Ultimate Strength of Schedule, Wide Receivers

Clayton Gray's Ultimate Strength of Schedule, Wide Receivers Clayton Gray Published 08/18/2023

Links to similar discussions on other positions:

Overview
Quarterbacks
Kickers
Defenses

Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends

The advantages offered by the Ultimate Strength of Schedule (USOS) when compared to traditional SOS displays are numerous and include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Fantasy Points Driven
    Fantasy football is all about scoring fantasy points, so USOS is based on fantasy points.
  • Removed Bias Of Schedule
    Consider the following scenario: Defense A faced the 16 best offenses, while Defense B faced the 16 worst offenses. If both defenses allowed opposing quarterbacks to average 300 fantasy points last season, are they equally strong? Of course not; Defense A is far superior as they faced much better offenses. This bias of schedule has been removed from USOS.
  • Positional Breakdown
    If you are looking for a running back, it's much more relevant to see SOS data for running backs (rather than simply rushing data).

Explanation of USOS Tables

Below, you will see tables for each position's USOS. Here is a brief explanation of the make-up of these tables.

The "Team" Column

This is simply the NFL team.

The Values

Each value in the table is the expected number of fantasy points on average or on a per-game basis (depending on the column).

The "2023" Column

This is the average expected fantasy points allowed by each team's opponents for this season.

The "EZ" Column

This is the number of easy opponents each team will face this season. An easy opponent is defined as one of the eight (seven during the bye weeks) worst defenses. Obviously, it is preferred to have players with as many easy games as possible.

The "TF" Column

This is the number of tough opponents each team will face this season. A tough opponent is defined as one of the eight (seven during the bye weeks) best defenses. Obviously, it is preferred to have players with as few tough games as possible.

The "1st3" Column

This is the SOS for the first three weeks of the NFL season. This value can be used to determine how players should be expected to open the season. Players with low values could easily stumble out of the gate.

The "1st5" Column

This is similar to "1st3" except that it covers the first five weeks of the NFL season (note that some teams only play four games in this time frame).

The "Byes" Column

This is the SOS covering the bye weeks. This value can be used to find a complementary player during the byes as you'll need to shuffle players in and out of your starting lineup. A player with an easy schedule during this time would be nice to have.

The "15to17" Column

This is similar to "1st3" except that it specifically covers Week 15 through Week 17.

The "16to18" Column

This is similar to "15to17" except that it specifically covers Week 16 through Week 18.

The "W01" through "W18" Columns

These values are the expected strength of each team's opponent for that particular week (W05 is Week 5, etc). This is very useful when searching for backups for your elite starters. The key is to locate players with easy opponents when your star is on a bye.

The Coloring of the Values

The blue values indicate that the team has one of the eight (seven during the bye weeks) best values in that column. The red values indicate that the team has one of the eight (seven during the bye weeks) worst values in that column.

(Note: a green/red combo was considered, but some people are color blind between those two colors.)

In short:

  • Blue shading is a team with a good schedule at that position
  • Red shading is a team with a bad schedule at that position

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Ultimate Strength of Schedule, Wide Receivers

Team 2023 EZ TF 1st3 1st5 byes 15to17 16to18
Ari 32.9 3 5 34.3 34.7 32.2 33.0 30.4
Atl 33.8 6 4 34.2 33.5 34.5 32.7 31.9
Bal 33.1 4 5 32.1 31.8 33.2 35.0 34.1
Buf 32.6 3 4 32.0 32.9 32.2 32.8 32.1
Car 34.0 6 4 32.0 34.3 33.6 33.5 34.2
Chi 33.7 5 4 33.5 32.5 35.5 32.0 32.2
Cin 33.4 5 5 32.6 33.6 33.1 34.7 32.0
Cle 32.7 3 5 35.3 35.1 32.6 29.2 30.5
Dal 33.0 3 3 30.9 32.2 32.5 35.4 34.8
Den 32.7 3 7 33.8 32.0 32.6 33.5 32.5
Det 33.3 4 6 32.3 32.4 33.0 33.8 37.0
GB 34.0 5 3 32.7 34.0 33.5 36.6 34.6
Hou 33.6 5 3 34.0 33.9 32.7 35.7 33.6
Ind 34.0 6 3 33.0 34.3 34.4 34.0 32.8
Jac 33.9 5 3 31.7 33.1 33.3 35.3 36.8
KC 32.6 4 7 34.5 33.8 31.6 33.7 33.4
LAC 33.2 4 5 36.6 36.0 32.1 32.8 32.4
LAR 32.6 2 5 33.2 32.7 31.8 33.4 34.2
LV 32.3 3 6 32.3 31.7 33.2 32.3 31.3
Mia 33.0 4 4 30.5 32.2 33.4 32.3 35.1
Min 33.3 5 6 33.3 33.6 32.3 34.1 35.0
NE 32.5 2 4 30.8 32.1 33.4 32.4 30.5
NO 34.4 6 3 34.6 34.6 34.1 34.7 35.1
NYG 32.7 3 4 34.3 33.0 32.5 32.7 32.5
NYJ 32.8 4 3 34.4 32.9 33.0 32.3 32.0
Phi 33.7 6 2 35.6 34.9 33.8 31.3 32.9
Pit 33.0 3 6 33.5 32.8 33.3 31.9 32.5
SF 33.2 4 3 33.4 33.4 33.0 33.2 34.0
Sea 34.1 5 2 35.4 34.9 34.0 34.4 34.3
TB 34.2 8 3 33.5 33.3 34.9 32.8 34.4
Ten 32.8 3 5 31.2 32.1 34.3 29.1 31.2
Was 32.6 4 4 31.8 31.6 32.9 32.6 33.0
Avg 33.2 4.25 4.25 33.2 33.3 33.2 33.2 33.2

Week-by-Week

WRs W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W10 W11 W12 W13 W14 W15 W16 W17 W18
Ari 34.0 33.6 35.2 36.3 34.6 33.8 28.7 34.2 29.9 34.8 29.3 33.8 32.9 - 36.3 30.8 31.8 28.7
Atl 35.0 30.3 37.4 35.5 29.3 34.0 36.8 38.6 38.0 31.5 - 32.6 27.6 36.8 35.0 32.3 30.8 32.6
Bal 29.3 34.6 32.3 29.9 32.9 38.6 37.4 31.5 28.7 29.9 34.6 31.2 - 33.8 35.5 36.3 33.1 32.9
Buf 27.6 34.4 34.0 33.1 35.5 33.6 32.1 36.8 34.6 28.1 27.6 31.8 - 33.4 35.2 31.2 32.1 33.1
Car 34.8 32.6 28.7 38.0 37.4 33.1 - 29.3 32.3 30.8 35.2 38.6 36.8 32.6 34.8 30.3 35.5 36.8
Chi 30.3 36.8 33.4 28.1 34.0 38.0 34.4 31.2 32.6 35.0 37.4 38.0 - 37.4 29.9 31.5 34.8 30.3
Cin 29.9 34.2 33.8 38.6 31.5 28.7 - 36.3 35.8 29.3 34.2 32.9 35.5 32.3 38.0 32.9 33.4 29.9
Cle 34.6 32.9 38.6 34.2 - 36.3 32.3 28.7 31.5 34.2 32.9 28.1 33.8 35.5 30.8 29.3 27.6 34.6
Dal 33.6 27.6 31.5 32.1 36.3 31.2 - 33.8 31.8 33.6 35.0 34.0 28.7 31.8 35.8 33.1 37.4 34.0
Den 34.4 34.0 33.1 30.8 27.6 33.4 30.3 33.4 - 35.8 38.0 29.9 29.3 31.2 37.4 32.1 31.2 34.4
Det 33.4 28.7 34.8 30.3 35.0 36.8 34.2 34.4 - 34.4 30.8 30.3 32.6 30.8 28.1 38.0 35.2 38.0
GB 30.8 34.8 32.6 37.4 34.4 - 28.1 38.0 33.8 32.9 31.2 37.4 33.4 33.6 36.8 35.0 38.0 30.8
Hou 34.2 32.3 35.5 32.9 34.8 32.6 - 35.0 36.8 34.6 31.5 35.5 28.1 27.6 38.6 29.9 38.6 32.3
Ind 35.5 29.3 34.2 33.8 38.6 35.5 29.9 32.6 35.0 32.1 - 36.8 38.6 34.6 32.9 34.8 34.4 29.3
Jac 32.3 33.4 29.3 34.8 35.8 32.3 32.6 32.9 - 36.3 38.6 29.3 34.6 29.9 34.2 36.8 35.0 38.6
KC 37.4 35.5 30.8 27.6 38.0 28.1 31.2 28.1 33.1 - 31.8 34.4 30.3 35.8 32.1 34.4 34.6 31.2
LAC 33.1 38.6 38.0 34.4 - 35.2 33.4 30.8 27.6 37.4 30.3 34.2 32.1 28.1 34.4 35.8 28.1 33.4
LAR 28.7 36.3 34.6 32.3 31.8 31.5 32.9 35.2 30.3 - 28.7 31.5 29.9 34.2 34.0 32.6 33.6 36.3
LV 28.1 35.8 32.9 31.2 30.3 32.1 30.8 37.4 33.6 27.6 33.1 33.4 - 38.0 31.2 33.4 32.3 28.1
Mia 31.2 32.1 28.1 35.8 33.6 35.0 31.8 32.1 33.4 - 34.4 27.6 34.0 38.6 27.6 35.2 34.2 35.8
Min 36.8 31.8 31.2 35.0 33.4 30.8 36.3 30.3 34.8 32.6 28.1 30.8 - 34.4 34.6 37.4 30.3 37.4
NE 31.8 33.1 27.6 35.2 32.6 34.4 35.8 33.1 34.0 32.3 - 33.6 31.2 32.9 33.4 28.1 35.8 27.6
NO 38.6 35.0 30.3 36.8 32.1 29.3 35.5 32.3 30.8 38.0 - 34.8 37.4 35.0 33.6 33.8 36.8 34.8
NYG 35.2 31.5 36.3 28.7 33.1 35.8 34.0 27.6 31.2 35.2 34 32.1 - 30.3 32.6 31.8 33.8 31.8
NYJ 35.8 35.2 32.1 33.4 28.1 31.8 - 33.6 34.4 31.2 35.8 33.1 34.8 29.3 33.1 34.0 29.9 32.1
Phi 32.1 38.0 36.8 34.0 33.8 27.6 33.1 34.0 35.2 - 33.4 35.8 36.3 35.2 28.7 33.6 31.5 33.6
Pit 36.3 29.9 34.4 29.3 34.2 - 33.8 35.5 38.6 30.3 29.9 34.6 31.5 32.1 32.3 34.6 28.7 34.2
SF 32.9 33.8 33.6 31.5 35.2 29.9 38.0 34.6 - 35.5 36.8 28.7 31.8 28.7 31.5 34.2 34.0 33.8
Sea 33.8 37.4 35.0 33.6 - 34.6 31.5 29.9 34.2 34.0 33.8 36.3 35.2 36.3 31.8 38.6 32.9 31.5
TB 38.0 30.8 31.8 32.6 - 37.4 34.8 35.8 29.3 38.6 36.3 32.3 35.0 34.8 30.3 35.5 32.6 35.0
Ten 32.6 31.2 29.9 34.6 32.3 34.2 - 34.8 32.9 36.8 35.5 35.0 32.3 33.1 29.3 28.7 29.3 35.5
Was 31.5 28.1 35.8 31.8 30.8 34.8 33.6 31.8 32.1 28.7 33.6 35.2 33.1 - 33.8 27.6 36.3 35.2
Avg 33.2 33.2 33.2 33.2 33.5 33.3 33.2 33.2 33.1 33.3 33.3 33.2 32.9 33.3 33.2 33.2 33.2 33.2

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