Ultimate Strength of Schedule, Defensive Backs

Clayton Gray's Ultimate Strength of Schedule, Defensive Backs Clayton Gray Published 08/17/2022

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 "2022" 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

Colors on this page are coming soon.

Already a subscriber?

Continue reading this content with a 100% FREE Insider account.

By signing up and providing us with your email address, you're agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive emails from Tennessee.

Ultimate Strength of Schedule, Defensive Backs

Team 2022 EZ TF 1st3 1st5 byes 15to17 16to18
Ari 84.9 4 6 87.7 85.8 84.8 84.3 84.3
Atl 85.4 3 4 83.1 84.1 85.7 85.9 89.1
Bal 85.4 1 3 86.8 87.2 84.3 84.6 85.7
Buf 87.0 6 1 87.1 87.9 86.6 85.4 87.6
Car 84.6 3 7 81.9 83.5 85.8 85.3 82.2
Chi 85.1 3 5 83.0 83.8 86.3 84.1 85.5
Cin 86.7 7 2 88.4 88.0 84.6 88.3 89.9
Cle 86.2 3 3 86.2 85.9 86.7 85.2 83.6
Dal 85.1 2 5 86.0 86.9 83.5 85.9 85.6
Den 86.3 6 3 81.4 82.4 87.6 89.0 88.8
Det 86.0 3 2 84.8 85.2 86.5 85.7 85.5
GB 86.2 5 3 86.2 86.4 86.4 86.3 83.8
Hou 85.8 4 4 83.8 85.4 85.5 88.1 86.2
Ind 85.9 5 3 85.0 85.3 87.1 86.0 83.7
Jac 85.3 5 6 85.8 83.7 85.6 85.9 85.0
KC 85.6 4 5 86.6 86.3 86.9 81.4 83.3
LAC 85.0 5 7 87.0 84.8 84.5 87.0 85.2
LAR 85.3 5 5 86.6 86.8 84.5 86.0 84.4
LV 85.6 7 5 88.4 87.4 83.7 86.6 86.1
Mia 86.6 5 2 89.9 88.9 84.4 88.3 88.1
Min 85.3 4 5 83.6 82.8 87.2 84.5 85.4
NE 86.2 4 2 87.2 86.1 86.3 85.1 86.3
NO 85.5 3 4 84.7 84.4 87.4 83.0 83.4
NYG 85.6 4 6 87.8 87.2 85.2 85.2 83.5
NYJ 86.2 5 3 87.7 86.6 87.2 83.9 84.3
Phi 85.6 4 5 85 86.2 85.7 84.7 84.1
Pit 85.6 3 4 87.1 87.4 84.3 86.9 86.9
SF 85.4 6 5 83.5 84.9 85.7 84.5 86.7
Sea 85.5 6 4 83 81.8 86.9 86.4 88.6
TB 85.2 5 6 85.2 85.4 84.9 86.7 85.3
Ten 85.2 3 5 85.6 85.3 84.6 86.1 85.9
Was 84.8 3 6 83.8 86.2 83.6 83.7 86.1
Avg 85.6 4.25 4.25 85.6 85.6 85.6 85.6 85.6

Week-by-Week

DBs W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W10 W11 W12 W13 W14 W15 W16 W17 W18
Ari 88.5 84.9 89.8 84.2 81.8 82.0 77.5 86.0 82.0 89.8 83.1 88.1 - 89.8 83.1 86.9 82.9 83.1
Atl 77.5 89.8 82.0 84.2 86.9 83.1 87.4 84.2 88.1 84.2 85.5 86.6 86.8 - 77.5 91.6 88.7 86.9
Bal 87.5 83.2 89.8 88.2 87.4 83.8 84.2 86.9 77.5 - 84.2 87.6 83.1 86.8 84.2 82.9 86.8 87.4
Buf 89.8 88.4 83.2 91.6 86.8 88.5 - 86.9 87.5 86.0 84.2 82.2 89.8 87.5 83.2 85.5 87.4 89.8
Car 84.2 83.8 77.5 88.7 83.1 89.8 86.9 82.9 87.4 82.9 91.6 83.1 - 82.0 86.8 82.2 86.9 77.5
Chi 83.1 86.9 79.1 83.8 86.0 86.6 89.8 91.0 83.2 82.2 82.9 87.5 86.9 - 81.8 88.2 82.2 86.0
Cin 86.8 91.0 87.5 83.2 91.6 77.5 82.9 84.2 84.2 - 86.8 88.4 88.5 84.2 86.9 89.8 88.2 91.6
Cle 84.2 87.5 86.8 82.9 88.1 89.8 91.6 87.4 - 83.2 88.2 86.9 79.1 87.4 91.6 77.5 86.6 86.8
Dal 86.9 87.4 83.8 86.6 89.8 81.8 82.2 85.5 - 86.9 86.0 83.8 82.8 79.1 87.6 81.8 88.4 86.6
Den 82.0 79.1 83.1 84.9 82.8 88.1 87.5 87.6 - 88.4 84.9 84.2 91.6 88.5 88.7 89.8 88.5 88.1
Det 81.8 86.6 86.0 82.0 89.8 - 91.0 83.2 86.9 85.5 83.8 88.2 87.6 86.0 87.5 84.2 85.5 86.9
GB 86.0 85.5 86.9 89.8 83.8 87.5 86.6 88.2 82.2 91.0 88.4 81.8 85.5 - 89.8 83.2 86.0 82.2
Hou 82.8 83.1 85.5 88.1 87.6 - 84.9 88.4 81.8 83.8 86.6 83.2 84.2 91.0 88.5 88.4 87.6 82.8
Ind 79.1 87.6 88.5 88.4 83.1 87.6 88.4 86.6 89.8 84.9 81.8 86.8 91.0 - 86.0 88.1 83.8 79.1
Jac 86.6 82.8 88.1 81.8 79.1 82.8 83.8 83.1 84.9 88.5 - 91.6 82.2 88.4 91.0 87.5 79.1 88.4
KC 88.7 88.1 82.8 86.9 84.9 88.2 83.1 - 88.4 87.6 88.1 89.8 87.4 83.1 79.1 82.0 83.1 84.9
LAC 84.9 88.5 87.6 79.1 84.2 83.1 82.0 - 82.9 83.1 88.5 88.7 84.9 83.2 88.4 82.8 89.8 83.1
LAR 88.2 82.9 88.7 83.1 91.0 84.2 - 83.1 86.9 88.7 77.5 88.5 82 84.9 86.9 83.1 88.1 82.0
LV 88.1 88.7 88.4 83.1 88.5 - 79.1 77.5 87.6 82.8 83.1 82.0 88.1 89.8 89.8 86.8 83.1 88.5
Mia 89.8 91.6 88.2 87.4 87.5 86.0 86.8 82.2 85.5 84.2 - 79.1 83.1 88.1 88.2 86.9 89.8 87.5
Min 86.9 81.8 82.2 77.5 85.5 83.2 - 88.7 86.6 88.2 91.0 89.8 87.5 82.2 82.8 83.8 86.9 85.5
NE 83.2 86.8 91.6 86.9 82.2 84.2 85.5 87.5 82.8 - 87.5 86.0 88.2 88.7 84.9 87.4 83.2 88.2
NO 82.9 86.9 84.2 86.0 82.0 87.4 88.7 84.9 91.6 86.8 89.8 83.1 86.9 - 82.9 84.2 81.8 84.2
NYG 88.4 84.2 91.0 85.5 86.9 91.6 87.6 82.0 - 79.1 82.2 91.0 86.6 81.8 86.6 86.0 82.8 81.8
NYJ 91.6 84.2 87.4 86.8 83.2 86.9 83.1 89.8 88.2 - 89.8 85.5 86.0 88.2 82.2 87.6 82.0 83.2
Phi 82.2 86.0 86.6 87.6 88.7 91.0 - 86.8 79.1 86.6 82.8 86.9 88.4 83.8 85.5 91.0 77.5 83.8
Pit 87.4 89.8 84.2 87.5 88.2 86.9 83.2 81.8 - 77.5 87.4 82.8 82.9 91.6 84.2 84.9 91.6 84.2
SF 85.5 82.0 83.1 89.8 84.2 82.9 88.5 89.8 - 88.1 88.7 77.5 83.2 86.9 82.0 86.6 84.9 88.7
Sea 83.1 83.1 82.9 82.2 77.5 88.7 88.1 83.8 88.7 86.9 - 84.9 89.8 84.2 83.1 88.5 87.5 89.8
TB 91.0 77.5 86.9 88.5 82.9 86.8 84.2 91.6 89.8 82.0 - 84.2 77.5 83.1 87.4 88.7 84.2 82.9
Ten 83.8 88.2 84.9 82.8 86.6 - 82.8 79.1 88.5 83.1 86.9 87.4 81.8 87.6 88.1 79.1 91.0 87.6
Was 87.6 82.2 81.8 91.0 88.4 85.5 86.9 82.8 86.0 81.8 79.1 82.9 83.8 - 83.8 83.1 84.2 91.0
Avg 85.6 85.6 85.6 85.6 85.6 85.9 85.5 85.4 85.7 85.1 85.7 85.6 85.6 86.1 85.6 85.6 85.6 85.6

Photos provided by Imagn Images

More by Clayton Gray

 

Underdog ADP Movement: How Best-Ball ADP Is Changing

Clayton Gray

Underdog ADP: A look at the current state of Best-Ball ADP and how it is moving.

05/18/25 Read More
 

2025 NFL Schedule Grid

Clayton Gray

The NFL schedule in grid format.

05/15/25 Read More
 

2025 NFL Schedule: Prime Time Games

Clayton Gray

A team-by-team look at the 2025 NFL prime time games.

05/14/25 Read More
 

2025 NFL Schedule: Bye Weeks

Clayton Gray

Each team's bye week for the 2025 NFL schedule.

05/14/25 Read More
 

2025 NFL Strength of Schedule By Team

Clayton Gray

The team-by-team strength of schedule for the 2025 NFL season.

05/14/25 Read More
 

Underdog ADP Movement: How Best-Ball ADP Is Changing

Clayton Gray

Underdog ADP: A look at the current state of Best-Ball ADP and how it is moving.

05/11/25 Read More