RADIO
NFL training camps around the league are set to start in the next few weeks. Shortly after that, the NFL regular season will be here. With the 2023 fantasy football season less than two months away, how can we position our teams to get off to the hot starts we all hope for?
Several factors go into building a winning fantasy team, but getting off to a strong start is critical. The last thing fantasy players want is to be two to three games behind the league leader before the calendar turns to October.
In the spirit of getting off to a hot start, this article breaks down four teams with favorable early schedules in 2023. Fantasy players should consider stacking players on these teams to gain a competitive advantage. The matchups to target are highlighted in green.
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1) Carolina Panthers
- Week 1 at Atlanta Falcons
- Week 2 vs. New Orleans Saints
- Week 3 at Seattle Seahawks
- Week 4 vs. Minnesota Vikings
- Week 5 at Detroit Lions
Although the Panthers traded DJ Moore away this offseason, their new wide receivers have an excellent matchup in Week 1. The Falcons surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers last season, giving up 28.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per contest. Atlanta has a talented No. 1 cornerback in A.J. Terrell, but the rest of the cornerback unit comes with questions. Carolina receivers Jonathan Mingo, Terrace Marshall Jr., and DJ Chark Jr. are all later-round picks with Week 1 upside.
After two less-than-ideal matchups, the Panthers face the Vikings in Week 4. This matchup is perfect for rookie quarterback Bryce Young. Last year, Minnesota surrendered 19.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the fifth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, the Vikings gave up 4,756 passing yards in 2022, the second-most in the league. The NFC North team also gave up the second-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers last season, surrendering 32.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per contest.
Young should thank the NFL scheduling team. After the easy matchup against the Vikings in Week 4, the rookie takes on the Lions in Week 5. Detroit made several moves in the offseason to improve their defense, yet they are projected to have one of the worst units in the NFL this season. Last year, the Lions surrendered the most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (23.2). Young has a top-three upside in Week 5 thanks to this matchup.
2) Detroit Lions
- Week 1 at Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 2 vs. Seattle Seahawks
- Week 3 vs. Atlanta Falcons
- Week 4 at Green Bay Packers
- Week 5 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last year, the Lions had one of the highest-scoring offenses in the NFL, finishing fifth in the league with an average of 26.7 points per game. In Week 1, Detroit faces the team with the highest-scoring offense from last season, the Chiefs. More importantly, the Chiefs had one of the most fantasy-friendly defenses in the league. Kansas City surrendered 20.5 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in 2022, the third-most in the NFL. They also gave up the ninth-most half-point PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (28.4).
Despite their high-scoring game against the Seahawks last year, Seattle’s defense improved throughout the 2022 season. The NFC West team also made significant improvements during the offseason. However, in Week 3, the matchup against the Falcons is excellent news for rookie tight end Sam LaPorta. While the former Iowa star has big shoes to fill in Detroit, fantasy players should consider starting him against the Falcons. Atlanta gave up 12.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends last year, the fifth-most in the NFL.
The following week, LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown have top-five upside against the Buccaneers. Last year, Tampa Bay gave up 28.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the seventh-most in the league. They also surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends, giving up 11.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to the position. Jared Goff should have a massive game, as the Buccaneers gave up the second-most passing touchdowns last season.
3) Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 1 vs. Detroit Lions
- Week 2 at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 3 vs. Chicago Bears
- Week 4 at New York Jets
- Week 5 at Minnesota Vikings
Kansas City kicks off the 2023 season with a Thursday night matchup against the Lions. While Detroit didn’t make the playoffs in 2022, they did have one of the top offenses in the NFL. Therefore, fantasy players should expect a shootout between Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff. More importantly, the Lions were an excellent defense to start fantasy players against.
As mentioned above, they surrendered the most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (23.2). Travis Kelce, in particular, could have his way with Detroit’s defense. The Lions gave up 11.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends, the seventh-most in the NFL.
Unfortunately, the Chiefs have an ugly matchup in Week 4 against Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner and the Jets. However, the following week’s matchup could be one of the highest-scoring games in 2023.
The Vikings gave up 19.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks last season, the fifth-most in the NFL. Minnesota also gave up the second-most half-point PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers in 2022, surrendering 32.6 fantasy points per contest. Whoever is Kansas City's No. 1 wide receiver come Week 5 should have an easy time picking apart the Vikings’ secondary.
4) Green Bay Packers
- Week 1 at Chicago Bears
- Week 2 at Atlanta Falcons
- Week 3 vs. New Orleans Saints
- Week 4 vs. Detroit Lions
- Week 5 at Las Vegas Raiders
A new era in Green Bay kicks off Week 1 against the division-rival Bears. However, the more appealing matchup for fantasy players is the following week. The Packers drafted multiple pass catchers this offseason, including tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. While rookie tight ends rarely turn into fantasy stars, the Green Bay duo could be valuable streaming options against the Falcons. Last year, Atlanta surrendered 12.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends, the fifth-most in the league.
Detroit won both matchups against Green Bay last season, including the Week 18 contest that kept the Packers out of the playoffs. More importantly, this could be Jordan Love’s breakout game. In 2022, the Lions were arguably the most fantasy-friendly defense in the NFL.
As mentioned above, they surrendered the most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (23.2). They also gave up 31.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the third-most in the league. Fantasy players shouldn’t be shocked if Love and Christian Watson play like superstars against their division rivals.
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