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FFL: Week 4 | NFL: Week 4

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
Raheem Mostert Sep 30 9:00am CT
Raheem Mostert

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (chest) is currently listed as questionable for the Monday night contest against the Tennessee Titans, but he's not expected to be upgraded to active. According to Tom Pelissero, the veteran back will miss another game with this chest injury which will already be his third missed game of the season. At 32 years old and with a long injury history, this has always been the risk with Mostert in terms of fantasy football. De'Von Achane will get as many opportunities on the ground and through the air as possible while Jeff Wilson Jr. and Jaylen Wright will split the backup duties against a Titans team who's on the tougher side against opposing running backs, giving up 16.8 fantasy points per game to opposing backfields.

From RotoBaller

Elijah Higgins Sep 30 8:50am CT
Elijah Higgins

Arizona Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins caught two of his three targets for 12 yards in Sunday's loss to the Washington Commanders. Filling in for the injured Trey McBride (concussion), Higgins had a favorable matchup against a Commanders defense that has struggled in pass coverage this season. However, he failed to capitalize, as the Cardinals managed just 142 passing yards despite shifting to a pass-heavy game script. Although Higgins was on the field most of the snaps, there seemed to be no emphasis on getting him the ball. Given his limited involvement in this opportunity, Higgins remains a long shot as a streaming option next week against the San Francisco 49ers.

From RotoBaller

Greg Dortch Sep 30 8:50am CT
Greg Dortch

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch is still searching for his first touchdown of the season after the Cardinals suffered a blowout loss at the hands of the Washington Commanders. Dortch caught all four of his targets for 38 yards which tied him for second-most receiving yards on the team with Michael Wilson. Despite being down for three quarters in this game, the Cardinals threw the ball only 22 times compared to 32 attempts on the ground. Dortch was able to at least catch 100% of the throws his way, but it hasn't turned into much fantasy success at all. Before the Monday night games kickoff for Week 4, Dortch sits at WR66 in half-PPR formats, and Trey McBride will likely be back soon, which turns into even fewer opportunities for him. The Cardinals will take on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 on the road.

From RotoBaller

Michael Wilson Sep 30 8:40am CT
Michael Wilson

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson couldn't get going against the Washington Commanders as they dropped a home contest in blowout fashion. Wilson caught three of his seven targets for 38 yards and lost a fumble in the process. While he had the highest yards per reception out of the entire receiver group, he only posted a finish of WR64 in half-PPR formats. He's been an unreliable fantasy asset through four games as he averages just above six fantasy points per game and is currently listed as the WR58. He'll have a tough matchup to try to bounce back in Week 5 as they go up against the San Francisco 49ers on the road.

From RotoBaller

Ray-Ray McCloud Sep 30 8:30am CT
Ray-Ray McCloud

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III received the second-most targets on the team in this two-point win over the New Orleans Saints. McCloud has now accrued 22 targets through the team's first four games which is already seven more than he had all last season, and just three shy of his second-best season. He turned seven targets against the Saints into six receptions for 52 yards but didn't make it into the end zone. McCloud has been a quality outlet for Kirk Cousins but it hasn't turned into fantasy success just yet. His upside is limited as long as Darnell Mooney and Drake London are still on the field, but McCloud could provide some scoring in deeper leagues with PPR scoring. He'll go up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a short week in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Sep 30 8:20am CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (ankle) has officially been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain after leaving Sunday's game with what looked like an injury that could have been more. The good thing is that a fracture has been ruled out according to Ian Rapoport, but Watson could still land on the IR. Unfortunately, it's been a rough start to the season for Watson as he's registered eight targets, five receptions, 80 yards, and one touchdown. He'll now have to miss some time, which we'll likely hear about soon, and that will boost Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs' value in the meantime. Dontayvion Wicks, who caught two touchdowns in Week 4, will likely see added opportunities as well.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Kincaid Sep 30 8:10am CT
Dalton Kincaid

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid caught five passes for 47 yards in the blowout loss to the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. The second-year professional was involved early in the offensive game plan but the Bills found themselves down big in the first half. Despite a game script that favored Bills' pass catchers, Kincaid turned an average fantasy football stat line. Still, he had season-high marks in targets, receptions, and yards and scored enough to be the TE10 entering Monday Night Football. Kincaid provides a safe floor at a struggling position and will be viewed as a TE1 against the Texans in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Mooney Sep 30 8:10am CT
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney continues to see a steady diet of targets from Kirk Cousins as they take down the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The former Chicago Bear has now seen at least six targets in each of the last three games. In the two-point win over the Saints, Mooney caught three of his six targets for 56 yards with the longest play going for 36 yards. He has been a solid medium-to-deep-threat this season as his yards per reception are currently sitting at the highest mark of his career at 15.0. At times, it seems that Cousins trusts Mooney more than anyone else on the team, which is a surprising turn of events. Drake London saw 12 targets in this game, but Mooney has the second-most through four games with 24 compared to Ray-Ray McCloud III's 22, Kyle Pitts' 15, and Bijan Robinson's 16. Mooney and company will look to find the end zone through the air in a short week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next.

From RotoBaller

Keon Coleman Sep 30 7:50am CT
Keon Coleman

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman caught three passes for 51 yards in the team's 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The rookie had two receptions of over 20 yards in the second half, but his night will be remembered for a drop on a deep pass from Josh Allen late in the first half. With the drop, the Bills were kept out of the endzone in the first half and struggled to generate much momentum for most of the night. They found themselves down 18 points at halftime. Coleman is the third option in the Buffalo passing game behind Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid and can't be trusted in fantasy football lineups moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Sep 30 7:50am CT
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London has received more targets in each game so far this season and received a season-high 12 targets in their 26-24 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. London hauled in six of his 12 targets for 64 yards but couldn't find the end zone to stretch his scoring streak to three games. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to put him into the WR2 conversation in half-PPR formats as he finished as the WR35 with the Monday night games still to be determined. The increasing target share and trust from Kirk Cousins are encouraging signs for London as the season progresses, but he hasn't produced up to expectations just yet as he sits at WR20 through four games. He'll look to get back into the end zone on a short week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Khalil Shakir Sep 30 7:40am CT
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir secured four receptions for 62 yards in the team's 35-10 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. Shakir caught two quick passes midway through the first quarter but briefly left the game following his second catch. The training staff retaped Shakir's ankle and he was back on the field on Buffalo's next drive. Shakir was on the receiving end of Buffalo's biggest play of the day, a 52-yard catch on a prayer throw from Josh Allen. Shakir nearly scored on the play but got dragged down at the three-yard line. Even with a game script that called for more Buffalo pass attempts, the Bills couldn't generate much offense. Midway through the fourth quarter, Shakir and the rest of the Buffalo starters were done for the night. Shakir has cemented his status as Buffalo's top wide receiver and will be viewed as a WR3 when the Bills face the Texans in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

James Cook Sep 30 7:30am CT
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook carried the football nine times for 39 yards and caught one pass for nine yards in the team's blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. It was the lowest touch total for Cook so far this season. Cook ran efficiently early in the game against a stout Baltimore run defense but didn't see many touches in the second half. The Bills found themselves down 18 points at halftime and turned to an aerial attack to attempt to come back. Buffalo's lone touchdown was scored by backup running back Ty Johnson from three yards out following a long completion by Khalil Shakir. Cook should see a rebound in Week 5 when the Bills travel to Houston.

From RotoBaller

Josh Allen Sep 30 7:10am CT
Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed 16 of his 29 pass attempts for 180 yards and no touchdowns in the team's 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Allen added 21 yards on the ground on five attempts. It's the first game Allen has failed to find the endzone since Week 9 of the 2021 season. Like the prior two weeks, Allen was kept on the sideline for parts of the fourth quarterback due to a blowout. The Ravens jumped out to a quick lead and didn't allow the Bills to generate many big plays. Allen consistently worked in the short area of the field. The team's longest completion (52 yards) to Khalil Shakir was the product of a scramble drill. Fantasy managers should chalk up Allen's performance as a bad week and start him confidently against the Houston Texans in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Carlson Sep 30 5:20am CT
Daniel Carlson

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson shook off his Week 3 miss, drilling kicks from 32 and 54 yards out and adding two extra points in the Raiders' Week 4 win against the Cleveland Browns. He had 10 total points in Sunday's 20-16 win. The 29-year-old usually does well when afforded the opportunity to kick at least a few field goals, and the Raiders offense strung together enough drives to make that happen. Carlson is still an excellent kicker, but the Raiders offense hasn't shown many signs of improvement as the season continues. Carlson is a decent streaming option against bad teams, but any opposing team that can dominate time of possession or stymie the Raiders offense is a tough matchup for Carlson. He's not worth starting yet but is on the streaming radar in deep leagues against the Denver Broncos in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Zamir White Sep 30 5:20am CT
Zamir White

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White was given 17 carries and one target in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns but managed just 50 rushing yards. White failed to crack 3.0 yards per carry for the second time this season as the Browns were able to contain him and prevent big runs. He scored just 3.0 PPR fantasy points since he also lost a fumble. The 25-year-old continued his string of poor efficiency and low yardage totals and was again not fantasy-viable. White received considerable hype due to his workload toward the end of last season, but he's been inefficient when given high volume. Though the Raiders' offense wasn't outstanding as a whole on Sunday, White will look to rebound and is a borderline flex play in deep leagues against the Denver Broncos in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Jakobi Meyers Sep 30 5:10am CT
Jakobi Meyers

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers was targeted 10 times by quarterback Gardner Minshew II but could only haul in five for 49 yards in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. He led the team in targets, though, and he's slid into the No. 1 wide receiver role in the absence of lead receiver Davante Adams (hamstring). The former New England Patriot will likely continue in this role until Adams returns. Minshew only threw 24 passes, meaning Meyers was targeted on nearly 42% of the quarterback's throws. This would be better for the 27-year-old if he were on a better offense, but the Raiders haven't been very explosive this season. Meyers has just one touchdown, and Minshew has thrown only three scores on the season, so it's hard to see Meyers being more than a WR3/FLEX option, and that's when Adams isn't playing. The Raiders and Meyers will face the tough Denver Broncos pass defense in Week 5, and even if Adams doesn't play, Meyers is a risky start.

From RotoBaller

Gardner Minshew II Sep 30 5:10am CT
Gardner Minshew II

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II was able to squeak out a win against the Cleveland Browns In Week 4 despite completing just 14 of 24 passes for 130 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. The game was primarily a defensive battle, with neither team surpassing 300 offensive yards. Minshew averaged less than four completed passes per quarter, but the Raiders' run-heavy approach could explain this. The Browns have a tough defense, so it's unsurprising that they mostly contained the Raiders' offense. He remains unstartable in single quarterback fantasy leagues, and his lack of volume generally holds back the fantasy value of his pass-catchers. The 28-year-old will face another tough test when the Raiders take on the Denver Broncos and their tough defense in Week 5, and we could see a similar game from Minshew then.

From RotoBaller

Tre Tucker Sep 30 5:00am CT
Tre Tucker

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker had another nice game in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. Tucker showed his versatility with a three-yard rushing touchdown to go along with five receptions on six targets for 41 yards. He was expected to have a decent role with lead receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) out for Week 4, and he capitalized on his opportunities. The 23-year-old's been showcasing his blinding speed, and Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy should find more ways to get him involved. Sunday's win is a good sign for Tucker, who had 22.60 PPR points in Week 3. The Browns have a stout defense, so his good performance against them shows he's talented enough to earn more opportunities. Tucker will look to continue working with more touches in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos. He may not have as big of a role if Adams returns, but he's at least worth stashing on benches for now.

From RotoBaller

Brock Bowers Sep 30 5:00am CT
Brock Bowers

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers was relatively quiet in Week 4, as he was targeted just three times, hauling in two passes for 19 yards, and handled one rush attempt for 12 yards in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. It was Bowers' worst game of the season despite the absence of lead receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) and fellow tight end Michael Mayer (personal). The Browns have historically held opposing tight ends to low yardage and touchdown totals, and this trend continued Sunday. The Raiders rookie tight end didn't have the worst day ever, considering Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II only completed 14 passes. Bowers will face a tough Denver Broncos defense in Week 5 but is still a must-start tight end because of the lack of depth at the position. Bowers is highly talented, but as it was known before the season, his biggest obstacles are target competition and poor quarterback play.

From RotoBaller

Alexander Mattison Sep 30 5:00am CT
Alexander Mattison

Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison rushed for 60 yards on five rushing attempts in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. He did have 10 more rushing yards than lead back Zamir White, outgaining him 60 to 50 in Week 4. Mattison punctuated his day with big runs of 24 and 16 yards. Interestingly, he was targeted just once and didn't record a catch on the day. The 26-year-old is usually more involved in the passing game, so, oddly, he was mostly kept out of it. He has not recorded a catch in the Raiders' wins this season but has nine receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown in losses this season, so his receiving production is game-script dependent. Mattison has scored 16.2 and 13.4 PPR points in losses and 6.1 and 6.0 points in wins, so his scoring will likely depend on whether the Raiders are playing from behind for much of the game. Mattison is not worth starting outside of very deep leagues in a tough Week 5 matchup against the Denver Broncos due to his inconsistency and low floor.

From RotoBaller