Fantasy Index

Scheduletron

Updated strength of schedule

Fast start, easy schedule gives Niners the edge in the NFC West

The 49ers are riddled with injuries, but they’re nonetheless 4-1. They’re also set up with an easy schedule, positioning them to be the playoffs at the end of the season.

Recall heading into the season that the numbers suggested San Francisco would not only play the easiest schedule, but the easiest schedule of the last 10 years.

A month into the season, we can check into schedules, now using not 2024 records for what teams have done so far. The 49ers still show up near the top, but not with the eye-catching numbers that we saw in August.

San Francisco has games remaining against Carolina, Chicago, Tennessee and the Giants, which are about as good as you can get, but the NFC West might the hardest division. The 49ers have games remaining against Cleveland and Houston, who are both 1-3, but those teams are good defensively. And the Colts are playing better than anticipated.

San Francisco’s remaining schedule still projects to be significantly easier than the other three teams in their division, a benefit of finishing in last place in 2024.

Based on how teams have played so far, the Patriots, Saints and Jets project to play the easiest remaining schedules. They’re followed by three that look likely to be in the playoffs – Jaguars, 49ers, Bills.

Hardest remaining schedules: Texans, Commanders, Vikings.

REMAINING STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
TeamWinLossTiePct
New England19330.365
New Orleans21320.396
NY Jets22291.433
Jacksonville23300.434
San Francisco22270.449
Buffalo24280.462
Denver23272.462
Miami24280.462
Baltimore24281.462
Cleveland25280.472
Dallas25270.481
Atlanta26280.481
Tampa Bay26280.481
Cincinnati25261.490
LA Chargers25261.490
Las Vegas25261.490
Carolina26262.500
Kansas City26251.510
Pittsburgh26251.510
Green Bay27250.519
Philadelphia26242.519
Seattle29260.527
Chicago27242.528
Indianapolis28250.528
Tennessee28250.528
LA Rams27220.551
Arizona30232.564
Detroit29222.566
NY Giants29222.566
Minnesota28213.567
Washington29212.577
Houston31220.585

—Ian Allan

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