Last week we picked out the best rushing schemes for the fantasy football playoffs. This week we look at the flow schedules.
There are a lot of caveats associated with these ranks. I didn’t take the weather or locations into account. I wouldn’t have guessed what the team motivations might be in a few weeks. The rankings are based on two months of data mining, a special sauce and some observational spices. I also realize that not every week has the same value for a fantasy manager. Maybe you don’t have a match in week 15. And if you don’t make the finals, a juicy draw in week 17 won’t reassure you.
And it should go without saying, just because the Titans have fun matchups and the Lions might not, don’t start Will Levis over Jared Goff. As always, common sense is crucial for any sharp fantasy player.
The fantasy gods love you
1. Buccaneers (@Chargers, @Cowboys, Panthers): I was worried about Baker Mayfield when Dave Canales left the building, but current OC Liam Coen has become even more of a home run. Look for Mike Evans to finish strong, in part because the Bucs would like him to continue that 1,000-yard streak.
2. Titans (Bengals, @Colts, @Jaguars): The Bengals are the dream carnival matchup, but is Will Lewis good enough to take advantage?
3. Cardinals (Patriots, @Panthers, @Rams): I’m probably the low guy on Kyler Murray most days, but he should crush against this schedule. And it’s time for him to finally start clicking with Trey McBride in the red zone. Why don’t the Cardinals schedule more layup goals for Marvin Harrison Jr.?
4. Panthers (Cowboys, Cardinals, @Buccaneers): Bryce Young has been a different player since the bench. Adam Thielen is in the Circle of Trust for the playoffs.
5. Jaguars (Jets, @Raiders, Titans): Brian Thomas Jr. is always open, but Mac Jones was hopeless on deep throws. Don’t put a Jacksonville game on your television.
6. Chargers (Buccaneers, Broncos, @Patriots): Ladd McConkey is the only man who can make an ordinary passing game exciting. The Chargers will certainly make an impact at receiver next spring.
7. Browns (Chiefs, @Bengals, Dolphins): Jameis Winston is all about that YOLO style of play, and even with an interception load, he usually beats his weekly projection. He also faces an excellent receiver group.
8. Giants (Raven, @Falcons, Colts): They’ve tried three quarterbacks, and they’re all terrible. No amount of scheme can solve this passing game.
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We can work with this
9. Broncos (Colts, @Chargers, @Bengals): Bo Nix is ​​no longer proactively active, but that’s good news for Courtland Sutton and the other curators.
10. Cowboys (@Panthers, Corsairs, @Eagles): Cooper Rush is a lesser quarterback, but he provides enough leverage to start 2-3 Dallas skill players each week.
11. Raiders (Falcons, Jaguars, @Saints): Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers have proven they can produce regardless of who the quarterback is.
12. Bengals (@Titans, Browns, Broncos): Joe Burrow would be fully in the MVP discussion if not for his poor defense. But that leaky defense is a godsend for fantasy managers.
13. Texans (Dolphins, @Chiefs, Ravens): CJ Stroud has struggled with his pocket awareness, largely due to a terrible offensive line. But this offense is completely different with Nico Collins back.
14. 49ers (rams, @dolphins, lions): It’s very difficult to find an impact wide receiver on the fantasy wire, but Jauan Jennings was a nice exception. He is currently their undeniable alpha.
15. Bills (@Lions, Patriots, Jets): Khalil Shakir has been a useful player and an ADP beater, but it’s shocking to see Josh Allen race to an MVP with so little happening in the Buffalo passing rooms.
16. Eagles (Steelers, @Commanders, Cowboys): The Eagles have the ball more than anyone, and Jalen Hurts steals the most shorthanded touchdowns. It’s strange to see so much disharmony in a team that wins nine games.
17. Jets (@Jaguars, Rams, @Bills): I still don’t trust Aaron Rodgers, but he looked sharp in the OT loss to Miami. The Jaguars present a cookie match this week.
18. Colts (@Broncos, Titans, @Giants): If Anthony Richardson wants to be a playoff factor, the Colts must continue to proactively manage him, as they have done since his return.
Not a dream, but not a nightmare either
19. Steelers (@Eagles, @Ravens, Chiefs): It’s another low-volume passing game, and things aren’t explosive at all if George Pickens can’t play.
20. Commanders (@Saints, Eagles, Falcons): Terry McLaurin was one of the right answers of the summer, and Jayden Daniels turned into the player some thought Anthony Richardson would be.
21. Chiefs (@Browns, Texans, @Steelers): It’s shocking to see the Chiefs go 12-1 and yet offer such a marginal fantasy schedule. Maybe Hollywood Brown will return for a push in January.
22. Vikings (Bears, @Seahawks, Packers): The schedule sucks, but at this point I’d follow Kevin O’Connell into a burning building. Justin Jefferson will always be the alpha here, but Jordan Addison also has star potential.
23. Dolphins (@Texans, 49ers, @Browns): They finally rekindled the Tyreek Hill connection, and Jonnu Smith was a revelation at tight end.
24. Saints (Commanders, @Packers, Raiders): Like most teams, they’re pretty much screwed if the starting quarterback gets injured. Look below.
25. Seahawks (Packers, Vikings, @Bears): Jaxon Smith-Njigba eventually stepped into a breakout role in Season 2, while DK Metcalf was a high variance pain in the neck.
26. Falcons: (@Raiders, giants, @Commanders): Kirk Cousins ​​is short on arm strength, and you have to wonder if Michael Penix will get a chance to start sometime this month.
Make the most of it
27. Packers (@Seahawks, Saints, @Vikings): The Packers are another playoff team leaning into the race and crushing the value of the WR room.
28. Raven (@Giants, Steelers, @Texans): America’s knuckleball team – a unique matchup that can continue regardless of what statistics and projections say.
29. Bears (@Vikings, Lions, Seahawks): It’s clear that they’re starting all over again in 2025, as Caleb Williams tries to forget all the bad habits he picked up this year.
30. Rams (@49ers, @Jets, Cardinals): The way they cook, I don’t care what’s on the menu. Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford are kingmakers, and the usage tree is extremely narrow.
31. Lions (Bills, @Bears, @49ers): The Lions lean on the running game most weeks, and Tim Patrick is taking some of the work from the big-name receivers here.
32. Patriots (@Cardinals, @Bills, Chargers): I’ll buy all Drake Maye stock, thank you. But I wish he had some legitimate outside help. The Steelers and Packers have drafted great receivers for years; Why are the Patriots usually so bad at it?
