This might sound odd coming from someone who just released his Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule Matrix, but you need to be careful to not overweigh those types of season-long metrics.
As I mentioned in that article, the full-season strength of schedule is good to use as a tiebreaker between players you’re targeting in drafts — just don’t get overconfident and let it dictate your outlooks for later in the season. That’s because injuries and changes in performance on both sides of the ball can have a significant impact in the latter stages of a campaign.
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The best way to gain an advantage using strength of schedule is by focusing on the first few weeks and drafting players set for hot starts or avoiding those likely to struggle through a tough streak of opponents. Players with difficult schedules in the early going are prime trade targets when managers begin to question their value in the opening month.
So let’s take a look at each position and identify who has the easiest early-season slates.
Easiest Early QB Schedules
C.J. Stroud, Texans
|
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
|
at LAR |
vs. TB |
at JAX |
vs. TEN |
Stroud’s attempt to bounce back from a disastrous sophomore season will begin with a favorable stretch against four defenses that ranked inside the top-13 for fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last year.
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Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
|
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
|
vs. CAR |
at CIN |
vs. HOU |
at SF |
In addition to an exciting receiver duo in Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter, Lawrence will also start the year with three straight games versus opponents that were among the 10 easiest matchups for fantasy QBs in 2024.
Honorable mentions: Jalen Hurts, Caleb Williams
Easiest Early RB Schedules
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers
|
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
|
at JAX |
at ARI |
vs. ATL |
at NE |
Hubbard established himself as the Panthers’ lead back last season and should continue to have weekly RB1 upside. This first month will help his cause as he faces three defenses (Jaguars, Cardinals, Patriots) who were in the top half of the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns given up a year ago.
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James Conner, Cardinals
|
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
|
at NO |
vs. CAR |
at SF |
vs. SEA |
Some people worry about Conner’s durability, especially now that he’s on the wrong side of 30. Even if you are part of that group, it shouldn’t stop you from drafting him and capitalizing on some very soft matchups in September against the Saints (5th most fantasy points allowed to RBs in 2024), Panthers (1st), 49ers (6th), and Seahawks (14th).
Honorable mentions: Christian McCaffrey, De’Von Achane
Easiest Early WR Schedules
Ja’Marr Chase/Tee Higgins, Bengals
|
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
|
at CLE |
vs. JAX |
at MIN |
at DEN |
Not that they need an easy schedule to produce big fantasy days, but that’s exactly what the Bengals’ receivers are getting to open the 2025 campaign. The Browns, Jaguars and Vikings were all top-10 positive matchups for wideouts last season. Even the battle with CB Patrick Surtain and the Broncos won’t be enough to slow this crew down.
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D.J. Moore/Rome Odunze, Bears
|
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
|
vs. MIN |
at DET |
vs. DAL |
at LV |
While it might take some time for Ben Johnson to right the ship in Chicago, the Bears’ offense will get the benefit of a friendly start. That’s most notable for the receivers, who get the Vikings, Lions and Cowboys in the opening three weeks — all of which finished among the top-6 in fantasy points allowed to wideouts.
Honorable mentions: Drake London/Darnell Mooney, A.J. Brown/DeVonta Smith
Easiest Early TE Schedules
Hunter Henry, Patriots
|
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
|
vs. LV |
at MIA |
vs. PIT |
vs. CAR |
Don’t mistake this as me advocating for Henry to be your starting fantasy tight end all season, but you can certainly make a case for using him as a temporary option in the early going before the Patriots’ new-look receiving corps gets sorted out. All four of his opponents in September were top-12 matchups for tight ends in 2024.
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Kyle Pitts, Falcons
|
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
|
vs. TB |
at MIN |
at CAR |
vs. WAS |
It’s becoming harder and harder to make a strong fantasy case for Pitts and it’s possible injuries have altered the type of player he can be in the NFL. But that’s why his ADP currently sits outside of the first 10 rounds. At that point in drafts, there’s zero risk in taking him and hoping he can finally put it together or at least get off to a hot start thanks to a trio of defenses (Bucs, Vikings, Panthers) that have been generous to tight ends in the past.
Honorable mentions: T.J. Hockenson, Dalton Schultz
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