It's the 2025 NFL program launch day, which means we're one step closer to the start of the season.

How does this schedule affect the fantasy football scene? Which players have the easiest and most difficult ones? Which 14 teams will make the NFL playoffs? How about the order order for 2026 in the early stage?

Before diving, some housekeepers. First, while Week 18 is no longer part of the schedule for the newly created and ESPN Fantasy Football League, it is still included in the reactivated league, so it remains part of this study (with little impact on the results anyway). Next, the intensity of my schedule evaluation is not based on the final 2024 record, which is usually what you see in columns of this type. There are already a lot of lineup sports this offseason, and injured players will return to action, so all of this is included in each team's 2025 outlook. My evaluation of each lineup (not last year’s production) is what I use to make the easiest and toughest schedule.

The following analysis is your next step in preparing for the 2025 NFL and Fantasy Football season.

Arizona takes up this category very noteworthy, as the Cardinals were the toughest quarterback and tensions last season and had the hardest overall fantasy schedule for most of 2024, then it was stretching down.

This season, Arizona played 9 matchups with me in the league's worst 10 units defense (twice, Jaguars, Cowboys, Bengals, Panthers, Saints, Saints, Falcons, Titans). The only top ten defense they will face is Houston.

Kyler Murray, James Conner, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride are already well-known draft-day goals, but all four are driven by good results on the schedule.

Others with a good fantasy schedule: Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints.

The Bengali leadership of this category is not even close. Cincinnati faces a defense that is expected to end the league's second-to-last (Jaguars), but against the expected defense of the top six (two times Steelers, Vikings, Mustangs, Mustangs, Lions, Patriots) and two games against a good Ravens defense.

The silver lining here is that, based on the EPA, Cincinnati's offense was the seventh highest slate in the league last season, including the hardest catcher. That didn't stop Joe Burrow, Chase Brown, Ja'marr Chase and Tee Higgins from promoting elite numbers.

Other Difficult Fantasy Schedule: Baltimore Crow and Green Bay Packers

Location upgrade and downgrade

Although we don't want to over-meet the intensity of the schedule based on the results of last season, there is some correlation between the fantasy points allowed by the position and the expected fantasy power (based on the 2025 lineup). The following diagram shows the strength of each offense schedule, based on their 2025 opponents last season. For example, based on the 2024 results, the Lions face a third schedule that closes, but the quarterback’s hardest third schedule. (Green = simple; red = hard.)

Here are some upgrades and downgrades based solely on this chart, although you will notice relevance to previous analyses:

upgrade

QB: CJ Stroud, Kyler Murray, Tyler Shoough, Justin Fields
RB: Robington, Alvice Room, Kennes Walker III, James Conner, Christian McCoffrey
WR: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson, Tetairo McMillan
this: Mark Andrews, Mason Taylor

Downgrade

QB: Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson, Jared Goff
RB: James Cook, Derrick Henry, RJ Harvey, Kaleb Johnson
WR: Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman
this: Jake Ferguson, Theo Johnson, Tyler Higbee

Easiest overall schedule: San Francisco 49ers (Victory: 10.5)

The 49ers' 2024 season was a very disappointing one, with many problems facing defense after leaving a lot of offseasons. The good news is that offensive form is still decent and the team will face the league's easiest 2025 schedule. ESPN's 49ers will not face the league's top seven Super Bowl favorites (Crows, Lions, Eagles, Bills, Chiefs, Bangladesh, Commander), and since NFC West faces to face with the underserved NFC South and AFC South partitions. Their unique game is Giant, Bear and Brown.

The top 5 easiest timetables for the remaining: Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks

The toughest overall timetable: Detroit Lions (Victory: 10.5)

Not surprisingly, because the Lions are the defending champions who once were Super Trap NFC North. In addition to six games against the Vikings, Packers and Improve the Bears, the Lions faced the NFC East and AFC North sections. Detroit's unique game trio involves your hardships: Pirates, Chiefs, and Rams.

One positive thing about the Lion is that the rest of the divisions (and several 1 type competitors) will also face tough slate.

The 5 toughest schedules left: Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Green Bay Packers

Expected AFC seeds

All playoff odds offered by ESPN BET..

1. Ravens(-500); 2. Bill (-750); 3. Chief (-450); 4. Texan (-155); 5. Mustang (-110); 6. Bangladesh (-185); 7. Patriot (+155)

The Raven nodded to the bill here, but it was an open game between two star franchises and on paper, especially on the offense. Baltimore has won double-digit games over the past seven seasons (including at least 12 in the past two years), while Buffalo has won at least 11 games in six straight seasons. Perhaps the Chiefs made some return after the Chiefs were shelled by the Hawks in February, but it’s hard to doubt five of the past six Super Bowls, including three in a row. Houston remains a favorite in the South, with Stroud entering third grade and one of the league's most defensive defenses. Denver also has a good defense, and it might be better to use the new tools added for the second-year QB Bo Nix. Despite winning nine games in four straight seasons, the Bangladeans missed the playoffs for two consecutive years, but this cave-led elite offense should be able to offset this shaky defense. And, don't sleep in a Patriots that suddenly pile up on defense and have a sophomore QB (Drake Mayer) and an improved coach (Mike Vrabel). The conversations that Steelers, Chargers, Dolphins and even the Colts have here.

Projecting NFC seeds

1. Lion (-250); 2. Eagles (-450); 3. Pirate (-165); 4. Ram (-170); 5. Packer (-125); 6. Commander (-150); 7. Vikings (+130)

The injury definitely beat the Lions' defense in 2024, which led to the playoff exit after dominating the regular season 15-2. Detroit is healthy and still stacked on paper entering 2025, and despite tough division rivals, it is still competing for the top seed this season again this season. Super Bowl champion Hawks took a defensive blow during free agents, but the offense remains elite. Tampa Bay found quarterback at Baker Mayfield and will have a fifth straight championship and a sixth straight trip to the playoffs. The Rams are the best they have shown on paper over the years, especially on defense, and we know they have been well coached under Sean McVay. The Packers are strong on both sides of the ball, and the offensive goal and a completely healthy Jordanian love can even be better. The Department of Defense is the main red flag for the commander, but Jayden Daniels seems to be the real deal and can put the team far ahead. While the Vikings remain elite in defense, the new QB at JJ McCarthy combines a tough schedule that could lead to step by step. As an NFC sleeper, keep an eye on the Cardinal (simple schedule and stacked defense lines).

Expected top 5 NFL draft in 2026

1. Brown; 2. Saints; 3. Raider; 4. Titan; 5. Jet

Last season, the Browns took a huge step back with offense percentages of quarterbacks (Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders), who competed for the starting job. The team's next franchise QB may pass the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. When it comes to teams with quarterback issues, the Saints may turn to rookie Tyler Shoough to replace retired Derek Carr. New coach Kellen Moore will do his job for him this season. It's hard to imagine a team with Pete Carroll that was so low in the standings, but even with the upgrade to Geno Smith at quarterback and Maxx Crosby's presence on defense, it still has the look of a lineup and still has too many weaknesses. The Titans’ defense isn’t very tempting, and as rookie QB cam ward adapts to pros, offense will be a work ongoing. Last season, the Jets groped a piled up roster, and while defense should be solid, Justin Field-led offensive numbers were limited.