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FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

WR Strength of Schedule

Mon Jun 6 10:10am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Brown could have best season yet


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the wide receiver position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the wide receivers with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season.

  2022 WR SOS  
1. Miami Dolphins 559.9
2. Baltimore Ravens 560.1
3. New York Jets 561.6
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 566.3
5. Cleveland Browns 573.1
6. Kansas City Chiefs 573.2
7. Los Angeles Rams 573.7
8. Minnesota Vikings 573.9
9. New England Patriots 574.1
10. Tennessee Titans 575.1
11. Cincinnati Bengals 576
12. Arizona Cardinals 578.5
13. Las Vegas Raiders 581.9
14. Detroit Lions 582
15. Atlanta Falcons 584
16. San Francisco 49ers 588.4
17. Denver Broncos 589.1
18. Seattle Seahawks 591.3
19. Houston Texans 592.1
20. New Orleans Saints 592.2
21. Buffalo Bills 592.3
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 592.5
23. Chicago Bears 592.8
24. Los Angeles Chargers 594.2
25. Indianapolis Colts 595.5
26. Carolina Panthers 596
27. Green Bay Packers 596.5
28. Jacksonville Jaguars 598
29. Washington Commanders 599.5
30. New York Giants 603.4
31. Dallas Cowboys 606.4
32. Philadelphia Eagles 615.8


A.J. Brown was traded to the Eagles and gets the benefit of the easiest fantasy schedule for receivers. He lands in a great spot for his fantasy value, moving to a team that will throw the ball more and gets a very easy schedule for his fantasy production. Things are looking up for Brown. The entire NFC East should beat up on each other through the air. The Cowboys, Giants and Commanders also are in the top-five for easiest fantasy receiver schedules. You have to love CeeDee Lamb this coming year, getting a chance to be the clear No. 1 for Dallas and an easy receiver schedule. The Jaguars are the last team that rounds out the top five for easy receiver schedules. Christian Kirk can be had pretty cheap come draft day and seems likely to lead the Jaguars in targets in year one with his new team. He might be a good late-round target for fantasy teams. 

Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are going to be a top duo for the Dolphins at receiver, but getting the most challenging fantasy schedule for receivers is a bit of a concern. You might want to move them down a few spots in your rankings, having some of the top cornerbacks in the game shadowing them a lot of weeks. Many have high hopes of Rashod Bateman as the new No. 1 for the Ravens, but you might want to temper those a little, having the second toughest fantasy schedule for receivers. The Jets, Steelers, Browns, Chiefs and Rams are in the top 10 for difficult receiver schedules. There are some players with high ceilings on these teams, but might have a harder time reaching those than first thought. One guy that you have to wonder about some is Cooper Kupp. Can he possibly repeat or come close to one of the greatest seasons ever for a receiver?

Take a close look at this entire ranking when figuring out your fantasy rankings for the coming season.

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy wide receivers. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Weeks 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the wide receivers with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests. 

  2022 WR PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Miami Dolphins 499.9
2. Cincinnati Bengals 513.4
3. Chicago Bears 524
4. Los Angeles Rams 539.3
5. New York Jets 549.6
6. Kansas City Chiefs 563.4
7. Baltimore Ravens 565.5
8. Arizona Cardinals 566
9. New Orleans Saints 566.5
10. Las Vegas Raiders 569.4
11. Carolina Panthers 575
12. Seattle Seahawks 578.9
13. San Francisco 49ers 581.5
14. Buffalo Bills 582.8
15. Washington Commanders 583
16. Tennessee Titans 583.6
17. Philadelphia Eagles 586.7
18. New England Patriots 589.1
19. Pittsburgh Steelers 592.5
20. Minnesota Vikings 597.1
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 597.4
22. Detroit Lions 603.6
23. Atlanta Falcons 603.8
24. Indianapolis Colts 605.1
25. Dallas Cowboys 605.7
26. Cleveland Browns 616.9
27. New York Giants 617.2
28. Jacksonville Jaguars 621.2
29. Denver Broncos 621.4
30. Houston Texans 631.3
31. Green Bay Packers 632.3
32. Los Angeles Chargers 632.9


Some big name-receivers have favorable playoffs schedules, including Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Brandin Cooks and Courtland Sutton. When you are in big-game contests, getting a quarterback/receiver combo can be a great move come draft day. Having those big combos during the playoffs can be difference makers in fantasy championships.  

Miami is at the top of the receiver list for both the regular season and playoffs. Again, this is a concern for fantasy teams. It is tough to ignore Tyreek Hill come draft day, but it might be a good idea this year. The Bengals are another team with a challenging playoff schedule for receivers. Cincinnati was huge in the fantasy playoffs last year, but a repeat performance might be tough. The Bears, Rams and Jets round out the top five toughest fantasy receiver playoffs schedules. 

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Player Notes
Marquez Valdes-Scantling May 14 10:20am ET
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

The Buffalo Bills signed veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. MVS is no stranger to playing with elite quarterbacks between his time with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, and he'll now be in line to catch passes from Josh Allen in Buffalo. The 2018 fifth-round pick out of South Florida has not posted monster fantasy football numbers, but he has spike-week upside thanks to his field-stretching speed. That said, he's likely going to be more useful in "real life" compared to fantasy football based on his production profile thus far. In six NFL seasons, the 29-year-old has not eclipsed 690 yards or six touchdowns in a single season. Last year, he caught just 21 passes for 315 yards and one touchdown in 16 games. He's an interesting late-round flyer in best ball formats, but he might be a wasted roster spot in traditional leagues. MVS will compete with Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel for snaps in 2024, as second-round rookie Keon Coleman should be a locked-in starter.

From RotoBaller

Phillip Dorsett May 14 12:20am ET
Phillip Dorsett

The Denver Broncos signed free-agent wide receiver Phillip Dorsett and cornerback Quinton Newsome to undisclosed deals on Monday, according to the team. In corresponding moves, the Broncos waived punter Nik Constantinou and receiver Lincoln Victor. Dorsett was released by Denver last Friday after initially signing with the team's practice squad before the 2023 season. The 31-year-old former 29th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2015 out of Miami was elevated just twice during the regular season last year and was unable to reel in any of his three targets. In his eight NFL seasons, Dorsett has a total of 151 catches for 2,001 yards and 12 touchdowns in 94 games (20 starts). He'll serve as receiver depth for the Broncos this summer behind Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims Jr., rookie Troy Franklin and Tim Patrick.

From RotoBaller

Marquez Valdes-Scantling May 13 10:30pm ET
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling made a stop in Buffalo on Monday night. The wideout had a recent visit with the Chargers, although it appears nothing came of it. MVS hasn't been productive in years, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by recording career lows in catches (21), receiving yards (315), and touchdowns (one). However, the Bills moved on from Stefon Diggs this offseason, so Valdes-Scantling could work his way up the depth chart. Yet, he'll need to prove his value to fantasy managers no matter where he signs, which won't come until he has at least a few decent performances.

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Jared Goff May 13 10:13pm ET
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Updating a previous report, Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff's four-year deal includes an option in the fourth year, per source on Monday, May 13.

From TheHuddle

Marquez Valdes-Scantling May 13 8:03pm ET
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Free-agent WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Chiefs) is meeting with the Buffalo Bills Monday, May 13, according to a source.

From TheHuddle

Courtland Sutton May 13 7:30pm ET
Courtland Sutton

The Denver Broncos continued voluntary offseason workouts on Monday. However, the team remains without wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who continues to work out at his residence in Florida. The veteran has two years left on a four-year, $60 million extension, but has made it clear he wants a raise. He also requested a trade, although the team is apparently not looking to move him. Of course, there will be updates on the situation moving ahead. Yet, it won't be as much of a concern until the summer when Denver begins training camp. With that said, several teams will monitor things, especially with Sutton coming off a massive year, which included a career-high 10 touchdowns. But if he stays with the Broncos, his fantasy outlook is directly related to how Bo Nix and Zach Wilson look heading into the 2024-25 campaign.

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Phillip Dorsett May 13 5:53pm ET
Phillip Dorsett

Free-agent WR Phillip Dorsett (Broncos) signed with the Denver Broncos Monday, May 13. The team also signed undrafted free-agent CB Quinton Newsome (Nebraska). Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

From TheHuddle

Jared Goff May 13 5:00pm ET
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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff agreed to a four-year $212 million contract extension that includes $170 million guaranteed, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. Lions general manager Brad Holmes said the two sides were working on an extension last week, and they evidently worked quickly and got the deal done. The 2016 No. 1 overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams has been fantastic since being dealt to Detroit along with draft picks for Matthew Stafford. He led Detroit to a playoff win for the first time since 1991 last year, and he's posted 12,258 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions through his first 48 games with the organization. He's now under contract through the 2028 season and will remain a fringe QB1 option in fantasy football as long as his offensive weapons remain on the roster. Given his job security and upside in Detroit's offense, he should be viewed as a strong dynasty QB2 in Superflex formats.

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Jared Goff May 13 4:53pm ET
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Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension with the Lions Monday, May 13, worth $212 million, according to sources. The deal includes $170 million in guaranteed money.

Fantasy Spin: Goff will be the starting quarterback for the Lions for the foreseeable future and is coming off a terrific 2023 season. He could be a possible low-end No. 1 fantasy quarterback in deeper leagues but probably will be a No. 2 quarterback in most standard leagues that can also be a starting option against favorable matchups.

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Trey Hendrickson May 13 4:50pm ET
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Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson was spotted at voluntary offseason activities on Monday despite his recent request to be traded. It's a notable development considering the practices and workouts are entirely voluntary, but it's too early to assume it means he wants to remain with the team if he does not receive a new contract. The 2017 third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints had a monster season in 2023, racking up a Bengals' franchise record 17.5 sacks. He is the 11th-highest-paid edge rusher (average salary) and is entering the final year of his four-year, $60 million contract he signed as a free agent in 2021. The 29-year-old's situation will be worth monitoring this offseason, as there will likely be no shortage of interested suitors if the team is willing to listen to offers. With quarterback Joe Burrow already signed to a $275 million contract, and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins seeking a new deals, Hendrickson may be expendable.

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Ross Dwelley May 13 4:30pm ET
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The Atlanta Falcons signed free-agent tight end Ross Dwelley on Monday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Dwelley was undrafted out of the University of San Diego in 2018, but he stuck around on the San Francisco 49ers' roster for six seasons and played in 84 games. Overall, the 29-year-old has 44 receptions for 518 yards and five receiving touchdowns to his name. He'll look to compete with Charlie Woerner and John FitzPatrick to see the field in multi-tight end sets and to be Kyle Pitts' direct backup in 2024. For now, he's nowhere near the fantasy football radar heading into his seventh NFL campaign.

From RotoBaller

Nick Vannett May 13 4:23pm ET
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Free-agent TE Nick Vannett (Chargers) agreed to terms with the Tennessee Titans Monday, May 13. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed. The team also waived CB Rod Gattison.

From TheHuddle

Nick Vannett May 13 4:20pm ET
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Free-agent tight end Nick Vannett is signing with the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. The 31-year-old spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers and caught one pass for three yards in eight games played. Vannett is a former third-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2016 and has spent time with seven organizations in seven years. Overall, he's hauled in 91 of his 130 career targets for 877 yards and six touchdowns. He'll likely compete with 2023 fifth-round pick Josh Whyle for the TE2 role in 2024, but Chigoziem Okonkwo remains the lead tight end for quarterback Will Levis after this signing.

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Parker Hesse May 13 3:10pm ET
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The Detroit Lions signed free-agent tight end Parker Hesse to an undisclosed deal on Monday. Hesse entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in 2021 with the Atlanta Falcons. He has spent all three of his seasons in the NFL with the Falcons and has totaled 14 receptions on 17 targets for 132 yards and no touchdowns in 28 games played (eight starts). The 28-year-old tight end played in only three games last year in Atlanta while also playing 28 snaps on special teams. In his three games played, Hesse wasn't targeted at all in the passing game. He'll merely be hoping to stick around on Detroit's roster after training camp and the preseason while providing depth at the position behind Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra.

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Antoine Winfield Jr. May 13 2:30pm ET
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. reached an agreement on a four-year, $84.1 million on Monday that will make him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history, according to sources. It's the first time in modern NFL history that a safety has set this mark. The deal was negotiated and confirmed by agent David Mulugheta of Athletes First. The new extension for the 25-year-old means Winfield won't have to play the 2024 season on the franchise tag, which would have paid him $17.1 million this year. The All-Pro safety is one of the most productive players at the defensive back position in IDP fantasy formats and had 122 tackles (76 solo), six sacks, three interceptions, 12 passes defended, six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 17 stars in 2023.

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Anthony Averett May 13 2:20pm ET
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The Pittsburgh Steelers signed free-agent cornerback Anthony Averett to an undisclosed one-year deal on Sunday, according to a source. The deal for Averett comes after he worked out at the team's rookie minicamp over the weekend on a tryout basis. The 29-year-old split time between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions last year but didn't play in any regular-season games. His last NFL action came in 2022 with the Las Vegas Raiders, when he recorded 13 tackles and a pass defended in seven games (six starts). He was originally a fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 out of Alabama. In his four seasons in Baltimore, he had 101 tackles, three interceptions and 22 passes defended. Averett will have plenty of competition at the cornerback position in training camp this summer as he tries to make the final roster.

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Aaron Rodgers May 13 2:10pm ET
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The New York Jets agreed to terms with first-round pick Olu Fashanu on his rookie deal on Monday. The deal is for four years and $20,510,710 fully guaranteed and includes the standard fifth-year team option. It was reported on Sunday that Fashanu strained his quadriceps while running the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine and could miss some or all of the Jets' organized team activities this offseason. The Jets took the 21-year-old with the 11th overall pick in this year's NFL draft to give veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers some more protection in 2024. Barring a setback, Fashanu should be ready to go for the start of his rookie season this fall. So far, he's been working off to the side with trainers during the team's rookie minicamp.

From RotoBaller

Zay Jones May 13 9:52am ET
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Dynasty | The Cardinals have signed wide receiver Zay Jones. Dynasty Analysis: Jones has had some nice moments over his seven seasons in Buffalo, Las Vegas, and Jacksonville, though he's never posted more than 823 receiving yards or seven touchdowns in any given season. Jones could be viable opposite Marvin Harrison, Jr. if he can beat out Michael Wilson but that's no given. At this point, Jones looks like a roster worthy player but a potential roster clogger at the same time.

Ja'Tavion Sanders May 12 12:00pm ET
Ja'Tavion Sanders

Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders said his goal in the NFL is to be as good as former All-Pro Greg Olsen. Sanders, a converted receiver at Texas, averaged 49.5 catches a year with the Longhorns with an average of 648 yards and 3.5 touchdowns. His role with the Panthers is not clear yet, but head coach Dave Canales said on Saturday that Sanders will play both the "F" and the "Y" roles, dependent on pass plays versus 12 personnel. "He's a guy, you can move around a little bit more, maybe play him in the slot a little bit," Canales said, adding, "we look for those versatile type of tight ends." The 21-year-old was taken with the 101st overall pick in the fourth round this year but could immediately become the team's best pass-catching tight end over both Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas. Still, fantasy managers in single-year leagues in 2024 should temper expectations for Sanders in Carolina's offense.

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Drake Maye May 12 11:20am ET
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New England Patriots first-year head coach Jerod Mayo said that rookie quarterback Drake May, who was taken third overall in last month's NFL draft, "has a lot to work on." Saturday's practice featured a heavy emphasis on footwork fundamentals, with Maye spending the first few periods of practice taking snaps directly under center instead of the shotgun, which he mostly used the last two years at North Carolina. "The guy can sling it, man," said wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk, the second-round pick from the University of Washington. "He's very confident. He's a leader, very vocal; he's setting the tone in practice, trying to get guys moving around and operating at a high level." Maye is expected to compete with veteran Jacoby Brissett for starting duties in 2024. The Patriots aren't going to rush Maye's development, so he's more of a dynasty/keeper asset in fantasy this year than a redraft one.

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