ExperiencedRookie
Well-Known Member
OK Outlawz. I just finished my Run Defense rankings. It may come as no surprise, but Pitt finds themselves holding the #1 spot, while Detroit still occupies the #32 spot. I won't bore you with the list top to bottom, because frankly, it's not fool proof. I then took this list and ran it against every team's regular season schedule, and fantasy playoffs schedule. Here is what I have gathered.
There are only a few standouts on the whole list. I'll start with the teams/RBs who have the worst regular season schedules.
1. Atlanta : Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood. These guys are going to have their hands full in the 1st 13 weeks of the NFL season. It's not that they face the marquee defenses in the league, but they never get a single cupcake. Atlanta doesn't face a single defense rated lower than 20th in my rankings. The fantasy playoffs aren't too bad though, only slightly below the league average in difficulty.
2. Kansas City : Larry Johnson and Jamaal Charles. Hard to imagine starting either 1 of these guys anymore. Even more so after you see the schedule they face. Outside of Oakland in weeks 2 and 10, KC doesn't face a single defense outside of the top 15 in the 1st 10 weeks. The fantasy playoffs get juicy however, KC has the 2nd easiest schedule in weeks 14-16.
3. Denver : Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, Peyton Hillis, Lamont Jordan, yada yada yada. Denver has the same problem that KC does. They find themselves with the same impossible teams on the schedule. NYG, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, SD twice, Philly, and Wash. 2 bright sides to Denver though, they also have an easy fantasy playoff schedule, and they start the year off well. Cincinnatti, Cleveland, and Oakland to open the year might give you some trade leverage with a guy like Knowshon before he gets into the impossible stretch.
4. Buffalo : Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, Dominic Rhodes. Buffalo has a schedule similar to Atlanta. They don't face the cream of the crop, but they face a solid top 15 week in and week out. All 3 other teams in the AFC East are tough against the run. NE checks in at 6th, NYJ at 7th, and Miami at 8th. 5 of their 6 divisional games are during the 1st 13 weeks. Their fantasy playoffs do get much easier as they get to open with Kansas City though.
5. Tampa Bay : Derrick Ward, Earnest Graham, and Caddy. Tampa Bay sports the 5th most difficult rushing schedule in the NFL. They start the year off in brutal fashion, facing Dallas, NYG, Wash, and Philly, the entire NFC East in the 1st 5 weeks. KC has the same run early in the year and it will probably be equally brutal on these RBs. Tampa Bay also has no bright side, as they actually have a more difficult fantasy playoffs than they do regular season.
Honorable Mention : New England, Miami, Carolina, Indy, and NYJ.
Worst Fantasy Playoffs
1. Carolina : DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. The Panthers have a ridiculous weeks 14-16. They face NE, Minn, and NYG, with 2 of the 3 games being on the road. Only 1 other team has a schedule that is even close to as difficult.
2. Green Bay : Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson. The Pack is not far off from Carolina. They face Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Seattle in the fantasy playoffs. Same thing for GB as Carolina. 2 of the 3 games are on the road.
3. NYG : Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. One of the most powerful running teams in the NFL looks to leave owners wanting in the fantasy playoffs this year. They face Philly, Washington, and Carolina. Lucky for them, they have 2 home games, but the fact that they play 2 divisional games in weeks 14-16 doesn't bode well.
4. Chicago : Matt Forte and..well Matt Forte. The amazing 08 rookie may leave owners empty handed as they chase down a championship this year. Even though he comes up against Green Bay in week 14, he will likely struggle against Baltimore and Minnesota in the 2 weeks following. 2 divisional games and 2 games vs top 3 defenses.
5. Dallas : Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice. Dallas makes the list mostly because of the presense of a road game at divisional opponent Washington and their game vs San Diego. They also have New Orleans sandwich inbetween to soften the blow a bit. Not terribly frightening, but still clocks in as the 5th most difficult weeks 14-16.
Honorable Mention : Detroit, Cincinnatti, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville.
OK. Now onto the teams who have the schedules to provide constant fantasy success.
Best Schedules
1. Pittsburgh : Willie Parker , Rashard Mendehall, Mewelde Moore. Pittsburgh has such a beautiful schedule. Not only do they get Cleveland and Cincinnatti twice, but they also get the likes of KC, Denver, Oakland, and Detroit. There should be plenty of yards and TDs to go around in those games. Fantasy playoffs are relativelly easy as well. Not the easiest, but above average.
2. Washington : Clinton Portis and well.. Clinton Portis. The Wash schedule is a rollercoaster ride. They go from facing top 10 to bottom 10 seemingly every week. Even though they have 4 divisional games in the 1st 13 weeks they also get cupcakes sprinkled in. St Louis, Detroit, Tamba Bay, KC, and Denver all look to get run over by Portis. Bench him against the elite, play him against the soft. Fantasy playoffs are fairly average for this bunch as well.
3. Baltimore : Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Leron McClain. If 1 of these guys can take the reigns and handle 250 carries, you're going to have a fantasy stud on your hands. Outside of a few tough games you see some of the same familar soft faces. KC, Cleveland, Cincy, Denver, and Indy. That's right, I said it. Indy. They were awful against the run last year. Unfortanely for the Baltimore runners, the fantasy playoffs are 1 of the more difficult schedules.
4. Minnesota : Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor. As if AP needs an easy schedule. This just isn't fair. Even though he goes up against Baltimore and Pitt in back to back weeks, it should be the only famine time amongst the feasting. Detroit twice, Cleveland, and St Louis should provide monster outings to satisfy any appetite. Playoff schedule is slighty easier than average.
5. San Diego : LT, Darren Sproles. Another RB who doesn't need soft competition to put up numbers but gets it anyways. The AFC West is full of chumps against the run. SD gets KC, Denver, and Oakland all twice in the 1st 13 weeks. If LT's odometer hasn't turned over yet, it surely will when he racks up the yards against his divisional foes. Only trouble is that every non-divisional opponent is for real. Baltimore, Miami, Pitt, NYG, and Philly all take up spots in the rest of the schedule. Fantasy playoffs are slightly average.
Honorable Mention : Green Bay, San Francisco, Jacksonville, Seattle
Best Fantasy Playoffs
1. Arizona : Tim Hightower, Chris Wells. Arizona has the most beautiful fantasy schedule I've ever seen. They have St Louis and Detroit in weeks 15 and 16. Owners who are still in the playoffs should be licking their chops at these matchups.
2. Kansas City : Larry Johnson, Jamaal Charles. While these 2 will likely disappoint in the regular season, they could be fantasy gold in the playoffs. KC gets Buffalo, Cincy, and Cleveland in weeks 14-16. 2 games at home, and non against divisional opponents. Sweet relief!
3. NYJ : Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, Shonn Greene. Delicious schedule of games for the Jets. Indy, ATL, and Tampa Bay. No divisional games. All teams in the bottom half for run defense.
4. Seattle : Julius Jones, TJ Duckett. Here is a team who received honorable mention for soft regular season schedule and now shows up in the weak fantasy playoffs. Possible team to really watch here for RBs. In weeks 14-16 they get Houston, Tampa Bay, and Green Bay. No divisional games, no top teams.
5. Cleveland : Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison. Cleveland has an interesting playoff schedule. They start with #1 Pitt. Yikes. If you can survive week 14 you might be looking down the barrel of a championship though as they face KC and Oakland next.
Honorable Mention : Oakland, Philly, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans.
There are only a few standouts on the whole list. I'll start with the teams/RBs who have the worst regular season schedules.
1. Atlanta : Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood. These guys are going to have their hands full in the 1st 13 weeks of the NFL season. It's not that they face the marquee defenses in the league, but they never get a single cupcake. Atlanta doesn't face a single defense rated lower than 20th in my rankings. The fantasy playoffs aren't too bad though, only slightly below the league average in difficulty.
2. Kansas City : Larry Johnson and Jamaal Charles. Hard to imagine starting either 1 of these guys anymore. Even more so after you see the schedule they face. Outside of Oakland in weeks 2 and 10, KC doesn't face a single defense outside of the top 15 in the 1st 10 weeks. The fantasy playoffs get juicy however, KC has the 2nd easiest schedule in weeks 14-16.
3. Denver : Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, Peyton Hillis, Lamont Jordan, yada yada yada. Denver has the same problem that KC does. They find themselves with the same impossible teams on the schedule. NYG, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, SD twice, Philly, and Wash. 2 bright sides to Denver though, they also have an easy fantasy playoff schedule, and they start the year off well. Cincinnatti, Cleveland, and Oakland to open the year might give you some trade leverage with a guy like Knowshon before he gets into the impossible stretch.
4. Buffalo : Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, Dominic Rhodes. Buffalo has a schedule similar to Atlanta. They don't face the cream of the crop, but they face a solid top 15 week in and week out. All 3 other teams in the AFC East are tough against the run. NE checks in at 6th, NYJ at 7th, and Miami at 8th. 5 of their 6 divisional games are during the 1st 13 weeks. Their fantasy playoffs do get much easier as they get to open with Kansas City though.
5. Tampa Bay : Derrick Ward, Earnest Graham, and Caddy. Tampa Bay sports the 5th most difficult rushing schedule in the NFL. They start the year off in brutal fashion, facing Dallas, NYG, Wash, and Philly, the entire NFC East in the 1st 5 weeks. KC has the same run early in the year and it will probably be equally brutal on these RBs. Tampa Bay also has no bright side, as they actually have a more difficult fantasy playoffs than they do regular season.
Honorable Mention : New England, Miami, Carolina, Indy, and NYJ.
Worst Fantasy Playoffs
1. Carolina : DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. The Panthers have a ridiculous weeks 14-16. They face NE, Minn, and NYG, with 2 of the 3 games being on the road. Only 1 other team has a schedule that is even close to as difficult.
2. Green Bay : Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson. The Pack is not far off from Carolina. They face Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Seattle in the fantasy playoffs. Same thing for GB as Carolina. 2 of the 3 games are on the road.
3. NYG : Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. One of the most powerful running teams in the NFL looks to leave owners wanting in the fantasy playoffs this year. They face Philly, Washington, and Carolina. Lucky for them, they have 2 home games, but the fact that they play 2 divisional games in weeks 14-16 doesn't bode well.
4. Chicago : Matt Forte and..well Matt Forte. The amazing 08 rookie may leave owners empty handed as they chase down a championship this year. Even though he comes up against Green Bay in week 14, he will likely struggle against Baltimore and Minnesota in the 2 weeks following. 2 divisional games and 2 games vs top 3 defenses.
5. Dallas : Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice. Dallas makes the list mostly because of the presense of a road game at divisional opponent Washington and their game vs San Diego. They also have New Orleans sandwich inbetween to soften the blow a bit. Not terribly frightening, but still clocks in as the 5th most difficult weeks 14-16.
Honorable Mention : Detroit, Cincinnatti, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville.
OK. Now onto the teams who have the schedules to provide constant fantasy success.
Best Schedules
1. Pittsburgh : Willie Parker , Rashard Mendehall, Mewelde Moore. Pittsburgh has such a beautiful schedule. Not only do they get Cleveland and Cincinnatti twice, but they also get the likes of KC, Denver, Oakland, and Detroit. There should be plenty of yards and TDs to go around in those games. Fantasy playoffs are relativelly easy as well. Not the easiest, but above average.
2. Washington : Clinton Portis and well.. Clinton Portis. The Wash schedule is a rollercoaster ride. They go from facing top 10 to bottom 10 seemingly every week. Even though they have 4 divisional games in the 1st 13 weeks they also get cupcakes sprinkled in. St Louis, Detroit, Tamba Bay, KC, and Denver all look to get run over by Portis. Bench him against the elite, play him against the soft. Fantasy playoffs are fairly average for this bunch as well.
3. Baltimore : Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Leron McClain. If 1 of these guys can take the reigns and handle 250 carries, you're going to have a fantasy stud on your hands. Outside of a few tough games you see some of the same familar soft faces. KC, Cleveland, Cincy, Denver, and Indy. That's right, I said it. Indy. They were awful against the run last year. Unfortanely for the Baltimore runners, the fantasy playoffs are 1 of the more difficult schedules.
4. Minnesota : Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor. As if AP needs an easy schedule. This just isn't fair. Even though he goes up against Baltimore and Pitt in back to back weeks, it should be the only famine time amongst the feasting. Detroit twice, Cleveland, and St Louis should provide monster outings to satisfy any appetite. Playoff schedule is slighty easier than average.
5. San Diego : LT, Darren Sproles. Another RB who doesn't need soft competition to put up numbers but gets it anyways. The AFC West is full of chumps against the run. SD gets KC, Denver, and Oakland all twice in the 1st 13 weeks. If LT's odometer hasn't turned over yet, it surely will when he racks up the yards against his divisional foes. Only trouble is that every non-divisional opponent is for real. Baltimore, Miami, Pitt, NYG, and Philly all take up spots in the rest of the schedule. Fantasy playoffs are slightly average.
Honorable Mention : Green Bay, San Francisco, Jacksonville, Seattle
Best Fantasy Playoffs
1. Arizona : Tim Hightower, Chris Wells. Arizona has the most beautiful fantasy schedule I've ever seen. They have St Louis and Detroit in weeks 15 and 16. Owners who are still in the playoffs should be licking their chops at these matchups.
2. Kansas City : Larry Johnson, Jamaal Charles. While these 2 will likely disappoint in the regular season, they could be fantasy gold in the playoffs. KC gets Buffalo, Cincy, and Cleveland in weeks 14-16. 2 games at home, and non against divisional opponents. Sweet relief!
3. NYJ : Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, Shonn Greene. Delicious schedule of games for the Jets. Indy, ATL, and Tampa Bay. No divisional games. All teams in the bottom half for run defense.
4. Seattle : Julius Jones, TJ Duckett. Here is a team who received honorable mention for soft regular season schedule and now shows up in the weak fantasy playoffs. Possible team to really watch here for RBs. In weeks 14-16 they get Houston, Tampa Bay, and Green Bay. No divisional games, no top teams.
5. Cleveland : Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison. Cleveland has an interesting playoff schedule. They start with #1 Pitt. Yikes. If you can survive week 14 you might be looking down the barrel of a championship though as they face KC and Oakland next.
Honorable Mention : Oakland, Philly, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans.
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