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 the areas where fantasy owners can find an advantage.
AFC Fantasy Schedules
East | North | South | West
NFC Fantasy Schedules
East | North | South | West
Dallas Cowboys
| Week | Opponent |
|---|---|
| 1 | vs 49ers |
| 2 | at Titans |
| 3 | at Rams |
| 4 | vs Saints |
| 5 | vs Texans |
| 6 | at Seahawks |
| 7 | vs Giants |
| 8 | vs Redskins |
| 9 | vs Cardinals |
| 10 | at Jaguars (London) |
| 11 | BYE |
| 12 | at Giants |
| 13 | vs Eagles |
| 14 | at Bears |
| 15 | at Eagles |
| 16 | vs Colts |
| 17 | at Redskins |
With the current state of the Cowboys defense, it almost doesn't matter who their opponent is from a strength of schedule standpoint. Every matchup will be a tough one, and will put immense pressure on Tony Romo and company to put up points.
Dallas will have to take on three NFC West teams (49ers, Rams, Seahawks) in the first six weeks of the season. Romo, DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant won't have a favorable opponent until Week 7 when they play the Giants. Things lighten up from that point on, making the Cowboys players potential buy-low options after their Week 6 game against the Seahawks.
Fantasy Playoffs: The Bears defense should be better this season, but isn't the shutdown unit it once was. Meanwhile, a high-scoring tilt with the Eagles will be very beneficial for fantasy owners in Week 15. If your Cowboys starters do enough to get you to the fantasy championship, a very friendly Colts defense will be waiting to help you to a title.
New York Giants
| Week | Opponent |
|---|---|
| 1 | at Lions |
| 2 | vs Cardinals |
| 3 | vs Texans |
| 4 | at Redskins |
| 5 | vs Falcons |
| 6 | at Eagles |
| 7 | at Cowboys |
| 8 | BYE |
| 9 | vs Colts |
| 10 | at Seahawks |
| 11 | vs 49ers |
| 12 | vs Cowboys |
| 13 | at Jaguars |
| 14 | at Titans |
| 15 | vs Redskins |
| 16 | at Rams |
| 17 | vs Eagles |
If Eli Manning can survive the challenging pass rushes he will face in the first few weeks, the Giants should have a good chance at a bounce back season, at least from a fantasy perspective. The Cardinals won't be at full strength in the early going, and the Redskins, Falcons and Cowboys are all nice matchups through the air and on the ground.
Back-to-back games against the Seahawks and 49ers in Week 10 and Week 11 is cruel and unusual punishment, but they are sandwiched between kinder outings versus the Colts and Cowboys. The club will also play three of those four games at home.
Fantasy Playoffs: You will want your Giants players starting in Week 14 and 15 with what could be plus matchups against the Titans and Redskins. The same cannot be said for a Week 16 encounter with the new bully on the block, the Rams.
Philadelphia Eagles
| Week | Opponent |
|---|---|
| 1 | vs Jaguars |
| 2 | at Colts |
| 3 | vs Redskins |
| 4 | at 49ers |
| 5 | vs Rams |
| 6 | vs Giants |
| 7 | BYE |
| 8 | at Cardinals |
| 9 | at Texans |
| 10 | vs Panthers |
| 11 | at Packers |
| 12 | vs Titans |
| 13 | at Cowboys |
| 14 | vs Seahawks |
| 15 | vs Cowboys |
| 16 | at Redskins |
| 17 | at Giants |
There may not be a more fantasy friendly schedule to start the year, as the Eagles draw the Jaguars, Colts and Redskins to begin the season. Chip Kelly's offense is going to be on fire when they slam into the brick walls that are the 49ers and Rams defenses in Week 4 and 5.
After that, the schedule becomes much more difficult than what Nick Foles faced last season. The Cardinals, Texans, Panthers and Packers are all formidable foes. Even LeSean McCoy could see a dip in his numbers during that stretch.
Fantasy Playoffs: Luckily, Philadelphia gets rewarded with the Cowboys twice down the stretch, including in the fantasy semifinals. The problem might be getting there, since the Seahawks stand in the way during Week 14.
Washington Redskins
| Week | Opponent |
|---|---|
| 1 | at Texans |
| 2 | vs Jaguars |
| 3 | at Eagles |
| 4 | vs Giants |
| 5 | vs Seahawks |
| 6 | at Cardinals |
| 7 | vs Titans |
| 8 | at Cowboys |
| 9 | at Vikings |
| 10 | BYE |
| 11 | vs Buccaneers |
| 12 | at 49ers |
| 13 | at Colts |
| 14 | vs Rams |
| 15 | at Giants |
| 16 | vs Eagles |
| 17 | vs Cowboys |
Robert Griffin III will be the first quarterback to feel the pressure from the Texans new duo of J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney. Aside from that must-watch matchup, the Redskins only other onerous stretch is a pair of games against the Seahawks and Cardinals in Weeks 5 and 6.
Poor Alfred Morris will have to contend with the Buccaneers, 49ers and Rams stout run defenses from Week 11 to Week 14. With Morris' role potentially changing in new head coach Jay Gruden's offense, he represents a risky fantasy play.
Fantasy Playoffs: The Rams' powerful defensive line won't just be a problem for Morris - it could stifle the Redskins offense entirely in the first week of the fantasy playoffs. The Giants and Eagles make for nice fantasy opponents in Weeks 15 and 16, with the Giants being a little easier versus the run, and the Eagles giving up more in the passing game.
