Fantasy Index

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Strength of schedule

Saints, Dolphins have benefitted from playing easier schedules

The Saints have been unable to get things going, and they can’t blame scheduling. Their three wins are against teams that have gone a combined 3-15. Their six opponents collectively have the 2nd-worst win-loss record in the league.

Strictly off the wins and losses, you would figure New Orleans (if it was any good) more likely would be 4-2 or even 5-1. Its opponents have gone only 8-20 in games against other teams. But Derek Carr has been unable to elevate that offense.

Four other teams have played schedules so far against opponents that have won fewer than 40 percent of their other games: Dolphins, Raiders, Cowboys, Bears. Miami is putting up pinball numbers, but that offense perhaps has been magnified by the defenses they’ve played against.

Four teams, on the other hand, have played against opponents who’ve won at least 60 percent of their other teams: Steelers, Jaguars, Browns, Patriots.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, Wins (Weeks 1-6)
TeamWLPct
Miami821.276
New Orleans820.286
Las Vegas1017.370
Dallas1118.379
Chicago1117.393
Seattle1015.400
Washington1218.400
Minnesota1216.429
Cincinnati1315.464
Arizona1416.467
Green Bay1213.480
Atlanta1415.483
Philadelphia1415.483
Denver1515.500
Kansas City1515.500
San Francisco1414.500
Tennessee1414.500
Carolina1514.517
LA Chargers1312.520
Baltimore1513.536
Detroit1512.556
Tampa Bay1411.560
Buffalo1713.567
Indianapolis1713.567
NY Jets1713.567
Houston1712.586
LA Rams1712.586
NY Giants1712.586
New England1812.600
Cleveland159.625
Jacksonville1911.633
Pittsburgh168.667

If you prefer to look at points rather than wins, the results change some.

Five teams have played opponents thus far that have allowed at least 24 points in their other games – they’ve played softer defenses. Looking at you, Raiders, Falcons, Commanders, Bears and Dolphins. That makes the slow starts in Las Vegas and Atlanta look more frustrating. Those offenses have been unable to perform despite the advantage of working against lesser opposition.

Of the four teams seeing the stingiest defenses so far, they include the Colts and three teams that were also in the bottom-4 in terms of wins: Steelers, Browns, Jaguars.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, Points (Weeks 1-6)
TeamAverage
Las Vegas25.5
Atlanta25.0
Washington24.6
Chicago24.0
Miami24.0
Kansas City23.9
Denver23.9
New Orleans23.6
Minnesota23.5
Seattle23.4
Buffalo23.3
Dallas22.7
Tampa Bay22.2
Arizona21.9
New England21.8
Philadelphia21.8
NY Giants21.8
LA Rams21.4
NY Jets21.3
Carolina21.2
Green Bay20.9
LA Chargers20.5
Cincinnati20.4
Baltimore20.1
Tennessee20.1
Detroit19.8
San Francisco19.6
Houston19.2
Jacksonville19.1
Cleveland18.2
Indianapolis18.1
Pittsburgh17.5

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index