Knowing the intricacies of the NFL schedule can give you a significant edge in your fantasy football league. At Awesemo, we’ve developed a strength of schedule tool that provides projections throughout the season, including for the fantasy playoffs in Weeks 15 and 16. Let’s take a look at some defenses/special teams who have particularly tough schedules during that span and discuss how that could impact their production. Lets get into some fantasy football rankings for playoffs strength of schedule DSTs
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Fantasy Football Rankings: Downgraded Defences (DSTs)
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons’ defense did not perform well in 2019, allowing the 10th-most points per game (24.9) in the league. Their 20 total takeaways also tied for the 12th fewest in the league. It didn’t help their cause having to play the Saints and Buccaneers a total of four times given that those two teams tied for the third-most points scored.
Since not much was done during the offseason to improve their defense, teams might be able to score on the Falcons at will once again. They are projected to average 5.65 fantasy points per game for the season, which is dead last in the Awesemo rankings. Amazingly, their projections are also expected to take the biggest hit in the fantasy playoffs, dropping by a whopping 17.93% to 4.64 points per contest. That’s because they have two terrible matchups, first facing the Buccaneers in Week 15, then following that with a matchup against the Chiefs in Kansas City in Week 16.
New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees and a prolific offense might be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Saints, but their defense played well in 2019 also. They especially stood out defending the run game, holding the opposition to an average of 91.3 rushing yards per contest. That was the fourth-best mark in the league. They also chipped in 51 sacks, which was the third-most in that category.
Entering this season, the Saints are once again expected to have a strong defense. They are projected to average 7.3 fantasy points per game, overall, which lands them sixth among defenses/special teams in Awesemo’s rankings. On the down side, their projection for Weeks 15 and 16 are expected to decline by 14.28% to 6.26 points per contest. A lot of that could have to do with having to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Week 15.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs’ defense was average in terms of yards allowed per game (349.6) last season. They did, however, do a good job of preventing the yards from turning into touchdowns considering that their average of 19.3 points allowed per game was the seventh-fewest in the league. They also ranked 11th in sacks and 13th in total takeaways, both of which were aided by them facing a lot of additional passing plays because of teams try to keep pace with their offense.
The Chiefs are actually Awesemo’s top-ranked defense for the season overall with a projection of 7.68 fantasy points per contest. However, they might be tough to deploy in the fantasy playoffs considering their projection is expected to decline by 13.93% to 6.61 points pet contest. They first have to play the Saints in New Orleans, which could end up being a shootout. After that is a matchup against the Falcons at home in Week 16, a team that can also score points in bunches with Matt Ryan and Julio Jones running the show.
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