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Dynasty $250 - FFL: Week 5 | NFL: Week 5

WR Strength of Schedule

Fri May 31 10:52am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Lamb could top last season


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the receiver position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to receivers last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the receivers with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the receivers that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  WR SOS  
1. Denver Broncos 531.34
2. Los Angeles Chargers 536.08
3. Miami Dolphins 537.31
4. Kansas City Chiefs 549.96
5. Las Vegas Raiders 552.89
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 554.85
7. New England Patriots 555.93
8. Buffalo Bills 556.13
9. Houston Texans 561.75
10. San Francisco 49ers 565.73
11. New Orleans Saints 566.06
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 566.19
13. Cincinnati Bengals 566.32
14. Jacksonville Jaguars 570.07
15. Baltimore Ravens 571.77
16. Seattle Seahawks 573.41
17. Minnesota Vikings 573.91
18. Philadelphia Eagles 574.46
19. Carolina Panthers 575.49
20. Los Angeles Rams 575.79
21. Washington Commanders 575.91
22. Detroit Lions 576.36
23. Atlanta Falcons 577.76
24. New York Jets 577.99
25. Tennessee Titans 578.06
26. Indianapolis Colts 578.18
27. Cleveland Browns 583.5
28. Arizona Cardinals 586.09
29. New York Giants 586.93
30. Chicago Bears 601.21
31. Dallas Cowboys 608.4
32. Green Bay Packers 610.22

 

The Packers have the easiest fantasy schedule for receivers. Jayden Reed and Christian Watson could be setup for career best seasons with this schedule. These are guys you can get a little later come draft day and mid-round options that could be difference makers for fantasy owners.

CeeDee Lamb is considered the No. 1 overall fantasy receiver for many and his schedule helps make that claim even stronger. Lamb has the second most favorable schedule for receivers. Lamb was huge last year and could improve on that even more, especially since the Cowboys could struggle to run the ball with their current options.

The Bears, Giants and Cardinals also round out the top-five most favorable receiver schedules. Chicago has a great trio of receivers with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze.  These guys could produce big as long as rookie Caleb Williams gets the job done at quarterback in year one. Moore has more to compete with for targets this year, but you still have to like his chances for a big season in year two with the Bears.

The Giants and Cardinals both have some question marks at receiver, but a couple rookies lead the way for both teams. Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison could have big rookie seasons with their new teams. These guys both have a chance to lead all rookie fantasy receivers in scoring.

On the opposite side of things, the Broncos have the most challenging schedule for receivers. The Broncos have all sorts of questions at receiver outside of Courtland Sutton. This is a unit of receivers you just might want to avoid come draft day. This schedule won’t make anything easier for this group.

The Chargers are a similar team to the Broncos, having openings and questions at receiver. So once again, it might be best to let someone else put Chargers receivers on their roster. Plus, the Chargers could be a lot more run heavy with a new coach running the show. The tough schedule and new offense make taking any Chargers receiver a bit of a risk.

There are two really good offenses on the list that have tough schedules for receivers. Both the Dolphins and Chiefs have a top-five least favorable schedule for receivers. The Dolphins have one of the best receiver duos in football, so it is tough to fade them because of this schedule. Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle should be able to produce big numbers once again in this offense.

The Chiefs are a little more concerning. This offense is a little matchup proof, but don’t have that elite receiver on their roster. Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown lead the way. Brown hasn’t been great in recent seasons and Rice is facing a suspension. These guys will carry some risk come draft day, especially after seeing this schedule.

Davante Adams is usually another star receiver that is matchup proof, but you have to wonder a little this year. He has some question marks at quarterback, which could hurt his production when you pair it with this schedule. Adams is dealing with the fifth toughest fantasy schedule for receivers.

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy receivers. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the receivers with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.

  WR PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Los Angeles Rams 501.93
2. Jacksonville Jaguars 515.53
3. Kansas City Chiefs 519.43
4. New York Giants 521.63
5. Miami Dolphins 532.77
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 534.53
7. Houston Texans 538
8. Buffalo Bills 540.87
9. Las Vegas Raiders 541.9
10. Carolina Panthers 549.33
11. Cincinnati Bengals 552.17
12. Detroit Lions 553.73
13. Arizona Cardinals 555.27
14. Cleveland Browns 555.4
15. Minnesota Vikings 560.93
16. New England Patriots 573.03
17. Los Angeles Chargers 573.1
18. Tennessee Titans 575.17
19. Baltimore Ravens 581.27
20. Seattle Seahawks 585.08
21. New York Jets 585.5
22. Denver Broncos 587.2
23. Pittsburgh Steelers 587.8
24. Philadelphia Eagles 589.73
25. Green Bay Packers 590.85
26. Washington Commanders 591.57
27. New Orleans Saints 604.13
28. Dallas Cowboys 609.73
29. Indianapolis Colts 614
30. San Francisco 49ers 641.53
31. Atlanta Falcons 644.93
32. Chicago Bears 647.98

 

The Bears and Cowboys are the teams that make both the top five easiest receiver schedules for both the regular season and playoffs. Chicago has the easiest for the entire playoffs. Once again, their top trio of receivers are looking pretty good come draft day.

Lamb continues to make his case to be the first receiver selected come draft day. He could have a monster season and finish strong as well with the fifth easiest schedule for the playoffs. Lamb might be the most surefire first-round pick come draft day.

The Falcons, 49ers and Colts also have a top-five favorable playoff schedule for receivers. Atlanta receivers were looking up to begin with, getting a legit quarterback throwing them passes this year. And this schedule makes their options look even better, especially Drake London. He could have a breakout season.

San Francisco has great options at receiver in Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. They are pretty safe picks come draft day. And they get a very favorable playoff schedule that could make them even more appealing to fantasy owners. These guys both have really solid floors come draft day in this offense.

Michael Pittman keeps getting it done as the No. 1 option for the Colts. If Anthony Richardson can become that true No. 1 at quarterback for Indy, Pittman would look even better. Pittman has produced in recent year despite having some quarterback issues. His game could go to a higher level this year if Richardson breaks out. Pittman could be a league winner if everything breaks his way in 2024.

The Chiefs and Dolphins are two of the best offenses in football but also the only two teams to make the top five most unfavorable receiver schedules for both the regular season and playoffs. This is a tad concerning for both teams, Again, it is tough to bet against Hill, but maybe you drop him down your rankings just few spots behind the other elite guys because of this. You hate to use an early round pick on a receiver to see him maybe not produce what he should come playoff time.

And as mentioned with the Chiefs, their top two receivers already face a few question marks, so maybe their tough schedules make them players to let someone else draft. Both Brown and Rice could be a little erratic.

The Rams actually have the toughest playoff schedule for receivers. They are another team with two of the best receivers in football. It is tough to bet against either Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp, but the playoff schedule is a little scary, especially for Kupp. He seems to be trending down at this stage of his career.

The Jaguars and Giants are the two other teams with a top-five unfavorable fantasy schedule for the playoffs. The Jags have Christian Kirk and Gabriel Davis as their top two receivers. Kirk is normally pretty steady but Davis can be boom or bust. Seeing his playoff schedule should bump him down a few spots in your rankings. It could be more of the same for Davis with his new team.

And the Giants are an outlier here, having an easy schedule for receivers during the regular season but the fourth toughest for the playoffs. This makes it tough come draft day. Their receivers could be good values for the regular season but disappoint when it counts. You do have to just make the playoffs, though, so we aren’t sure we shy away from Giant receivers just because of their tough playoff schedule. You still might be able to get good value with their options that help you win during the season.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Player Notes
Miles Sanders Oct 3 12:40pm CT
Miles Sanders

For the second straight day, Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders wasn't seen at practice on Thursday. Sanders wasn't included on the first injury report of the week on Wednesday, so it's unclear why he's not out on the field with the rest of his teammates. The 27-year-old lost the starting gig to Chuba Hubbard in his first year in Carolina in 2023, when he averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry on a career-low 129 rushing attempts. He has been the No. 2 behind Hubbard through four weeks this season, too, averaging a paltry 3.6 yards per carry on 25 rushing attempts, gaining 91 yards and scoring once on the ground. He's added eight catches for 32 yards. Carolina's offense has looked much better after they benched quarterback Bryce Young, but Sanders is still a low-upside RB4/flex for fantasy managers as the No. 2 behind Hubbard.

From RotoBaller

Joe Mixon Oct 3 12:30pm CT
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is missing yet another practice on Thursday. Mixon injured his ankle in the Week 2 win over the Chicago Bears and hasn't played since. The fact that he has yet to practice this week means he's trending toward missing a third straight contest in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills. Dameon Pierce (hamstring) hasn't played since the season opener and was also a DNP on Wednesday, so Houston's backfield could once again be split this Sunday among Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale. Mixon is going to have to get on the practice field on Friday to even have a shot at returning against Buffalo. As of right now, fantasy managers should keep Mixon on their benches. Akers hasn't exactly excited fantasy managers that have streamed him the last two weeks, as he's racked up 74 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 22 carries while catching one pass for an eight-yard touchdown.

From RotoBaller

Devin Singletary Oct 3 12:20pm CT
Devin Singletary

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said running back Devin Singletary (groin) will miss a second straight practice this week on Thursday. Singletary said he has a chance to play in Week 5 on the road against the Seattle Seahawks, but two straight days of DNPs says otherwise right now. He is going to need to practice on Friday to give himself a real shot at playing this weekend. The Giants are expected to be without star rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) as well, so if Singletary cannot suit up, the G-Men will be missing two of their best offensive pieces. If Singletary does suit up this weekend, he should be considered a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex in fantasy against a Seahawks run defense that has been better so far in 2024. Rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. figures to see most of the backfield work for the Giants if Singletary is limited or ruled out entirely.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Oct 3 12:20pm CT
Rashee Rice

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that the team is waiting for swelling to be reduced in wide receiver Rashee Rice's injured right knee, and further tests are scheduled for next week. Rice injured his knee early in the Week 4 win over the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers, and initial fears were that the 24-year-old suffered a season-ending torn ACL. He has already been ruled out for Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints on Monday night, but the team has held off on officially ruling Rice out for the rest of 2024. For the time being, the Chiefs offense is without two of their best playmakers in Rice and running back Isiah Pacheco (leg), making things much more difficult for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. At least this Monday against the Saints, expect him to lean more on rookie Xavier Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce, while wideouts Justin Watson and JuJu Smith-Schuster will also be more involved to help pick up the slack. Rice needs to be stashed in all leagues.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Taylor Oct 3 12:10pm CT
Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) said he's still dealing with his ankle sprain and isn't likely to practice for the second straight day on Thursday. It's not a serious injury, but there is still a lot of uncertainty around his availability for Sunday's contest against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. Two DNPs in a row is bad news for Taylor's fantasy managers leading into Week 5. If the 25-year-old is unable to get back on the practice field by Friday, he seems unlikely to be ready to play against the Jaguars this weekend. The good news, though, is that Taylor's ankle injury doesn't appear to be a multi-week issue, and it's definitely not as severe as the ankle issue that he dealt with in 2022. Taylor's injury has made Trey Sermon a popular waiver-wire pickup this week, as he'll operate as Indy's lead back on Sunday if Taylor is inactive.

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Malik Nabers Oct 3 12:10pm CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said that rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) is making progress in the league's concussion protocol, but he won't be on the practice field for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Daboll said the team will wait as long as possible before making a determination for his Week 5 status against the Seattle Seahawks, but time is obviously running low to clear the remaining steps. The Athletic's Dan Duggan doesn't see Nabers being cleared for Sunday. The Giants play in the late slate on Sunday as well, so this is shaping up as a situation to avoid for fantasy managers with Nabers being more of a long shot to play this weekend. It's a big blow for New York's offense, as Nabers currently leads the league with 35 receptions. Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt will all have elevated roles on Sunday in the passing game if Nabers is ruled out, as expected.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Oct 3 9:13am CT
Aaron Rodgers

Dynasty | Davante Adams' preference is to be traded to the New York Jets. Dynasty Analysis: The Saints are also reportedly high on his list. Say what you will about Adams, but he clearly values friendships with quarterbacks as Derek Carr (Saints) and Aaron Rodgers (Jets) are the two he had the most success with. This should come as no surprise as speculation about Adams going to the Jets started nearly immediately after Derek Carr left Las Vegas and Aaron Rodgers was moved to New York. The Raiders are saying they'll take the best deal on the table, so this is far from a done deal. What does seem to be set is the fact Adams has likely played his last game for the Raiders. His dynasty value will hinge on where he lands.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Davante Adams Oct 3 9:00am CT
Davante Adams

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) would like to play for the Jets and be reunited with former teammate Aaron Rodgers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. While Adams is open to other destinations, he would prefer to play for the Jets and team up with Rodgers after the duo formed a dynamic connection in Green Bay. Adams missed last week with a hamstring injury and did not practice on Wednesday. He has 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown so far this season. A move to the Jets would surely upgrade the fantasy value of the 31-year-old, as Rodgers and the Jets offense offer an upgrade over Gardner Minshew II and the Raiders' current offense. If Adams gets his wish, it looks like he will end up in New York, but there is still plenty to be worked out in a potential Adams deal.

From RotoBaller

Davante Adams Oct 3 8:53am CT
Davante Adams

Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams seems to have the Raiders ready to honor his trade request, and he will have input, but the team will ultimately go with the best offer. Adams prefers the New York Jets, but he hasn't demanded a trade to a specific team.

Fantasy Spin: Adams is expected to miss Week 5 with a hammy issue. Keep him stashed and stay tuned to where the WR1 might land.

From TheHuddle

Devin Singletary Oct 3 8:30am CT
Devin Singletary

New York Giants running back Devin Singletary (groin) sat out Wednesday's practice but said he has a chance to play in Week 5 against Seattle according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. The running back will look to get back on the practice field in the next few days even if in a limited fashion to put him on track for returning on Sunday. Singletary has 56 carries for 221 yards and two rushing touchdowns on the season and ranks as the RB24 in fantasy at 10.6 fantasy points per game. Tyrone Tracy, Jr., and Eric Gray would stand to benefit if Singletary does miss Week 5. If Singletary does play, he should be a solid RB2 against a Seattle defense, which ranks middle of the pack against the run.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Oct 3 8:20am CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) is unlikely to be ready for Week 5's game against Seattle according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. Raanan says Nabers "seems like a longshot to be ready for Seattle". The talented rookie receiver suffered a concussion at the end of the Thursday night game against Dallas last week. He sat out Wednesday's practice and was reportedly still in the early stages of concussion protocol. Nabers' absence would be a big blow for his fantasy managers as he was off to a red-hot start to his NFL career with 35 catches for 386 yards and three touchdowns.

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Matthew Adams Oct 3 2:03am CT
Matthew Adams

New York Giants LB Matthew Adams (quadriceps) was designated to return from the Reserve/Injured list on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

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Angelo Blackson Oct 3 12:43am CT
Angelo Blackson

Arizona Cardinals DL Angelo Blackson (undisclosed) was placed on the practice squad injured list on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

From TheHuddle

Tyler Lockett Oct 2 11:50pm CT
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (thigh) was a limited participant on Wednesday. Given that the Seahawks only held a walkthrough, Lockett's participation status is merely an estimation. The reliable veteran receiver has caught 18 passes for 199 yards through four games, but he's still looking for his first touchdown of the 2024 season. Lockett's job has gotten tougher as DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba both continue to impress and earn more looks from quarterback Geno Smith. Lockett has seemingly fallen to the No. 3 role in Seattle and should be treated as a fantasy WR4 going forward.

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Davante Adams Oct 2 11:20pm CT
Davante Adams

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) has left an impression on teams that he's "focused on engineering a trade to the Jets," according to Albert Breer of the MMQB. However, the Raiders have also fielded calls from the Bills and Steelers. Adams, who recently requested a trade and is expected to miss Week 5 with a hamstring injury, has expressed significant interest in reuniting with Aaron Rodgers, his quarterback in Green Bay who now commands the Jets' offense. Through three games this season, Adams has 18 catches, 209 yards, and one touchdown. He would give New York (or any other team) a productive, veteran pass-catching reinforcement early in the season. From a fantasy perspective, there are few situations less favorable than playing with Gardner Minshew II. Joining forces with someone like Rodgers could bump Adams back up to the mid-range WR1 tier.

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Luke Musgrave Oct 2 9:10pm CT
Luke Musgrave

Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's team practice. The second-year tight end recorded two limited sessions last week while tending to a quad issue ahead of the Packers' 31-29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He would ultimately suit up for the contest -- playing 33% of snaps -- but the ankle injury is new. The fact that he was not designated as even a limited participant does not bode well for his status, but his value was trending in the wrong direction anyway, with teammate Tucker Kraft dominating the team's TE snaps 227-to-108. The former second-round pick will have two more opportunities to upgrade his participation before the team's final injury report is revealed. Green Bay has a tantalizing matchup this Sunday when they hit the road to take on a Los Angeles Rams team, allowing the second most points per game. Still, Musgrave can be avoided for fantasy purposes, even if he plays.

From RotoBaller

Cole Kmet Oct 2 8:50pm CT
Cole Kmet

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (knee) was listed as a limited participant on the team's first injury report of the week. The fifth-year tight end was the team's second-leading receiver (34 yards) in their 24-18 win over the Los Angeles Rams, participating in 90% of the snaps. He apparently picked up an injury sometime between now and then, though when and how severe it might be are currently unknown. It's a good sign for Kmet that he could at least get in a limited practice. The former second-round pick saw his usage spike in Week 3, with the team sans wide receiver Keenan Allen and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams attempting 52 passes. However, that came cratering back down upon the veteran wideout's return and a run-heavy game plan. He and the Bears will get a favorable matchup this Sunday at home against the Carolina Panthers. Despite this, Kmet will be an unrecommended volatile option.

From RotoBaller

Younghoe Koo Oct 2 8:30pm CT
Younghoe Koo

Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo had his best game of the season in Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints. Koo nailed field goals from 53, 44, 42, and 58 yards. He's one of the best kickers in the league and has been perfect during the season so far. He is now impressively 5-for-5 on field goals of 40+ yards. The 30-year-old will look to continue his hot streak against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday. He is capable of nailing kicks in the clutch, and given the nature of the Falcons offense, it's likely they may need his help again. It's tough to say how many opportunities he'll be afforded, as kicker production is one of the hardest things to predict in the NFL, but he can be trusted to consistently hit from long distances. Koo is a must-start in fantasy leagues with kickers. He has a history of success, and the offense has given him enough kicks to succeed in fantasy. He should be locked into lineups when the Falcons take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Thursday Night Football.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Allgeier Oct 2 8:30pm CT
Tyler Allgeier

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier showed he deserves a more significant proportion of the Falcons' backfield opportunities when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5. His performance in Week 4 was his best of the season. He turned just eight carries into 60 yards (7.5 yards per carry) and caught two passes for 20 yards, good for 10.0 PPR fantasy points. The backup running back is highly efficient, averaging 6.15 yards per carry, and had proven his ability to be a solid lead back through the last four games of 2022 before lead back Bijan Robinson (hamstring) was drafted. The Bucs have struggled to stop the run this year, too. Robinson has struggled so far, and Allgeier's runs have been much more successful on average. He shouldn't be started yet, but he is a must-have handcuff for Bijan managers and a fine speculative bench stash. Should Tyler's role continue to grow, he could be start-worthy at some point.

From RotoBaller

Breece Hall Oct 2 8:20pm CT
Breece Hall

Reporters again questioned New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh on Wednesday about the team's running back usage, but he might have hinted that not much will change moving forward. Specifically, Saleh was asked about rookie running back Braelon Allen and whether or not he'd be further integrated into New York's scheme. "He's already been integrated," said Saleh, "I feel like he gets a lot of run every week." The comments come a few days after the Jets head coach was suggested to use Allen more extensively in short-yardage and goal-line situations. He also remarked on how he believed Breece Hall's subpar performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 4 to be an "outlier" and credited the Broncos' defense for holding up. "Breece was batting 1.000 in goal-line situations this year. He's been doing great in short-yardage situations also." It would appear that fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief as the 20-year-old should not further eat into Hall's workload. Still, they must be disappointed at the division of touches thus far. He and the Jets will have another tough matchup this week when they take on the Minnesota Vikings in London.

From RotoBaller