Every weekend during the preseason, theScore's Justin Boone and David P. Woods will break down the NFL's regular season schedule in search of areas where fantasy owners can find an advantage.
AFC Fantasy Schedules
East | North | South | West
NFC Fantasy Schedules
East | North | South | West
Chicago Bears
| Week | Opponent |
|---|---|
| 1 | vs Bills |
| 2 | at 49ers |
| 3 | at Jets |
| 4 | vs Packers |
| 5 | at Panthers |
| 6 | at Falcons |
| 7 | vs Dolphins |
| 8 | at Patriots |
| 9 | BYE |
| 10 | at Packers |
| 11 | vs Vikings |
| 12 | vs Buccaneers |
| 13 | at Lions |
| 14 | vs Cowboys |
| 15 | vs Saints |
| 16 | vs Lions |
| 17 | at Vikings |
Don't expect Matt Forte to get off to a hot start in September. The 49ers, Jets, and Panthers were all top-five rush defenses last season. Savvy fantasy owners should consider putting in a trade offer for Forte after that brutal stretch, as things promise to open up for the talented runner after Week 5.
Things look considerably more appealing for Jay Cutler and wideouts Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Both the 49ers and Jets are weak at cornerback. Frankly, there aren't many teams on this schedule with corners big and physical enough to match up with that pair. It will be interesting to see whether the Patriots choose to shadow Marshall or Jeffery with Darrelle Revis in Week 8. The receiver who doesn't draw Revis could have a huge game.
Fantasy Playoffs: On paper, the Cowboys have what is probably the NFL's worst defense, so you love to see that on the schedule in the fantasy playoffs if you're a fantasy owner with a Bears player on your roster. What you don't love is seeing the Saints, the NFL's No. 4 defense in total yards allowed (and a unit that appears even better this season) up next in the fantasy semifinals.
Detroit Lions
| Week | Opponent |
|---|---|
| 1 | vs Giants |
| 2 | at Panthers |
| 3 | vs Packers |
| 4 | at Jets |
| 5 | vs Bills |
| 6 | at Vikings |
| 7 | vs Saints |
| 8 | at Falcons (London) |
| 9 | BYE |
| 10 | vs Dolphins |
| 11 | at Cardinals |
| 12 | at Patriots |
| 13 | vs Bears |
| 14 | vs Buccaneers |
| 15 | vs Vikings |
| 16 | at Bears |
| 17 | at Packers |
Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and the rest of the Lions' passing game get their most difficult defensive matchups out of the way before their Week 9 bye. The Giants, Panthers, Bills, and Saints were all top-10 defenses against the pass in 2013.
The same can be said for Reggie Bush and Joique Bell. The Panthers and Jets were each top-three run defenses a year ago. Finding open running lanes won't be easy.
Fantasy Playoffs: The Lions have a very juicy schedule in the fantasy playoffs. All three defenses they'll face between Weeks 14-16 were in the bottom half of the NFL last year, and the Vikings and Bears were both among the three worst teams in the league in terms of total yards allowed.
Green Bay Packers
| Week | Opponent |
|---|---|
| 1 | at Seahawks |
| 2 | vs Jets |
| 3 | at Lions |
| 4 | at Bears |
| 5 | vs Vikings |
| 6 | at Dolphins |
| 7 | vs Panthers |
| 8 | at Saints |
| 9 | BYE |
| 10 | vs Bears |
| 11 | vs Eagles |
| 12 | at Vikings |
| 13 | vs Patriots |
| 14 | vs Falcons |
| 15 | at Bills |
| 16 | at Buccaneers |
| 17 | vs Lions |
Expect a big uptick in production for the Packers' passing game, largely because Aaron Rodgers is healthy but also because the team's receivers will play a more favorable schedule than they did a year ago. Particularly enticing are the games they'll play late in the season. Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and perhaps even Jarrett Boykin or Davante Adams could carry owners to fantasy titles.
Like other NFC North tailbacks, Eddie Lacy will face tough sledding for much of the season. His first two weeks look particularly brutal, but things should get a lot easier with a stretch of games versus the Bears and Dolphins (both bottom-10 teams in rush defense in 2013) on tap after that. Lacy could be a smart trade target after Week 2.
Fantasy Playoffs: The Falcons, Bills, and Buccaneers don't present particularly fearsome defenses, so fantasy owners planning to make a deep run in the playoffs should consider loading up on Packers.
Minnesota Vikings
| Week | Opponent |
|---|---|
| 1 | at Rams |
| 2 | vs Patriots |
| 3 | at Saints |
| 4 | vs Falcons |
| 5 | at Packers |
| 6 | vs Lions |
| 7 | at Bills |
| 8 | at Buccaneers |
| 9 | vs Redskins |
| 10 | BYE |
| 11 | at Bears |
| 12 | vs Packers |
| 13 | vs Panthers |
| 14 | vs Jets |
| 15 | at Lions |
| 16 | at Dolphins |
| 17 | vs Bears |
Adrian Peterson will face a major test in Week 1 when he tries to carry the ball against a Rams defensive line that now features four first-round picks. Don't bet against "All Day," though. Never bet against him.
Vikings wideouts will play a relatively easy schedule, but they also did in 2013 and none established themselves as an every-week fantasy starter. Cordarrelle Patterson has the best chance of becoming that player in 2014. His unique combination of size and speed will be difficult for defenses to handle. He'll face a huge test in Week 2, when he'll line up opposite Darrelle Revis.
Fantasy owners hoping for a breakout season for Kyle Rudolph may have to wait another year. The Vikings' schedule is above average in difficulty with respect to opponents' 2013 success defending tight ends.
Fantasy Playoffs: Peterson owners won't be pleased to see the run-stifling Panthers on the schedule in the first week of the fantasy playoffs. It could be one-and-done for owners who spend their first-round pick on the former 2,000-yard rusher.
