Fantasy football playoffs receiving strength of schedule: Which WRs and TEs will have it easiest and hardest?

Last week we sorted through the best rushing schedules for the fantasy football playoffs. This week we look at the passing schedules.

A ton of caveats go into these ranks. I did not consider weather or venues. I did not guess on what team motivations might be a few weeks from now. The ranks are based on two months of data mining, some special sauce and some observational seasoning. I also realize not every week has the same value to a fantasy manager. Maybe you don’t have a game in Week 15. And if you don’t make it to the finals, a juicy Week 17 draw won’t soothe you.

And it should go without saying, just because the Titans have fun matchups and the Lions might not, don’t go starting Will Levis over Jared Goff. As always, common sense is critical to any sharp fantasy player.

The Fantasy Gods Love You

1. Buccaneers (@Chargers, @Cowboys, Panthers): I worried about Baker Mayfield when Dave Canales left the building, but current OC Liam Coen has become even more of a home run. Watch 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 man on Kyler Murray most days, but he should crush against this schedule. And it’s time he finally started clicking with Trey McBride in the red area. Why don’t the Cardinals scheme more layup targets for Marvin Harrison Jr.?

4. Panthers (Cowboys, Cardinals, @Buccaneers): Bryce Young has been a different player since the benching. Adam Thielen is inside the Circle of Trust for the playoffs.

5. Jaguars (Jets, @Raiders, Titans): Brian Thomas Jr. is always open, but Mac Jones has been hopeless on deep throws. Don’t put a Jacksonville game on your television.

6. Chargers (Buccaneers, Broncos, @Patriots): Ladd McConkey is the one man who can take an ordinary passing game and make it exciting. The Chargers surely will add an impact outside receiver next spring.

7. Browns (Chiefs, @Bengals, Dolphins): Jameis Winston is all about that YOLO playing style, and even with an interception tax, he usually beats his weekly projection. He’s dealing with an excellent receiver group, too.

8. Giants (Ravens, @Falcons, Colts): They’ve tried three quarterbacks, and all of them are awful. No schedule can fix this passing game.

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We Can Work With This

9. Broncos (Colts, @Chargers, @Bengals): Bo Nix is no longer running proactively, but that’s good news for Courtland Sutton and the other receivers.

10. Cowboys (@Panthers, Buccaneers, @Eagles): Cooper Rush is a lesser quarterback, but he offers enough buoyancy for us to start 2-3 Dallas skill players every week.

11. Raiders (Falcons, Jaguars, @Saints): Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers have proven they can produce no matter who the quarterback is.

12. Bengals (@Titans, Browns, Broncos): Joe Burrow would be squarely in the MVP discussion if not for his lousy defense. But that leaky defense is a godsend for fantasy mangers.

13. Texans (Dolphins, @Chiefs, Ravens): C.J. Stroud has struggled with his pocket awareness, in large part due to an offensive line that’s been terrible. 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 has been a lovely exception. He’s their undeniable alpha right now.

15. Bills (@Lions, Patriots, Jets): Khalil Shakir has been a useful player and an ADP beater, but it’s shocking to see Josh Allen racing to an MVP with so little happening in the Buffalo pass-catching rooms.

16. Eagles (Steelers, @Commanders, Cowboys): The Eagles run the ball more than anyone else, and Jalen Hurts is stealing most of the short touchdowns. It’s strange to see this much disharmony on a team riding a nine-game winning streak.

17. Jets (@Jaguars, Rams, @Bills): I still don’t trust Aaron Rodgers, but he did look sharp in the OT loss to Miami. The Jaguars present a cookie matchup this week.

18. Colts (@Broncos, Titans, @Giants): If Anthony Richardson is going to be a playoff factor, the Colts need to keep running him proactively, as they’ve done since his return.

Not a Dream, But Not a Nightmare

19. Steelers (@Eagles, @Ravens, Chiefs): It’s another low-volume passing game, and things aren’t explosive at all when George Pickens can’t play.

20. Commanders (@Saints, Eagles, Falcons): Terry McLaurin was one of the right answers from 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 rolling at 12-1 and yet offering such marginal fantasy utility. Maybe Hollywood Brown will be back for a January push.

22. Vikings (Bears, @Seahawks, Packers): The schedule isn’t fun, 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’ve finally rekindled the Tyreek Hill connection, and Jonnu Smith has been a revelation at tight end.

24. Saints (Commanders, @Packers, Raiders): Like most teams, they’re more or less screwed when the starting quarterback gets hurt. Look out below.

25. Seahawks (Packers, Vikings, @Bears): Jaxon Smith-Njigba eventually stepped into a Season 2 breakout, while DK Metcalf has been a high-variance pain in the neck.

26. Falcons: (@Raiders, Giants, @Commanders): Kirk Cousins has little arm strength left, and you have to wonder if Michael Penix will get a chance to start at some point this month.

Make The Best of It

27. Packers (@Seahawks, Saints, @Vikings): The Packers are another playoff-bound team that’s leaning into the run, and it’s crushing the value of the WR room.

28. Ravens (@Giants, Steelers, @Texans): America’s knuckleball team — a unique matchup that is capable of going off no matter what stats and projections say.

29. Bears (@Vikings, Lions, Seahawks): Obviously, they’re starting from fresh 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’re cooking, I don’t care what’s on the schedule. Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford are kingmakers, and the usage tree is especially narrow.

31. Lions (Bills, @Bears, @49ers): The Lions lean into the running game most weeks, and Tim Patrick is siphoning some of the work from the name-brand receivers here.

32. Patriots (@Cardinals, @Bills, Chargers): I’ll buy all the Drake Maye stock, thank you. But I wish he had some legitimate help on the outside. The Steelers and Packers have drafted great receivers for years; why are the Patriots usually so bad at it?