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Fast start teams

Eagles could benefit from easy schedule early

In a fantasy league, it sure is nice to get off to a good start. With that in mind, it makes sense to pay attention to how the schedule lays out – which teams have easy (and difficult) schedules early in the season.

If we take the schedules and look at just the first five games for each team (Weeks 1-6 for some) the Eagles project to play the easiest opening slate, against opponents who went a combined 30-49-1 last season. Others with easy opening schedules: Bears, Bengals, Patriots.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, project to play the hardest schedule early in the season (their first five are against teams that went 50-30 last year). Others with difficult opening schedules: Saints, Raiders, Falcons.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, WINS (G 1-5)
TeamWLTPct
Philadelphia30491.381
Chicago31472.400
Cincinnati32471.406
New England33461.419
Minnesota34451.431
Kansas City35450.438
Buffalo35450.438
Tennessee35441.444
NY Giants36431.456
Carolina37430.463
Dallas38411.481
Arizona39410.488
Baltimore38402.488
Denver39401.494
LA Chargers40400.500
Cleveland40400.500
Pittsburgh41390.513
San Francisco40382.513
Tampa Bay42380.525
LA Rams42371.531
Detroit42371.531
NY Jets43361.544
Indianapolis44360.550
Houston44360.550
Seattle44351.556
Jacksonville45350.563
Green Bay45341.569
Washington47330.588
Atlanta47321.594
Oakland48311.606
New Orleans49310.613
Miami50300.625

If you want to instead look at points allowed, four of the teams in the bottom 5 remain the same: Dolphins, Falcons, Raiders and Washington. Green Bay also places in the bottom 6 using both methods.

The 49ers and Ravens, meanwhile, project to play the easiest opening-season schedules, with their first five against teams that allowed an average of over 25 points per game last year.

Others who seem to have easier opening schedules: Vikings, Eagles and Seahawks.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, POINTS (G 1-5)
TeamPts
San Francisco25.7
Baltimore25.4
Minnesota24.8
Philadelphia24.8
Seattle24.7
New England24.6
Tampa Bay24.6
Dallas24.5
Indianapolis24.3
Cincinnati24.3
LA Rams24.2
Buffalo24.2
Detroit24.0
Chicago24.0
Carolina23.8
NY Giants23.3
Cleveland23.1
Pittsburgh23.1
Tennessee23.1
New Orleans22.9
Arizona22.9
Houston22.5
LA Chargers22.5
Denver22.4
Kansas City22.2
Jacksonville22.1
NY Jets22.0
Oakland21.7
Washington21.2
Atlanta20.7
Green Bay20.6
Miami20.3

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index