The NFL schedule release is a major event for fantasy football managers, offering an early edge in identifying players who could benefit-or suffer-from how the season unfolds. From strength of schedule and bye weeks to primetime matchups and travel demands, every detail can influence fantasy outcomes. To help you get ahead, we’ve gathered insights from our collection of Featured Pros experts to highlight the biggest 2025 NFL Schedule Winners and Losers. Whether you’re prepping for your draft or planning trades, this expert-driven breakdown will help you capitalize on schedule-based advantages and avoid potential pitfalls.
- 2025 NFL Schedule Grid
- 2025 NFL Schedule Bye Week Cheat Sheet
- 2025 Best Ball Fantasy Football Draft Kit
2025 NFL Schedule Winners and Losers
Which notable player/team has favorable EARLY matchups in 2025 and should see a boost in value?
Drake London (WR – ATL)
“Drake London enters the 2025 NFL season with a favorable schedule, facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and Washington Commanders in his first four games. His performances against these teams last season were impressive, including a massive 40.7-point outing against the Panthers in Week 17 and a dominant 33.4 points versus the Buccaneers in Week 5. 2024 was London’s breakout year, as he finished as the WR5 in PPR leagues, accumulating 280.8 fantasy points and showing his ability to exploit favorable matchups. These defenses allowed a substantial amount of fantasy points to opposing wide receivers last year, making his opening stretch particularly promising. However, starting in Week 5, the competition stiffens as the Falcons take on the Buffalo Bills and then the San Francisco 49ers, two teams known for their ability to limit opposing receivers.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)
Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF)
“Christian McCaffrey could be a borderline first-round pick in redraft leagues this year. Unfortunately, the superstar comes with significant injury risk after missing 44.1% of the games over the past five seasons, including 13 contests in 2024. However, he has an appealing early-season schedule. McCaffrey faces the Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, and Jacksonville Jaguars over the first month. All four opponents were solid or better fantasy matchups for opposing running backs last year. Furthermore, the Saints and Jaguars surrendered the fifth and second-most half-point PPR fantasy points per game to running backs in 2024. Yet, neither team significantly improved their run defense in the offseason.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
RJ Harvey (RB – NO)
“RJ Harvey has a very nice rushing schedule to kick off the season. In Weeks 1-4, he faces the Titans, Colts, Chargers, and Bengals. I think Harvey gets off to a hot start before taking on Philly in Week 5. As of today, Harvey lingers in between the 5th- and 6th-round range. That’s a steal, as he has top-8 RB upside as a rookie! He is easily one of my favorite players in 2025. He is Sean Payton’s next Alvin Kamara.”
– Smitty (TheFantasyFootballShow)
James Conner (RB – ARI)
“James Conner, Cardinals: Arizona starts at Saints, vs. Panthers, at 49ers, vs. Seahawks, vs. Titans, and at Colts. Each team ranked league average or worse in rush yards allowed per game in 2024, and most of those units retain some run defense uncertainty. While Conner brings decline risk at 30, he remained effective in ’24 with 236-1,094-8 (16 games).”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
Arizona Cardinals
“The Arizona Cardinals have a favorable early schedule in the first four to six weeks of the 2025 NFL season, which should boost the fantasy football value of their entire offense. Based on early projections, the Cardinals face several weaker defenses, such as the Saints, Panthers, and Seahawks, that could be ripe for the fantasy picking. Arizona should feast on this fantasy-friendly schedule early on and hit the ground running. Look for Kyler Murray, Trey McBride, and Marvin Harrison Jr.to be early studs, while James Conner should see success as well, albeit against matchups that are better for passing than rushing production.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)
“The Arizona Cardinals open with the Saints, Panthers and 49ers, who were among the six worst teams as far as most fantasy points allowed to RBs last season. James Conner could get off to a fast start for Arizona. Conner’s matchups in Weeks 4-7 (Seahawks, Titans, Colts, Packers) aren’t bad either.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“The Arizona Cardinals’ early-season schedule is divine. The Saints, Panthers, 49ers, Seahawks, Titans, Colts, and Packers from Weeks 1-7. We may have found our No. 1 fantasy D/ST to draft (when also considering cost).”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Cincinnati Bengals
“As if they needed help, the Cincinnati Bengals get to ease into the 2025 season with some soft pass defenses in Weeks 1-3. They face the Browns, Jags, and Vikings, respectively. Both Jacksonville and Minnesota were top-5 in passing yards allowed last year. Teams didn’t need to pass on Cleveland too often last year, but their defense only managed 4 INT all year long, and Joe Burrow certainly knows them well enough. There isn’t any sneaky draft value with Chase, Higgins, or Burrow, but it should be noted that all three of those defenses were in the bottom half of FPPG to TE. With Mike Gesicki being re-signed, he could be a nice late draft target for those who wait at tight end.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)
San Francisco 49ers
“The San Francisco 49ers have one of the friendliest schedules full stop in the entire league for 2025, with their opponents registering a combined .415 winning percentage in 2024. For the first month of the season, the 49ers have trips to Seattle and New Orleans before home tilts with the Cardinals and Jaguars. The most difficult of those matchups will be a trip to Seattle; however, the 49ers ride a three-game win streak against their NFC West rivals. This should see boosts to the 49ers’ big guns, Purdy, Kittle, McCaffrey, with Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall also standing to benefit from the friendly start.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Who is a player/team facing an EARLY difficult schedule that fantasy managers should be aware of?
Derrick Henry (RB – BAL)
“Derrick Henry should be a top-10 running back selected in redraft leagues. However, the future Hall of Famer has a difficult schedule at the start of the year. He faces the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 after they added several players to their defensive line in the offseason. Then, Henry takes on the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs over his next three matchups. All three teams have talented run defenses, surrendered the fourth, fifth, and fewest half-point PPR fantasy points per game to running backs in 2024. Fantasy players shouldn’t be afraid to draft Henry, but understand the veteran might get off to a slightly slow start.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Chase Brown (RB – CIN)
“I love Chase Brown, but his early-season schedule is treacherous, with games against the Browns, Vikings, Broncos, Lions, and Steelers over the first seven weeks. The Browns, Vikings, and Lions were among the five stingiest teams in terms of fantasy points allowed to RBs last year. The Broncos and Steelers were in the top half of the league in that category.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Malik Nabers (WR – NYG)
“Malik Nabers is one of the most talked-about WRs right now because of the Giants’ brutal schedule. In fact, many are freaking out. This question is who is a player one should “be aware of”… So, I will attack this question like this… take advantage of the freakout and realize that Nabers is situation proof, and the Giants will throw a ton in the 3rd- and 4th-quarter of most every 2025 contest. Nabers will be fine. Take advantage in existing leagues and draft him at a discount in upcoming drafts. He has top 3-5WR written all over him!”
– Smitty (TheFantasyFootballShow)
Bucky Irving (RB – TB)
“Bucky Irving enters the 2025 NFL season facing an early slate of defenses that have been consistently strong against the run, including the Falcons, Texans, Jets, Eagles, Seahawks, and 49ers. Fantasy managers should be cautious, as these teams have reliably limited opposing rushing attacks, making Irving a risky play in standard formats. While his pass-catching ability provides some hope in PPR leagues, it may not be enough to offset the tough matchups ahead. 2024 was his breakout season, where he finished as the RB13 in PPR leagues, accumulating 244.4 fantasy points and proving his versatility as both a runner and receiver. However, with a difficult start to the season, fantasy managers need to weigh the risks before investing in Irving early on.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)
Minnesota Vikings
“The Minnesota Vikings‘ schedule jumps off the page because they are the “lucky” team that gets to play in back-to-back overseas games in Weeks 4-5 after having faced the Bengals in Week 3. Although they mercifully get a bye in Week 6 to recover, it quickly becomes a murderers’ row as they face the Eagles, Chargers, Lions, and Ravens from Weeks 7-10. This comes as the Vikings are trying to break in brand-new QB J.J. McCarthy.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)
Cleveland Browns
“Woof, and not because I want to shout out The Dawg Pound, but the Cleveland Browns‘ early schedule is an absolute monster. Weeks 1-5 look a little like this: Cincy, @ Baltimore, Green Bay, @ Detroit, Minnesota. Saying “Yikes” might be selling it short. Four of those five finished with 11+ wins in 2024, and the other is looking to start hot after a disappointing 2024. There are already enough questions surrounding the Browns, such as who will be the starting quarterback, and whoever it is will have a job to do in order to keep the Browns afloat early on. The early slate of matchups calls for downgrades across the board for the Browns.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Cincinnati Bengals
“The Cincinnati Bengals face one of the most challenging early schedules in the 2025 NFL season, particularly in the first four to six weeks, which fantasy managers should be cautious about. According to early strength of schedule analysis, the Bengals have the toughest fantasy slate overall, with their early matchups including strong defenses like the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, and Detroit Lions, all projected to be among the top defensive units in 2025. The early-season gauntlet of the Vikings, Browns, and Broncos will be particularly challenging for the passing game, potentially seeing them get off to a sluggish start, while the matchup with the Lions will be a large hurdle for Chase Brown and the ground game to overcome.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)
New York Giants
“New York Giants: The Giants start with games at the Commanders, at the Cowboys, vs. the Chiefs, and vs. the Chargers. The difficult track could speed up Jaxson Dart‘s starting timeline.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
“There’s no sugarcoating the New York Giants‘ schedule. They open with back-to-back road games against divisional opponents (Commanders and Cowboys), followed by home games versus the Chiefs and Chargers. Welp. They get some relief against the Saints on the road, but then it’s the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles in two of the next three games, with a road matchup at Denver wedged in between. We might see rookie QB Jaxson Dart sooner rather than later. Either way, this offense might struggle immensely, and fantasy managers would be wise to not overinvest in Big Blue.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
For the fantasy playoffs (Weeks 15-17), which notable player/team jumps out as having a particularly easy schedule?
Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ)
“The Jets’ running game is still a question mark heading into the season, but Garrett Wilson stands out as the alpha receiver in this offense. There is no true threat to his target share after free agency, and the draft netted them just a second-round TE, a fourth-round WR, and Josh Reynolds. In Week 15, the Jets travel to Jacksonville to face a still-developing secondary. In Week 16, they get the Saints, who could be the worst team in the NFL this season. In Week 17, they return home to face the Patriots. In all, Wilson should be primed for a huge end to the season once he has developed chemistry with Justin Fields.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)
Malik Nabers (WR – NYG)
“Much will change between now and the fantasy playoffs, but Malik Nabers has an appealing schedule to end the season. The second-year star faces the Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings, and Las Vegas Raiders during the fantasy playoffs. Last season, Nabers averaged 9.5 receptions on 14.5 targets for 93 receiving yards and 17.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in the two matchups against the Commanders. Meanwhile, Minnesota and Las Vegas lost players in the secondary this offseason. Nabers is locked in as a top-eight wide receiver and a borderline first-round pick in redraft leagues. Don’t be surprised if he’s the top-scoring wide receiver during the fantasy playoffs.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Chris Olave (WR – NO)
“There will be major questions surrounding health that could impact his stock significantly, but Chris Olave has a super sweet fantasy playoff schedule. Facing the Panthers, Jets, and Titans, in that order, Olave has a shot to absolutely dominate when he will be needed most. All defenses struggled significantly against the pass last year, and while quarterback play will be another concern fantasy managers will have with Olave, this schedule, when it counts, should put managers at [somewhat] ease. Olave is already a really good value in drafts (WR29 in half-PPR), making him a worthwhile stab at a relatively cheap cost that could prove to be a home run investment.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF)
“Christian McCaffrey enters the 2025 NFL season fully healthy after missing most of 2024 due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis and a posterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee. His 2023 season was dominant, finishing as the RB1 in PPR leagues with 391.3 fantasy points, far ahead of Breece Hall‘s 290.5 points, who finished as the RB2. Reports indicate McCaffrey has zero limitations, reassuring fantasy managers that he’s ready for a strong comeback. Fantasy playoff weeks (Weeks 15-17) are highly favorable for managers, as he’ll face the Titans, Colts, and Bears, all of whom struggled against the run last season. If he stays healthy, McCaffrey’s elite rushing and receiving ability could make him a true league winner in 2025.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fantasy playoff schedule is a juicy one with the Falcons, Panthers, and Dolphins. All three of these teams have ok-at-best defenses with offenses that could push the Bucs to put up points. If you had them last year then you reaped the benefit of 40-, 24-, and 48-point games which saw Bucky Irving hitting for 13, 18, and 23 PPR FPPG, Mike Evans smashing 36, 11, and 29 PPR FFPG, and tying them together with Baker Mayfield netting 29, 23, and 34 FPPG. If this crew, with Emeka Egbuka and a recovering Chris Godwin, shows up again, this team could be needed to get you the Championship.”
– Avery Thrasher (The Branded Sports)
Miami Dolphins
“For the 2025 fantasy football playoffs (Weeks 15-17), the Miami Dolphins stand out as having a particularly easy schedule, which should boost the fantasy value of their offensive weapons during this critical period. Based on the projection defensive strengths and weaknesses, the Dolphins have favorable matchups, including high-scoring potential games at home against the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Weeks 16 and 17, respectively, with another likely soft matchup in Week 15 against a Pittsburgh Steelers team that projects to be average at best. These opponents had bottom-half defenses in 2024, allowing significant fantasy points to skill players across the board. Look for Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Devon Achane to be potential league winners come fantasy playoff time.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)
New York Giants
“The New York Giants face a tough stretch of pass defenses early in the season, but in Weeks 15-17, they get the Commanders, Vikings and Raiders. That should be a pretty favorable stretch for WR Malik Nabers and whoever’s quarterbacking the Giants down the stretch.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
San Francisco 49ers
“The San Francisco 49ers have one of the easiest all-around schedules in 2025. And, in Weeks 15, 16, and 17, they face the Titans, Colts, and Bears, all very favorable in yards and TDs surrendered. Now, the tricky part is believing in Christian McCaffrey this season, so I’m going to get bold and say that this advantage serves the Isaac Guerendo and Jordan James owner… yeah, I said it… I’m cuffing both in large leagues and owning Guerendo (and monitoring James) in smaller leagues. Jordan Mason and Guerendo were a league-winning duo for me last year… I beat a dead horse on the concept… it crushed! Guerendo and James are this year’s version (especially with those match-ups in Weeks 15-17).”
– Smitty (TheFantasyFootballShow)
Detroit Lions
“Detroit Lions: Adverse weather conditions will hit several cities in the fantasy playoffs. But it won’t affect the Lions, as they’re at Rams (Week 15), vs. Steelers (Week 16), and at Vikings (Week 17). That stretch looks particularly favorable for Detroit’s passing game.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
Houston Texans
“Despite playing in the AFC South, the Houston Texans have the seventh-toughest schedule and the third-most difficult slate of matchups versus last year. That being said, I love this opening stretch for C.J. Stroud in a potential bounce-back season – Rams, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, and Ravens before a Week 6 bye week. And the fantasy playoffs also look salivating for the Texans, given they will play indoors in all but one game from Week 13 onward. Stroud #comebackszn”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
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