Ranking fantasy football playoff schedules for Saquon Barkley, Kyren Williams, each team's running backs

We made it to December. The fantasy football playoffs are a week away in most leagues. Let’s take a good look at the upcoming playoff schedules. On Tuesday, we’ll attack the rushing schedules, and Thursday we’ll examine the passing schedules.

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I run this piece every year and it always requires disclaimers. What I have below is the ranking of RB fantasy playoff schedules (Weeks 15, 16 and 17) from easiest to hardest. The ranks are cumulative in nature and are a mixture of data (weighted to recent results), observation and special sauce. The rankings do not take into account home and road sites, potential weather or unusual team motivations (say, a team resting starters if it doesn’t need a game). The rankings also require your own adjustment if you don’t need Week 15 — if you ultimately secure a bye, that first slate becomes meaningless.

And, of course, the juiciest Week 17 matchup isn’t worth a thing if you can’t get to the finals.

Also, remember that I’m only ranking schedules here, not players. I’m certainly not telling you to play Woody Marks over Jonathan Taylor because of the schedule strength. This exercise is a good way to break ties, and something to consider as you do your own self-scouting on the eve of the money weeks.

The Favorable Slates

Eagles: Raiders, @Commanders, @ Bills

Cardinals: @ Texans, Falcons, @ Bengals

Commanders: @ Giants, Eagles, Cowboys

Giants: Commanders, Vikings, @ Raiders

Cowboys: Vikings, Chargers, @ Commanders

Raiders: @ Eagles, @ Texans, Giants

Dolphins: @ Steelers, Bengals, Buccaneers

Buccaneers: Falcons, @ Panthers, @ Dolphins

Texans: Cardinals, Raiders, @ Chargers

Saints: Panthers, Jets, @ Titans

Falcons: @ Buccaneers, @ Cardinals, Rams

Patriots: Bills, @ Ravens, @ Jets

Saquon Barkley has been one of the fantasy disappointments of the year, but maybe this lovely schedule can bail him out. He’s been held out of the end zone in 6-of-7 starts, and obviously the Eagles have key injuries on the offensive line . . . Devin Singletary is worth adding in Week 14, even with the Giants on a bye. Singletary has outplayed Tyrone Tracy Jr. in recent weeks (Tracy was also hurt Monday at New England) and the closing schedule is obviously favorable . . . Miami’s season has been mostly a headache, but De’Von Achane has been remarkably consistent despite the noise. His final kick should be fruitful, with two smash matchups to open the playoffs . . . Bijan Robinson managers, take heart: his one negative matchup (the Rams) would come in the fantasy finals. He can drive you there in the two earlier games, with Tampa Bay and Arizona both plus opponents for any running back.

The Medium Slates

Vikings: @ Cowboys, @ Giants, Lions

Seahawks: Colts, Rams, @Panthers

Ravens: @ Bengals, Patriots, @ Packers

Browns: @ Bears, Bills, Steelers

Jaguars: Jets, @ Broncos, @ Colts

Panthers: @ Saints, Buccaneers, Seahawks

Bengals: Ravens, @ Dolphins, Cardinals

Chiefs: Chargers, @ Titans, Broncos

Titans: @ 49ers, Chiefs, Saints

Bills: @ Patriots, @ Browns, Eagles

49ers: Titans, @ Colts, Bears

Bears: Browns, Packers, @ 49ers

Quinshon Judkins looks like a possible difference maker for December. The Cleveland offense obviously wants to hide its passing game, and he’s looking at an injury-plagued Chicago defense, a Bills front seven that hans’t stopped the run all year, and a Steelers unit that was trampled by Buffalo last week . . . Chase Brown did just fine in the first Baltimore game, and if Joe Burrow gets a little sharper, the Bengals could conceivably be favored in Weeks 16 and 17 . . . The Minnesota slate could be favorable, but if the quarterback play doesn’t improve, Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason have no ceiling. You get the idea the Vikings have to aggressively target a new QB answer after the season; could Mac Jones be a target?

Running The Gauntlet

Lions: @ Rams, Steelers, @ Vikings

Rams: Lions, @ Seahawks, @ Falcons

Chargers: @ Chiefs, @ Cowboys, Texans

Steelers: Dolphins, @ Lions, @ Browns

Packers: @ Broncos, @ Bears, Ravens

Jets: @ Jaguars, @ Saints, Patriots

Broncos: Packers, Jaguars, @ Chiefs

Colts: @ Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars

Kyren Williams has been a mild downgrade for me in recent weeks, as Blake Corum keeps picking up ground and Davante Adams keeps dominating in the red area . . . It’s not clear when Omarion Hampton might be back, but Kimani Vidal seemed to mark some territory in the Week 13 win . . . If your league still has a trading window, maybe you can parlay RJ Harvey’s Week 13 standalone game into a favorable swap. He’ll be challenged the rest of the way . . . Jonathan Taylor’s biggest obstacle probably isn’t the schedule, it’s Daniel Jones’s slump and injury. But Taylor’s heavy workload does ensure a solid floor, even if the first-half upside might be a forgotten memory now.