QB and RB with Favorable Early Schedules

3 years ago by Gladys Tyler

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1. Quarterbacks

2. Quarterback Notes

3. Running Backs

4. Running Back Notes

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We all know it is not how you start but how you finish. However, starting hot is never a bad thing...

We've previously looked at how to draft with strength of schedule in mind by focusing on teams that could start strong as well as starting with the end in mind by looking at end-of-year schedules for fantasy playoffs. Let's get a little deeper today.

Here are players at the QB and RB positions poised to start strong due to soft early schedules.

Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including Best NFL Series, MLB Series, NBA Writer, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!

Quarterbacks

Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans

Team	2020 Avg. Passing TD/Game allowed	2020 Avg. Completions per game allowed	2020 Avg. Passing yards/game allowed
v Arizona Cardinals	14^th (1.6)	16^th (22.8)	10^th (226.4)
@Seattle Seahawks	8^th (1.4)	32^nd (27.2)	30^th (278.2)
v Indianapolis Colts	12^th (1.5)	19^th (23.2)	20^th (245.1)
@New York Jets	28^th (2.1)	29^th (26.1)	29^th (275.6)
v Buffalo Bills	10^th (1.5)	22^nd (23.4)	18^th (239.5)
v Kansas City Chiefs	22^nd (1.8)	12^th (22.2)	12^th (231.8)
@Indianapolis Colts	12^th (1.5)	19^th (23.2) Advertising	20^th (245.1)

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Team	2020 Avg. passing TD allowed/game	2020 Avg. completions allowed/game	2020 Avg. passing yards allowed/game
@Tennessee Titans	27^th 2.1	28^th 25.9	28^th 270.8
v Minnesota Vikings	24^th 1.9	14^th 22.4	24^th 258.8
@Jacksonville Jaguars	29^th 2.1	18^th 23.1	26^th 264.4
@Los Angeles Rams	1^st 1.2	6^th 21.2	1^st 193.8
v San Francisco Niners	13^th 1.6	9^th 21.3	4^th 207.9
@Cleveland Browns	26^th 2.0	26^th 24.7	27^th 265.4
v Houston Texans	23^rd 1.9	23^rd 23.6	23^rd 256.5

Andy Dalton/Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

Team	2020 Avg. Passing TD Allowed/game	2020 Avg. Completions Allowed/game	2020 Avg. Passing Yards Allowed/game
@Los Angeles Rams	1^{st ranked} 1.2	6^{th ranked} 21.2	1^{st ranked} 193.8
v Cincinnati Bengals	25^th 2.0	7^th 21.2	19^th 241.2
@Cleveland Browns	26^th 2.0	26^th 24.7	27^th 265.4
v Detroit Lions	32^nd 2.4	24^th 23.9	31^st 284.9
v Green Bay Packers	11^th 1.5	11^th 21.5	7^th 220.1
@Tampa Bay Buccaneers	18^th 1.8	30^th 26.6	21^st 249.1
v San Francisco Niners	13^th 1.6	9^th 21.3	4^th 207.9

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

@Las Vegas Raiders	17^{th ranked} 1.8	17^{th ranked} 23.1	25^{th ranked} 263.2
v Kansas City Chiefs	22^nd 1.8	12^th 22.2	12^th 231.8
@Detroit Lions	32^nd 2.4	24^th 23.9	31^st 284.9
@Denver Broncos	3^rd 1.3	20^th 23.4	15^th 237.9
v Indianapolis Colts	12^th 1.5	19^th 23.2	20^th 245.1
v Los Angeles Chargers	21^st 1.8	8^th 21.2	9^th 223.6
v Cincinnati Bengals	25^th 2.0	7^th 21.2	19^th 241.2

Quarterback Notes

Remember how fast Russell Wilson started last season? His first three games will be against the Colts, Titans, and Vikings until he runs into the Niners, Rams, and Steelers defense.

While Chicago Bears’ first game will be against the number one defense in most statistical categories, their next three are against defenses in the bottom seven. The three after that are against defenses that are mid-range against the pass.

The big question is, when will Fields start? Cleveland’s defense upgraded with the addition of Jadeveon Clowney, Anthony Walker Jr., rookie Greg Newsome and others, so their stats from last season are slightly misleading.

Running Backs

Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

Team	2020 Avg. Rushing TD Allowed/game	2020 Avg. Rushing Attempts Allowed/game	2020 Avg. Rushing Yards Allowed/game
@Buffalo Bills	7^{th ranked} 1.3	13^{th ranked} 26.4	20^{th ranked} 123.2
v Las Vegas Raiders	30^th 1.5	22^nd 27.4	23^rd 125.8
v Cincinnati Bengals	7^th 0.8	25^th 28.9	29^th 148.0
@Green Bay Packers	15^th 1.0	5^th 24.4	10^th 109.8
v Denver Broncos	28^th 1.4	19^th 27.1	25^th 130.0
v Seattle Seahawks	22^nd 1.1	10^th 25.6	5^th 99.6
@Cleveland Browns	17^th 1.0	8^th 25.1	9^th 108.2

Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

Team	2020 Avg. Rushing TD Allowed/game	2020 Avg. Rushing Attempts Allowed/game	2020 Avg. Rushing Yards Allowed/game
@Kansas City Chiefs	9^{th ranked} 0.8	14^{th ranked} 26.6	19^{th ranked} 123.2
v Houston Texans	31^st 1.5	30^th 30.8	32^nd 160.2
v Chicago Bears	4^th 0.7	24^th 27.8	14^th 113.9
@Minnesota Vikings	24^th 1.2	27^th 29.5	27^th 134.4
@Los Angeles Chargers	18^th 1.1	15^th 26.7	17^th 119.8
v Arizona Cardinals	8^th 0.8	21^st 27.2	21^st 125.5
v Denver Broncos	28^th 1.4	19^th 27.1	25^th 130.0

Melvin Gordon / Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos

Team	Avg. Rushing TD Allowed/game	Avg. Rushing Attempts Allowed/g	Avg. Rushing Yards Allowed/g
@New York Giants	10^th ranked 0.9	18^th ranked 27.0	11^th ranked 111.4
@Jacksonville Jaguars	29^th 1.4	32^nd 32.3	30^th 153.2
v New York Jets	16^th 1.0	23^rd 27.8	12^th 112.0
v Baltimore Ravens	2^nd 0.7	2^nd 23.3	6^th 101.3
@Pittsburgh Steelers	12^th 0.9	12^th 26.2	13^th 112.4
@Cleveland Browns	17^th 1.0	8^th 25.1	9^th 108.2
v WFT	11^th 0.9	17^th 26.9	15^th 114.5

Running Back Notes

Last season the Baltimore Ravens ran the ball the most in the NFL, running at 55.04% of their offensive plays.

Pittsburgh ran the ball only 34.52% of the time. The acquisition of Harris suggests they may run more, but Harris can also be utilized catching passes out of the backfield.

Cleveland ran the ball on 47.78% of their offensive plays (fourth in the league), while Denver was 12^th, running the ball on 42.91% of their offensive plays.

Per Footballdatabase.com

Bottom-Eight Teams versus TEs: Targets, Receptions, Yards, and Touchdowns Allowed 2020

Atlanta Falcons	122 targets	91 receptions	956 yards	10 touchdowns
New York Jets	135 targets	91 receptions	1105 yards	14 touchdowns
Chicago Bears	129 targets	90 receptions	962 yards	13 touchdowns
Philadelphia Eagles	107 targets	80 receptions	835 yards	9 touchdowns
Jacksonville Jaguars	97 targets	66 receptions	833 yards	13 touchdowns
Cleveland Browns	127 targets	90 receptions	907 yards	10 touchdowns
Kansas City Chiefs	121 targets	84 receptions	954 yards	9 touchdowns
Carolina Panthers	129 targets	91 receptions	905 yards	8 touchdowns

Unless you drafted Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Mark Andrews, or Kyle Pitts, you will be streaming your tight ends this season.

Good luck! Come talk at me on Twitter @gladysLtyler.

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