Sending Out an SoS | 2026 Dynasty Targets Based on Strength of Schedule

by Wolf Trelles-Heard · Featured
2026 Dynasty Startup Targets

Strength of schedule isn’t an exact science. You can think you’ve figured out how good or bad a team will be based on last year’s stats, Vegas projections, and so on, but circumstances change all the time. For instance, just because a team sucked on pass defense in 2025 doesn’t mean they will suck on pass defense again in 2026. Still, that’s all we really have to work with in th offseason. 

With that said, individual teams’ strength of schedule is worth eyeballing when you’re drafting because it can help break ties when you’re on the clock. If I’m considering two similarly valued players, give me the one with the softer road ahead. Even better if they have a favorable slate in the fantasy playoffs, which typically covers Weeks 15 through 17. 

I dug through the schedules to help out our audience for this coming season. For this exercise, I used FantasyPros’ Strength of Schedule matrix. So if you’re jumping into any startups soon, here are some targets to consider with easier schedules in 2026.

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Quarterbacks

Jalen Hurts | Philadelphia Eagles

It seems popular to hate on Jalen Hurts these days. I get it. His fantasy points per game have declined for three straight seasons after he finished as the QB1 in 2022. He also just lost his No. 1 receiver, as A.J. Brown was jettisoned to New England. Currently QB8 on PlayerProfiler’s dynasty rankings, this is the lowest Hurts’ value has been since his rookie year.

Jalen Hurts’ Career Stats

However, there’s room for optimism in 2026. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion should be an improvement over Kevin Patullo. The team also drafted Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers in the first two rounds to help offset the loss of Brown.

The cherry on top, though, is that Philadelphia has the easiest schedules at every position, including quarterback. Hurts could hit the ground running with games against Washington, at Tennessee, and at Chicago to start the season. Unfortunately for him — and fantasy managers — the roughest patch of the year comes in the fantasy playoffs: vs. Seattle in Week 15, vs. Houston in Week 16, and at San Francisco in Week 17. Two of those are home games, but it’s still a difficult stretch. Still, that’s the only brutal pocket based on strength of schedule (SoS). The rest of the year is filled with cakewalk matchups, making Hurts an attractive Round 2 target in startups.

Trevor Lawrence | Jacksonville Jaguars

Once Trevor Lawrence settled into Liam Coen’s offense around mid-year, he looked like the guy everyone thought he’d be when he was selected No. 1 overall out of Clemson. Lawrence was unstoppable down the stretch and finished as the QB4 last year, averaging 20.6 fantasy points per game. He threw for 4,007 yards and posted career highs in passing touchdowns (29) and rushing touchdowns (nine).

Trevor Lawrence’s fantasy stats from Week 12 through Week 18 in 2025

Heading into Year 2 of Coen’s system, Lawrence also gets one of the best schedules in the league. Just look at this stretch from Week 10 through the fantasy playoffs: at Tennessee, at New York Giants, vs. Tennessee, at Chicago, vs. Pittsburgh, at Houston, at Dallas, and vs. Washington. The only hard matchup is the Texans in Week 15. After that, he gets two salivating matchups that could propel fantasy managers to a championship.

Lawrence is currently sitting at QB9 in PlayerProfiler’s rankings and makes a fine target in the back half of Round 2 in Superflex drafts if you want to take a signal-caller there.

Other Quarterbacks with Favorable Schedules:

Running Backs

Jahmyr Gibbs | Detroit Lions

It’s been interesting to see the recent discourse about Jahmyr Gibbs as the RB1, though he’s been my RB1 over Bijan Robinson for quite some time. I also said on X back in December that Gibbs would be the 1.01 in drafts this year, which a lot of people are finally coming around to.

However you feel about Gibbs vs. Robinson, one thing is for certain: the Lions have an insanely friendly schedule this year. Check out this second-half slate for Gibbs, starting in Week 11 and running through the fantasy playoffs:

  • vs. Tampa Bay
  • vs. Chicago
  • at Atlanta
  • vs. Tennessee
  • at Minnesota
  • vs. New York Giants
  • at Chicago.

Without David Montgomery, Gibbs is set to smash. If you draft near the top of Round 1, perhaps this helps you decide between the two stud running backs.

Kyren Williams | Los Angeles Rams

Kyren Williams catches a lot of flak, but much of it seems unwarranted. All the guy does is produce. He has three straight seasons of at least 1,100 rushing yards, 30-plus receptions, and 13 touchdowns. And yet, he’s sitting all the way down at RB22 in dynasty rankings.

Kyren Williams’ Advanced Metrics

Use the dynasty community’s indifference towards Williams to your advantage in drafts. You can likely snag him in the fifth or even sixth round. There, you are landing a player who has finished as the RB10, RB10, and RB2 in fantasy points per game since 2023.

If you’re still on the fence, know that Williams gets one of the five easiest schedules for running backs. He has soft matchups against San Francisco and the New York Giants to open the year, and then he closes it with two enticing ones when it matters most: vs. Dallas, at Seattle, and at Tampa Bay. The Seahawks have the only imposing run defense of that group, meaning Williams should help managers crush it in the fantasy playoffs.

Other Running Backs with Favorable Schedules:

Wide Receivers

Justin Jefferson | Minnesota Vikings

Look, I know 2025 was rough if you had Justin Jefferson in fantasy. My wife played fantasy for the first time last year, and I told her how amazing Jefferson would be as her first-round pick. Guess who was upset all season and thinks I don’t know ball now? That’s what happens when a stud like “Jettas” finishes with career lows in yards (1,048) and touchdowns (two?!) despite playing all 17 games.

Justin Jefferson’s 2025 EPX

The down year has Jefferson sitting at WR6 in our dynasty rankings. The good news is that a bounceback is in order this season. The Vikings brought in quarterback Kyler Murray, who figures to be named the starter in training camp.

Jefferson also has one of the juiciest schedules for wide receivers. He has matchups against Chicago, Tampa Bay, Miami, and New Orleans before a Week 6 bye. And his slate to end the year is gorgeous, with games like Week 15 vs. Detroit, Week 16 vs. Washington, and Week 17 at the New York Jets, who didn’t record a single interception last year. Remember that when you’re looking at receivers near the end of Round 1 in single-QB formats. In Superflex, Jefferson can regularly be had in Round 2, which would be a steal if he gets back to his old ways of 1,500-plus yards.

Christian Watson & Jayden Reed | Green Bay Packers

I’m not including second-year man Matthew Golden here. I need to see more from him after an extremely lackluster rookie season. But veterans Christian Watson and Jayden Reed both received contract extensions this offseason, making them good bets to be Jordan Love‘s top target-earners alongside tight end Tucker Kraft.

The duo draws advantageous matchups early on against Chicago, the New York Jets, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Detroit. They close out the fantasy season with games vs. Miami, at Chicago, and vs. Houston. We know the Texans present a problem, but those other two defenses likely shouldn’t pose much of a threat.

There are a few rounds of ADP gap between the two Packers. Watson will likely go somewhere in the Rounds 7-8 range, while Reed usually lasts until Round 10 or so. With the easy schedule and condensed receiver room, perhaps this is the year that one — or both — of these guys finally takes off.

Other Wide Receivers with Favorable Schedules:

Tight Ends

Kyle Pitts | Atlanta Falcons

Fresh off a three-year, $54-million contract extension, Kyle Pitts is looking to build upon his 2025 season, in which he had personal bests in targets (118), receptions (88), and touchdowns (five). His 928 yards were also the most he has had since his rookie season, and he finished as the TE2 overall while averaging 12.4 fantasy points per game.

Kyle Pitts’ 2025 Productivity & Efficiency Metrics

Now, Pitts gets Kevin Stefanski as his head coach, a hire that should help him continue to blossom given Stefanski’s track record with tight ends. He also has a pretty promising schedule, especially in the fantasy playoffs. From Weeks 15-17, Pitts has contests at Washington and at home against Tampa Bay and New Orleans. Seeing the Buccaneers on that slate should make Pitts’ managers grin from ear to ear, because he routinely torches his division rival.

Pitts is currently TE7 in PlayerProfiler’s rankings, and you can usually expect him to be selected once the top four or five tight ends come off the board. Now that he has the new deal in place, 100-plus 2026 targets are a lock for Pitts. Pairing that volume with this schedule to end the year, he could end up being a major reason why fantasy managers bring home a championship.

Brenton Strange | Jacksonville Jaguars

Another tight end who got paid recently, Brenton Strange signed a three-year, $48-million extension in late June. That locks him as a focal point in Liam Coen’s offense and makes him a nice value pick outside of the top 12 at the position.

Even though there are plenty of mouths to feed in Jacksonville’s offense, Strange should benefit from a soft schedule this year, particularly down the stretch. Starting in Week 12 through Week 17, he plays: vs. Tennessee, at Chicago, vs. Pittsburgh, at Houston, at Dallas, vs. Washington. The Cowboys and Commanders offer potential blow-up games for the former Nittany Lion.

If you want to play the waiting game when it comes to drafting a tight end, Strange offers top-10 upside at a TE15 price tag.

Other Tight Ends with Favorable Schedules:

Wolf Trelles-Heard is a fantasy football analyst for PlayerProfiler.

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