Typically with Strength of Schedule, I tend to stick to win-loss records and to points allowed (by opposing defenses). But I also will together charts geared towards rushing and passing production.
For rushing, the easiest schedule project to be played by Dallas and the four teams in the NFC North. That’s using combined rushing yards and touchdowns allowed by opponents last year. (And I’m blending them into one using fantasy scoring of 6 points for TDs and 1 for every 10 yards).
The hardest schedules seem to belong to the 49ers and the four teams in the AFC East.
This isn’t necessarily how things will turn out, of course. It’s just how it projects to turn out, using last year’s stats.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE -- RUSHING | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | Yards | TDR | FPG |
Chicago | 29,594 | 209 | 16.5 |
Minnesota | 29,215 | 201 | 16.1 |
Dallas | 29,931 | 187 | 16.1 |
Green Bay | 29,010 | 199 | 16.0 |
Detroit | 30,111 | 178 | 15.9 |
NY Giants | 30,036 | 173 | 15.8 |
Philadelphia | 28,707 | 194 | 15.8 |
Tennessee | 28,576 | 195 | 15.7 |
Washington | 28,980 | 184 | 15.6 |
Tampa Bay | 27,395 | 203 | 15.5 |
Carolina | 27,619 | 197 | 15.4 |
Houston | 27,959 | 189 | 15.4 |
Seattle | 28,094 | 185 | 15.3 |
Jacksonville | 28,069 | 183 | 15.3 |
New Orleans | 26,347 | 211 | 15.2 |
Denver | 27,392 | 193 | 15.2 |
Los Angeles | 26,754 | 201 | 15.2 |
Oakland | 27,044 | 193 | 15.1 |
Atlanta | 27,437 | 185 | 15.1 |
Pittsburgh | 28,564 | 165 | 15.0 |
Arizona | 27,434 | 181 | 15.0 |
San Diego | 27,073 | 187 | 15.0 |
Kansas City | 26,661 | 193 | 14.9 |
Baltimore | 28,024 | 163 | 14.8 |
Cincinnati | 27,939 | 160 | 14.7 |
Indianapolis | 26,986 | 175 | 14.6 |
Cleveland | 27,651 | 162 | 14.6 |
NY Jets | 27,437 | 164 | 14.6 |
San Francisco | 26,472 | 167 | 14.3 |
Buffalo | 26,511 | 158 | 14.1 |
New England | 26,358 | 155 | 13.9 |
Miami | 26,348 | 153 | 13.9 |
For passing production, the easiest schedule project to belong to the Cowboys, Giants and four teams in the AFC North.
The hardest schedules belong to the Saints, 49ers and Bucs.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE -- PASSING | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | Yards | TDP | FPG |
Dallas | 68,894 | 498 | 38.6 |
Baltimore | 69,333 | 447 | 37.6 |
NY Giants | 67,482 | 459 | 37.1 |
Cincinnati | 67,051 | 460 | 37.0 |
Cleveland | 67,975 | 441 | 36.9 |
Pittsburgh | 67,389 | 449 | 36.8 |
Detroit | 66,707 | 453 | 36.7 |
Washington | 67,509 | 430 | 36.4 |
Chicago | 66,782 | 431 | 36.2 |
Minnesota | 65,814 | 438 | 36.0 |
Seattle | 67,124 | 414 | 35.9 |
Philadelphia | 66,813 | 416 | 35.8 |
Green Bay | 65,656 | 434 | 35.8 |
San Diego | 65,555 | 435 | 35.8 |
Denver | 66,563 | 418 | 35.8 |
NY Jets | 66,646 | 415 | 35.8 |
Atlanta | 66,260 | 421 | 35.8 |
Buffalo | 67,074 | 405 | 35.7 |
Carolina | 66,173 | 420 | 35.7 |
Houston | 65,881 | 419 | 35.6 |
Kansas City | 65,903 | 418 | 35.5 |
Tennessee | 65,261 | 422 | 35.4 |
Los Angeles | 66,283 | 402 | 35.3 |
Miami | 65,880 | 405 | 35.2 |
Arizona | 66,357 | 397 | 35.2 |
Indianapolis | 64,733 | 421 | 35.2 |
Oakland | 64,517 | 424 | 35.1 |
New England | 65,176 | 406 | 35.0 |
Jacksonville | 63,747 | 427 | 34.9 |
Tampa Bay | 65,342 | 391 | 34.7 |
San Francisco | 64,730 | 394 | 34.5 |
New Orleans | 65,381 | 371 | 34.2 |
—Ian Allan