2026 NFL Schedule Release: Best & Worst Fantasy Football Playoff Schedules

With the usual fanfare now associated with the NFL Schedule release out of the way, we’re one step closer to training camp and games actually being played. Whether you’re a dynasty or redraft fantasy football player looking to find any minute edge for the end of the season, or drafting in huge best ball contests where stacking opposing players for correlation can give your teams a boost in the playoffs, this article will help you get a global view of what’s in store at the end of the season.

It’s worth remembering that defensive play tends to vary drastically year to year, with defense far less sticky than offense, but we will reference some stats from last year and aim to provide context on whether we can expect that to be a difference in 2026. It’s also worth noting that two teams have Week 14 byes, when you might be hoping to close in on a place in the playoffs. Those two teams, Arizona and Dallas, do still look like they’ll have some fantasy football upside, though, so don’t fade them too heavily for a bye week when we can build around that.

• Fantasy Football Research & Advice
• Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
• Fantasy Football Real-Time ADP
• Fantasy Football Trade Tools

NFL Schedule Release: Best & Worst Fantasy Football Playoff Schedules

Good Fantasy Football Playoff Schedules

Minnesota Vikings – vs Detroit, vs Washington, @ New York Jets

On paper, this looks like one of the nicest playoff runs for any team. The Lions ranked third in adjusted fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last year, giving up the fifth-most EPA per dropback. The Lions did concentrate on defense during the draft, with six of their seven selections going to that side of the ball, but they were particularly vulnerable to the pass and waited until Round 5 before adding a cornerback. Detroit did add Rock Ya-Sin and Roger McCreary in free agency, but this is still a secondary that Justin Jefferson could have his way with. The Commanders also focused on the front seven in free agency and the draft, leaving their secondary still looking poor. Last year, they allowed the fourth-most QB fpts and ranked dead last in EPA allowed per dropback. The Jets ranked seventh and 29th in those categories, after the loss of Sauce Gardner to the Colts, though they did add D’Angelo Ponds in Round 2 of the draft and Nashon Wright in free agency. Given Aaron Glenn’s history as a defensive coach, you would expect a slight step forward, but it’s best not to get too carried away when talking expectations around the Jets. The bigger issue here might be the potential quarterback turmoil in Minnesota. Everything the team has done suggests Kyler Murray will see the most significant playing time, but if JJ McCarthy returns to the lineup, it could be tough for Jefferson, TJ Hockenson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings.

Cincinnati Bengals – vs Kansas, @ Carolina, @ Indianapolis, vs Baltimore

One of the clear winners of the late-season schedule is the Bengals. The Chiefs represent a tough task in Week 14 before the playoffs start, but at least it’s at home, rather than the hostile environment Arrowhead can be in December. Following that, the Bengals travel to Carolina and Indianapolis: one warm-weather game in Carolina, then a dome game against the Colts. Carolina surprisingly didn’t give up huge point totals, typically last year, allowing only the seventh-fewest QB adjusted fantasy points per game, but they did rank ninth-lowest in EPA per dropback allowed. Teams simply didn’t run up the score on them because Carolina put up the sixth-fewest points per game. The Colts, though, did find their way into the end zone plenty, scoring the seventh-most per game, and if Daniel Jones is healthy, this should be a good game environment. Week 17 at home against the Ravens is one everybody will be circling. If Joe Burrow can stay healthy, this game could be fireworks. The Bengals have won only one of their last six games against Baltimore, but they’ve scored 32 or more in three of the last four games. It should be noted that Baltimore does have a new, defensive-minded head coach in Jesse Minter, and anyone is an upgrade over the previous defensive coordinator, Zach Orr, but betting against the Bengals’ elite passing offense isn’t something many of us would want to do.

Atlanta Falcons – @ Washington, vs Tampa Bay, vs New Orleans

The Kevin Stefanski era in Atlanta has a friendly enough run-in, and with the elite talent on offense they boast, we could get great games if the quarterback play can be okay. Atlanta comes off a difficult matchup with Stefanski’s old team, the Browns, in Week 14, but then plays Washington, who couldn’t stop anybody in 2025, before then playing the Buccaneers. Tampa allowed the sixth-most QB fantasy points last year, profiled as a clear pass funnel, and was much better against the run than the pass. Tampa waited until Round 4 of the draft before taking a CB, but then immediately took a DB in Round 5 as well. Chances are, they could improve, but as a divisional game, predicting how it will turn out is never easy. If these two teams have something to play for, it’ll be worth having players involved. Week 17’s game against the Saints looks trickier on paper, with the Saints allowing the third-fewest adjusted fantasy points to QBs, but against the Falcons last year, they allowed four passing touchdowns in two games. It might not be a nuclear Week 17 matchup, but this is a solid set of games for players we know can deliver in fantasy football… outside of the QB question mark.

Detroit Lions – vs Tennessee, @ Minnesota, vs New York Giants, @ Chicago

The Week 16 and 17 games against outdoor opponents are a slight concern for Jared Goff and his below-average hands. He has historically struggled in cold-weather games, and anyone who’s spent time in Chicago or New York in December will be all too aware how cold those places can get. It’s hard to be too down on those matchups, though, with Chicago a potential playoff team, as well as a division rival, and the Giants still looking a long way away from a strong secondary. Colton Hood was drafted by the Giants in Round 2, which helps, but Paulson Adebo and Greg Newsome are very volatile players, and they’re unlikely to be able to hold off the Lions’ riches. Week 14 at home against Tennessee is a great matchup for their pass-catchers, and Week 15 keeps Goff in a dome at least for the Vikings’ blitz-happy defense.

Bad Fantasy Football Playoff Schedules

Miami Dolphins – @ Green Bay, vs LA Chargers, vs Buffalo

For a team like Miami, in transition yet again, having to play six teams from Week 13-18 that all featured in last year’s playoffs is hardly ideal, but, of course, winning might not be at the forefront of ownership’s minds. Malik Willis will head back to Green Bay in Week 15, and at least he has experience playing there in the cold, but with a lack of pass-catchers, it will make the Dolphins very reliant on the ground game, and the Packers allowed the sixth-fewest RB fpts last year, ranking fourth-best against the run in EPA allowed. Week 16 against the Chargers and Week 17 against the Bills see two of the top-7 teams in EPA allowed to the passing game visit Miami, and while regression could hit due to significant coaching changes, these are still two talented units.

Philadelphia Eagles – vs Seattle Seahawks, vs Houston Texans, @ San Francisco

The Eagles will be hoping to get back on track after a miserable 2025 season, but it won’t be easy for them to end the year. Home games against the Super Bowl champion Seahawks and the Texans are very tough tasks. The Texans allowed the least EPA per dropback in 2025, and Seattle ranked ninth. Both teams ranked inside the top eight for fewest QB fpts allowed. Both teams also boasted excellent run defenses, with Seattle ranked best against the run in EPA allowed and Houston ranked sixth. The 49ers are a potentially easier or at least more neutral opponent on defense, but going on the road is never easy, and the 49ers should be better this year with the return of Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.

Positional Positivity: Running Back

Arizona Cardinals – NYJ, NO, LV

The Week 14 bye week is far from ideal, and Jeremiyah Love will surely face competition from Tyler Allgeier and James Conner for touches, but if anyone can separate, the run-in is delightful. The Jets have beefed up their defense with draft picks, but are unlikely to be a vastly superior team to Arizona, and this game is more likely to involve 1.01 repercussions than the need to play well. Meanwhile, the Saints were one of the biggest run funnels in the league last year, allowed the third-highest EPA per rush, and the Raiders gave up the fifth-most adjusted fantasy points to running backs.

Denver Broncos – LV, BUF, NE

Yes, it’s another three-headed committee, which makes the question of whether you want to get involved with a Sean Payton running back room quite the quandary, but the rewards could be worthwhile. As mentioned, the Raiders allowed the fifth-most RB fpts last year, and in Week 16, the Broncos play the Bills, who ranked 31st against the run in 2025 and gave up the eighth-most points to the position. Week 17 against the Patriots is less fun, with them a solid unit and more of a pass funnel, but it’s a good enough schedule to give a boost overall.

New Orleans Saints – CAR, TB, ARI, ATL

From Week 14 onwards, when the Saints play the Panthers, they don’t have a bad matchup. The Bucs in Week 15 didn’t give up a lot in the way of EPA per rush, ranking ninth-best, but they struggled against pass-catching running backs, and Travis Etienne and Alvin Kamara are both good options there. Arizona allowed the third-most adjusted RB fpts last year, and Atlanta allowed the ninth-most.

Positional Positivity: Wide Receiver

Baltimore Ravens – TB, PIT, CLE, CIN

Zay Flowers is coming off a career-high 1200 yards last year, and he’s had 237 receptions in three years. As long as he’s playing with Lamar Jackson, he’ll be a strong bet for volume. This end-of-season schedule is a tour of the AFC North, which can muddy things, but the Steelers still look weak at cornerback outside of Joey Porter Jr., and Flowers went for 162 yards and two touchdowns against Pittsburgh last year. Flowers also topped 75 yards in both games against the Browns and has flashed plenty against the Bengals. Perhaps one of Elijah Sarratt, Rashod Bateman, or Ja’Kobi Lane can eat into his ceiling, but on paper, this looks like a good end to the year for Flowers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – BAL, NO, ATL, LAR

The Bucs’ Week 14 game against Baltimore should pit two playoff hopefuls against each other, and with Tampa strong against the run, it should push them to throw more, hopefully also pushing Tampa to throw more. The Saints aren’t an ideal pass game matchup, with them typically stronger against the pass than the run, but with that game and the Falcons game in Week 16 divisional opponents, we should see must-win attitudes in what’s always a tight division.

Positional Positivity: Tight Ends

Baltimore Ravens – TB, PIT, CLE, CIN

Mark Andrews faces little competition these days, with the Ravens moving on from Isaiah Likely and not adding another tight end till pick 133 in the draft. He’s not as dynamic as he used to be, but he remains Lamar Jackson‘s favorite red zone option. Tampa Bay in Week 14 allowed the eleventh-most fpts to the position last year, Pittsburgh the fourth-most, and the Bengals were by far the worst team against the position. Cleveland in Week 16 was the sixth-best team against tight ends, but Andrews has 12 touchdowns in 16 games against them and should be fine there also.

Buffalo Bills – CHI, DEN, MIA

Will we ever see Dalton Kincaid unleashed and playing a proper allotment of snaps? It’s hard to say, but if he does, this would be a good year for him to do so. The Bears in Week 15 are a neutral matchup, but the Broncos biggest weakness in 2025 was the tight end position, allowing the third-most adjusted fantasy points to tight ends, and Miami in Week 17 allowed the fifth-most. Kincaid had 6-83 and a touchdown against the Broncos in the playoffs and totaled seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins in their two divisional games last year.

Indianapolis Colts – TEN, CIN, CLE

In the games that Tyler Warren played with Daniel Jones, he averaged 12.36 PPR points and 53.7 yards. In the four that he played in without Jones, his numbers dropped to 6.95 points and 29.5 yards. Regardless of whether Daniel Jones can start the season due to his Achilles injury, if he’s healthy for the stretch run, this could be a very potent combination. The Titans ranked 28th against the pass in EPA allowed, the Bengals ranked 30th, and both teams were top-10 in fantasy points allowed to the position. Cleveland was much stronger, but volume is king in fantasy, and if Jones and Warren are both healthy, this combination has plenty of potential.

Las Vegas Raiders – DEN, TEN, ARI

Save the best till last? Perhaps. Brock Bowers has an incredible run in on paper. The Broncos, as previously mentioned, had a big weakness against the tight end position in 2025; the Titans allowed the ninth-most fpts, and the Cardinals allowed the seventh-most. If Fernando Mendoza can understand the assignment, everything sets up for Brock Bowers to be a fantasy football hero in the playoffs.

Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn