8 Fantasy Players with Favorable Schedules

Strength of Schedule 2024 - Fantasy Football Impact

Depending on who you ask, strength of schedule either matters a lot or not at all. The truth is that the answer is probably somewhere in between. There are players you know you’re always going to play regardless of their opponent, and yet, it may still be smart to temper expectations when your elite talent is going up against a top defense. While you should never rely solely, or even largely, on strength of schedule when drafting, it can be a useful tool to remember, especially when you get to the late to mid-rounds. It can also be helpful in weeks when you’re trying to decide between two equally talented players to throw in as your third wide receiver or flex. So let’s look at some players with favorable and unfavorable 2024 schedules.

Players With Favorable Schedules

Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

Perhaps this is why so many analysts and experts are bullish on the rookie signal caller. Caleb Williams is projected to face a slate of defenses that will give up the most fantasy points this season. Betting on a rookie to support fantasy-friendly assets, let alone be one themselves, is always a difficult thing to do. Still, very few, if any, rookie QBs have entered as favorable of a situation as Williams. With solid veteran talent around him like D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift, Cole Kmet, and Gerald Everett, as well as fellow-rookie Rome Odunze, Williams could surprise some people in 2024. His schedule is especially friendly for weeks 12-17 when it matters most. Plus, with a QB15 (109th overall) ADP, the risk is low, and the reward could be enormous.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

After an uninspiring season, the Jaguars got different weapons for their talented signal caller. Lawrence also just agreed to a five-year, $275 million extension. While WR Calvin Ridley has departed for Tennessee, the Jaguars went out and got Gabe Davis and drafted Brian Thomas Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft in the hopes that they will provide some much-needed firepower to their offense. With a soft schedule, especially in the fantasy playoff Lawrence could finally live up to the No. 1 pick hype. While I would not reach for Lawrence, with an ADP of 101 overall, he could be a great value as a sleeper pick this season.

Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

2nd-year running back Bijan Robinson has already benefited this offseason by getting a new coaching staff and a major upgrade at quarterback. But now he also gets the most fantasy-friendly schedule for running backs in 2024. At least, that’s how it’s projected. Although Robinson didn’t quite live up to expectations in 2023, finishing as RB17, he still looked every bit the superstar we were promised when given the opportunity. Now, with staff and playmakers around him who can help maximize his potential, he should be able to take advantage of soft matchups all season long, barring injury, and should be considered a top-five running back in all formats.

Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

Coming out of college, the hope was that Garrett Wilson would enter the NFL and eventually become an automatic WR1. His climb to elite status has been delayed a bit, mostly by poor quarterback play, but with Aaron Rodgers nearing a return and a top-five fantasy schedule at the position we could finally see the young, talented wide receiver take flight. I would not be surprised to see Wilson reach similar heights to CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson. I’m not quite projecting that for him but a finish right behind that first tier of elite pass-catchers seems completely within his reach. He should be an easy target for anyone wanting to go wide receiver in the late-first or early-second round of drafts.

Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

These players are being drafted no matter who they’re playing, but with Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta, George Kittle, and Kyle Pitts all receiving top-10 fantasy schedules for 2024, it might be prudent to wait a little and take the later value. The only risk is that three players have proven they can produce on the field and for fantasy managers, while one (Pitts) has failed to live up to expectations. But with Kirk Cousins now running the show, Pitts could benefit from the QB upgrade and have the best season of his career.

Players With Unfavorable Schedules

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

I’ve decided to lump all these players together because they all find themselves in a similar situation. They are elite players at their position who will be facing a tough slate of defensive opponents in 2024. Is this useful to know? Perhaps not since they all will be drafted as a starter by some fantasy manager and rightfully so. Each of these QBs has proven capable of overcoming a bad matchup to produce in fantasy. The scariest one on this list for me may be Allen. His rushing upside does provide a nice floor but with the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, he could have more trouble pushing the ball downfield even with the additions of Curtis Samuel and rookie Keon Coleman. If you’re someone who hates taking a QB early then this could be the year to wait on a later value, but if you like having the elite of the elite at QB then these matchups shouldn’t scare you.

Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers

After signing a four-year, $48 million deal with the Packers this offseason, Josh Jacobs was expected to be in line for workhorse duties in one of the most talented young offenses in the league. Managers were excited to target the veteran running back even though he was coming off a disappointing year. But since signing with the Packers, Green Bay drafted USC running back MarShawn Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Lloyd has the potential to carve out a significant role early on which would hurt Jacobs’ value. Plus, Jacobs has been dealt arguably the most difficult schedule of any ball carrier in 2024. While Jacobs is still a decent pick as a low-end RB1 with a fairly solid floor, there might be a cap on his ceiling now that he’s got a partner in crime to help carry the load.

George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers WR George Pickens broke out in a big way last year, proving his doubters wrong by finishing with a 1,140-yard, five-touchdown season. But the pathway to a repeat performance could be fraught with challenges in 2024. Besides facing the most difficult schedule for wide receivers Pickens will also have to contend with learning a new system under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, a new quarterback under center (either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields,) and more defensive attention now that fellow WR Diontae Johnson is gone. He’s too talented and full of too much potential to give up on or avoid in drafts but for him to reach his ceiling he will have to overcome several obstacles standing in his way.

Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans

In 2024, I want pieces of the Houston Texans offense. With the amount of talent they have across the board, they could be fantasy gold. But one position I am avoiding this year is at tight end. Dalton Schultz has talent and is a capable NFL tight end, but with Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell around, it’s hard to get too excited about any scraps left for Schultz. To make matters worse, Schultz will face the most difficult slate of any tight end in 2024. With a low floor and no upside, there are far better options to target than Schultz.

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