Strength of Schedule

In much fantasy football analysis for the NFL, one major stat for all 32 teams is strength of schedule. Since there are only 16 games in the NFL it is much easier to look at the individual matchups of each game to determine how difficult a given team will have for the upcoming year.

Strength of schedule is referred to a team’s win-loss record of their opponents. Each team’s schedule is made up of six games against division opponents, one home and one away against each team. Four games against another division in their conference, two home and two away. Four games against a division in the other conference, two home and two away. The final two games are against conference opponents who finished in the same rank in other divisions, one home and one away.

According to strength of schedule, the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers will have the hardest schedules this season. The Falcons and 49ers opponents win percentage from last season is 0.555 %.  The Green Bay Packers and New York Giants will have the easiest schedule this season according to strength of schedule. The Packers combined opponents win percentage from the 2015 season is 0.457%. The Giants combined win percentage from last season is 0.461%.

Football is the only sport where people can quantify this number. With only 16 games in the regular season, they have less games than the NBA, 82 games, and the MLB, 162 games. In many fantasy expert opinions, looking at strength of schedule will be beneficial to them so making picks is easier for their team.

When looking at daily fantasy football top picks, their reason for being such a great pick is that the team they’re playing is usually not very good. In 2015, it would have been a great idea to have Cam Newton as your quarterback against any team because he and the Panthers were the NFL’s most explosive and dynamic offense. In week eight of the 2015 season, the New York Giants and the New Orleans Saints squared off and produced highest scoring game of last season. The Saints had one of the worst defenses last season which led them to losing many more games than they should’ve. Picking Eli Manning, quarterback of the New York Giants, in week 8 would have been ideal and looking at the Saints winning percentage would have given you the idea to pick him. Looking at strength of schedule during the 2016 season will help with choosing players for lineups.