TOughest schedules

[Texecutioner]

THis is something that I finally realized last season was crucial to any fantasy season is the schedules of the players you pick and what defenses they will be facing.

Lets try and figure out here what teams have the toughest NFL schedules this season??? I haven't looked that up yet and my main draft is coming up soon and that is very crucial.

Also a big thing to look out for especially once the season starts is who has the easiest playoff schedule in weeks 14-16, if you feel like your team will make the playoffs.

[BigBenCan7]

I know the Broncos have an absolutely hellish schedule this year, that's the only one I'm sure of. But that usually means the rest of the division has it pretty tough as well.

[Texecutioner]

I know the Broncos have an absolutely hellish schedule this year, that's the only one I'm sure of. But that usually means the rest of the division has it pretty tough as well.

Yeah, you have your regular division games which is 6 a piece for every team where they play those teams twice and then each team in that division plays another division right or is it two other divisions??? I'm going to look for some articles where the work is already done for me. Otherwise this could take a little while analyzing everyone's schedule.

I know whomever has to play in the Steelers Ravens division always seems to have it bad playing those two defenses 4 times a year. Playing the NFC East is never a cake walk either facing those defenses.

[BigBenCan7]

Yeah, you have your regular division games which is 6 a piece for every team where they play those teams twice and then each team in that division plays another division right or is it two other divisions??? I'm going to look for some articles where the work is already done for me. Otherwise this could take a little while analyzing everyone's schedule.

Yeah, you play your division twice, then another division within your conference, and a third division from outside your conference. Then there's two more conference games that are determined by where you finished in your division (winners play winners, 2nd place plays 2nd place, etc.).

So really the only difference in schedules for teams within a division is those last two games. I know the AFC West has to play the AFC North and the NFC East, which is an awful situation to be in. Unfortunately for the Broncos though, I feel that the two 2nd place teams they play (Colts and Patriots) are actually better than the division winners that the Chargers play (Titans and Dolphins).

[Whit Prowdy]

FYI Tex and others:

AFC East has four of NFL's seven worst schedules - AFC East - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/1252/afc-east-has-four-of-nfl-s-seven-worst-schedules)

There's a table near the bottom with the most difficult schedules for 2009 based on 2008 W-L (and T for two certain teams). BBC you may be right that Denver's schedule is hell, but believe it or not...18 teams have it harder!!

[BigBenCan7]

FYI Tex and others:

AFC East has four of NFL's seven worst schedules - AFC East - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/1252/afc-east-has-four-of-nfl-s-seven-worst-schedules)

There's a table near the bottom with the most difficult schedules for 2009 based on 2008 W-L (and T for two certain teams). BBC you may be right that Denver's schedule is hell, but believe it or not...18 teams have it harder!!

2008 W/L doesn't tell the whole story though. The Broncos have to play the Patriots and Colts, who are a whole lot better than what they posted last year (at least, the Patriots are).

[Sascha]

The Bucs at home this year:
Cowboys - PLayoff contender
Giants - Title contender
Packers - likely vastly improved
Jets - Tough, possible wild card contender
Falcons, Panthers, Rams

Away games:
@ Buffalo - would be nicer to have at home
@ Philly - title contender
@ Washington - wild card contender
@ Miami - Not sure about them yet
@ Seattle - Other than Miami to Seattle, longest trip in league
Falcons, Panthers, Rams

Plus a "home" game against the Pats in London.

[GatorsRock]

I bought the Fantasy Pro Forcast Magazine and it has something about schedules. They project the 5 best defensive teams: Pittsburgh, NY Giants, Minnesota, Baltimore, and Philadelphia and the 5 worst defensive teams(in order of worst): Detroit, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Denver, and Cleveland.

So they have the entire schedule laid out like that. Some of the best teams to get players from for a playoff run(Week 15-17) is Arizona(15 Detroit, Week 16 St. Louis), Kansas City(Week 15: Cle, Week 16: Cin, Week 17: Den), Oakland(Week 15: Den, Week 16: Cle, but Week 17 they got Bal), and San Fran(Week 16: Det, Week 17: St. Louis, although in Week 15 they play Philly)

Some of the worst teams to have players from in playoff weeks are: Carolina(Week 15: Min, Week 16: Giants), Chicago(Week 15: Bal, Week 16: Min)

[Texecutioner]

I bought the Fantasy Pro Forcast Magazine and it has something about schedules. They project the 5 best defensive teams: Pittsburgh, NY Giants, Minnesota, Baltimore, and Philadelphia and the 5 worst defensive teams(in order of worst): Detroit, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Denver, and Cleveland.

So they have the entire schedule laid out like that. Some of the best teams to get players from for a playoff run(Week 15-17) is Arizona(15 Detroit, Week 16 St. Louis), Kansas City(Week 15: Cle, Week 16: Cin, Week 17: Den), Oakland(Week 15: Den, Week 16: Cle, but Week 17 they got Bal), and San Fran(Week 16: Det, Week 17: St. Louis, although in Week 15 they play Philly)

Some of the worst teams to have players from in playoff weeks are: Carolina(Week 15: Min, Week 16: Giants), Chicago(Week 15: Bal, Week 16: Min)

Very good analysis right there GR. One thing though is what leagues now days are still having their SB in week 17? We stopped doing that years ago, due to the fact that many starters get taken out. If any of you guys are still in leagues where the SB is in the last week of the season I strongly recommend you guys to ask the commish to change it to week 16. Just my advice.

[GatorsRock]

Yeah, all of my leagues championship is in Week 16.

My dad is in a league for work and what they do is put some money in for Week 17 and everyone can choose any QB, 2 WR's, 2 RB's, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DEF(Everyone can start Peyton Manning if they wanted) and then they calculate how all of them do and the winner of that week gets the money.

[Chris Raiden]

2008 W/L doesn't tell the whole story though. The Broncos have to play the Patriots and Colts, who are a whole lot better than what they posted last year (at least, the Patriots are).

On the field product, yes, but realistically, they were 11-5 last season and didn't make the playoffs.

They may be a 12-4 or even 13-3 team this year, and it's still only a difference of 1-2 wins.