Taking a look at the five toughest RB fantasy football strength of schedules for the fantasy playoffs!
As important as it is to make the fantasy playoffs, it’s just as important to make sure your team is set up to go on a run in the playoffs as well. With league trade deadlines approaching, now is the time to make your final trades to push for glory in the fantasy playoffs. With running back being arguably the most important position in fantasy, we break down the five toughest RB fantasy football strength of schedules in the fantasy playoffs.
Note that this article looks at Weeks 14-17 as the fantasy playoffs, while the video below will relate to the more traditional Weeks 15-17.
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Toughest RB Fantasy Football Strength of Schedules | Fantasy Football Playoffs
1) D’Andre Swift/Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears
Playoff Schedule: @ Packers, vs Browns, vs Packers, @ 49ers
If you are like me and have either D’Andre Swift or Kyle Monangai in your lineup, be prepared with a backup plan if you make the fantasy playoffs. Out of the four weeks of Week 14 through Week 17, the Chicago Bears play three games against defenses ranked sixth or better, with the “easiest” matchup coming against the 17th-ranked San Francisco 49ers on the road in a game that will likely mean a heck of a lot for both teams.
The Packers boast the sixth-best defense against running backs, while the Browns rank second. With those two teams being the ones Chicago plays in the two or three playoff weeks, likely leading into your fantasy championship, the road to even make the championship game when the Bears play the 49ers is tough enough. Another factor that doesn’t help is the emergence of Kyle Monangai. Even though I don’t see Swift losing his lead-back role, Monangai’s role should only increase, which could make this backfield a “1A/1B” situation. No matter what happens, though, it’s clear that the running backs on the Bears are not to be trusted come playoff time.
2) Jaylen Warren & Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Playoff Schedule: @ Ravens, vs Dolphins, @ Lions, @ Browns
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a situation kind of opposite to the Chicago Bears. Although their path to the fantasy championship is “easy,” their opponents in Weeks 16 and 17 will make it really tough for any fantasy team with Jaylen Warren or Kenneth Gainwell to finish the job. While the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins rank 29th and 27th against running backs in fantasy, the Ravens at least may not stay there for long. With Lamar Jackson back and the team finally getting back on track, they will continue to win more games, which means they will continue to hold more leads late in games. As a result, come Week 14, the Pittsburgh Steelers may have to pass more to play catch-up with the Ravens, taking away opportunities for Warren and Gainwell on the ground.
Even if the Ravens and Dolphins lay an egg on the ground defensively against Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns will certainly not. Detroit and Cleveland rank third and second against running backs, respectively. Detroit’s high-powered offense will make it difficult for Pittsburgh to be able to run the ball very much, with the Steelers likely having to play catch-up all game. While many may question the Browns’ defense, they gave up 41 points to one of the best offenses in the Ravens in their last matchup, yet star running back Derrick Henry was held under 30 yards and three yards per carry in that game. There is no question that Cleveland’s defense can and will do the same to Warren and Gainwell.
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3) Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Playoff Schedule: vs Steelers, @ Bengals, vs Patriots, @ Packers
Much like the Detroit Lions, who will be the next team we cover, the Baltimore Ravens and Derrick Henry are an interesting enigma to project for the fantasy playoffs. On the one hand, Baltimore faces off against the fourth, sixth, and eighth-best rush defenses in the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers. While they do face off against the Cincinnati Bengals, who rank dead last in the same category, facing three defenses ranked eighth or better against fantasy running backs is a gauntlet.
On the other hand, the Ravens are doing the same thing they do every year, where they start slow and then look scary down the stretch. While the Steelers are tough, the Ravens should be able to get out to a fairly sizable lead, and even if they don’t, Henry has found plenty of success against them in close games in the past. In two games against the Steelers as a Raven, Henry has 227 rushing yards and a touchdown with an astounding 6.13 yards per carry. While the Patriots will be a tough matchup, the Packers are one week removed from giving up 130 rushing yards to Rico Dowdle at home and also gave up 4.7 yards per carry to Chase Brown on a bad Cincinnati Bengals offense. While Baltimore’s schedule is without a doubt one of the toughest on paper, don’t be too afraid to play Derrick Henry; just be aware.
4) Jahmyr Gibbs & David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
Playoff Schedule: vs Cowboys, @ Rams, vs Steelers, @ Vikings
If there is one thing we know about the Detroit Lions, it is that they love to run the ball and bury their opponents. In Week 14, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery should be able to feast against the Dallas Cowboys, who rank 30th in fantasy against running backs. After that game, the Lions face nothing but tough sledding, especially over the next two weeks. In Week 15, the Lions face off against a Los Angeles Rams defense that ranks first against running backs. With the Pittsburgh Steelers and their eighth-ranked defense in Week 16, things don’t get much better there either. While the Minnesota Vikings are a step down in Week 17, they still rank 11th against running backs.
Like with the Ravens, this is not a call or a warning to sell any Detroit Lions players or running backs. With that being said, it is important to keep in mind, especially if someone in your league is willing to overpay for either Gibbs or Montgomery, and your spot in the playoffs is all but guaranteed. Gibbs should see a healthy floor in every single one of these matchups, but David Montgomery likely will not, which makes him a risky option come playoff time.
5) Breece Hall, New York Jets
Playoff Schedule: vs Dolphins, @ Jaguars, @ Saints, vs Patriots
Out of all the teams listed, the New York Jets have the “easiest” schedule. With that being said, there is a very real chance that their backfield is impacted the most by their schedule. In Week 14, the Jets face the 27th-ranked Miami Dolphins. After that game, though, the Jets face just one team ranked lower than 10th in fantasy against running backs in the New Orleans Saints, who sit at 18th. As for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New England Patriots, they sit at 10th and 4th, respectively.
Although Breece Hall has had two great performances in a row, his RB4 finish in Week 8 came against the Cincinnati Bengals, who rank 32nd against running backs. As for Week 9, Hall finished as RB7 but was buoyed by a 42-yard touchdown reception that brought him most of his fantasy points. Without that one play, Hall finishes under 10 points for the week. Not only has Hall been an RB2 at best for the majority of the season, but this year is already a lost cause for the Jets. They will put him on the back burner at the first sign of danger come playoff time, which makes him a tough play for any fantasy team that wishes to contend.
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