{"id":673073,"date":"2026-05-15T18:07:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/673073\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T18:07:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:07:42","slug":"fantasy-footballs-biggest-winners-and-losers-following-the-nfl-schedule-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/673073\/","title":{"rendered":"Fantasy football\u2019s biggest winners and losers following the NFL schedule release"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NFL<\/a> released the 2026 schedule, and now it\u2019s time to talk fantasy. Below I\u2019ve projected which fantasy prospects have the best and worst fantasy matchups for the upcoming season.<\/p>\n

My matchup points system uses various fantasy points and points allowed metrics as a base. Then, I add variables such as the likelihood of a team getting into a high-scoring game and pass-blocking\/pass-rush strength to the formula. These combined grades are then placed on a curve and given a 1-100 score, with 1 being the least favorable and 100 being the most favorable.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that these grades are based on fantasy-scoring relevance. For instance, as my soft secondaries and the receivers who\u2019ll benefit most from them in fantasy football article<\/a> detailed, this system grades a defensive back who allows a low yards per attempt (YPA) total but a high PPR fantasy points per game (FPPG) total as a favorable matchup.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I have found that the most valuable part of the weekly schedule strength analysis is on the outer margins, which this article will cover. It will highlight players with a matchup points total of 80 or higher and detail those with a total of 20 or lower.<\/p>\n

Metrics are via TruMedia\/PFF, Stathead or NFL Next Gen Stats unless otherwise noted. Point references are in PPR unless otherwise noted.<\/p>\n

QuarterbacksFavorable<\/p>\n

Jalen Hurts, PHI (100 matchup points)<\/p>\n

Hurts ranked eighth in QB fantasy points last season despite placing 12th in fantasy points on passes. This year, he stands to gain more passing points as the Eagles have the most favorable pass-coverage schedule, including six matchups against teams with subpar vertical-pass coverage.<\/p>\n

Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy, MIN (91)<\/p>\n

Whoever wins the Vikings quarterback competition<\/a> (likely Kyler Murray) will be the beneficiary of a highly favorable pass-coverage schedule. Ten of Minnesota\u2019s 16 fantasy games this year include no defenders rated as unfavorable coverage matchups, and in only three games are there two unfavorable coverage defenders.<\/p>\n

Jaxson Dart, NYG (85)<\/p>\n

Dart joined Josh Allen as the only quarterbacks to post 100 or more points on rushing plays last year. The only hurdle keeping Dart from true QB1 status is vertical passing, an area where he ranked 19th last year. This year\u2019s schedule has seven plus (favorable) matchups in the vertical-pass-coverage category, which bodes for Dart improving on last year’s numbers.<\/p>\n

Unfavorable<\/p>\n

Bo Nix, DEN (1 matchup point)<\/p>\n

Nix is on track to return from injury<\/a> in time for training camp. Unfortunately, he\u2019s returning to face an incredibly tough pass-coverage schedule. Denver has six unfavorable vertical-pass-coverage matchups in Weeks 1-9 and only one favorable vertical-pass-coverage matchup all season.<\/p>\n

Patrick Mahomes, KC (16)<\/p>\n

Mahomes and Nix are in similar situations. There is hope that the face of Kansas City’s franchise will be back to full speed earlier than initially expected<\/a>, but he could return to a brutal schedule. The Chiefs have six unfavorable vertical-pass-coverage matchups and only one favorable matchup in this category.<\/p>\n

Running backsFavorable<\/p>\n

Travis Etienne and Alvin Kamara, NO (100)<\/p>\n

The Saints’ rush-defense schedule has six favorable matchups, but the big bonus may be that New Orleans has only one unfavorable rush-defense matchup, which should set a high-scoring floor for both Etienne and Kamara.<\/p>\n

Jahmyr Gibbs and Isiah Pacheco, DET (90)<\/p>\n

The Lions might have the most favorable early-season rush-defense schedule, with four plus matchups in this category in Weeks 1-5. There is only one plus matchup afterward, but Detroit also has only one minus (unfavorable) rush-defense matchup.<\/p>\n

Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, MIN (84)<\/p>\n

Minnesota and Detroit have similar schedules as it pertains to running backs. The Vikings have only one unfavorable rush-defense matchup and don\u2019t see a favorable rush-defense matchup until Week 9; however, they have four of them from Weeks 9-17.<\/p>\n

Saquon Barkley, PHI (84)<\/p>\n

The Eagles have six advantageous rush-defense matchups during Weeks 6-13, giving Barkley plenty of upside opportunities. But Philadelphia also has five unfavorable matchups this year, which could mean another up and down season for Barkley.<\/p>\n

Unfavorable<\/p>\n

Ashton Jeanty, LV (1)<\/p>\n

There are many reasons Jeanty can improve on his rookie campaign this year, but a favorable schedule isn’t one of them. Las Vegas has only three favorable rush-defense matchups this year and has five unfavorable matchups in Weeks 1-12.<\/p>\n

Omarion Hampton, LAC (11)<\/p>\n

The Chargers open the 2026 season with three favorable rush-defense matchups, but they’re followed by five consecutive unfavorable rush-defense matchups. With two additional minus matchups the rest of the season, Hampton will have quite a hill to climb.<\/p>\n

James Cook, BUF (17)<\/p>\n

The Bills have six unfavorable rush-defense matchups, but more importantly, Buffalo has only two favorable matchups in this category during the entire fantasy season. Cook, a likely mid-range first-round fantasy pick, may have a lower than ideal ceiling given his projected average draft position (ADP).<\/p>\n

Chase Brown, CIN (19)<\/p>\n

Cincinnati doesn\u2019t run the ball any more than it has to. That tendency won\u2019t change with a schedule that has only two favorable rush-defense matchups and five unfavorable ones.<\/p>\n

Wide receiversFavorable<\/p>\n

Jordan Addison, MIN (100)<\/p>\n

With Justin Jefferson drawing the opposition’s top cover corner, Addison has the makings of a ridiculously favorable schedule. Ten of his 16 direct cornerback matchups this year are favorable. If the Vikings can get even serviceable quarterback play, Addison will have a very high-scoring ceiling.<\/p>\n

Jameson Williams, DET (90)<\/p>\n

Williams set career highs in receptions and receiving yards last year. A schedule that has 10 favorable coverage matchups could allow Williams to top last season\u2019s highs.<\/p>\n

Chris Olave, NO (90)<\/p>\n

Olave\u2019s 2026 schedule is a mixed bag early on. He has four favorable and four unfavorable matchups in the Saints’ first eight games. The trajectory shifts upward after that with six plus matchups and no minus matchups in Weeks 10-17.<\/p>\n

A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon, PHI (86 for Brown, 88 for Smith & Lemon)<\/p>\n

The aforementioned favorable pass-coverage schedule for the Philadelphia passing game extends to each of the Eagles’ top wide receivers. But with so many favorable matchups to go around, it might be tough for each Philadelphia wideout to post consistent numbers, though if the Brown trade rumors come to fruition, that will solve most of that problem.<\/p>\n

Jerry Jeudy, CLE (81)<\/p>\n

Jeudy\u2019s schedule is a tale of three seasons. He has five plus and two minus matchups in Weeks 1-7. He then has three minus matchups and one plus matchup in Weeks 8-12. The outlook improves after that with four plus matchups in Weeks 13-17.<\/p>\n

Unfavorable<\/p>\n

Jaylen Waddle, DEN (1)<\/p>\n

Waddle should be the top wideout in Denver, but he is also one of only three wide receivers who have seven unfavorable direct cornerback coverage matchups this season. The schedule also has limited upside with only three favorable matchups.<\/p>\n

Rashee Rice, KC (8)<\/p>\n

Scoring upside is the name of the game when drafting Rice, but the schedule doesn’t give that upside much of a boost.\u00a0Rice has only two favorable coverage matchups this entire season.<\/p>\n

Tight endsFavorable<\/p>\n

Dallas Goedert, PHI (100)<\/p>\n

Goedert ranked sixth in tight end FPPG last season. A 2026 campaign that has seven favorable coverage matchups and only one unfavorable matchup could lead to a repeat or improvement upon that performance.<\/p>\n

Isaiah Likely, NYG (92)<\/p>\n

Likely has TE1-caliber pass-catching skills, and this season, he’ll get to showcase those skills versus a TE pass-coverage schedule that has six favorable matchups and only one unfavorable matchup.<\/p>\n

Unfavorable<\/p>\n

Colston Loveland, CHI (18)<\/p>\n

Loveland is tracking to be a top-three TE in fantasy drafts, but Chicago’s schedule provides the potential for a sophomore slump. The Bears start the season with three straight unfavorable tight end coverage matchups. The slate improves from there, but Chicago TEs have only three favorable matchups all season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NFL released the 2026 schedule, and now it\u2019s time to talk fantasy. Below I\u2019ve projected which fantasy…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":673074,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[563],"tags":[64,63,622,596,85],"class_list":["post-673073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-fantasy-football","tag-football","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/673073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=673073"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/673073\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/673074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=673073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=673073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=673073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}