Robert Griffin III and the Redskins have the second easiest schedule for QBs
In part two of the Strength of Schedule series, we will explore teams five through eight. Three of the four teams come from the NFC East, and the fourth team plays four games against that same division this season. The top four teams thus far (TB, ATL, NO, CAR) also all will play the NFC East…a common theme early in these rankings. That being said, here are numbers five through eight:
SOS Rankings
#5 Rank = Easiest Schedule
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5) Washington Redskins
Division: NFC East
Bye Week: 8
SOS by position: QB 2nd, RB 6th, WR 2nd, TE 26th
Fantasy Playoff Schedule (14-16): at CHI, vs. BUF, at PHI
Week 17: at DAL
Favorable Matchups (rank): CHI (29), NO (28), ATL (26), TB (25), NYG twice (24), DAL twice (21)
Unfavorable Matchups (rank): BUF (2), STL (3), NE (7), CAR (8) NYJ (11), MIA (12)
Notable Fantasy Players: QB Robert Griffin III, RB Alfred Morris, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Pierre Garcon
Recap: Playing last-place schedule with NFC interconference opponents; playing NFC South (three teams in bottom eight) and AFC East (all four teams in top 12), and play in the NFC East (two of three opponents in bottom 12). While half of their schedule will be against bottom 12 teams, six of their other eight will be against ferocious defenses with excellent pass rush (NE, MIA, NYJ, BUF, STL, CAR).
6) New York Giants
Division: NFC East
Bye Week: 11
SOS by position: QB 5th, RB 13th, WR 8th, TE 14th
Fantasy Playoff Schedule (14-16): at MIA, vs CAR, at MIN
Week 17: vs PHI
Favorable Matchups (rank): WAS twice (30), NO (28), ATL (26), TB (25), DAL twice (21)
Unfavorable Matchups (rank): BUF (2), NE (7), CAR (8), NYJ (11), MIA (12)
Notable Fantasy Players: QB Eli Manning, RB Shane Vereen, RB Andre Williams, RB Rashad Jennings, WR Odell Beckham Jr., WR Victor Cruz
Recap: Playing third-place schedule with NFC interconference opponents; playing NFC South (three teams in bottom eight) and AFC East (all four teams in top 12), and play in the NFC East (two of three opponents in bottom 12). Nearly identical schedule as WAS (and the other NFC East teams), half of their schedule is against teams ranked 20th or below, while five of their remaining eight games come against top 12 defenses. This will be the first team in the rankings without a bottom 10 opponent during playoff matchups but playing the weak schedule that they are should more than make up for that when it comes to Weeks 1-13.
7) Philadelphia Eagles
Division: NFC East
Bye Week: 8
SOS by position: QB 9th, RB 8th, WR 12th, TE 3rd
Fantasy Playoff Schedule (14-16): vs. BUF, vs. ARI, vs. WAS
Week 17: at NYG
Favorable Matchups (rank): WAS twice (30), NO (28), ATL (26), TB (25), NYG twice (24), DAL twice (21)
Unfavorable Matchups (rank): BUF (2) ARI (5), NE (7), CAR (8), NYJ (11), MIA (12)
Notable Fantasy Players: RB DeMarco Murray, RB Darren Sproles, RB Ryan Mathews, WR Jordan Matthews, WR Nelson Agholor-R, TE Zach Ertz
Recap: Playing second-place schedule against interconference opponents, along with NFC South and AFC East. Nine games against bottom 12 defenses, six games against top 12 defenses. Two top five defenses during playoff week, but can get to a bottom three defense in fantasy championship week. This schedule and their scheme will only be fantasy relevant if the right players are in the line up.
8) New England Patriots
Division: AFC East
Bye Week: 4
SOS by position: QB 8th, RB 17th, WR 13th, TE 5th
Fantasy Playoff Schedule (14-16): at HOU, vs. TEN, at NYJ
Week 17: at MIA
Favorable Matchups (rank): TEN (31), WAS (30), NYG (24), JAX (23), IND (22), DAL (21)
Unfavorable Matchups (rank): BUF twice (2), HOU (4), DEN (6), NYJ twice (11), MIA twice (12)
Notable Fantasy Players: QB Tom Brady, RB LeGarrette Blount, WR Julian Edelman, WR Brandon LaFell, TE Rob Gronkowski
Recap: Only six games against teams in the bottom 12, compared to eight against teams in top 12 fantasy defenses. Playing AFC South and NFC East along with first place schedule against division winners. Two of three fantasy playoff games against top 12 defenses. The bad news is that there is a bye week sandwiched into those first four games, during Brady suspension, but Pittsburgh (19th), Dallas (21st), Jacksonville (23th) make up three of the first four games, so it won’t be too bad. Revamped AFC East defenses in Miami, Buffalo, and New York might mean less production from some fantasy favorites.
Stay tuned for the next part of the SOS series. Part three (teams 9th-12th) will include two more AFC East teams, the last NFC East team and our first AFC South franchise.
Michael Vincent is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @MVtweetshere.
