There are a lot of determining factors when rostering for your team – skill, their role on the team, and even their schedule. You could be thinking about trading a player with a less favorable playoff for someone who could excel at that time.

But what if you can plan for that during the draft?

We’ll look at some players to draft now who could have a tougher fantasy playoff schedule. And you can find all of our strength of schedule rankings here.

• More Fantasy Football Advice
• Snake Draft Pick Strategy: Early | Middle | Late
• Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
• Fantasy Football Draft Strategy

Geno Smith (QB – SEA)

• Week 14: at San Fransisco
• Week 15: vs. Philadelphia
• Week 16: at Tennessee
• Week 17: vs. Pittsburgh

The veteran had a breakout season in Seattle, throwing for over 4,000 yards with 30 touchdowns, and finished at QB5. The Seahawks got even better through the draft by adding Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a receiving option and Zach Charbonnet to an already dangerous backfield with Kenneth Walker III.

Smith started off well in the 2022 fantasy playoffs – in Week 14, he finished as the QB7 but then would be the QB15 and QB18 the following weeks. His playoff schedule this year is a gauntlet facing San Fransisco, where he had his lowest point total (7.1), then Philadelphia, who allowed the fifth-fewest points to quarterbacks last year, followed by Pittsburgh in the championship, who finished with the most interceptions last year.

Daniel Jones (QB – NYG)

• Week 14: vs. Green Bay
• Week 15: at New Orleans
• Week 16: at Philadelphia
• Week 17: vs. Los Angeles Rams

Jones excelled in Year 1 of the Brian Daboll era, where he had careers high in passing yards, completion percentage, and QBR, finishing as the QB9. The Giants rewarded him with a new contract and by trading for one of the premiere tight ends in Darren Waller.

The Giants have one of the tougher-rated strengths of schedule this season, including in the fantasy playoffs. Green Bay finished with the third-most interceptions last year, and New Orleans allowed the second-fewest passing touchdowns, then Philadelphia and the Rams were top 10 in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last year.

Cam Akers (RB -LAR)

• Week 14: at Baltimore
• Week 15: vs. Washington
• Week 16: vs. New Orleans
• Week 17: vs. New York Giants

It seems like Cam Akers will be the starting running back for Los Angeles, but we’ve seen him lose the feature job more than once in his Rams tenure. Darrell Henderson Jr. is gone, but they still have Ronnie Rivers and Kyren Williams, and traded up to draft Ole Miss standout Zach Evans.

His always-fragile situation might keep you from drafting him, but so could his playoff schedule. In his first couple of games in the playoffs, he gets Baltimore, who allowed the second-fewest yards per carry, and Washington, who allowed the third-fewest rushing touchdowns.

Dameon Pierce (RB – HOU)

• Week 14: at New York Jets
• Week 15: at Tennessee
• Week 16: vs. Cleveland
• Week 17: vs. Tennessee

It was a standout rookie season for Pierce as he had five top-15 weekly finishes in 14 games before his season ended due to injury. This revamped Texans offense, including the addition of C.J. Stroud as the quarterback, could bring this team out of mediocrity.

One common opponent could hurt him come playoff time. He gets both of his matchups against Tennessee in that span. He played one game against the division rival, and they stuffed him for 35 yards on 2.3 yards per carry and no touchdowns.

Treylon Burks (WR – TEN)

• Week 14: at Miami
• Week 15: vs Houston
• Week 16: vs. Seattle
• Week 17: at Houston

It was a tough rookie season for Burks as he dealt with injuries, and the inconsistencies at quarterback hurt his value. Whether it’s Ryan Tannehill or Will Levis at quarterback, experts believe he can have a breakout sophomore year.

This was one of the league’s highest-percentage running teams, but Burks’ fantasy playoff schedule could also impact his value. He gets the Seahawks between two matchups against the Texans, who were top four in allowing fantasy points to wide receivers last year.

Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL)

• Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Rams
• Week 15: at Jacksonville Jaguars
• Week 16: at San Fransisco
• Week 17: vs. Miami

Fans want to see a Bateman breakout season. Last year he only played in six games, but he did have back-to-back top-20 performances to start the season. The rumor is that Baltimore wants to pass more which could be good news.

The bad news is this receiving room is crowded – they added Odell Beckham Jr. in free agency, drafted Zay Flowers in the first round, and Mark Andrews has been Lamar Jackson‘s long-time favorite target.

That playoff schedule could also get you nervous – Miami allowed the fourth fewest touchdowns to wide receivers last year, and Jacksonville allowed the tenth-fewest receptions to the position.

Evan Engram (TE – JAX)

• Week 14: at Cleveland
• Week 15: vs. Baltimore
• Week 16: at Tampa Bay
• Week 17: vs. Carolina

Engram had a rejuvenated season in Duval County by finishing as the TE5, his best finish since he did the same in his rookie year. The Jaguars are coming off their first playoff appearance since 2017 and are poised to make another run this season.

Engram is someone to look out for in later rounds in your drafts, but be aware of his playoff schedule. In Weeks 14-17, three of his four opponents were in the top ten in points allowed to tight end.

Sam LaPorta (TE – DET)

• Week 14: at Chicago
• Week 15: vs. Denver
• Week 16: at Minnesota
• Week 17: at Dallas

LaPorta is a hot tight-end prospect that experts liked coming out of Iowa. He’s athletic for his large build and has a great pair of hands that can fit well in a Detroit offense that turned a corner last season.

Fans are hoping for them to make a playoff push finally, but they have some tough defensive matchups at the end of the season and your fantasy playoffs. You start with Chicago, who allowed the fifth-fewest points to tight ends, and Dallas in your championship, who allowed the second-fewest points and only one touchdown.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio