PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out! Below, Dave Leonard begins his series previewing the fantasy football strength of schedule for Weeks 14-17 with Fantasy Playoffs Strength of Schedule: NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys’ fantasy playoff stretch is a bit of a mixed bag—one slow, one fast, and one full-on track meet.
Week 15 @ Vikings – Let’s just get this out of the way: this game isn’t sexy for fantasy. Yes, it’s indoors at U.S. Bank Stadium, but Minnesota played slow last year—just 56.7 offensive plays per game, one of the worst in the league. Dallas is a top-five pace team at 64.9, but if the Vikings control the script as slight favorites, total play volume could sink. The betting total should hover in the mid-40s, meaning you’re leaning on high-usage studs like CeeDee Lamb and hoping for efficiency over raw volume. This is a “floor” week, not a “win you the week” matchup.
Week 16 vs Chargers – Now we’re talking. Both teams are in the pace top five (Dallas 64.9, L.A. 65.1), and AT&T Stadium’s fast track means you can realistically expect 130+ total plays. The over/under around 46.5 points says we’re getting a competitive, back-and-forth game. Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert both project for big passing days, with Lamb, Jake Ferguson, and even deeper options like Ladd McConkey benefiting. Running backs with pass-game chops get a boost here too. This is a smash spot—target heavily in seasonal playoff matchups and Best Ball builds.
Week 17 @ Commanders – The crown jewel. Washington played at a league-leading 66 plays per game in 2024, and Dallas is right behind them. Add in a projected total over 50 and the Cowboys as 5.5-point underdogs, and you get one of the fastest, highest-scoring scripts of the fantasy playoffs. Dak should be chucking in the second half, which means monster target weeks for Lamb and Ferguson, with room for a deep threat or secondary WR to pop. This is the week you want as much Dallas exposure as possible.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles’ path is… challenging. You’ll get some volume, but the matchups aren’t all gifts.
Week 15 vs Raiders – At home, in a likely mid-to-high 40s total, Philadelphia should control tempo (around 65.5 plays per game). That’s good for the big names—A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jalen Hurts, but if the game tilts heavily in Philly’s favor early, snap counts for fringe players could vanish.
Week 16 @ Commanders – Pace is intriguing here, because Washington pushes the tempo and Philly likes to play fast too. But the over/under of 45.5 points isn’t screaming “shootout,” and outdoor December football in the NFC East can be unpredictable. Hurts and the main pass-catchers remain strong starts, but don’t bank on huge efficiency from secondary options.
Week 17 @ Bills – This is where things get dicey. Buffalo plays slower (~60 plays per game) and can control the clock at home, especially late in the season. The total will likely sit in the high 40s, but a Philly trail script could mean more passing. The ceiling’s there for the stars, but the floor is scary against this defense.
Washington Commanders
Washington’s tempo is its secret weapon, but it only truly pays off in one matchup.
Week 15 vs Giants – The Giants don’t play especially fast, and this game probably lives in the 45–46 point total range. Jayden Daniels‘ dual-threat ability gives the Commanders a unique ceiling, but unless they can push the pace, it’s more of a steady-output week than a fireworks show.
Week 16 @ Eagles – Same story here, good pace potential, but the Eagles can control the game with their offense. Expect average volume, with most of it funneling to the primary pass-catchers. If Washington falls behind early, Daniels could rack up passing and rushing yards in catch-up mode, but efficiency might dip.
Week 17 vs Cowboys – Here’s the week to circle. Both teams are top-tier in tempo, and the total could easily clear 50 points. This has all the makings of a shootout, with Daniels forced to throw often and the Cowboys keeping the pressure on. Stack this game in Best Ball and playoff lineups—it could be the highest-scoring fantasy game of the year.
New York Giants
The Giants are in a rough spot. They get one playable tempo matchup and two that could sink you.
Week 15 @ Commanders – If the Giants can dictate some tempo, they might boost their offensive snap count a bit here. The total’s still in the mid-40s, so volume won’t be massive. The upside depends on whether they can keep pace with Washington’s offense.
Week 16 vs Vikings – Minnesota’s plodding pace is bad news for fantasy. Even if the Giants run around 63 plays, the overall snap total could be low, capping upside. You’ll need touchdowns, not just volume, to get fantasy wins here.
Week 17 @ Raiders – This projects as one of the flattest finales in fantasy. Raiders games tend to be mid-tempo, mid-total affairs, and without a shootout script, Giants players will be relying on individual plays rather than the environment to carry them.
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David Leonard is a fantasy football contributor for PlayerProfiler. Find him on X at @RealDelcoDave
