2006 NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings

Your Players Are Only As Good as Their Defensive Match-ups

The NFL schedule is a carefully crafted tool designed to promote parity across the league.  That design allows teams that were less successful the previous season to play against weaker teams in the coming year. 

However, the  schedule is constrained by the following rules...

1.) A team must play the teams in their division twice per year.  One game at home and one on the road.

2.)  A team must play all teams from one division in their own conference once per year.  The division to be played rotates annually.

3.)  A team must play all teams from one division in the other conference once per year.  The division to be played rotates annually.

  

So if everything is so defined, where does the parity come in?  The trick is that there are also two remaining games where a team is matched up against conference opponents who finished in the same position in their division the previous year.  

Huh?  Think of it this way...if your team finished second in their division last year, they will play the second place finishers from the two in-conference divisions that they aren't already scheduled against. (Remember, they already play against their own division and one other in their conference.)

So the bottom line is that all schedules are not created equal.  In fantasy football the choices are all about match-ups, which means that a team's schedule is an important deciding factor come draft day.

The traditional way to look at a team's strength of schedule is based upon the combined win / loss record of their opponents.  In fantasy football however, we really don't care about whether a team wins or loses, only how the players on that team perform statistically.  If a team is consistently losing by 20 points, that only increases the value of the quarterback and pass catchers who must move the ball quickly to catch up.  Conversely, a team that can keep a lead will score well in their rushing game as they run out the clock and defensively when they can pin their ears back rushing the quarterback and jump routes in obvious passing situations.

That said, it is foolish to only use a set of opponents' win/loss record to determine a teams' strength of schedule.  A quarterback profits in match-ups against weak passing defenses, a running back against poor rushing defenses and everyone loves a team that gives up a lot of points. 

The Freaks have you covered though.  We analyze every team's schedule against all criteria, and tell you which players are favored and who you should avoid. 

You will not find more definitive, unique or informative strength of schedule analysis on the 'net.  You are one step closer to your trophy.

Rushing Defense Strength of Schedule | Passing Defense Strength of Schedule

 

 

  

 

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