six games. This week he draws a matchup against the Redskins, (191 rushing yards allowed per game over the past three) and then will have a week to rest up before carrying your team on it’s playoff push. If Ingram’s owner is willing to listen to trade offers, I’d make every attempt to add him to your roster. With Khiry Robinson no longer around to vulture TDs, Ingram should be a top three back over the final seven weeks.
LeGarrette Blount
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
@ Giants 7
vs Bills 26 18
@ Broncos 6
vs Eagles 9
@ Texans 20
vs Titans 6
@ Jets 1
LeGarrette Blount owners likely were happy to hear that he would take over as the bellcow RB for New England, but I’m here to tell you to pump the brakes. Blount draws five top ten rush defenses over his final seven games, highlighted by a matchup against the Jets in the fantasy championship. Blount could still be productive in some of these matchups, because a big part of his success comes from scoring goal line TDs for the Pats, but that’s not a risk I want to take. I’d look to sell Blount to a naive owner if I could.
WR:
Sammy Watkins
Matchup #1 WR DVOA Fpts/G
@ Jets 8 26
@ Pats 22
@ Chiefs 15 32
vs Texans 24
@ Eagles 31
@ Redskins 5 24
vs Cowboys 27
Watkins finally displayed some promise last week, accounting for 168 of Tyrod Taylor’s 181 passing yards. He’ll visit Revis Island in week ten, but it should be smooth sailing from that point on. I’m not sold on him after one game, but I would definitely target him as a buy-low candidate if he gets shut out by Revis this week. I think from week 11 to week 16, Watkins is a WR2 with WR1 upside.
Jordan Matthews
Matchup Slot WR DVOA Fpts/G
vs Dolphins 17 23
vs Bucs 24 28
@ Lions 25
@ Patriots 10 20
vs Bills 19
vs Cardinals 13
vs Redskins 14 24
It's amazing what you can do when you just catch the freaking ball Jordan! It's been an incredibly frustrating year for J-Matt owners, but he showed signs of life last week with a nine catch, 133 yard, one TD game. Hopefully the game winning TD catch will get his confidence up, because he has the potential to exploit this weak schedule for some huge fantasy points going forward. If you look more closely, the slot CBs for the upcoming teams are an average height of 5'91/2"and an average PFF CB grade of 65.29 (out of 100). Expect the 6'3" Matthews to have his way with the majority of these CBs.
Jarvis Landry
Matchup Slot WR DVOA Fpts/G
@ Eagles 6 29
vs Cowboys 27
@ Jets 20 24
vs Ravens 31
vs Giants 16 18
@ Chargers 9
vs Colts 29
Landry has seen 9.7 targets per game for the Dolphins this year, and has turned them into 18.2 PPR points per game. He has a tough matchup this week against Malcom Jenkins, who has been shutting down opposing slot WRs all year long, but going forward Landry should be able to get loose against several weak secondaries and help lead your fantasy team to a championship. If you're in a PPR league, I'd contact Landry's owner, because I think he's a clear-cut WR1 over the remaining seven games.
Stevie Johnson
Matchup Slot WR DVOA Fpts/G
vs Chiefs 28 32
@ Jags 22
vs Broncos 2
@ Chiefs 28 32
vs Dolphins 17 23
@ Raiders 23
Following injuries to Keenan Allen and Malcom Floyd, Philip Rivers has almost no healthy WRs other than Johnson to throw the ball to. Considering he's throwing the ball over 43 times a game, Johnson should be an absolute PPR monster over the remaining six games following a Chargers bye in week ten. With five terrific matchups remaining, Johnson should be able to turn his huge target total into huge point totals for your team. He's still available in 34.8% of ESPN leagues, which is ridiculous, so see if you can pick him up. If not, try to buy-low on him during his bye week, because he's a top 15 WR for me in PPR leagues for the rest of the season.
Cardinals WRs - Fitz/Brown/Floyd
Matchup Pass DVOA Fpts/G
@ Seahawks 9 1
vs Bengals 11 5
@ 49ers 31 27
@ Rams 4 3
vs Vikes 15 9
@ Eagles 3
vs Packers 10
The Cardinals passing game has been a source of fantasy goodness for most of this year, but I'm afraid these WRs may be a little bit overvalued heading into week 10. They have a very tough matchup against Seattle, and then they face top 15 pass defenses in five of their final six games. I think Brown and Floyd continue to eat into each others value, and with so many tough matchups, I'd see what I could get for Fitzgerald, Brown, or Floyd before the fantasy playoffs begin.
TE:
Greg Olsen
Matchup TE DVOA Fpts/G
@ Titans 21 28
vs Redskins 24
@ Cowboys 15
@ Saints 32
vs Falcons 12 24
@ Giants 25 29
@ Falcons 12 24
Olsen comes into week ten as the number four TE, and I think he finds himself number two by the time it's all said and done. He is the primary pass catcher for the Panthers, and he draws several terrific matchups down the stretch. If you can get his owner to trade him, I'd definitely pursue it, because his schedule indicates he could be in line for some huge points.
Eric Ebron
Matchup TE DVOA Fpts/G
@ Packers 8 23
vs Raiders 11 32
vs Eagles 6
vs Packers 8 23
@ Rams 20
@ Saints 32
vs 49ers 26
Ebron hasn’t been able to get rolling this year, but I think he has the opportunity to flash his potential over the final seven games of the year. He draws a matchup against the Packers this week, who have allowed opposing TEs to average 102 yards and score two TDs over their past three games. The Raiders grade out surprisingly high according to DVOA, but we all know how bad they’ve been against pass-catching TEs from a fantasy perspective. Ebron’s schedule is very juicy during the fantasy playoffs too. The Rams have a very tough defense, but if there is a way to attack them it is with the TE. He then gets to take on the pathetic Saints and 49ers defenses in the two most crucial weeks of the fantasy season. He’s only owned in 29.8% of ESPN leagues, so see if he’s available in yours! He could be a sneaky source of points during the stretch run for your fantasy team.
Charles Clay
Matchup TE DVOA Fpts/G
@ Jets 13 8
@ Pats 5 7
@ Chiefs 3 2
vs Texans 17 16
@ Eagles 6 1
@ Redskins 24 6
vs Cowboys 15 10
Clay made some noise early in the year as a trendy TE pickup, but I’m here to rain on the parade of any of the 53.2% of the ESPN owners who still have him. The remaining schedule for Clay is ridiculously hard, with six of seven teams top ten in fewest fantasy points allowed to TEs. It is time to move on from Clay coming off a one catch, six yard game. Go pick up Eric Ebron!
That’s the culmination of my research guys, I hope that you found this useful and go bolster your rosters for a playoff run. We’re “Dedicated to Your Championship” here at FF_U, and we’ve been here for your fantasy teams all year and will continue to be here for any questions or advice you need over the remaining seven weeks. If you have any questions, be sure to send them to @FF_Underground. Thanks for reading guys!
Each player will be followed by their weekly matchup, their DVOA against the respective positions, and the fantasy points allowed against the respective positions. Only the most favorable stat will be listed.
QB:
Blake Bortles
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
@ Ravens 31
vs Titans 21
vs Chargers 27
@ Titans 21
vs Colts 20
vs Falcons 20
@ Saints 32 32
Bortles has been a pleasant surprise this season for those who took a gamble on him. He’s currently tenth in fantasy points among QBs according to ESPN standard scoring, ahead of the likes of Andrew Luck, Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson, and Ryan Tannehill. I’m here to tell you that he could be even better over the course of his remaining seven games. Not a single matchup on the docket is intimidating, with the toughest opponent being the Titans who have a seventh-ranked pass defense DVOA. Coming off of a 381 yard performance against the Jets’ previously second-ranked pass defense, Bortles appears poised to be a solid top seven option the rest of the way and is owned in only 63.7% of leagues. To put the cherry on top, in the fantasy championship game Bortles squares off against the Saints who have given up 10 passing TDs in the past two weeks and rank dead last at defending the pass.
Ryan Tannehill
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
@ Eagles 10
vs Cowboys 18
@ Jets 16
vs Ravens 28
vs Giants 26
@ Chargers 27
vs Colts 20
Tannehill has been a big disappointment this year, and I don’t expect him to turn it around this week. He may not even get it going for a few weeks, but starting in week 13, Tannehill has possibly the most inviting schedule of any QB. He’s currently available in 30.2% of leagues, and he may be cut loose if he continues to struggle in the next few weeks. Keep an eye out, because he could be an asset down the stretch.
Andy Dalton
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
vs Texans 17
@ Cardinals 5
vs Rams 4
@ Browns 23
vs Steelers 13
@ 49ers 31 22
@ Broncos 1
The Red Rifle has proven the doubters wrong so far this season, as he enters week ten tied with Aaron Rodgers for fourth in QB points. I think there may be cause for concern though. He has already started to slow down, with less than 250 passing yards in each of the past three games. He also has matchups against three top five pass defenses over the remaining seven games, including a matchup in Denver against the historically good Broncos pass defense in the fantasy championship week. I’d look to sell Dalton if I could.
RB:
Charcandrick West
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
@ Broncos 12
@ Chargers 32
vs Bills 26
@ Raiders 19
vs Chargers 32
@ Ravens 14
vs Browns 30
West has broken out as Jamaal Charles’s replacement, averaging 125.5 combined yards over the past two weeks and scoring a TD in each game. He has a tough matchup this week against Denver, but following that he has a cakewalk to championship week, in which he draws a matchup against the hapless Cleveland Browns run defense. If you can make a move to get West, I would definitely do so. The talent is real, and he’s the workhorse for the Chiefs. I fully expect him to be a top 10 RB the rest of the way.
Jonathan Stewart
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
@ Titans 23
vs Redskins 22
@ Cowboys 31
@ Saints 23
vs Falcons 24
@ Giants’ 21
@ Falcons 24
Stewart got off to a slow start but has rewarded patient owners with a healthy 87.75 yards per game over his past four, while scoring three TDs over that span. Assuming he can remain healthy, Stewart is set for a heavy workload against seven straight weak run defenses. Stewart is also somewhat gamescript dependent, and the undefeated Panthers will likely be considered favorites in each of these games, meaning Stewart should get lots of carries. If you can get him cheap, Stewart could reward you with top 15 production from here on out.
Chris Ivory
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
vs Bills 26
@ Texans 20
vs Dolphins 28
@ Giants 21
vs Titans 23
@ Cowboys 31
vs Patriots 12
I will denote this one by saying I am slightly concerned about Ivory’s ability to remain productive over the course of the year. He has historically had injury issues and been less productive as seasons wear on. He has shown signs of fatigue this year too, averaging 28 yards per game and 1.53 YPC over the past three weeks. That being said, he has a very easy schedule from here on out and could continue his pace as the number four RB (standard scoring).
Devonta Freeman
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
vs Colts 22
vs Vikes 25
@ Bucs 11
@ Panthers 20
@ Jags 26
vs Panthers 20
Freeman currently leads the number two RB by a whopping 62 points (standard scoring). That gap will surely shrink following Atlanta’s week 10 bye, but look for Freeman to remain atop the RB leaderboard from that point on with this weak schedule. You’re likely not going to be able to get Freeman from his owner at this point, but if you are a current owner, this is just reassurance that your team’s anchor should continue to put up huge numbers over the remaining seven weeks of the fantasy season.
Mark Ingram
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
@ Redskins 22
@ Texans 20
vs Panthers 20
@ Bucs 11
vs Lions 29
vs Jags 26
Curious who the number two back that is 62 points behind Freeman is? That prestigious label goes to Mark Ingram, who appears poised to maintain his pace for his final six games. This week he draws a matchup against the Redskins, (191 rushing yards allowed per game over the past three) and then will have a week to rest up before carrying your team on it’s playoff push. If Ingram’s owner is willing to listen to trade offers, I’d make every attempt to add him to your roster. With Khiry Robinson no longer around to vulture TDs, Ingram should be a top three back over the final seven weeks.
LeGarrette Blount
Matchup DVOA Fpts/G
@ Giants 7
vs Bills 26 18
@ Broncos 6
vs Eagles 9
@ Texans 20
vs Titans 6
@ Jets 1
LeGarrette Blount owners likely were happy to hear that he would take over as the bellcow RB for New England, but I’m here to tell you to pump the brakes. Blount draws five top ten rush defenses over his final seven games, highlighted by a matchup against the Jets in the fantasy championship. Blount could still be productive in some of these matchups, because a big part of his success comes from scoring goal line TDs for the Pats, but that’s not a risk I want to take. I’d look to sell Blount to a naive owner if I could.
WR:
Sammy Watkins
Matchup #1 WR DVOA Fpts/G
@ Jets 8 26
@ Pats 22
@ Chiefs 15 32
vs Texans 24
@ Eagles 31
@ Redskins 5 24
vs Cowboys 27
Watkins finally displayed some promise last week, accounting for 168 of Tyrod Taylor’s 181 passing yards. He’ll visit Revis Island in week ten, but it should be smooth sailing from that point on. I’m not sold on him after one game, but I would definitely target him as a buy-low candidate if he gets shut out by Revis this week. I think from week 11 to week 16, Watkins is a WR2 with WR1 upside.
Jordan Matthews
Matchup Slot WR DVOA Fpts/G
vs Dolphins 17 23
vs Bucs 24 28
@ Lions 25
@ Patriots 10 20
vs Bills 19
vs Cardinals 13
vs Redskins 14 24
It's amazing what you can do when you just catch the freaking ball Jordan! It's been an incredibly frustrating year for J-Matt owners, but he showed signs of life last week with a nine catch, 133 yard, one TD game. Hopefully the game winning TD catch will get his confidence up, because he has the potential to exploit this weak schedule for some huge fantasy points going forward. If you look more closely, the slot CBs for the upcoming teams are an average height of 5'91/2"and an average PFF CB grade of 65.29 (out of 100). Expect the 6'3" Matthews to have his way with the majority of these CBs.
Jarvis Landry
Matchup Slot WR DVOA Fpts/G
@ Eagles 6 29
vs Cowboys 27
@ Jets 20 24
vs Ravens 31
vs Giants 16 18
@ Chargers 9
vs Colts 29
Landry has seen 9.7 targets per game for the Dolphins this year, and has turned them into 18.2 PPR points per game. He has a tough matchup this week against Malcom Jenkins, who has been shutting down opposing slot WRs all year long, but going forward Landry should be able to get loose against several weak secondaries and help lead your fantasy team to a championship. If you're in a PPR league, I'd contact Landry's owner, because I think he's a clear-cut WR1 over the remaining seven games.
Stevie Johnson
Matchup Slot WR DVOA Fpts/G
vs Chiefs 28 32
@ Jags 22
vs Broncos 2
@ Chiefs 28 32
vs Dolphins 17 23
@ Raiders 23
Following injuries to Keenan Allen and Malcom Floyd, Philip Rivers has almost no healthy WRs other than Johnson to throw the ball to. Considering he's throwing the ball over 43 times a game, Johnson should be an absolute PPR monster over the remaining six games following a Chargers bye in week ten. With five terrific matchups remaining, Johnson should be able to turn his huge target total into huge point totals for your team. He's still available in 34.8% of ESPN leagues, which is ridiculous, so see if you can pick him up. If not, try to buy-low on him during his bye week, because he's a top 15 WR for me in PPR leagues for the rest of the season.
Cardinals WRs - Fitz/Brown/Floyd
Matchup Pass DVOA Fpts/G
@ Seahawks 9 1
vs Bengals 11 5
@ 49ers 31 27
@ Rams 4 3
vs Vikes 15 9
@ Eagles 3
vs Packers 10
The Cardinals passing game has been a source of fantasy goodness for most of this year, but I'm afraid these WRs may be a little bit overvalued heading into week 10. They have a very tough matchup against Seattle, and then they face top 15 pass defenses in five of their final six games. I think Brown and Floyd continue to eat into each others value, and with so many tough matchups, I'd see what I could get for Fitzgerald, Brown, or Floyd before the fantasy playoffs begin.
TE:
Greg Olsen
Matchup TE DVOA Fpts/G
@ Titans 21 28
vs Redskins 24
@ Cowboys 15
@ Saints 32
vs Falcons 12 24
@ Giants 25 29
@ Falcons 12 24
Olsen comes into week ten as the number four TE, and I think he finds himself number two by the time it's all said and done. He is the primary pass catcher for the Panthers, and he draws several terrific matchups down the stretch. If you can get his owner to trade him, I'd definitely pursue it, because his schedule indicates he could be in line for some huge points.
Eric Ebron
Matchup TE DVOA Fpts/G
@ Packers 8 23
vs Raiders 11 32
vs Eagles 6
vs Packers 8 23
@ Rams 20
@ Saints 32
vs 49ers 26
Ebron hasn’t been able to get rolling this year, but I think he has the opportunity to flash his potential over the final seven games of the year. He draws a matchup against the Packers this week, who have allowed opposing TEs to average 102 yards and score two TDs over their past three games. The Raiders grade out surprisingly high according to DVOA, but we all know how bad they’ve been against pass-catching TEs from a fantasy perspective. Ebron’s schedule is very juicy during the fantasy playoffs too. The Rams have a very tough defense, but if there is a way to attack them it is with the TE. He then gets to take on the pathetic Saints and 49ers defenses in the two most crucial weeks of the fantasy season. He’s only owned in 29.8% of ESPN leagues, so see if he’s available in yours! He could be a sneaky source of points during the stretch run for your fantasy team.
Charles Clay
Matchup TE DVOA Fpts/G
@ Jets 13 8
@ Pats 5 7
@ Chiefs 3 2
vs Texans 17 16
@ Eagles 6 1
@ Redskins 24 6
vs Cowboys 15 10
Clay made some noise early in the year as a trendy TE pickup, but I’m here to rain on the parade of any of the 53.2% of the ESPN owners who still have him. The remaining schedule for Clay is ridiculously hard, with six of seven teams top ten in fewest fantasy points allowed to TEs. It is time to move on from Clay coming off a one catch, six yard game. Go pick up Eric Ebron!
That’s the culmination of my research guys, I hope that you found this useful and go bolster your rosters for a playoff run. We’re “Dedicated to Your Championship” here at FF_U, and we’ve been here for your fantasy teams all year and will continue to be here for any questions or advice you need over the remaining seven weeks. If you have any questions, be sure to send them to @FF_Underground. Thanks for reading guys!