Scheduletron

December 04, 2018

Updated strength of schedule

Soft schedule could boost Saints

There are three powerhouse offenses in the NFL this year. I see in my weekly look at strength of schedule that two of them have vastly different schedules.

The Saints in the next three weeks will play three defenses that currently are allowing an average of 3.1 touchdowns per game. That ties with Denver for the most in the league.

Kansas City’s next three opponents, in contrast have defenses that have allowed an average of only 2.2 touchdowns, tying for 2nd-fewest in the league. So not only does that offense have to overcome playing without Kareem Hunt. It also will face more difficult defenses.

This, by the way, is setting aside Week 17 (I’m assuming most fantasy leagues are done at that time). Kansas City in that final game hosts the defensively challenged Raiders.

The Broncos, Cardinals and Browns also might benefit from facing softer defenses in the next three weeks.

The Dolphins project to play the hardest schedule of all, with three other teams tied with KC: Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and Washington.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, TOUCHDOWNS (Weeks 14-16)
Team	TDR	TDP	OTD
New Orleans	.89	2.17	3.06
Denver	.97	2.08	3.06
Arizona	.89	2.11	3.00
Cleveland	.92	2.06	2.97
Carolina	1.08	1.83	2.92
Baltimore	1.00	1.92	2.92
LA Chargers	1.06	1.81	2.86
Oakland	.92	1.94	2.86
Chicago	.81	2.00	2.81
Atlanta	1.06	1.75	2.81
Pittsburgh	.72	2.06	2.78
Cincinnati	.94	1.83	2.78
Green Bay	.81	1.86	2.69
Seattle	.86	1.81	2.67
Minnesota	.78	1.89	2.67
Buffalo	.72	1.92	2.67
Dallas	.89	1.75	2.64
New England	.83	1.78	2.61
Detroit	1.03	1.39	2.42
NY Jets	.83	1.58	2.42
LA Rams	.86	1.53	2.39
Jacksonville	.75	1.64	2.39
Houston	.81	1.56	2.39
Tennessee	.89	1.44	2.36
San Francisco	.58	1.72	2.31
Philadelphia	.58	1.72	2.31
NY Giants	.72	1.50	2.22
Washington	.83	1.33	2.19
Tampa Bay	.69	1.50	2.19
Indianapolis	.69	1.47	2.19
Kansas City	.69	1.50	2.19
Miami	.64	1.47	2.11

For passing production, the Browns, Saints and Ravens project to play the easiest schedules the next three weeks.

The Lions, Washington and Kansas City project to play the hardest schedules.

That’s using standard fantasy scoring – 6 points for TD passes and 1 for every 10 passing yards. (I could run the numbers for 4 points for TD passes and 1 for every 20 yards, but they would be similar.)

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, PASSING (Weeks 14-16)
Team	Yards	TDP	Points
Cleveland	259	2.06	38.3
New Orleans	251	2.17	38.1
Baltimore	264	1.92	37.9
Carolina	267	1.83	37.7
Pittsburgh	253	2.06	37.6
Arizona	247	2.11	37.3
Denver	245	2.08	37.0
Oakland	253	1.94	37.0
Seattle	253	1.81	36.1
Dallas	256	1.75	36.1
LA Chargers	252	1.81	36.1
Buffalo	244	1.92	35.9
Chicago	238	2.00	35.8
Minnesota	242	1.89	35.5
Green Bay	244	1.86	35.5
Cincinnati	243	1.83	35.3
San Francisco	246	1.72	34.9
Philadelphia	242	1.72	34.5
Houston	247	1.56	34.1
Jacksonville	241	1.64	33.9
Atlanta	234	1.75	33.9
LA Rams	239	1.53	33.0
New England	222	1.78	32.9
NY Giants	238	1.50	32.8
Indianapolis	239	1.47	32.8
Tennessee	236	1.44	32.3
Tampa Bay	233	1.50	32.3
Miami	230	1.47	31.8
NY Jets	222	1.58	31.7
Kansas City	224	1.50	31.4
Washington	221	1.33	30.1
Detroit	213	1.39	29.7

For rushing production, the Broncos, Bengals and Falcons project to play the easiest schedules the next three weeks. Good news for those hoping for continued good production from Phillip Lindsay.

The Bucs, Eagles and 49ers project to play the hardest run schedules.

On this chart, “Points” indicates fantasy production, using 6 for rushing touchdowns and 1 for every 10 rushing yards.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, RUSHING (Weeks 14-16)
Team	Yards	TDR	Points
Denver	122	.97	18.1
Cincinnati	121	.94	17.8
Atlanta	112	1.06	17.6
LA Chargers	112	1.06	17.5
Oakland	116	.92	17.1
Carolina	105	1.08	17.0
Cleveland	114	.92	16.9
Detroit	107	1.03	16.8
Arizona	114	.89	16.7
Baltimore	107	1.00	16.7
Minnesota	117	.78	16.4
Washington	109	.83	15.9
New England	108	.83	15.8
Jacksonville	113	.75	15.8
Chicago	109	.81	15.7
Tennessee	103	.89	15.7
Dallas	101	.89	15.4
Green Bay	106	.81	15.4
LA Rams	102	.86	15.3
Seattle	101	.86	15.3
Buffalo	109	.72	15.3
Houston	103	.81	15.2
New Orleans	98	.89	15.1
NY Jets	100	.83	15.0
Pittsburgh	103	.72	14.7
NY Giants	100	.72	14.4
Kansas City	95	.69	13.6
Indianapolis	95	.69	13.6
Miami	97	.64	13.5
San Francisco	100	.58	13.5
Philadelphia	93	.58	12.8
Tampa Bay	78	.69	12.0

—Ian Allan

strength of schedule

Older

Newer

My dad and I have subscribed since I was 10 years old and I am 38 now. We canʼt go a season without it.

Trevor T. Sparks, Nev.

You guys are great - if you look at my account, I believe I have been a subscriber for around 20 years! Unfortunately, a few years ago a couple of other owners found the same publication (they didnʼt get it from me; I always disguised the sheets while at the draft!)

Michael B. St. Charles, Mo.

I have purchased your magazine since my first fantasy football season ever 12 season ago and love the insight you offer. Thank you for the great service, I look forward to many many more years of enjoying your subscription!

Paul L. Mequon, Wisc.

The magazine is exactly the same as last year, which is perfect. Boys, we have a chance to repeat in the 33rd year of the NWFFL. I am counting on you to help pull it off. FI has been a league staple for decades, one of my guys has every edition. A few years ago, we devised a clever way to use one of your lists to draft a team for an absent owner, the sob won it all. We love you guys. Peace!

Glenn S. Olympia, Wash.

Hi, received my copy over the weekend and I think it's the best work you guys have done (I've been reading your publication since 1988). The writing is terrific and full of good humor, along with more substance than anybody else has.

Keep up the great work!

John L. Madison, Wis.

I'm in 3 leagues. All have different formats. I bought one magazine, the same magazine for 30 years. I keep the Fantasy Football Index handy and refer back to your preseason reports throughout the season to help me evaluate roster moves in every format. This week I'm in two championship games and a semifinal. Did I tell you I'm in three leagues? Three playoff teams! Best fantasy season ever. Thank you.

Henry G. Bartlett, Ill.

Thanks for another great season of Fantasy Index, you avoid group-think and form your own opinions, and always have. I've been using your products since 1992, and you've always been a cut above the rest.

Rob D. Wellington, Fla.

Thank you for all you do and what your team does. Been playing since mid 90s and your mag has been there every year. The mailer I get with the questions on the front is what I consider the beginning of the fantasy football season. Get the updates and listen to the podcast. I write a weekly column for the newspaper I work at and always appreciate the work you put in to produce as much as you do. Just a fan saying thanks and will keep up with you and the site through the season.

Jason C. Tulsa, Okla.

A little feedback from a long time customer.

Our fantasy pool is entering its 25^th year and I have used multiple books and on-line tools over the years.

I have locked on to Fantasy Index as my go to for the last 5 years and have won the pool 3 of those years and finished no lower than 4^th.

Interesting to see how much more accurate you were at the end of the year compared to other books my competitors used.

Having it in a format that allows me to work the forecasts to match our scoring system and then receive updates as the season approaches is invaluable. Whoever your sources are for the forecasts are the best. Hang on to them. Thanks for the help!!

Peter M. London, Ontario, Canada

I did receive the updated draft ranking from you guys in plenty of time for my draft that night. My draft report gave me an A+ and predicted me to go 14-0 and win my league! I just want to say thank you for the excellent customer service that your company provided me. When I first started playing fantasy football more than 15 years ago, I used to buy as many fantasy football magazines as I could find. It wasnʼt long before I only purchased Fantasy Football Index each year. It is by far the most comprehensive, well written fantasy football magazine on the market. Also, I almost always rank in the top three in my fantasy football leagues, and won my league last year. Thank you to you and all of your great team. You have a customer for life!

Trey C. Fort Worth, Texas

Thank you for all the updates etc. In the last 14 or 15 years, we have placed in the top three 9 times winning it all 4 times. I have been a customer of yours for many years. Our success is partially due to luck, but I think your magazine with all of the good stuff has been a real contributing factor. Keep up the good work. Will be a customer until the time I can't read anymore.

Richard M. Imperial, Neb.

I just wanted to send everyone at Fantasy Football Index an apology. Since 2003 (Ricky Williams cover), I've protected my source of information and have gone out of my way to hide Fantasy Football Index from my leagues prying eyes. I've won championships in leagues and money playing Daily Fantasy and your Training Camp updates are the highlight of my summer and a recurring order for me every single season. I just wanted to Thank You and everyone there (customer service, the writers, janitors, secretaries and assistants) for your hard work and dedication.

You are appreciated and valued part of my Fantasy Football Operations department even if i never speak your name in fear that others in my league will discover the wondrous bounty of knowledge contained in your pages…

From the bottom of a champion's heart,

Dave M. Elma, N.Y.

I wanted to send a quick note and thank you for your great magazine! The information you provide, has allowed me to win my league 3 years in a row!

The payoff in the league is not bad, six hundred dollars to be exact, but it is those all important bragging rights that really make it fun!

I epically enjoyed this last issue because you included all the covers for the past 30 years, I did not buy 87, and 88, but all the rest I have purchased.

All I have to do is read and then plug and play, thanks again for doing all the work so I don't have to, except for cash the check of course! Lol.

I will be continue to purchase your magazine, and recommend it to others, although I don't like to give away my secret!

I typically don't write emails to magazines, but after 3 wins in a row, and others which I did not list, I felt like you would like to know.

Thanks again to you and your staff,

Darrell W. Holt, Mich.

I wanted to let you know I finished my season going 16-0 winning my league, breaking every record in our 19 year history along the way. A special thank you to FI for the insightful knowledge as it provided me much help along the way.

Ryan M. Lynnwood, Wash.

You guys do a great job. I got laughed at by a few people at the draft but they're not laughing now. I'm leading the league in record (8-1) and PF thus far.

John W. Aylett, Va.

And a side note… we've got a re-draft 16-team, 20 players drafted league (drafting water boys by the 17^th round) that I've won 2 years in a row. Nobody's ever done that in 21 years… using your cheat sheet. it's an old school league that used to draft out of piles of magazines.

Thanks again,

Todd S. Grand Junction, Colo.

This is my ninth year competing with my two very savey adult children and their 11 regulars to make it a 14 team draft with a $200 bid limit. Your SuperFanatic package has put me into the 6 team play- offs 4 out of the 8 years and there is no way I could compete with these guys without my cheat sheets! They still have no idea how I can be so lucky every year :-) Cheaters do prosper!!!!

Robert A.

I wanted to thank you for such an amazing product and your customer service. I ordered the wrong date for my update and called to correct the mistake. Your customer service person was very kind, helpful and took care of the issue immediately.

I have used your product for the past 18 years or so… Every now and then I will be tempted and look at what other magazines have to offer, quickly realizing no one comes close.

In addition to the magazine, I started buying the weekly updates years ago when my dad taught me a lesson. The draft came and dad was sitting in the 12 hole for his pick. He told me he felt very comfortable about who he was going to select but would not tell me who his prized gem was to be. I was doubtful. The pick? Priest Holmes (his first dynamite year). I remember telling my dad, "that is a decent pick but they plan to pull him at the goal line." Ever the teacher, dad explained he had purchased the Fantasy Football Index update and read Holmes would get the goal line carries. "Update?", I asked. That was 2002 and Holmes had 21 rushing TDs and Dad won the title! Lesson learned.

By the way, I have made the title game for the last 5 years in a row. Thanks for the detailed, hard work and an great product!

David R. Queen Creek, Ariz.

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Scheduletron

Updated strength of schedule

Today's Trivia

Mailbag

Member updates

Follow

Why Choose Fantasy Index?

Quick hits

Your Stuff

In-Depth

Resources

All Products

Help & Support

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Customer Service