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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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 4

Player Notes
Cade Otton Sep 29 8:30pm CT
Cade Otton

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton was basically invisible to begin the season, but has turned it around over the last few weeks. On Sunday, Otton hauled in six of his nine targets for 52 yards in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Otton now has 13 receptions on 17 targets for 99 yards over the last two games. Otton remains third on the pecking order, but he has found a way to produce over the last two games. He has forced himself into the TE2 discussion heading into next week's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

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Breece Hall Sep 29 8:30pm CT
Breece Hall

Following Sunday's 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh commented on running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen and how they might be used in goal-line situations moving forward. Specifically, reporters asked Saleh why he chose not to sub out Hall for Allen when the team was deep in Broncos' territory. "It was still kind of early when that play came about, but definitely something we can look at," said Saleh, "We're always going to lean on Breece, he's our workhorse back... It's definitely something to look at." The comments in question regard a series of plays where New York had a first-and-goal from the one-yard line, and Hall was stuffed on first and second-down handoffs. Braelon Allen was subbed in on third, but the Jets ran a pass play that fell incomplete. Despite intending to go for it on fourth-down, a penalty forced them to settle for a field goal. It's encouraging to see the Jets head coach give his RB1 the vote of confidence. However, one has to wonder if this will affect his decision-making for the remainder of the season. The rookie RB was a far more effective rusher Sunday, averaging 4.3 yards on his eight carries, while the presumed starter finished with four yards on ten attempts. The former Cyclone is unlikely to lose his job as the 1A in New York's backfield, but he may lose out on some valuable touches moving forward. The Jets will be the "home" team in Week 5 when they square off against the Minnesota Vikings in London

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Jalen Hurts Sep 29 8:30pm CT
Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 18 of 30 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown, adding eight carries for 20 yards, an additional score, and lost one of his two fumbles during the team's 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The loss of A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith was felt early and often in this game. Eagles wide receivers combined for just 34 yards, catching seven of their 20 targets. For context, tight end Dallas Goedert nearly doubled that receiving yard total on his own in this game. The lack of pass-catching talent was not the only issue. This was another game where Hurts has started slow and had to play catch up. The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Eagles. It should give them the chance to regroup and regain their top two pass catchers before a showdown with the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.

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Jerome Ford Sep 29 8:30pm CT
Jerome Ford

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford carried the ball 10 times for 58 yards and added seven catches for 27 yards in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. Ford appeared to be on his way to another mediocre rushing day before ripping off a 35-yard run late in the fourth quarter to boost his overall numbers. Despite his struggles on the ground, Ford supplemented his fantasy output with another strong day in the receiving department, catching all seven of his targets in the loss. Ford has now hauled in 17 of 20 targets through four games this season. With Nick Chubb (knee) still at least a few weeks away from being activated from the PUP list, Ford will be a solid RB2 heading into Week 5 against the Washington Commanders.

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Amari Cooper Sep 29 8:30pm CT
Amari Cooper

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper caught four of his eight targets for 35 yards in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. Cooper could have had a much bigger afternoon but he had an 82-yard touchdown catch wiped away thanks to a holding penalty on center Nick Harris. As has been the case multiple times this season, Cooper also committed another tough drop, this time allowing an on-target pass to slip through his hands into a defender's for an interception. Cooper now has 16 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns through four games. Despite struggling in three of his four games in 2024, Cooper will be a strong fantasy play against a weak Washington Commanders secondary in Week 5.

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Cameron Dicker Sep 29 8:20pm CT
Cameron Dicker

Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker attempted three kicks in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, making two of them. He made his only extra point try and one of his two field goal attempts. The field goal he made was a first quarter kick from 50 yards out. He missed a later 55 yard try in the third quarter. Dicker has been extremely accurate to start his career since last season, but his only weak spot might be kicks from outside of 50 yards. He and the Bolts head into their bye week and will return for a Week 6 game against the Broncos in Denver.

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Chris Godwin Sep 29 8:20pm CT
Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin surprisingly took a backseat for the first time this season. Fellow wideout Mike Evans did a majority of the damage as he saw 14 targets on the day. However, Godwin was still productive as he hauled in six of his nine targets for 69 yards in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Todd Bowles mentioned earlier in the week that they wanted to get Evans more involved. They've done that and it could mean a dip in value for Godwin going forward. However, Godwin should still get a steady workload as he has proven himself to be a viable option. Fantasy managers should consider Godwin a WR2 for Thursday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.

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Austin Hooper Sep 29 8:20pm CT
Austin Hooper

New England Patriots tight end caught two passes for 13 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Hooper's touchdown came on fourth down as Jacoby Brissett sold the hand-off and found his tight end wide open near the goal line. Although he's the Patriots' No. 2 tight end behind Hunter Henry, Hooper has still put together a solid start to the season, catching six passes for 68 yards and the score. He'll continue to make an impact on offense but can be avoided in most fantasy leagues given the Patriots' subpar offense and his role behind Henry.

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Josh Palmer Sep 29 8:10pm CT
Josh Palmer

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (calf/elbow) returned to the field for a Week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs and was targeted four times, making three catches for 36 yards. Palmer missed the Week 3 loss to the Steelers and started off Week 4 with a limited practice before being able to practice in full twice at the end of the week, entering the game without an injury designation. He ended up tied for third on the team in targets but second in catches and yards. It was a mostly slow game for the Chargers offense once again, and despite plenty of preseason hype around Palmer as potentially being quarterback Justin Herbert's go-to guy in the passing game, Palmer will go into the Chargers bye week with a total of seven catches for 70 yards. A healthier Herbert after the bye week could start throwing more, but for now Palmer needs to remain on most fantasy benches until he shows something different.

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Demario Douglas Sep 29 8:10pm CT
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas caught all three of his targets for 13 yards during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Douglas had caught seven passes for 79 yards back in Week 4, so there was optimism that he might be able to build on that effort this week against the Niners. Instead, his target total declined and he delivered an underwhelming fantasy performance. Unfortunately, the Patriots don't have enough passing and scoring opportunities to make Douglas a reliable fantasy option. Jacoby Brissett is averaging just 15.1 completions and 0.5 passing touchdowns per game, so when you divide those numbers over a large group of capable wide receivers and tight ends, you're left with a bunch of depth players who lack much fantasy value, outside of an occasional breakout game. That's the case with Douglas, who has either gone under 4.5 fantasy points or over 14.5 fantasy points in all four of his games this season. He's too dependent on volume in an offense that can't consistently support a player like that. Douglas ranks as a fantasy WR5 going forward.

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Mike Evans Sep 29 8:10pm CT
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has been quiet the last few games, but picked it up during Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The veteran wideout hauled in eight of his 14 targets for 94 yards and a touchdown in the win. Head coach Todd Bowles said he wanted to get Evans more involved and that's exactly what happened. Those 14 targets were a team-high as Evans earned a 30 percent target share on Sunday. It appears Evans is back to putting up elite numbers so he should be on the WR1 radar for Thursday's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

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Quentin Johnston Sep 29 8:10pm CT
Quentin Johnston

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston put up a dud in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He was targeted five times, the second most on the team, but was only able to come up with one catch for a nine yard gain. He added a rushing play in which he gained four yards on the ground. Johnston came into this game as the overall WR21, having scored three touchdowns in the past two games. This one was a little different, as he totaled less than two fantasy points in standard scoring and half-PPR formats. The Chargers actually threw the ball more times than they ran it for the first time this season, but Johnston just wasn't able to do much with the balls thrown his way. The Bolts will head into their Week 5 bye and will take on the Broncos in Denver in Week 6. Johnston should remain a large part of the passing game, but this was quite a dud for fantasy managers expecting to see his touchdown streak continue.

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Ladd McConkey Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Ladd McConkey

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey scored his second NFL touchdown in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. McConkey led the Bolts in catches, yards, and targets and was the only Charger to score a touchdown. He ended up seeing seven targets, making five catches for 67 yards, including a seven yard touchdown on an excellent catch and throw in the first quarter. McConkey heads into the Chargers bye week as the clear top target in the passing game and should be an asset in PPR leagues especially when the Chargers return for a Week 6 game in Denver against the Broncos.

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Rhamondre Stevenson Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Rhamondre Stevenson

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 43 yards on 13 carries during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He also converted five targets into four catches for 19 yards through the air. On a more negative note, Stevenson did lose a fumble in the effort. He has now fumbled in all four games this season and has lost a fumble in each of the last two contests. Evidently, the running back's productivity and versatility on offense have been somewhat canceled out by his ball security issues. At the same time, fellow running back Antonio Gibson has tallied 219 scrimmage yards over the last three games, showing a combination of burst and ball security that we simply haven't seen from Stevenson in the last couple of weeks. Stevenson should still be the Patriots' No. 1 running back against the Miami Dolphins in Week 5, but the gap between the two of them is likely shrinking as Gibson makes a case for more snaps and touches.

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Bucky Irving Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving came into the game as questionable due to a hamstring issue. However, Irving suited up and played well during Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The rookie back rushed 10 times for 49 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown of his career. It's worth noting that Irving saw just as many carries as lead back Rachaad White. Irving has continued to run the ball well on a weekly basis and that has earned him a larger role on this offense. He's beginning to creep into the RB3 conversation heading into Thursday's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

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Deshaun Watson Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson completed 24 of his 32 passes for 176 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while rushing for 32 yards on eight carries in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. It could have been a much bigger game for Watson but the Cleveland offense was plagued by multiple mistakes, including a holding penalty on center Nick Harris that wiped away an 82-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper in the fourth quarter. The interception was also hard to pin on Watson as he hit Amari Cooper in the chest but the receiver allowed the ball to go through his hands and right to safety Tre'von Moehrig for the pick. Watson has now thrown four touchdowns and three interceptions through four games while leading the Browns to a 1-3 record. He will look for a bigger outing in Week 5 against a red-hot Washington Commanders team.

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Ja'Lynn Polk Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Ja'Lynn Polk

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk converted seven targets into three catches for 30 yards during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Polk had not commanded more than three targets in a single game through the first three weeks of the season, but that evidently changed this week as Polk led the Patriots with seven passes thrown his way. Despite the increased volume, Polk still didn't deliver a very appealing fantasy performance due to his lower catch and yardage totals. On a promising note, he made an impressive grab in heavy coverage along the sideline. It was ruled incomplete, but only because Polk just barely missed getting both feet in bounds. The play should give fantasy managers optimism that Polk can make flashy catches against starting cornerbacks in the NFL. The rookie isn't a reliable option for Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, but his long-term value continues to grow as he makes an impression early in his Patriots career.

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Rachaad White Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White was considered questionable coming into Sunday's game due to an illness. Despite that, White suited up and had a decent day on the ground. He rushed 10 times for 49 yards while hauling in two receptions for an additional 35 yards through the air. The biggest problem for White is that fellow back Bucky Irving continues to out-rush. White has struggled on the ground and has a result the Bucs continue giving Irving more chances and it's paying off for them. Both backs saw 10 carries each during Sunday's win over the Philadelphia Eagles. White should be considered a low-end RB2 for the Thursday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

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Tee Higgins Sep 29 7:50pm CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins had 60 yards off a team-high six catches in Sunday's win over the Panthers. The wideout returned from a two-game absence for the Week 3 loss to the Commanders. However, he had only three receptions in that one. But with 10 targets in Week 4, it appears Higgins still has the attention of Joe Burrow, making him worthy of a starting spot in all fantasy formats when the Bengals meet the Ravens in Week 5.

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Tyler Badie Sep 29 7:50pm CT
Tyler Badie

The New York Jets defense played well in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. The Jets were unable to notch any sacks but did force a turnover while holding the Broncos to just 186 yards of total offense in the close loss on a rainy afternoon in New Jersey. New York's defense got their lone takeaway when they recovered a Tyler Badie fumble in the contest. The Jets will have their work cut out for them when they take on a red-hot Minnesota Vikings offense in London in Week 5.

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