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) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T | Pct |
Philadelphia | 30 | 49 | 1 | .381 |
Chicago | 31 | 47 | 2 | .400 |
Cincinnati | 32 | 47 | 1 | .406 |
New England | 33 | 46 | 1 | .419 |
Minnesota | 34 | 45 | 1 | .431 |
Kansas City | 35 | 45 | 0 | .438 |
Buffalo | 35 | 45 | 0 | .438 |
Tennessee | 35 | 44 | 1 | .444 |
NY Giants | 36 | 43 | 1 | .456 |
Carolina | 37 | 43 | 0 | .463 |
Dallas | 38 | 41 | 1 | .481 |
Arizona | 39 | 41 | 0 | .488 |
Baltimore | 38 | 40 | 2 | .488 |
Denver | 39 | 40 | 1 | .494 |
LA Chargers | 40 | 40 | 0 | .500 |
Cleveland | 40 | 40 | 0 | .500 |
Pittsburgh | 41 | 39 | 0 | .513 |
San Francisco | 40 | 38 | 2 | .513 |
Tampa Bay | 42 | 38 | 0 | .525 |
LA Rams | 42 | 37 | 1 | .531 |
Detroit | 42 | 37 | 1 | .531 |
NY Jets | 43 | 36 | 1 | .544 |
Indianapolis | 44 | 36 | 0 | .550 |
Houston | 44 | 36 | 0 | .550 |
Seattle | 44 | 35 | 1 | .556 |
Jacksonville | 45 | 35 | 0 | .563 |
Green Bay | 45 | 34 | 1 | .569 |
Washington | 47 | 33 | 0 | .588 |
Atlanta | 47 | 32 | 1 | .594 |
Oakland | 48 | 31 | 1 | .606 |
New Orleans | 49 | 31 | 0 | .613 |
Miami | 50 | 30 | 0 | .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) | |
---|---|
Team | Pts |
San Francisco | 25.7 |
Baltimore | 25.4 |
Minnesota | 24.8 |
Philadelphia | 24.8 |
Seattle | 24.7 |
New England | 24.6 |
Tampa Bay | 24.6 |
Dallas | 24.5 |
Indianapolis | 24.3 |
Cincinnati | 24.3 |
LA Rams | 24.2 |
Buffalo | 24.2 |
Detroit | 24.0 |
Chicago | 24.0 |
Carolina | 23.8 |
NY Giants | 23.3 |
Cleveland | 23.1 |
Pittsburgh | 23.1 |
Tennessee | 23.1 |
New Orleans | 22.9 |
Arizona | 22.9 |
Houston | 22.5 |
LA Chargers | 22.5 |
Denver | 22.4 |
Kansas City | 22.2 |
Jacksonville | 22.1 |
NY Jets | 22.0 |
Oakland | 21.7 |
Washington | 21.2 |
Atlanta | 20.7 |
Green Bay | 20.6 |
Miami | 20.3 |
—Ian Allan