Saints Draw Easiest 2026 NFL Schedule as Dolphins Face Toughest, Ranking 31st on Both Lists
Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · May 14
Saints Draw Easiest 2026 NFL Schedule as Dolphins Face Toughest, Ranking 31st on Both Lists
4 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · May 14
A blended 2026 strength-of-schedule analysis put New Orleans atop the easiest slate and Miami at the toughest, after comparing 2025 opponents' winning percentages with Vegas-based projections from Sharp Football Analysis.
Saints ranked second in both models, making them the most favorable combined case; Cincinnati was third in both, while Cleveland led the raw 2025-win-percentage list but slipped to fourth in Sharp's projections.
Dolphins finished 31st in both rankings, the clearest consensus for a difficult path. Arizona also graded harshly—tied for 29th by 2025 records and 32nd by Sharp—while Chicago had the toughest raw schedule but only 27th in Sharp's model.
The analysis argues schedule strength is useful as a guide, but not a definitive fantasy tool, because opponent quality can shift sharply from one season to the next.
Will the Saints' new weapons and easy schedule make quarterback Tyler Shough a surprise fantasy football star?
Can rookie Jeremiyah Love's talent overcome a brutal schedule to save Arizona's fantasy outlook this season?