Fri May 31 10:52am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
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.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White continues his strong showing during training camp with his fast and physical running style. Showing that he's a great fit for new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy's scheme, White has been bouncing off of defenders throughout practice on Tuesday. White received six carries for 23 yards and punched in a touchdown from two yards out in the first preseason contest against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday as he sits perched on top of the depth chart at the running back position without much opposition. A breakout candidate in his third season as a pro, the former Georgia Bulldog is a worthwhile mid-round pick in fantasy drafts as an RB2 who could be a big value this season with Josh Jacobs now in Green Bay.
From RotoBaller
A growing rapport is developing between Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and third-year tight end Isaiah Likely. A fourth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina in 2022, Likely has been making waves over the last few days as Sunday's star of practice, along with numerous connections on Monday with Jackson. After Monday's practice, offensive coordinator Todd Monken stated, "We expect him to have a great year." Likely saw more time in 2023 when top tight end Mark Andrews was injured with a broken fibula, but with a quarterback who loves throwing to tight ends, Likely could see an uptick in work even with Andrews healthy. While Likely is a deeper-league pick in fantasy drafts, his involvement in the offense should be monitored if he sees more time on the field in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos rookie first-round quarterback Bo Nix will start his first game this Sunday at home against the Green Bay Packers in the second preseason game. Nix was a solid 15-of-21 passing for 125 yards and a touchdown pass while adding 17 yards on the ground. The offense under Nix scored two touchdowns, looking poised in his first action as a pro. Nix looks to carry this momentum with him into this Sunday's game with the Packers in front of a home crowd that will be excited to see the No. 12 pick from April's NFL Draft suit up. The quarterback situation for Week 1 of the regular season is up in the air at this point, but another strong performance from the former Oregon Duck will go a long way toward cementing his status as the starting quarterback to open the NFL season.
From RotoBaller
The Buffalo Bills recently evaluated former Tennessee Titans and New York Jets wide receiver Corey Davis during a tryout. Davis, who retired briefly before making a comeback, was the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and is looking to rejoin the league. Over his six-year career, Davis has accumulated 273 catches for 3,879 yards and 17 touchdowns. His standout season came in 2020 with the Titans, where he recorded career highs with 65 receptions, 984 yards, and five touchdowns. Afterward, Davis signed a three-year, $37.5 million contract with the Jets. The Bills' interest in Davis follows the placement of receiver Chase Claypool on season-ending injured reserve and comes in the wake of trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans for a 2025 second-round pick earlier this offseason. In response, the Bills have also added Curtis Samuel through free agency on a three-year deal and selected Keon Coleman with their top pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys are still negotiating with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, but a deal remains elusive. Despite over a year of discussions, the Cowboys' best contract offer has yet to reach Lamb's desired figure of nearly $35 million annually, in line with the Vikings' Justin Jefferson, the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback. Lamb is not seeking to surpass Jefferson's salary, as acknowledged by Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones. Last season, Lamb played on a base salary of $2.52 million and will earn $17.991 million this year under the fifth-year option. He had a standout year in 2023, leading the league with 135 catches for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns and earning his first All-Pro selection.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (undisclosed) missed practice due to undisclosed tightness. Head coach Mike Macdonald noted, "[Charbonnet] was tight this morning, so we're trying to figure out what's going on with him." While Charbonnet's availability for Saturday's preseason game against the Titans may be affected, it doesn't seem serious. Last season, Kenneth Walker III dominated the Seahawks' backfield, nearly doubling Charbonnet's usage and production. Walker finished as the RB19, while Charbonnet was the RB45 in full-PPR formats. If Charbonnet misses more practice time, Kenny McIntosh could step into the No. 2 role behind Walker.
From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
The New England Patriots are trading pass-rusher Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons, addressing Atlanta's need for a top defensive player they have been seeking all offseason. In return, the Patriots will receive a third-round pick, aiding their efforts to rebuild a roster lacking talent and upside. In the final year of the four-year contract he signed with New England in 2019, Judon has a base salary of $6.5 million for the 2024 season. This salary was a big distraction during Jerod Mayo's first training camp as the Patriots' head coach. A four-time Pro Bowler with 66.5 career sacks, Judon will join a Falcons team aiming to bolster its pass rush as the regular season approaches.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (leg) is dealing with a leg injury that head coach Mike Macdonald indicated isn't severe. Tyler Lockett is coping with what Seahawks head coach Macdonald described as "a little something going on with his leg." Although Lockett was seen wearing pads at practice, he was relatively limited in his participation. Given Lockett's veteran status, the team is likely cautious about any potential injuries. This leg issue may impact his availability for the upcoming preseason game against the Titans, but it does not seem to be a serious concern. If Lockett is out for any period, second-year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba could see increased opportunities, stepping into the No. 2 wide receiver role behind DK Metcalf.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (hamstring) did not complete Wednesday's joint workout with the Cowboys due to hamstring tightness. Stafford played the first half of practice, including several 11-on-11 series, but left early as a precaution after feeling tightness in his hamstring. During the remainder of practice, backup quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett took over, with Garoppolo leading the first team and Bennett the second. While this issue does not appear to be severe, it raises some uncertainty about the Rams' prospects with Stafford at the helm. Last season, Stafford completed 62.6% of his passes for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Hopefully, it will be a minor inconvenience rather than a long-term concern. Stafford will lead an offense with two early wide receiver picks, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, and an early running back pick in Kyren Williams. If Stafford is hurt for any time, all of the Rams' playmakers would take a big hit.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tyler Boyd (bruised foot) is currently dealing with a bruised foot but is expected to miss only a few days, according to head coach Brian Callahan. Boyd, who joined the Titans this offseason, is projected to be the No. 3 receiver behind Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins. If he can return healthy, he remains a solid late-round pick in fantasy leagues. Boyd's connection with Callahan, his former offensive coordinator with the Bengals, is a positive factor for his performance. However, the injury situation in the Titans' receiving corps is concerning, with Hopkins (knee) expected to be out for four to six weeks. This situation dampens Will Levis's sleeper potential, who now has two top receivers sidelined. On a positive note, Ridley will likely see an increase in targets, making him a value pick at his current ADP.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) was carted off the practice field on Wednesday with an apparent leg injury. After practice concluded, head coach Kevin O'Connell said it was an ankle tweak, and he's unlikely to practice on Thursday. However, he said the injury is not believed to be serious, and he thinks Addison is going to be "OK." This is a sigh of relief for the Vikings on a day it was announced that rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) would miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing surgery on his meniscus. While it doesn't appear Addison's injury will hold him out of Week 1 of the regular season, he still has a possible suspension looming stemming from a DUI charge earlier this offseason, so fantasy managers should stay tuned for that development.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns CB Denzel Ward (concussion) is going through the concussion protocol, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski.
From TheHuddle
Tennessee Titans WR Tyler Boyd (foot) is dealing with a bruise on his foot and could miss a few practices.
From TheHuddle
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (back) remained out of Wednesday's practice at training camp. Kamara is managing a back issue that he's dealt with in the past, and there appears to be a minimal amount of concern regarding the star back's health at this point. It's looking unlikely that he'll make an appearance in Sunday's preseason game against the hosting San Francisco 49ers, though. Kamara has plenty of risk in 2024 fantasy drafts while entering his age-29 season and witnessing his rushing efficiency decline in each of the last three years, but his role in New Orleans' passing game as quarterback Derek Carr's security blanket cannot be ignored. Last year, Kamara drew 87 targets despite missing four games via suspension, ranking third among RBs in full-PPR fantasy points per game (17.9). Until Kendre Miller (hamstring) is back at practice, Kamara remains a decent RB2 bet in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Sean Clifford will start this week's preseason game versus the Denver Broncos on Sunday as Jordan Love won't play, head coach Matt LaFleur announced on Wednesday at training camp. Rookie Michael Pratt will serve as the backup quarterback on Sunday against the Broncos. After completing each of his two passes for 63 yards and a touchdown in last week's preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns, Love will take a seat this weekend before presumably returning to action for a regular-season tune-up against the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 24. In an ascending Packers offense, the 25-year-old star signal-caller has his sights set on taking another leap forward in 2024 after closing as fantasy's overall QB5 in points per game (19.4) over 17 appearances in 2023 during his first year as Green Bay's full-time starter.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent CB Rudy Ford (Packers) signed an undisclosed contract with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Also, DE Kemoko Turay (undisclosed) was waived off injured reserve and CB Clayton Isbell was waived.
From TheHuddle
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From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller