For contending dynasty teams, it is time to start looking at playoff matchups. While Week 17 is the title week for fantasy football, I like to look at Week 16 more as a high-level team. Most prize structures are built where even getting to the championship game is worth 2-3x the entry fee, where teams losing in Week 16 are relegated to playing for third place, where many get their entry fee back and maybe a little more. The loser of the third-place game may get nothing at all. In short, Week 16 is the high-leverage week of the season. Also, strong teams are angling for the bye week, which excludes Week 15 from their slate of matchups. For other playoff teams, Week 15 is the most important week and a central point of analysis.
For all skill positions, the following categories and weighting were created for the rest of the fantasy season for analysis:
Elite Teams: Highest weighting for Week 16 (semi-finals) as a bye week is likely for these teams, the second-highest is Week 17, then lower weighting for the rest of the remaining games.
Playoff Teams: Possible bye week, but likely finish somewhere in the Seeds 3-6 range of the playoffs. Highest weighting for Week 15, next is Week 16, then more flat for the rest of the season's weeks.
Possible Playoff: Fighting for a playoff spot, making the upcoming weeks more important as losses may eliminate these teams from contention. More weighting for Weeks 10-11, slightly less for Weeks 12-14, then Week 15 is higher than the rest of the fantasy playoffs.
Use these sections for each position to guide which applies most to individual team direction and needs.
QUARTERBACKS
The Footballguys Adjusted Strength of Schedule tool (SOS) is a must-use feature on the site. I deplore raw SOS tools merely stating the points allowed by defenses to each position. More context is needed, and Footballguys looks at the adjusted points allowed based on how the positions scored in other games compared to the defense in question.
ELITE TEAMS
- Broncos
Kansas City in the championship plus late in the regular season highlight Denver's schedule. Denver edges out the Steelers and 49ers for the top weighted schedule for elite teams.
- Best of the rest: Steelers, 49ers
Jimmy Garoppolo is the key name here With Washington in the semis and Las Vegas in the championship game, plus the 49ers loading up with Christian McCaffrey added to their elite weapons, make Garoppolo a potential league-winning option for streamers or in the QB2 spot for premium formats.
PLAYOFF TEAMS
- Broncos
With the Cardinals in Week 15 (Round 1 of the playoffs) and juicy matchups with Tennessee, Kansas City, and Las Vegas remaining in the regular season, should Russell Wilson uptick his play, the schedule is conducive to impact for the stretch run.
- Best of the rest: Texans, Chargers, 49ers
Like Denver, San Francisco is another team well-scheduled for elite teams and playoff teams alike for 2022 at quarterback. Justin Herbert is another strong option here with Tennessee in Week 15, plus Atlanta, Kansas City, and Las Vegas remaining in the regular season.
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