I’m not a big fan of Washington’s running backs. I don’t expect I’ll go into any drafts hoping to use a middle- or later-round pick on guys like Adrian Peterson, Derrius Guice, Antonio Gibson or Peyton Barber. But I will concede that the team’s running game might be helped some by its schedule.
Typical fantasy leagues run through Week 16. And for those 15 games, Washington projects to play the easiest run schedule in the league. In those games, Washington’s opponents when we last saw them allowed an average of 116 rushing yards and .98 rushing touchdowns per week. If you prefer to think in terms of season totals, that’s an average of 1,856 yards and 15.7 touchdowns in a 16-game season.
Not that Washington will lead the league in rushing, but perhaps it’s a sign the team’s rushing production will be a little higher than what many are expecting.
Other teams with schedules that project to be favorable for rushing: Tampa Bay, Arizona, Baltimore.
Teams that project to play schedules that are harder for rushing purposes: Buffalo, Carolina, Kansas City.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, RUSHING (Wks 1-16) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | Yards | TDR | Fan Pts |
Washington | 116 | .98 | 17.5 |
Tampa Bay | 114 | .99 | 17.3 |
Arizona | 114 | .96 | 17.2 |
Baltimore | 120 | .86 | 17.2 |
Philadelphia | 117 | .91 | 17.1 |
Pittsburgh | 117 | .90 | 17.1 |
Cincinnati | 118 | .88 | 17.0 |
Atlanta | 111 | .99 | 17.0 |
Minnesota | 111 | .98 | 17.0 |
Dallas | 118 | .86 | 16.9 |
Detroit | 113 | .90 | 16.8 |
Houston | 116 | .85 | 16.7 |
Tennessee | 117 | .84 | 16.7 |
Indianapolis | 115 | .87 | 16.7 |
NY Giants | 114 | .86 | 16.6 |
Chicago | 112 | .90 | 16.6 |
LA Chargers | 112 | .90 | 16.5 |
Cleveland | 113 | .87 | 16.5 |
Jacksonville | 116 | .82 | 16.5 |
NY Jets | 115 | .83 | 16.5 |
Las Vegas | 112 | .86 | 16.4 |
New England | 113 | .83 | 16.3 |
San Francisco | 111 | .85 | 16.2 |
Miami | 111 | .83 | 16.1 |
Denver | 109 | .86 | 16.1 |
LA Rams | 109 | .87 | 16.1 |
Green Bay | 109 | .86 | 16.1 |
New Orleans | 107 | .87 | 15.9 |
Seattle | 111 | .78 | 15.8 |
Kansas City | 106 | .83 | 15.6 |
Carolina | 108 | .78 | 15.5 |
Buffalo | 109 | .77 | 15.5 |
If you prefer to look at all 16 games (including Week 17) the Ravens, Steelers and Eagles project to play the three easiest run schedules (with Washington dropping down to 4th).
Using all 16 games, Carolina, Kansas City and Buffalo still project to play the three hardest run schedules.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, RUSHING (Wks 1-17) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | Yards | TDR | Fan Pts |
Baltimore | 122 | .88 | 17.4 |
Pittsburgh | 119 | .91 | 17.4 |
Philadelphia | 119 | .91 | 17.3 |
Washington | 115 | .97 | 17.3 |
Tampa Bay | 113 | .98 | 17.2 |
Arizona | 114 | .96 | 17.1 |
Indianapolis | 116 | .91 | 17.0 |
Dallas | 117 | .88 | 17.0 |
Minnesota | 111 | .97 | 16.9 |
Cincinnati | 116 | .87 | 16.8 |
Tennessee | 117 | .84 | 16.7 |
Atlanta | 108 | .97 | 16.7 |
Houston | 116 | .85 | 16.7 |
LA Chargers | 113 | .89 | 16.6 |
Chicago | 112 | .90 | 16.6 |
Detroit | 113 | .88 | 16.6 |
New Orleans | 110 | .93 | 16.6 |
NY Giants | 113 | .86 | 16.5 |
San Francisco | 112 | .88 | 16.4 |
Cleveland | 113 | .84 | 16.3 |
Jacksonville | 115 | .80 | 16.3 |
Las Vegas | 112 | .84 | 16.2 |
NY Jets | 114 | .80 | 16.2 |
New England | 111 | .83 | 16.1 |
Green Bay | 109 | .87 | 16.1 |
Miami | 111 | .83 | 16.1 |
Denver | 108 | .87 | 16.0 |
LA Rams | 109 | .85 | 16.0 |
Seattle | 112 | .77 | 15.8 |
Buffalo | 110 | .78 | 15.7 |
Kansas City | 106 | .84 | 15.7 |
Carolina | 107 | .78 | 15.4 |
—Ian Allan