Strength of Schedule Winners & Losers

Have you ever been frustrated by the limitations of using strength of schedule to support your fantasy analysis? One common methodology is to include the previous season’s win percentage. It’s an easy point of data that many use. One limitation of this methodology is that it doesn’t take into account free agency, trades, the NFL Draft, or other data points.

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Our signature strength of schedule metric, Schedule-Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed (aFPA), removes any biases to provide you with a more accurate picture as you analyze matchups. This metric is a simple way to gain an immediate glimpse at which NFL teams have an advantage or disadvantage versus each position. It’s also very useful when evaluating tough roster decisions.

This article will look at a few of the winners and losers with how the 2020 NFL Schedule turned out within the framework of aFPA.

Editor's note: aFPA will be adjusted throughout the offseason as rosters and depth charts change.

Schedule-Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed to Running Backs

Winners

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• Colts’ running backs Marlon Mack and Jonathan Taylor have the easiest schedule for PPR backs according to aFPA. Indianapolis’ backs averaged 30.6 opportunities per game last season behind a very good offensive and now have Philip Rivers under center.
• Steelers’ running back James Conner is well-positioned for a bounce-back season behind Pittsburgh’s revamped offensive line and the return of Ben Roethlisberger. His injury history is a concern, but Conner has averaged nearly 17 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the last two seasons.
• Derrick Henry is locked in as the Titans workhorse this season after finishing as an RB2 or better in 80% of his games last season. He’s in a great position to outperform his average draft position given Tennessee’s schedule.
• David Johnson has landed in a great situation in Houston as their new starter after the departure of Carlos Hyde. His versatility and route-running ability will keep him on the field frequently if he can stay healthy. Johnson has finished as an RB2 or better in 69% of the games he’s played in since 2016. He’s an excellent bounce-back candidate in 2020 considering the Texans’ schedule.
• The Bengals will continue to prioritize the running game this season with No. 1 overall draft pick Joe Burrow under center. Mixon averaged over 25 opportunities a game coming out the bye week last season. He finished as the RB4 from Weeks 10–17.
• Dalvin Cook averaged 19.3 fantasy points per game in half-point PPR last season. He finished as an RB1 in 50% of his games. Now Cook has a very favorable schedule running behind one of the NFL’s top offensive lines in Gary Kubiak’s zone-blocking scheme.
• David Montgomery averaged 17.3 opportunities per game as a rookie. The addition of quarterback Nick Foles, new offensive line coach Juan Castillo, and the Bears schedule position Montgomery as a breakout candidate in 2020.

Losers

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• Christian McCaffrey was already a prime candidate for regression after his RB1 finish last season. He’s dealing with a new coaching staff and a schedule according to our aFPA that is less than ideal. Even if McCaffrey’s statistical production comes back down to earth in 2020, he should still be viewed as the top-ranked player.
• Devin Singletary had a very successful rookie season, but enters 2020 with competition for touches after the Bills selected Utah’s Zach Moss in the third round. This combined with a challenging schedule could limit his upside this season.
• Kenyan Drake was the fourth-best fantasy running back once he was traded to the Cardinals last season via trade in Week 9. He signed a one-year transition deal, which implies Arizona isn’t 100% invested in him. The Cardinals also drafted Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin in this year’s draft and also have Chase Edmonds on the roster. When you combine these factors with Arizona’s schedule Drake could be a bust in 2020.

Schedule-Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed to Wide Receivers

Winners

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• Allen Robinson averaged nearly 10 targets and 103 air yards per game last season. He finished as a WR2 or better 50% of the time in half-point PPR with quarterback Mitch Trubisky under center. Trubsiky finished 30th in true passer rating last season. This rating factors out unpressured throwaways and dropped passes. The addition of Nick Foles and the Bears schedule bodes well for Robinson’s fantasy outlook in 2020.
• Davante Adams is in a position to thrive with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers when you look at the Packers schedule. He's finished as a WR2 or better in 73% of the games he’s played in since 2017. Adams has averaged 9.4 targets, six receptions, 75 receiving yards and 101.2 air yards per game over the last four seasons.
• D.J. Chark benefits when you look at the Jaguars schedule. He finished as a WR2 or better in 40% of his games in half-point PPR. Chark’s rapport with quarterback Gardner Minshew is undeniable. Both are in a great position to repeat or exceed their production from last season.
• Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf can also prosper with the Seahawks schedule. Lockett set career highs in multiple statistical categories and finished as a WR2 in 50% of his games in half-point PPR. He caught 82 of 110 targets for 1,057 receiving yards. Metcalf delivered on the hype with a masterful rookie season after many doubted his ability to be a pro-ready receiver. He had the second-most targets on the Seahawks finishing as a WR3 or better in 69 percent of his games in half-point PPR catching 58 of 100 targets for 900 receiving yards.
• DeAndre Hopkins is set up nicely for his first season with the Cardinals. He’s tied to last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Kyler Murray in Kingsbury’s pass-heavy scheme. Hopkins has finished as a WR2 or better in 70% of his games over the last two seasons in half-point PPR.
• Deebo Samuel's broken foot has opened the door for Brandon Aiyuk to positively impact the 49ers passing game in 2020 with this schedule. San Francisco finished last season ranked second in rushing attempts and rushing yards per game, but head coach and play-caller Kyle Shanahan must be licking his chops after looking at their schedule. Aiyuk’s receiving yards last season were the fifth-most in Arizona State single-season history—he was within 18 of fourth place and 56 of third. Aiyuk’s 99.3 receiving yards per game ranked 13th in the FBS. He finished second in the FBS during the regular season with 710 yards after the catch. Aiyuk also led the PAC-12 with an impressive 3.02 yards per route according to Sports Info Solutions. Six of his eight touchdown receptions in 2019 were 30 yards or more. Aiyuk was very effective accumulating 1,870 all-purpose yards, which ranked sixth in the FBS, on just 94 touches. His nearly 20 yards per touch ranked fourth in the FBS. Aiyuk is the type of versatile offensive weapon Shanahan could leverage to give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares.
• Terry McLaurin is also a winner. He had a productive rookie season finishing as a WR3 or better in 57% of his games in half-point PPR. McLaurin did this while dealing with multiple quarterbacks and playing in a Redskins offense that never looked completely put together last season due to coaching changes. He ranked in the top 10 in average depth of target last season among receivers with 90 or more targets.

Losers

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• The Bills schedule isn’t a walk in the park and Stefon Diggs will have to deal with No. 1 cornerbacks on a weekly basis. He’s also catching passes from Josh Allen who finished last season ranked 18th in true passer rating and has a tendency to overthrow receivers.
• DeVante Parker thrived last season due to a season-ending injury to Preston Williams and the abysmal play of the Dolphins defense. Miami has improved their defense through free agency and the draft and Williams is expected to return this season. When you combine these factors along with the Dolphins schedule Parker could not meet the expectations of his average draft position.
• Breshad Perriman faces a daunting schedule after signing with the Jets in free agency. He broke out late last season with the Buccaneers once Evans and Godwin went down, but Perriman will now be seeing a steady dose of No. 1 cornerbacks in 2020. I’m bullish on the Jets offense this season, Jamison Crowder and Denzel Mims are positioned much better with Darnold in New York’s passing game.

Schedule-Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed to Quarterbacks

Winners

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• Carson Wentz has the potential to finish as a top-three quarterback in 2020. The Eagles have provided him with numerous offensive weapons and the team has a favorable schedule. Wentz has averaged 263.4 passing yards and 21 fantasy points per game in active games over the last two seasons.
• Dwayne Haskins is being underrated heading into his sophomore season. His rookie campaign was up-and-down, but Haskins did appear to connect the dots toward the end of the season. He threw for 564 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception in his last three starts. Haskins has a “new sense of urgency” entering the 2020 season to prove himself as a legitimate NFL quarterback. Washington’s schedule could help that goal become a reality.
• Baker Mayfield should bounce back nicely for the Browns this season with new head coach Kevin Stefanski and the team’s schedule. Cleveland has surrounded him with talent, but Stefanski will do with former head coach Freddie Kitchens could not: Place the 25-year old quarterback in positions to succeed.

Losers

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• Deshaun Watson has the toughest schedule for quarterbacks according to our aFPA. The loss of Hopkins will negatively impact him—Watson and Hopkins averaged 87.8 yards per game together. The duo accounted for 25 passing touchdowns and 182 1st downs in 38 games. Watson is talented enough to overcome the departure of Hopkins, but he’s isn’t a quarterback you should aggressively target ahead of his average draft position in fantasy drafts.
• Josh Allen could struggle this season if he doesn’t improve as a passer. He could explode with the Bills addition of legit No. 1 receiver in Diggs, but Allen could implode if he doesn’t continue to elevate his craft.
• Drew Lock is on everyone’s radar as a potential breakout candidate. He’s surrounded by enough receiving weapons to succeed, but Lock’s lack of starting experience is a concern. The most likely scenario is that the Broncos lean heavily on Phillip Lindsay and free-agent running back addition Melvin Gordon.

Schedule-Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed to Tight Ends

Winners

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• Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert have the easiest schedule for PPR tight ends according to our aFPA. They accounted for 14.4 targets per game last season. This trend will continue in 2020 because the Eagles have historically used a high number of two-tight end sets.
• George Kittle has the second easiest schedule for PPR tight ends. He finished as a TE1 in 79% of his games last season. Kittle also led all tight ends in yards per route run. He’s a candidate to dethrone Travis Kelce as the fantasy TE1 this season.
• The Seahawks have the fourth easiest schedule for PPR tight ends. The Seahawks have filled the No. 3 receiver role with a tight end. Will Dissly operated as the third option in the passing game for Seattle before rupturing his Achilles in Week 6. He averaged 52.5 receiving yards per game. The Seahawks also signed Greg Olsen this offseason. Could this be a shift in Seattle’s offensive philosophy? The Seahawks also drafted tight end, Colby Parkinson, in the fourth round and traded back into the seventh round to select tight end, Stephen Sullivan.

Losers

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• It’s difficult to find a true loser at the tight end position considering how desolate things could look outside of the elite options. The hype continues to build for Titans tight end Jonnu Smith this season. Tennessee has the second most difficult schedule for PPR tight ends. The Titans also averaged the seventh-most rushing attempts (28.7) per game last season.

Bringing It All Together

As a gentle reminder, the strength of schedule analysis isn’t the end all be all when conducting fantasy football research. It is something you should have an awareness of and factor into your process. What surprised you the most after reading this article? Follow me on Twitter and let’s have a discussion about it. Until next time!