NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys: @ Payments, @ Dolphins, Lions:
Cowboys stacks have a pleasant highway within the playoffs. The Payments are a tricky protection and December climate in Buffalo generally is a query mark, however Dolphins and Lions are most likely extra common at greatest defenses. All three groups have shootout potential, notably week 17 at house vs the Lions. The Cowboys may need to attain 4-6 TDs to win any of those video games.
New York Giants: @ Saints, @ Eagles, LA Rams
The Eagles robust protection in Philly isn’t nice for the semi-finals week, however Saints and Rams are each good match-ups. Each of these groups have needed to do away with a number of their high defenders, considerably weakening the groups. The Rams additionally may push again if Stafford stays wholesome.
Philadelphia Eagles: @ Seahawks, Giants, Cardinals
Fairly good playoff schedule for the Eagles, one highway recreation in opposition to the Seahawks then closing out at house vs the Giants and Cardinals. Seahawks can push the tempo and their protection isn’t that robust. Giants protection is nice, however Philly had zero points with them final 12 months with their starters. Arizona’s protection may very well be the worst within the league. One concern with that recreation is that if there isn’t a pushback, Eagles gamers may not play the complete recreation in the event that they have already got their playoff seeding locked.
Washington Commanders: @ Rams, @ Jets, 49ers
Not the best schedule for the Commanders. Rams is a positive match-up, however you then shut with the Jets and 49ers, two of the highest 5 defenses within the league. San Francisco may additionally play sluggish, limiting the upside in that recreation.
NFC North:
Chicago Bears: @ Browns, Cardinals, Falcons
Bears have an okay schedule. The Browns may very well be robust on the highway, however the Cardinals are very favorable and the Falcons weren’t good final 12 months (although they added rather a lot this offseason). Bears vs Falcons may very well be very run centric, which means I wouldn’t anticipate a ton of performs. Fields sometimes had his greatest video games in uptempo spots.
Detroit Lions: Broncos, @ Vikings, @ Cowboys
Broncos to begin the playoffs isn’t splendid, however it’s at house. Vikings protection was terrible final season, in order that may very well be a really favorable recreation. Dallas creates a number of large performs on protection and so they can shut down groups at occasions, however sometimes good offenses can nonetheless transfer the ball on them. A pair potential shootouts, and having 3 indoor video games is an enormous plus for the Lions.
Inexperienced Bay Packers: Buccaneers, @ Panthers, @ Vikings
Buccaneers and Vikings determine to be good video games to place up fantasy factors. I might fear concerning the Panthers recreation being a difficulty, the Packers veteran protection may shut down a rookie QB and switch this right into a sluggish recreation. There may be nonetheless some good potential outcomes for any Inexperienced Bay items in your line-up.
Minnesota Vikings: @ Bengals, Lions, Packers
Bengals and Packers on paper are good defenses, and the Lions have tried so as to add to this unit this 12 months. I nonetheless just like the Vikings schedule total. Bengals and Lions might be shootout video games, and back-to-back house video games is sweet to complete the 12 months.
NFC South:
Atlanta Falcons: @ Panthers, Colts, @ Bears
From a defensive perspective, this may very well be fairly robust as each the Colts and Bears have some critical questions. The Panthers are a tricky protection, in order that may very well be a bit extra of a grind. The tempo is my largest concern as all three of those groups may very well be fairly sluggish tempo and run-focused. Powerful to anticipate a shootout in any of those match-ups. So for particular person performs like Bijan Robinson or Drake London it may very well be high quality, however I wouldn’t need a number of publicity.
Carolina Panthers: Falcons, Packers, @ Jaguars
The excellent news is the climate shouldn’t be an element with a pair of house video games and a highway journey to Jacksonville. The Jags may additionally put up a number of factors forcing the Panthers to extend their tempo. The defenses weren’t nice final 12 months, however Packers and Jaguars can each be fairly good, and Atlanta spent some huge cash upgrading their unit. General not a super scenario, however not horrible both.
New Orleans Saints: Giants, @ Rams, @ Buccaneers
Two highway video games isn’t splendid, however it’s in a dome and in Tampa so climate received’t be an element. The Giants are protection, however Rams and Bucs are lacking a number of key guys. The Saints offense may have a sneaky good path the ultimate few video games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: @ Packers, Jaguars, Saints
Might have a tricky climate recreation week 15 vs the Packers, however the ultimate two are at house so that could be a plus. Packers and Jaguars can each be more durable match-ups, particularly if the Bucs younger offensive line isn’t understanding. I do like closing out vs the Saints, neither group seems to have a powerful protection so it may very well be a high-scoring recreation.
NFC West:
Arizona Cardinals: 49ers, @ Bears, @ Eagles
The Playing cards offense runs right into a buzzsaw on the finish of the season, with the 49ers and Eagles on the schedule. These are two of the most effective defenses within the league, and so they must face Philly on the highway. The Bears recreation within the center must be simpler, however that’s on the highway as properly. Climate considerations are potential for each the Bears and Eagles video games.
L.A. Rams: Commanders, Saints, @ Giants
A pair of house video games and a highway recreation vs the Giants isn’t too unhealthy so long as the climate holds out. Washington is a really stingy protection, and the Giants determine to be fairly good as properly. The Saints although may very well be a enjoyable high-scoring recreation in between.
San Francisco 49ers: @ Cardinals, Ravens, @ Commanders
The Cardinals must be one of many worst defenses, and the Ravens had a number of points final season and haven’t achieved a lot to repair it this 12 months. So I feel the 49ers have two actually good match-ups to begin. Washington although may very well be fairly robust. Not the most effective ending for the Fantasy playoffs, however nonetheless fairly strong total.
Seattle Seahawks: Eagles, @ Titans, Steelers
A pair of house video games and a highway recreation in opposition to Tennessee is nice weather-wise. The Titans’ protection additionally figures to be fairly weak. The Eagles however are the most effective within the league, with the Steelers as a little bit of a wild card. Final 12 months they weren’t nice, however they’ve added a good quantity, and had been lacking their high defender for an extended stretch final 12 months.
AFC East:
Buffalo Payments: Cowboys, @ Chargers, Patriots
The climate undoubtedly generally is a concern in opposition to Dallas and New England, however total the match-ups are good. Dallas and Chargers are each clear shoot-out choices and with how aggressive the AFC East may very well be a division win shall be essential week 17. Any of those defenses may very well be fairly good, however we haven’t seen that be a serious downside vs the Payments. You will want to get just a little fortunate with the climate, however outdoors of that this may very well be fairly robust.
Miami Dolphins: Jets, Cowboys, @Ravens
The Jets protection is an actual concern, although this may very well be extra of a shootout if Tua is wholesome. The Cowboys is one other favorable shootout spot, and final 12 months once we noticed the Dolphins vs Ravens it was one of the crucial electrical fantasy video games of the season.
New England Patriots: Chiefs, @ Broncos, @ Payments
Powerful playoff fantasy schedule for Patriots gamers. Broncos and Payments are top-notch defenses, and the Chiefs might be fairly good as properly. The one optimistic right here is that KC and the Payments may push the rating, forcing New England to select up the tempo.
New York Jets: @ Dolphins, Commanders, @ Browns
The Dolphins recreation must be good, however the Commanders and Browns may very well be slower tempo and the Washington protection may very well be fairly good. Browns recreation additionally has some climate considerations. General it’s not unhealthy, however Miami might be the one home-run spot.
AFC North:
Baltimore Ravens: @ Jaguars, @ 49ers, Dolphins
The climate must be good all three weeks, and its in opposition to three contending groups so there’s some back-and-forth potential. By no means like having to journey to San Francisco and going through that robust protection, but when they survive that it’s an incredible week 17 match-up.
Cincinnati Bengals: Vikings, @ Steelers, @ Chiefs
The Vikings protection was terrible final season so that’s an effective way to begin your fantasy playoffs. Pittsburgh’s protection may very well be higher this 12 months, however what may actually assist is that if their offense is extra aggressive this 12 months. If Bengals are compelled to push again, their offense may rack-up the factors. The Bengals-Chiefs recreation week 17 must be one of many highest complete video games of the week.
Cleveland Browns: Bears, @ Texans, Jets
The Browns begin off robust in opposition to two weak defenses within the Bears and Texans. The Jets although are the most effective ones so it may very well be more durable to have a powerful finals week. Climate additionally generally is a issue with the pair of house video games.
Pittsburgh Steelers: @ Colts, Bengals, @ Seahawks
Steelers find yourself with a reasonably strong playoff schedule for fantasy. Colts and Seahawks must be good climate, and each are most likely common defenses at greatest. The Bengals and Seahawks can each be robust offensively, which may pressure the Steelers to throw extra and enhance their tempo of play.
AFC South:
Houston Texans: @ Titans, Browns, Titans
Texans aren’t a group you might be stacking, however the items you may have from them have a really robust path within the Fantasy playoffs. Climate isn’t going to be an element with a highway journey to the Titans and a pair of house video games. Enjoying the Titans twice in three weeks may very well be superb as their protection has misplaced a number of items and so they didn’t handle that facet of the ball in any respect within the draft. The Browns protection may very well be okay however most likely isn’t an elite unit.
Indianapolis Colts: Steelers, @ Falcons, Raiders
Colts have a so-so path within the playoffs. The excellent news is all three video games shall be indoors, and each the Falcons and Raiders had been weaker defenses final 12 months. Pittsburgh may very well be one of many league’s greatest if Watt stays wholesome and with their offseason additions. Simply how good the Falcons and Raiders’ defenses enhance would be the key right here. Each added items this offseason and may very well be rather a lot higher, or they might keep close to the cellar of the league rankings. The larger concern is these video games may all play slower, particularly if the Colts offense isn’t working at full steam.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Ravens, @ Buccaneers, Panthers
This is without doubt one of the stronger playoff schedules and thus far doesn’t appear to be getting a number of buzz. The climate must be nice all three video games, two of that are at house. Ravens and Buccaneers have very suspect secondaries, and whereas the Panthers protection is nice, it’s nonetheless beatable. Week 17’s highest fantasy rating for a QB and WR had been in opposition to the Panthers, and we may perhaps see that once more this 12 months with a really promising Jaguars offense.
Tennessee Titans: Texans, Seahawks, @ Texans
So much if being made about this being a simple schedule, notably for Derrick Henry, however I wouldn’t get overly excited. Henry does have a wonderful monitor report vs the Texans, however this Tennessee offense is a serious concern going into the season. Its not the identical match-up that we’ve seen previously few years because the Titans may battle to attain factors. That being stated, if Henry continues to be on the Titans on the finish of the season this can be a favorable trio of video games. I simply wouldn’t focus an excessive amount of on it.
AFC West:
Denver Broncos: @ Lions, Patriots, Chargers
Fairly strong group of video games for the Broncos. The Lions and Chargers are high offenses, and the Patriots ought to enhance as properly. Defensively none are elite, so that’s promising as properly. If this offense will get mounted below Sean Payton, this may very well be a strong runout within the fantasy playoffs.
Las Vegas Raiders: Chargers, @ Chiefs, @ Colts
A pair of indoor video games and a highway recreation to Kansas Metropolis isn’t too unhealthy for Vegas. Chargers and Chiefs are each potential excessive complete environments, with mid-tier defenses at greatest. The Colts may very well be a little bit of a slower tempo recreation, however there protection may very well be an issue this 12 months.
L.A. Chargers: @ Raiders, Payments, @ Broncos
It is a mix-ed bag, because the climate scenario is fairly good, and if the Broncos offense is best any certainly one of these video games can have a powerful over/below. The defensive match-ups vs the Payments and Broncos are more durable than you’d prefer to see.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: @ Patriots, Raiders, Bengals
The climate in New England might be dicey, however total this can be a good outlook for Chiefs gamers. The Patriots protection is okay, however shouldn’t be a difficulty for Mahomes. The Raiders protection could be very questionable within the secondary, which may permit the Chiefs to place up a serious efficiency. The Bengals have performed the Chiefs in addition to anybody, however that shouldn’t dampen any pleasure for this recreation to be a back-and-forth battle.
Abstract:
General I wouldn’t bounce to too many conclusions simply but. We do must see how some new additions this offseason slot in on either side of the ball. A few of the defenses that had been weak final season (i.e. Falcons) may very well be pretty respectable if these gamers gel collectively. Additionally as we see yearly, as a result of harm and different elements what we mission on paper within the offseason, not often might be counted on in December. One would have put the Colts among the many higher defenses heading into final 12 months, however they gave up the 4th most factors and had been picked on late within the season. So by way of weight I’d solely put just a little consideration on fantasy playoff schedules proper now, however it’s one thing to look at for.
