Ultimate Strength of Schedule, Defensive Backs

Clayton Gray's Ultimate Strength of Schedule, Defensive Backs Clayton Gray Published 08/13/2021

Links to similar discussions on other positions:


The advantages offered by 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 "2021" 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 is a team with a good schedule
  • Red is a team with a bad schedule

Ultimate Strength of Schedule - Defensive Backs

Team
2021
EZ
TF
1st3
1st5
Byes
15to17
16to18
Ari 87.5 5 4 83.7 87.1 87.5 89.4 86.7
Atl 86.5 3 4 86.1 84.1 85.9 91.7 90.6
Bal 87.8 6 2 87.7 88.2 85.9 90.6 92.2
Buf 84.7 2 7 86.3 86.0 83.8 86.7 83.6
Car 86.8 4 3 84.3 85.6 86.6 89.4 87.7
Chi 87.8 5 3 87.3 88.0 88.8 85.2 85.2
Cin 86.0 5 6 90.9 88.4 85.7 85.8 81.7
Cle 87.9 5 3 88.0 87.3 87.5 88.9 90.2
Dal 86.4 2 3 86.2 86.4 86.5 86.3 86.8
Den 85.4 2 5 81.9 84.0 85.5 87.4 85.7
Det 88.5 8 3 86.8 88.2 88.8 88.5 87.3
GB 88.3 8 3 90.0 90.6 88.7 82.4 85.5
Hou 85.3 4 9 82.6 84.3 86.1 85.9 85.9
Ind 85.3 4 8 86.2 84.8 85.7 86.1 86.5
Jac 86.9 5 5 89.0 87.9 88.1 81.9 82.6
KC 86.5 2 4 81.6 84.7 86.2 89.4 91.1
LAC 86.1 1 5 85.8 84.4 86.7 87.1 87.5
LAR 87.1 6 4 89.5 88.6 86.9 84.3 86.8
LV 86.5 2 3 86.0 87.2 86.8 85.3 87.7
Mia 85.3 3 8 86.7 87.1 85.7 82.9 83.4
Min 88.7 8 3 88.4 86.8 88.3 91.3 91.3
NE 85.6 3 5 83.5 84.8 85.6 87.5 86.0
NO 86.2 3 5 85.5 84.9 86.3 86.5 87.6
NYG 87.5 3 3 88.0 88.2 87.0 89.2 87.3
NYJ 86.6 3 4 86.4 86.4 86.9 84.3 87.4
Phi 86.9 3 3 90.3 88.9 86.6 83.6 85.6
Pit 86.2 4 6 90.1 89.6 86.3 81.6 81.7
SF 88.2 7 3 88.3 87.9 88.6 86.2 87.0
Sea 88.9 8 3 85.7 88.3 87.6 92.5 91.8
TB 87.5 5 3 91.1 87.5 88.3 85.2 85.4
Ten 86.6 5 5 87.5 84.7 86.9 89.0 86.8
Was 87.3 2 1 87.6 88.3 87.2 87.0 86.5
Avg 86.8 4.25 4.25 86.8 86.8 86.8 86.8 86.8

Week-By-Week Look

Team
W01
W02
W03
W04
W05
W06
W07
W08
W09
W10
W11
W12
W13
W14
W15
W16
W17
W18
Ari 81.8 87.5 81.7 93.5 90.9 77.8 85.8 87.6 90.9 88.4 83.3 - 92.8 93.5 91.2 87.9 88.9 83.3
Atl 86.0 87.6 84.7 83.1 79.3 - 83.5 88.4 87.7 88.9 80.6 81.7 87.6 88.4 90.9 91.2 92.9 87.7
Bal 86.6 85.3 91.2 90.1 87.9 85.0 90.7 - 87.5 83.5 92.8 77.8 92.4 77.8 87.6 90.7 93.5 92.4
Buf 92.4 83.5 83.1 85.8 85.3 81.8 - 83.5 81.7 79.3 87.9 87.7 80.6 87.6 88.4 80.6 90.9 79.3
Car 79.3 87.7 85.8 88.9 86.0 87.5 84.7 90.9 80.6 91.2 83.1 83.5 - 90.9 92.9 87.6 87.7 87.6
Chi 93.5 90.7 77.8 91.2 86.6 87.6 87.6 90.9 92.4 - 81.9 91.2 91.2 87.6 87.5 83.3 84.7 87.5
Cin 87.5 92.8 92.4 81.7 87.6 91.2 81.9 79.3 77.8 - 86.6 92.4 85.0 90.9 90.1 81.9 85.3 77.8
Cle 85.3 85.8 92.8 87.5 85.0 91.2 90.1 92.4 90.7 80.6 91.2 81.9 - 81.9 86.6 87.6 92.4 90.7
Dal 87.6 85.0 86.0 88.4 84.7 80.6 - 87.5 90.1 90.9 85.3 86.6 87.7 83.1 84.7 83.1 91.2 86.0
Den 84.7 81.7 79.3 81.9 92.4 86.6 77.8 83.1 88.9 86.0 - 85.0 85.3 91.2 90.7 86.6 85.0 85.3
Det 90.9 87.6 81.9 92.8 87.5 90.7 93.5 86.0 - 92.4 77.8 92.8 87.5 90.1 91.2 90.9 83.3 87.6
GB 87.7 91.2 90.9 92.4 90.7 92.8 83.1 91.2 85.3 83.3 87.5 93.5 - 92.8 81.9 77.8 87.5 91.2
Hou 81.7 77.8 88.4 92.9 80.6 87.9 91.2 93.5 83.5 - 81.8 79.3 87.9 83.3 81.7 85.0 90.9 81.8
Ind 83.3 93.5 81.8 83.5 81.9 85.8 90.9 81.8 79.3 81.7 92.9 87.6 85.8 - 80.6 91.2 86.6 81.7
Jac 85.8 90.1 91.2 90.7 81.8 83.5 - 83.3 92.9 87.9 90.9 90.9 93.5 81.8 85.8 79.3 80.6 87.9
KC 77.8 81.9 85.0 86.0 92.9 83.1 81.8 84.7 87.6 86.6 88.9 - 90.1 86.6 85.0 92.4 90.7 90.1
LAC 83.1 88.9 85.3 86.6 77.8 81.9 - 80.6 86.0 87.5 92.4 90.1 90.7 84.7 85.3 85.8 90.1 86.6
LAR 92.8 87.9 87.6 91.2 83.3 84.7 91.2 85.8 81.8 90.9 - 87.6 81.7 91.2 83.3 87.5 81.9 90.9
LV 81.9 92.4 83.5 85.0 92.8 90.1 86.0 - 84.7 85.3 90.7 88.9 83.1 85.3 77.8 90.1 87.9 85.0
Mia 80.6 92.9 86.6 87.9 87.6 81.7 90.9 92.9 85.8 81.9 79.3 88.4 84.7 - 79.3 87.7 81.8 80.6
Min 90.7 91.2 83.3 77.8 91.2 88.4 - 88.9 81.9 85.0 87.6 90.9 91.2 92.4 92.8 93.5 87.6 92.8
NE 83.5 79.3 87.7 87.6 85.8 88.9 79.3 85.0 88.4 77.8 90.9 81.8 92.9 - 87.9 92.9 81.7 83.5
NO 87.6 88.4 80.6 84.7 83.1 - 83.3 87.6 90.9 81.8 86.0 92.9 88.9 79.3 87.6 83.5 88.4 90.9
NYG 90.1 83.1 90.9 87.7 88.9 93.5 88.4 85.3 86.6 - 87.6 86.0 83.5 85.0 88.9 86.0 92.8 83.1
NYJ 88.4 80.6 90.1 81.8 90.9 - 80.6 90.7 87.9 92.9 83.5 85.8 86.0 87.7 83.5 81.7 87.6 92.9
Phi 90.9 90.9 88.9 85.3 88.4 87.6 86.6 91.2 85.0 90.1 87.7 84.7 79.3 - 83.1 84.7 83.1 88.9
Pit 92.9 86.6 90.7 87.6 90.1 83.3 - 77.8 92.8 91.2 85.0 90.7 81.9 87.5 81.8 85.3 77.8 81.9
SF 91.2 86.0 87.6 83.3 91.2 - 87.9 92.8 91.2 93.5 81.7 87.5 83.3 90.7 90.9 81.8 85.8 93.5
Sea 87.9 81.8 87.5 90.9 93.5 92.4 87.7 81.7 - 87.6 91.2 83.1 90.9 85.8 93.5 92.8 91.2 91.2
TB 88.9 90.9 93.5 80.6 83.5 86.0 92.8 87.7 - 83.1 84.7 87.9 90.9 92.9 87.7 88.4 79.3 88.4
Ten 91.2 83.3 87.9 79.3 81.7 92.9 85.3 87.9 93.5 87.7 85.8 80.6 - 81.7 92.4 90.9 83.5 85.8
Was 85.0 84.7 92.9 90.9 87.7 85.3 87.6 90.1 - 87.6 88.4 83.3 86.6 88.9 86.0 88.9 86.0 84.7
Avg 86.8 86.8 86.8 86.8 86.8 86.8 86.6 87.0 86.9 86.6 86.5 86.7 87.3 87.2 86.8 86.8 86.8 86.8
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