The National Football League has a strength of schedule formula that's simple to understand ... take the opponents' records from the previous season, add up wins and losses and calculate a percentage. In fantasy football, there's a different method that evaluates a player's value.
Instead of team records, we use the number of fantasy points allowed by opponents the previous year against a single position. For example, the New Orleans Saints allowed an average of 23.98 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks in 2015. As a result, any quarterback who faces them in 2016 receives 23.58 points. The bigger the overall point total, the easier the schedule.
While these ratings are not the be-all, end-all in determining a player's stock, owners can use them when picking between players with similar value and projecting potential sleepers or busts.
Fantasy points against rankings - QBs
1. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
2015 Rank: 42
2016 FPA: 18.50
2. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
2015 Rank: 9
2016 FPA: 17.98
3. Eli Manning, New York Giants
2015 Rank: 10
2016 FPA: 17.87
T-4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
2015 Rank: 7
2016 FPA: 17.57
T-4. Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
2015 Rank: 23
2016 FPA: 17.57
6. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
2015 Rank: 21
2016 FPA: 17.51
7. Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins
2015 Rank: 8
2016 FPA: 17.49
8. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
2015 Rank: 26
2016 FPA: 17.46
9. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals
2015 Rank: 18
2016 FPA: 17.43
10. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
2015 Rank: 20
2016 FPA: 17.20
11. Sam Bradford, Philadelphia Eagles
2015 Rank: 24
2016 FPA: 17.15
12. Robert Griffin III, Cleveland Browns
2015 Rank: N/A
2016 FPA: 17.14
13. Brock Osweiler, Houston Texans
2015 Rank: 30
2016 FPA: 17.02
14. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans
2015 Rank: 22
2016 FPA: 16.98
15. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
2015 Rank: 28
2016 FPA: 16.97
T-16. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
2015 Rank: 12
2016 FPA: 16.93
T-16. Mark Sanchez, Denver Broncos
2015 Rank: 46
2016 FPA: 16.93
18. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
2015 Rank: 1
2016 FPA: 16.90
19. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
2015 Rank: 19
2016 FPA: 16.87
20. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars
2015 Rank: 4
2016 FPA: 16.86
21. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
2015 Rank: 15
2016 FPA: 16.82
22. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
2015 Rank: 3
2016 FPA: 16.74
T-23. Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
2015 Rank: 14
2016 FPA: 16.57
T-23. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins
2015 Rank: 15
2016 FPA: 16.57
25. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
2015 Rank: 40
2016 FPA: 16.54
26. Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills
2015 Rank: 16
2016 FPA: 16.49
27. Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2015 Rank: 13
2016 FPA: 16.48
28. Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets
2015 Rank: 51
2016 FPA: 16.38
29. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
2015 Rank: 5
2016 FPA: 16.37
30. Blaine Gabbert, San Francisco 49ers
2015 Rank: 31
2016 FPA: 16.22
31. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
2015 Rank: 2
2016 FPA: 16.00
32. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
2015 Rank: 6
2016 FPA: 15.93
Notes: The Eagles, Giants, Browns and Redskins ranked among the top 10 teams in allowing points to quarterbacks last season. Romo faces all four (Eagles, Giants, Redskins twice). He is one of three NFC East quarterbacks (Manning, Cousins) among the top seven most favorable schedules. The Eagles and Bradford are No. 11. ... Stafford's slate should be beneficial, but can he produce at a high level without Calvin Johnson? ... Rodgers will rebound from a subpar season (for his standards) with Jordy Nelson's return and the help of a favorable schedule. ... Mariota's slate is middle of the road, so he's still a nice sleeper at the position. ... Brady, Brees and Palmer have some of the least favorable schedules at the position, but it's not enough to keep them from being drafted as No. 1 quarterbacks.
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Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!
