Rapid React: Fantasy reactions to the 2015 NFL schedule

With this season's schedule released, fantasy football owners are already plotting which commodities have the friendliest/unfriendliest slates. Yes, no two years are ever the same, but much can be gleaned from the path of opponents. Our group of analysts, ever insightful and strongly opinionated, provide their gut reactions. Who should you target? Who should you avoid? What "expert" hyped player should you fade? Read our takes below: 

Brandon: "Past performance does not guarantee future returns." This is a mantra we preach over and over again when it comes to fantasy football SOS. But, that said, are we really going to ignore the juicy release of the 2015 NFL schedule? Of course not. So here's my first sleeper-ish offering for the upcoming season: Jonathan Stewart.

The Panthers back closed out last season averaging 96.7 rushing yards on 5.3 yards per carry in his final seven games (including two postseason contests). And look that '15 schedule - 11 of his 16 opponents finished among the 11 most generous defenses in terms of fantasy points allowed to the RB position, and he'll face five of them in his final five games of the season. Sure, some of those teams will be better at stopping the run, but still ...

Andy:  I sincerely wish I could share your excitement over the release of the schedule, you guys. But I've got Bears problems over here. Metaphorically, the NFL drew me in close on Tuesday night, and then it kneed me in the groin. Stole my phone, my keys. Left me whimpering in the dark.

First, this piece of news leaked in the afternoon:

Green Bay gets Chicago as its homecoming game, basically. Terrific. When the full Bears' schedule was finally released, the opening weeks were like a roadmap of pain : GB, Ari, at Sea, Oak, at KC, at Det.

It reeks of 0-3, then 1-5. Brutal way to open a season. Schedule-release day is supposed to be a time when NFL fans convince themselves of their team's path to 10 or 12 wins. I'm really not sure I can see six on this schedule. I'd been trying to cook up some enthusiasm for the dawn of the John Fox era, but, well ... I got nothin'.

Scott: I generally consider SOS to be a fool's errand for fantasy, especially asking for an eight-month look ahead. Most of my fantasy theory is based on playing for today and the very immediate future; worry about qualifying for the playoffs, not the Week 16 matchup that's several months in the distance.

If you insist on some sort of SOS in August, I'll crank something out for you. But instead of using 2014 records of opponents, let's work off the 2015 Over/Unders that Vegas releases. That's a better representation of strength (even better would be to evaluate the rushing and passing defenses; we can take a stab at that in August, too). I also might assemble a SOS strictly for September, approaching the season in 3-4 week segments. Again, the idea is not to look too far into the distance.

If you insist on the omniscient look ahead, I like what the Packers face in Weeks 14-16. The Dallas-Green Bay game in Week 14 will surely have a lofty over/under, and the Packers get a weather-protected game in Week 15, on the road against a Raiders team that will probably be hapless again. A road game at Arizona in Week 16 looks more tricky, but at least it's indoors on a quick surface - and don't forget the tap dance Seattle did in Arizona last year, Week 16. It's not like "start your Packers" qualifies as any sort of deep fantasy dive, but this still looks like a favorable draw.

Dalton: It's crazy to think about defenses four months from now, let alone toward the end of 2015, but if I'm going to take a stab at looking toward the fantasy playoffs schedule, C.J. Anderson's stands out. Assuming he remains Denver's lead back, he should be plenty productive in that offense regardless of opponent, but a home game in Week 14 against a Raiders D that allowed the most fantasy points to opposing backs last season looks enticing. Week 16 features another home matchup against a Cincy front seven that ceded the sixth-most fantasy points to RBs. Anderson could easily be the No. 1 ranked RB during the first week of the fantasy playoffs, as it's usually safe to bet against Oakland's defense.

Brad: Newly canonized RB, C.J. Spiller, could experience a rebirth of sorts as a Saint. New Orleans, including its eight games in the Superdome, is scheduled to play 11 contests indoors (Possibly 12 if Houston decides to keep it cozy Nov. 29). Spiller's history under a roof is quite excitable. Over 11 career games, he's averaged 5.87 yards per carry. In an offense expected to be more conservative, it's possible he generates quality RB2 numbers in 12-team PPR leagues. Yes, even with Mark Ingram acting as primary ball carrier.

Andy: Fantasy-wise, we're all anxious to see how Seattle uses Jimmy Graham, a guy who hasn't seen fewer than 125 targets in any of the past four seasons. Last year, Doug Baldwin led the Seahawks in targets with 98. If Graham doesn't see heavy usage in September, we may have to issue a sell order.

Brad: My man love for Teddy Bridgewater in 2015 is no secret. His plush arsenal of Mike Wallace/Charles Johnson/Kyle Rudolph and presumed departure of Adrian Peterson only stokes the fire. So does his end-of-season schedule. Minnesota is slated to face Arizona, Chicago and the New York Giants during the fantasy playoffs. All three ranked inside the top-seven in most fantasy points allowed to passers last year. Sure, defensive turnover is assumed, but Bridgewater, who posted three 22-plus fantasy point efforts in his last four rookie season games, is poised for a statistical leap. At an affordable cost, he must be pursued.

Dalton: On the flip side of the fantasy playoffs schedule, Tre Mason's looks awfully tough. The Rams get a Lions defense in Week 14 that allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs last year (although admittedly Detroit lost Ndamukong Suh during the offseason) and a Seahawks front seven in Week 16 that yielded the third-fewest points to enemy backs. If you're debating between Mason and another running back at your draft table, this could be used as a tie breaker.

Scott: The Patriots start off the season with a monumental break - Pittsburgh opening night, without Le’Veon Bell - but fantasy owners might not appreciate what the Pats face in December. New England’s fantasy playoff slate has two major road-blocks in place, J.J. Watt and Co. in Week 14 (at Houston) and the retooled Jets in Week 16 (don’t laugh, that defense is nasty and it usually plays New England well).

The friendliest New England matchups, on paper, appear to be in the first half of the season. Then again, Bill Belichick teams tend to improve as the season goes along, so maybe some of this is muted. At least we have 4-5 months to figure it all out.

Brandon: At wide receiver, make sure to bump up Saints second-year wideout Brandin Cooks, who is likely to be discounted a bit for missing the final six games of '14 due to injury. His schedule, at least on paper, is Downy soft (can say that for pretty much any skill position player in the NFC South), and the team lost up-and-comer wideout Kenny Stills in the offseason. He'll play a major role in the Saints offense in '15.