Knowing the ins and outs 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 discuss three of the top defenses/special teams with the highest projected increase in fantasy points per game for that all-important stretch. Let’s get into some strength of schedule fantasy football rankings for the playoffs among DST.
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Fantasy Football Rankings: Strength of Schedule DST Playoff Targets
1. Cleveland Browns
The Browns defense was average at best last season. They did do a good job of limiting teams through the air, allowing the seventh-fewest passing yards per game in the league. However, they were torched on the ground, giving up the third-most rushing yards per contest. They also didn’t generate a lot of turnovers with their 20 total takeaways tied for 12th-fewest in the league. Their 38 sacks were the 13th-fewest in the league.
Entering 2020, the Browns defensive core of Myles Turner, Sheldon Richardson and Denzel Ward remains in tack. They are projected to average 6.8 fantasy points per game for the season, overall, and 7.83 points per contest during the fantasy playoffs, which is an increase of a whopping 15.11 percent. The reason for that spike is matchups against the Giants and Jets, two teams who had turnover problems last season. The Giants led the league with 16 fumbles lost and the Jets were tied for the ninth-most total giveaways. The Browns are Awesemo’s #1 fantasy football rankings DST target for the playoffs.
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2. Baltimore Ravens
If you pick any defensive stat, it’s likely that the Ravens were among the league leagues last season. The allowed the third-fewest points per game, the sixth-fewest passing yards per game and the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game. They were also tied for the seventh-most total takeaway, although their 37 sacks ranked them towards the bottom-third of the league.
Part of the reason why the Ravens allow so few yards and points is because their run-heavy offense often controls the time of possession. That shouldn’t change this season with Lamar Jackson under center and the duo of Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins leading their backfield. They did lose some key defenders, but the additions of Calais Campbell, Derek Wolfe and first-round pick Patrick Queen have helped offset those losses and leaves them with a projected 7.31 fantasy points per game for the season. They are projected to average 8.31 points per contest during the fantasy playoffs, which is an increase of 13.72 percent. Their Week 15 opponent will be the Jaguars and they will face the aforementioned turnover-prone Giants in Week 16. The Ravens are Awesemo’s #2 fantasy football rankings DST target for the playoffs.
3. Las Vegas Raiders
Wait, the Raiders are on this list? The same Raiders that allowed the ninth-most points per game last season? They were lit up through the air, allowing the eighth-most passing yards per game in the league. On top of that, their 15 total takeaways were the second-fewest mark. To add one more damning stat, their 32 sacks were tied for the eighth-fewest.
We are projecting the Raiders defense to once again struggle, leaving them with an average of just 6.02 fantasy points per game for the season. However, if you’re keeping an eye on the fantasy playoffs, they could be a good streaming defense to consider adding as we get towards that stretch. They will face the Chargers in Week 15, who will likely either have journeyman Tyrod Taylor or rookie Justin Herbert under center. In Week 16, they could will be looking at a similar situation with the Dolphins, who have Ryan Fitzpatrick and rookie Tua Tagovailoa as their top quarterbacks. That leaves them with a projected average of 6.79 fantasy points per contest, which is an increase of 12.84 percent compared to their season projection. The Raiders are Awesemo’s #3 fantasy football rankings DST target for the playoffs.
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