Dynasty leagues have plenty of redraft concepts in terms of in-season management. With half of the fantasy regular season (or more) in the rear-view mirror, strength of schedule has never been more important. Outside of the obvious studs, the schedule can impact fantasy production by up to 50% on a weekly basis. An owner can capitalize on buy low and sell high opportunities, picking up future capital in the process. I chart matchups in terms of efficiency allowed instead of a raw fantasy points allowed basis. Here are the highlights by position:
Quarterbacks
*Efficiency allowed by opposing defenses on a per-attempt basis, passing production only*
Best Remaining Schedules
- Colin Kaepernick, +80%, highlight matchups include St.Louis Week 9, Washington Week 12, Oakland Week 14.
- Alex Smith, +65%, Rams and Jets in Weeks 8-9 are highlights, plus two matchups with the Raiders late in season.
- Cam Newton, +51%, Only Tampa Bay in Week 15 is a great matchup, but plenty of above-average weeks.
- Carson Palmer, +49%, The Rams twice highlight Palmer's remaining schedule, plus the now vulnerable Seahawks.
Playoff Trump Card
Eli Manning, far and away has the best slate of games in Weeks 15-16. Washington and St.Louis are both in the top-5 in terms of efficiency allowed to opposing quarterbacks.
Worst Remaining Schedules
- Blake Bortles, -78%, Outside of QB-premium leagues, Bortles is nothing more than a reserve option anyway, but not one positive efficiency matchup is left for the rookie.
- Tom Brady, -61%, He has rebounded, but the schedule is about to get rough with Denver, Indianapolis, Detroit, and Green Bay over the next six weeks.
- Jay Cutler, -47%, Three divisional matchups are the worst part of Cutler's remaining schedule with Detroit in Weeks 13 and 16, plus the Packers in Week 10. Enjoy Tampa Bay in Week 12 as the only juicy matchups left.
Playoff Disappointment
Peyton Manning, -27%, while Manning has been matchup-proof for the most part early in the season, The Bills, Chargers, Bengals in Weeks 14-16 represent his toughest strength of the remaining schedule. Every owner will be starting Manning, but difference-making performance may not be in the cards.
Running Backs
*Efficiency based on rushing fantasy points allowed on a per-carry basis*
BEST REMAINING SCHEDULES
- Saints, +127%. Good news for Mark Ingram and company with four great matchups left (Panthers 2x, Atlanta, Pittsburgh).
- Falcons, +109%. Not sure the committee will be easy to navigate, but the Panthers, Saints, Steelers, Browns are top matchups to exploit.
- Browns, +95%. Plenty of great matchups left, including an outstanding stretch in Weeks 14-16 of Colts, Bengals, Panthers.
PLAYOFF TRUMP CARD
Whether Ben Tate or Isaiah Crowell (or even Terrance West), the Browns are set up to rule the fantasy playoffs as the only team with three straight great matchups in Weeks 14-16.
WORST REMAINING SCHEDULES
- Dolphins, -159%. Lamar Miller has the toughest road by far with the Bills, Lions, Chargers, Jets 2x, and the Ravens. He will have to earn his RB1 status.
- Chiefs, -123%. Jamaal Charles is turning the corner to productivity, but Weeks 8-10 are stout from an efficiency standpoint with the Rams, Jets, and Bills are stingy on a per-carry basis.
PLAYOFF DISAPPOINTMENT
Rashad Jennings is close to returning from injury and even has a great slate of matchups in the coming weeks with the Colts in Week 9, 49ers in Week 11, and Cowboys in Week 12. Jennings faces a murderer's row schedule in Weeks 15-16, however, with Washington and St.Louis. Jennings may fuel teams into the playoffs, but force an early exit.
Wide Receivers
*Efficiency based on wide receiver fantasy points allowed on a per-target basis*
BEST REMAINING SCHEDULES
- Panthers, +96%. The Seahawks in Week 8 represent the only negative efficiency matchup remaining for Kelvin Benjamin. Full-steam ahead.
- Saints, +83%. Only the Steelers and Packers are negatively impactful, which are good signs for Marques Colston, Brandin Cooks, and even Kenny Stills down the stretch.
- Falcons, +69%. Three matchups fuel this lofty remaining schedule for Julio Jones and Roddy White: Tampa Bay in Week 10, Carolina in Week 11, and New Orleans in Week 16.
PLAYOFF TRUMP CARD
Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams. As if the Packers passing game needed any help, they have the best adjusted schedule for wide receivers in Weeks 15-16 at +54%.
WORST REMAINING SCHEDULES
- Jaguars, -99%. Allen Robinson has been getting it done and volume thus far and that will need to continue with all negative efficiency matchups left for the duration of the fantasy season.
- Patriots, -75%. Only the Jets all the way in Week 16 are at least 5% in the positive direction for Julian Edelman and company. Combined with a rough schedule for Tom Brady, temper expectations for the Brady-to-Edelman combination.
PLAYOFF DISAPPOINTMENT
Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and Wes Welker have a slightly negative matchup with San Diego in Week 15 before a stiff test against the Bengals to close out the fantasy season. Plenty of owners of Peyton Manning and this receiving trio will be in the playoffs, how Denver navigates their toughest wide receiver matchup will ultimately decide their fate.
Tight Ends
*Efficiency based on tight end fantasy points allowed on a per-target basis*
BEST REMAINING SCHEDULES
- 49ers, 100%. Vernon Davis has a sweet run of matchups from the Giants in Week 11 through Seattle in Week 15.
- Rams, +100%. Jared Cook has been under-the-radar this season. The Chiefs in Week 8 (+48%) make up most of this score, but the Giants in Week 16 is another matchup play opportunity.
PLAYOFF TRUMP CARD
Vernon Davis and Jared Cook. The two best remaining scheules also happen to be the strongest playoff slates. Davis has the best matchup for tight ends on a per-target basis in Week 15 (Seattle), while Cook gets Arizona and the Giants back-to-back in the playoffs.
WORST REMAINING SCHEDULES
- Buccaneers, -94%. Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a fringe fantasy player as a rookie. Few owners need to fret about the Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, and Packers left on the schedule.
- Saints, -90%. Outside of the Steelers in Week 13, Jimmy Graham will have to earn his production with the Panthers and 49ers in Weeks 9-10, plus the Ravens and Panthers later in the season.
- Bears, -85%. Only the Cowboys in Week 14 represent a positive matchup left on Jason Witten and Gavin Escobar's schedule.
PLAYOFF DISAPPOINTMENT
Antonio Gates has the Broncos and 49ers back-to-back in Weeks 15-16, plus the Ravens in Week 13. Those three games are Gates' toughtest three matchups left on the schedule.
