In my last fantasy article, I took a look at the NFL teams that have the best opening 2024 fantasy schedules. Of course, if some teams have the best schedules, others must have the worst. In this Worst Opening Fantasy Schedules follow up, I take a look at exactly who those teams are. As was the case previously, I will use the team defense rankings from 2023 to arrive at my conclusions.

Obviously, a team’s ability to play defense can change from one season to the next. Even so, drastic changes shouldn’t be expected. With that in mind, I have every confidence these rankings should be close to what the teams will produce in 2024. I am equally sure that there will be those that agree as well as disagree. If so, make your feelings known!

Dallas Cowboys

For those managers that have Cowboys players on their fantasy rosters, there couldn’t be a tougher game to open the season. The reason? Only because the first game for Dallas in 2024 is on the road in Cleveland. Significance? The Browns were only the top ranked defense in football in 2023.

Without question, having the first game on the road isn’t ideal. Add in the best defense and fantasy managers should temper their expectations for Dak Prescott and company. With CeeDee Lamb still holding out, how much practice will they get before the first game? If he stays out late into camp, the top QB and top WR won’t have much time to perfect their timing. If that does happen, don’t look for any fireworks to come from the Cowboys in this game.

In their second game, the Saints come into AT&T Stadium. Of course, being at home is significantly better than being on the road. However, the defense the Cowboys face won’t be a whole lot softer than their first contest. New Orleans ranked as the 13th rated defense last season. It’s a better matchup, to be sure, but not significantly so. Dallas will put up better numbers, but don’t expect a fantasy landside here.

Unfortunately, the third game doesn’t help the Cowboys at all, either. Dallas remains at home, but will have Baltimore invading their territory. The defending AFC North champions will bring in the sixth rated defense into Big D. Put it all together, and the Cowboys face a very tough opening schedule, real or fantasy, in 2024. It would be best to keep that in mind on draft day.

Baltimore Ravens

Checking in next on this Worst Opening Fantasy Schedules edition is the Baltimore Ravens. Their first game is only slightly more difficult than the Cowboys. In fact, this will be the first game of the entire season as they take on the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Last season, the Chiefs won the championship more because of their defense than offense.

Certainly, that is hard to believe for a team with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. Even so, it is a completely true statement. Looking at last season’s stats, it is something that is easy to confirm. KC had the second ranked defense in football in 2023. Even more important for Baltimore, the game will be in Kansas City. Without question, Raven players will find that maneuvering won’t be easy. Fantasy managers need to be aware and temper expectations in this first game.

Baltimore’s first home game of the season is next as they take on the Las Vegas Raiders. Anyone still have a hard time identifying the Raiders with Vegas? In any event, the Ravens will clearly have the upper hand in this one. That being said, the Raiders do check in with the 15th ranked defense from a year ago. Clearly, the going will be easier, but Baltimore isn’t playing a terrible defensive team here.

Without question, that can’t be said of their third game. Baltimore hits the road in Big D to take on the Cowboys. As much as their offense gets the publicity, Dallas has turned themselves into a solid defensive team. Last season, the Cowboys ranked fifth on that side of the ball. Most especially, the Ravens will have to keep Micah Parsons at bay. Easier said than done. Obviously, fantasy manager will once again want to keep their expectations under control in this game.

Cincinnati Bengals

Finally, checking in at third place is the Cincinnati Bengals. Truly, they should be better in 2024 if no other reason than they should have QB Joe Burrow for the whole season. Even so, their schedule isn’t set up to make things easy on him, at least early on. In their first game, they face the Patriots at home. As big a mess as New England was on offense, they played solid D, as they finished seventh overall. The Bengals will have the advantage at home, but the Pats will present a challenge, at least while the Bengals have the ball.

The second game will be where the rubber meets the road for Cincinnati. Just like the Ravens, the Bengals will have to face the Chiefs on the road. They have had as much success in KC as any team, but don’t expect their players to put up stellar fantasy stats in this game.

The third game will only get a short mention, as they face Washington. The Commanders had the worst defense in all of football as year ago. There will be no worries here for the Bengals.

Unfortunately, that can’t be said for Cincinnati’s fourth game. Once again, they hit the road, this time to Carolina. Just like the Patriots, the Panthers fielded a terrible offense a year ago. That is not relevant here, however. The defense was another story altogether, as Carolina was a solid fourth overall in 2024.

With three of their first four games against defenses that finished in the top seven, it would be wise to not expect mind blowing fantasy statistics early on from the Bengals’ players. Use caution.

The Last Word

Thank you for joining me for this Worst Opening Fantasy Schedules edition! Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Be sure to turn to bellyupsports.com and bellyupfantasysports.com for all the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and the latest sports news!

I am a co-host of The Sports Stove Fantasy Baseball Show. The show will be live every Sunday at 8 pm Eastern from here to the end of the fantasy baseball season. Don’t miss a single episode! Check out our latest show, dedicated to the top fantasy baseball must win strategies and more here.