TY Hilton and the Colts have the third easiest schedule for WRs
In part three of the Strength of Schedule series, we will explore teams nine through 12. Two of them come from the AFC East, each of which gets four games against that raggedy aforementioned NFC East. Dallas is in the NFC East. The AFC South team mentioned gets to beat up on JAX and TEN four times a year. Enough of the previews, here are the teams:
SOS Rankings
#9 Rank = Easiest Schedule
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9) Buffalo Bills
Division: AFC East
Bye Week: 8
SOS by position: QB 15th, RB 11th, WR 22nd, TE 6th
Fantasy Playoff Schedule (14-16): at PHI, at WAS, DAL
Week 17: vs NYJ
Favorable Matchups (rank):TEN (31), WAS (30), NYG (24), JAX (23), IND (22), DAL (21)
Unfavorable Matchups (rank): HOU (4), NE twice (7), NYJ twice (11), MIA twice (12)
Notable Fantasy Players: RB LeSean McCoy, RB Fred Jackson, WR Percy Harvin, WR Sammy Watkins, TE Charles Clay
Recap: Playing second-place schedule in AFC East along with NFC East and AFC South opponents. 11th ranked schedule vs RBs favors their strength, which will be good, but the 22nd hardest schedule for WR will look even worse as they have not figured out their QB situation. First two weeks of fantasy playoffs will be outdoor road games which can favor a strong running game. Also Week 14 is LeSean McCoy’s return to Philadelphia.
10) Miami Dolphins
Division: AFC East
Bye Week: 5
SOS by position: QB 10th, RB 20th, WR 11th, TE 9th
Fantasy Playoff Schedule (14-16): vs NYJ, at SD, vs IND
Week 17: vs NE
Favorable Matchups (rank): TEN (31), WAS (30), SD (27), NYG (24), JAX (23), IND (22), DAL (21)
Unfavorable Matchups (rank): BUF twice (2), HOU (4), NE twice (7), BAL (9) NYJ twice (11)
Notable Fantasy Players: QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Lamar Miller, WR Jarvis Landry, WR Kenny Stills, WR Devante Parker-R, WR Greg Jennings, TE Jordan Cameron
Recap: Playing the third-place schedule in AFC East along with NFC East and AFC South opponents. Like their fellow AFC East teams and the NFC South, they get to play two of the three bottom ranked fantasy defenses in Tennessee and Washington. They are playing half their schedule, however, against top 12 teams, including six games within their own division. They also get to travel west to face San Diego as one of the games during fantasy playoffs. A lot of fantasy options on the team now, just not the most favorable schedule.
11) Indianapolis Colts
Division: AFC South
Bye Week: 10
SOS by position: QB 11th, RB 10th, WR 3rd, TE 28th
Fantasy Playoff Schedule (14-16): at JAX, vs HOU, at MIA
Week 17: vs TEN
Favorable Matchups (rank): TEN twice (31), NO (28), ATL (26), TB (25), JAX twice (23)
Unfavorable Matchups (rank): BUF (2), HOU twice (4), DEN (6), NE (7), CAR (8), NYJ (11), MIA (12)
Notable Fantasy Players: QB Andrew Luck, RB Daniel Herron, RB Frank Gore, WR T.Y. Hilton, WR Andre Johnson, WR Phillip Dorsett-R, TE Coby Fleener, TE Dwayne Allen
Recap: Division champion playing fellow division champions, along with the AFC East and NFC South. Six of their games against bottom 10 teams, but eight of their games against top 12 teams. Eight home games in a dome, a 9th one in Atlanta, and a 10th in Houston and a very warm-weathered fantasy playoff schedule including games at Jacksonville and Miami can benefit players on this upstart offensive juggernaut.
12) Dallas Cowboys
Division: NFC East
Bye Week: 6
SOS by position: QB 6th, RB 12th, WR 9th, TE 31st
Fantasy Playoff Schedule (14-16): at GB, vs NYJ, at BUF
Week 17: vs WAS
Favorable Matchups (rank): WAS twice (30), NO (28), ATL (26), TB (25), NYG twice (24)
Unfavorable Matchups (rank): SEA (1), BUF (2), NE (7), CAR (8), GB (10), NYJ (11), MIA (12)
Notable Fantasy Players: QB Tony Romo, WR Dez Bryant, TE Jason Witten
Recap: Division champion playing division champion schedule, along with AFC East and NFC South. Playing seven games against bottom 10 teams, but also playing seven games against top 12 teams, including the first team on this list to be playing top ranked Seattle and 2nd ranked Buffalo. Fantasy playoff schedule is brutal, playing three top 11 teams including two road games in cold weather. Hopefully running back situation is sorted out by then. Not too deep after Tony Romo and Dez Bryant, and Jason Witten is getting up there.
Stay tuned for the next part of the SOS series. Part four (teams 13th-16th) will include the last AFC East team and the other three AFC South teams.
Michael Vincent is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @MVtweetshere.
