Target These 5 NFL Teams With Easy 2026 Schedules: Bengals Ready to Pounce

Target These 5 NFL Teams With Easy 2026 Schedules: Bengals Ready to Pounce

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

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The 2026 NFL schedule drops Thursday evening, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start sleuthing around before then.

Here’s everything we know so far—including the leaks, strength-of-schedule rankings, and early fantasy implications to consider.

Confirmed leaks. The games that have already been confirmed…

  • Season opener: Seahawks hosting on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Yes, that’s right … I said Wednesday.
  • Other Week 1 matches: MNF (Chiefs vs. Broncos), SNF (Cowboys at Giants) and TNF (49ers vs. Rams in Australia). Put another Stribling on the barbie! (I sincerely apologize).
  • Other confirmed games: Week 2 TNF (Lions at Bills), Week 3 (Ravens vs. Cowboys in Brazil), Week 9 (Bengals vs. Falcons in Madrid), Thanksgiving (Eagles at Cowboys).

Strength of schedule. This is based off 2025 opponent records

  • Toughest: Bears, Dolphins, Cardinals, Packers, Chiefs
  • Easiest: Browns, Saints, Bengals, Colts, Falcons

Fantasy takeaways. Knee-jerk reactions…

  • Does the MNF opener between KC and Denver mean the league thinks both Bo Nix (ankle) and Patrick Mahomes (ACL) will be ready for Week 1? Hmm.
  • The Browns need all the help they can get, but that’s an exciting runout for the Bengals. All in on Joe Burrow stacks?
  • Bummer for the Bears, but they’ll be fine. We should be very worried about the Dolphins and Cardinals, though. Trainwreck seasons incoming? I don’t blame anyone for breaking ties away from De’Von Achane and Trey McBride in Round 2.

Around the Watercooler

Our merry band of football nerds is back and bringing you the latest news, content and memes from the NFL universe …

😏 Could the long-term QB answer already be in Cleveland? Not easy being green for the Browns.

⚡️ This speedy wideout for the Chargers will be a bolt of electricity for the offense.

👀 Worried about CMC’s big 2025 workload? History has its eyes on him.

⚾️ Can KC Concepcion play QB? He’s been active …

📈 Is Jennings a great fit in Minny? The beats think so.

🤓 Are you interested in every single offensive line starter? Here ya go, sicko.

⌚️ We are still waiting on Aiyuk to move the clock is ticking.

🔮 If Malik Willis could just start 17 games … oh, the possibilities.

😢 If you draft RBs in this tier, the only tears you’ll see are from your opponents.


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Kendall’s Mailbag: Getting a Bead on Tyler Shough

Could Tyler Shough be one of those QBs drafted as a backup who becomes a fantasy starter before long? It happens every year, and Kendall Valenzuela in her latest mailbag makes the case for the Year 2 QB as one to target for fantasy managers to draft and stash in the summer months. And contrary to some opinions, cooterdoodle did not submit the question to give Shough some time in the spotlight. Kendall mentioned several other gems to be uncovered for the coming season. ⤵️


Packers Cheat Sheet: Jordan Love Ready for QB1 Season?

Holding a 21-6 lead going into the fourth quarter of their Wild Card matchup against NFC North rival Chicago, Green Bay saw the Bears roar to 25 fourth-quarter points to pull off a 31-27 victory with 1:43 left on a DJ Moore TD reception from Caleb Williams. That’s how close they were to advancing in the playoffs and then, who knows what?

Jordan Love’s 2023 season gave us a peek at his great ability, as he passed for 4,159 yards and 32 TDs—adding 4 scores on the ground. Since then he’s passed for 25 and 23 TDs, respectively, in consecutive seasons. He could be the key to the Packers taking further steps in raising an offense that features plenty of important players for fantasy football. Check out Dwain McFarland and Ian Hartitz’s cheat sheet. ⬇️


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Seattle Seahawks Ready For A Repeat?

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming back for WR1 status again. Jadarian Price, how high is too high to draft him? Can Sam Darnold lead them back to the promised land? Dwain McFarland and Ian Hartitz preview all things Seahawks. Subscribe to the Fantasy Football Is Life channel and don’t miss an episode of this great series.


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