In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Hims:

The NFL released the full 2025 schedule last night and there’s a lot to digest, so let’s dig in, starting with a trio of games I love …

Standout Matchups

Week 1: Jets vs. Steelers

I mean, you know I had to mention this, right? The New York Jets will be opening the season at home against the Steelers in a matchup that could feature not only Justin Fields facing his former team, but maybe Aaron Rodgers going up against the organization that told him in a 15-minute meeting that they were "going in another direction." Oh yeah, we also are still waiting for the Steelers to get a starting quarterback so if the Rodgers move doesn't happen then just disregard this blurb.

Week 2: Super Bowl Rematch

We knew the NFL wouldn't deprive us of a rematch of Super Bowl LIX, and now we get to see the Eagles take on the Chiefs in Kansas City during Week 2. The Chiefs will look to redeem themselves after the Eagles dominated them, 40-22, back in February. No matter what, it's a treat to get Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts facing off against each other, and we can expect fireworks as the rivalry intensifies.

Week 9: Will Josh Allen Finally Slay The Dragon?

This rivalry actually has us locked in every damn time. Josh Allen has taken down Patrick Mahomes four times in the regular season and has locked down a 4-1 record against the Chiefs. But the playoffs? That's a different story. Allen and the Bills have never slayed Goliath in January and have failed to get a win against the Chiefs in the playoffs, going 0-3 against them. These two teams face off in Week 9, and this will more than likely be another classic … I'm getting my popcorn ready now.

Strength of Schedule

Let's just all say a prayer for the New York Giants to start things off. They went 3-14 last season and now face a tough strength of schedule—their .574 opponents’ winning percentage is the highest in the NFL. Brian Daboll is already on the hot seat before the season even begins, and we shouldn't rule out Jaxson Dart becoming the eventual starter for the Giants sooner rather than later, especially if Russell Wilson isn't leading the team to victories early.

The Lions and Bears are tied for the second-toughest schedule at .571 for 2025. The Lions are reigning NFC North Champions and not only have six games against the Packers, Vikings, and Bears, but overall, they'll play 12 games against teams that finished with a winning record in 2024, which is the most in the NFL. They will face all four teams from the NFC East and AFC North, and have special matchups against the Buccaneers, Chiefs, and Rams.

If you're betting on a bounceback year, you don't have to look any further than the San Francisco 49ers—they had an injury-riddled 2024 season that led them to a 6-11 season, but now they have the easiest strength of schedule at .415. With a reset roster and incoming Brock Purdy extension, playing a last-place schedule will more than likely re-establish San Francisco as a top NFC contender.

Mr. Worldwide (NFL Edition)

The NFL wants us to have the time of our lives—yes, this is a Pitbull song, thank you for noticing—with international games taking center stage this year. Five countries are hosting seven international games this upcoming season across Europe in Dublin, Ireland; London, U.K.; Berlin, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Madrid, Spain. 

The Vikings will become the first team in NFL history to play consecutive international games in different countries this season—I think we all know where Thor Nystrom is going to be for two weeks.

Minnesota will play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 28 at Croke Park in Dublin (the first regular-season game in Ireland), and then they will the Vikings travel to England to face the Cleveland Browns at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 5.

Here is a look at the full NFL international schedule:

  • Week 1: Chiefs vs. Chargers—Brazil 
  • Week 4: Steelers vs. Vikings—Dublin
  • Week 5: Browns vs. Vikings—London
  • Week 6: Jets vs. Broncos—London
  • Week 7: Jaguars vs. Rams—London
  • Week 10: Colts vs. Falcons—Berlin
  • Week 11: Dolphins vs. Commanders—Madrid

Most Miles Traveled

Just a fun fact you can tell your coworkers tomorrow: the Los Angeles Chargers will travel the most miles out of all the NFL teams, packing their bags for a total distance of 37,086 miles.

🤔 How A Mint Can Help With Your Hair Loss

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Our Poor Families …

The NFL has no chill when it comes to scheduling games on holidays:

  • Thanksgiving will again roll with a trio of high-profile matchups: Lions-Packers, Cowboys-Chiefs, and Ravens-Bengals as the nightcap.
     
  • Black Friday will once again feature an afternoon game, as this year the Eagles will host the Bears.
     
  • Christmas features a triple-header of matchups: Cowboys-Commanders, Lions-Vikings, and Broncos-Chiefs. To be fair, these are the sort of games worth ignoring your family for.

Apparently the league drew a line at scheduling Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve matchups on Wednesdays, and New Year's is also free in Week 18.

Actually, Ian Hartitz is mostly just annoyed at Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson squaring off Thanksgiving evening when all the world (or at least the East Coast) wants is to take a well-deserved nap on the couch.

He outlined his thoughts on all of the biggest winners and losers of the schedule release here. ⬇️

WHICH TEAM RELEASE WAS THE BEST?

Your Bye Week Bible For 2025

Outside of the best matchups and fantasy football winners and losers, the other massive part of the drafting equation that comes out of the NFL schedule release are bye weeks, and every season there’s one.

Not one bye week—one Bye-Mageddon.

And in 2025? It’s Week 8.

There aren’t only six teams on a bye (Raiders, Lions, Rams, Seahawks, Cardinals, Jaguars), there are heavy hitters in terms of fantasy assets on a bye—Ashton Jeanty, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Puka Nacua, and Brian Thomas Jr. make five potential top-15 fantasy picks alone.

So what can you do? You can plan ahead.

Every single bye week with fantasy-relevant player takeaways included. ⬇️

TAKE A LOOK AT WEEK 14…

Around the Watercooler

The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds.

⚡️ The Chargers don’t miss. Another elite schedule release video.

🤠 The dust has settled on the new trio of Cowboys. Now, who’s stopping them?

🗓️ The full Week 1 schedule. There are some bangers.

📝 Looking to improve your home leagues? Follow these steps.

😭 The football gods show no mercy. What team is playing four TNF games?!

👵 Real “old woman yelling at the clouds” energy here. We don’t disagree, though.