2021 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule Analysis: Wide Receivers

The success of a fantasy player has a lot that goes into it: overall skill, injury history, surrounding cast, coaching, etc. I am of firm belief more and more over the last few years that strength of schedule plays a significant role in how well a team and an individual fantasy football player performs.

This year I am digging into each position’s strength of schedule to see where there might be opportunity hidden underneath a rock. Below, you will see the WR Strength of Schedule rankings. The methodology for this was taking opposing team’s receiving yards, receiving 20+ yards, and receiving TDs allowed—in QB rankings I ran it on sum of rank, but I’m adjusting to sum of yards and TDs going forward. I ran that against each team’s schedule to come up with the easiest and toughest schedule for each team’s receiver schedule.

The Good

It will be a favorable season for the...

• Bills (facing off against Falcons, Jets x2, Dolphins x2, Titans, and Jaguars...all among the 10 worst in receiving yards allowed), and the
• Patriots (Falcons, Dolphins x2, Jaguars, Jets x2, and Titans...all bad in receiving yards for defense).

Favorable schedules for Receiving TDs are:

• Patriots (Browns, Falcons, Jets, Jaguars and Titans)
• Broncos (Bengals, Cowboys, Jaguars, Jets, Lions were bottom 10, just barely past bottom 10 are Chiefs and Chargers who they get 2 apiece from)

The Bad

A difficult season is ahead in receiving yards for the...

• Bears (facing off against 49ers, Ravens, Steelers and Packers x2...top 10 in fewest receiving yards allowed, and the Giants shut down long balls as do the Buccaneers)
• Seahawks (49ers x2, Packers, Rams who are elite x2, Steelers and Washington Football Team)

A difficult path in receiving TDs is ahead for the...

• Bears (49ers, Steelers, Packers x2, Browns, Giants, and Ravens...all top 10 receiving defenses)
• Raiders (Broncos, Browns, Dophins, Giants, Ravens, Steelers and Washington Football Team)

In a Nutshell

The schedule this year favors: Stefon Diggs, Nelson Agholor, Deebo Samuel
The schedule this year hurts: Allen Robinson II, Tyreek Hill, DK Metcalf