Fantasy Index

Scheduletron

Strength of schedule

Saints should see easiest schedule early; tough on Broncos

If you’re looking for a team that will start the season strong, the Saints look like the best bet. They’ve got a strong offense, of course, but they’ll also be helped along by an easy schedule.

The Broncos, meanwhile, project to play the hardest schedule early in the year.

The Saints’ first five games are against teams that went a combined 25-54-1 last year, allowing a league-high 26.9 points per game.

The Broncos, meanwhile, are playing teams that went 53-27 last year, allowing a league-low 19.8 points per game.

Also seeing easy schedule early: Giants, Texans, Steelers.

Others facing tough schedules early: Kansas City, San Francisco, Chicago and Baltimore.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, WINS (first 5 games)
TeamWLTPct
New Orleans25541.319
NY Giants26540.325
Houston28520.350
Pittsburgh32480.400
Buffalo34460.425
Carolina35450.438
Washington36440.450
NY Jets36431.456
Philadelphia37430.463
Atlanta38411.481
Oakland39410.488
Dallas39410.488
St. Louis39401.494
New England39401.494
Jacksonville41390.513
San Diego41390.513
Green Bay41381.519
Miami41381.519
Detroit41381.519
Seattle41381.519
Cleveland42380.525
Tampa Bay42380.525
Indianapolis42380.525
Minnesota42371.531
Cincinnati43370.538
Arizona44360.550
Tennessee45350.563
Baltimore46340.575
Chicago46331.581
San Francisco47330.588
Kansas City52280.650
Denver53270.663
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, POINTS (first 5 games)
TeamPoints
New Orleans26.9
Houston26.7
Seattle26.1
NY Jets26.0
NY Giants25.6
Buffalo24.6
Carolina24.6
Indianapolis24.5
St. Louis24.4
Green Bay24.4
San Francisco24.0
Jacksonville23.9
Miami23.9
Philadelphia23.7
Arizona23.5
New England23.5
Minnesota23.5
Washington23.4
Atlanta23.3
Pittsburgh23.0
Oakland23.0
Detroit22.8
Tennessee22.3
San Diego22.2
Cleveland22.2
Cincinnati21.9
Dallas21.9
Kansas City21.6
Tampa Bay21.5
Chicago21.5
Baltimore20.7
Denver19.8

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index