It’s always fascinated me how everything about the NFL calendar is so regimented and planned out. Yet, the schedule release date is “sometime in May” and they let us know a week ahead of time. Nevertheless, we now have the 2026 regular season schedule, which means it’s time to evaluate how it impacts fantasy football. We’re going division by division and breaking down the good, the bad, and everything in between. This article covers the NFC East.
Fantasy Football Spin On The NFL Schedule
As an obvious caveat, it’s hard enough predicting how players will perform over the course of the season. Trying to factor each team’s schedule into fantasy drafts is just another layer of uncertainty.
Much like everything in fantasy football, we have to try. Schedule matters. First and foremost, we want to draft good players. Second, we want good players on good offenses. Third, we want good players on good offenses with fantasy friendly opponents.
Let’s go team by team and highlight the most notable aspects of the schedule.
Impact On The Philadelphia Eagles
The story of the Eagles’ season for fantasy football may be like that initial drop on a roller coaster, except without the slow clicking upward part. Think Kingda-Ka.
With games against the Commanders, Titans, and Bears to start, this offense could be flying high out of the gate. And that really continues the entire fantasy regular season…emphasis on regular.
Philly won’t face a truly imposing defense all the way until Week 15 (Week 11 against the Steelers would be their toughest test until then). So, Jalen Hurts & Co. can get your fantasy teams to the playoffs. Once you get there, though, oh boy.
The Eagles close the fantasy football season (Weeks 15-17) against the Seahawks, Texans, and 49ers. That is about as difficult a slate as you can find.
Of course, it’s entirely possible that Houston and Seattle’s defenses regress and aren’t as imposing. It doesn’t feel like a wise strategy to fade Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and other Eagles because of three games in December. But based on what we know now, fantasy managers would be wise to at least consider not being overweight on Eagles this season.
Impact On The Dallas Cowboys
Bye: Week 14
Let’s start in Week 14. The dreaded Week 14 bye. It is the worst bye week to have because it’s the final week of the fantasy football regular season (first week of the fantasy playoffs on some sites).
In theory, it doesn’t actually matter. There are no byes during the fantasy playoffs (in most setups) and it’s not as if Week 14 is worth more than Week 5. But in practice, that Week 5 matchup is never a true “must win” for fantasy managers. Week 14 will be for a lot us. Not having Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, or Javonte Williams is less than ideal.
MORE: Simulate the season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor and Season Simulator
At the same time, anyone with Cowboys will have all of them for the first 13 weeks. While your opponents have players on bye, your Cowboys will all be in your lineup. It’s not a reason to fade them.
We are looking at a strong start to the season with games against the Giants, Commanders, and Ravens, all of which could be high scoring. Week 4 will be brutal against the Texans, but that’s really the only truly difficult matchup until Week 13 against the Seahawks.
The reason to definitely not fade Dallas players comes in the most important weeks. In Weeks 15-17, the Cowboys get the Rams, Jaguars, and Giants. All of those games lend themselves to lots of scoring. I imagine a Giants-Cowboys Week 17 game stack will be very popular in Best Ball.
Impact On The Washington Commanders
Bye: Week 7
As great as 2024 was for Washington, 2025 was a lost season marred by injuries to Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin. 2026 should revert back.
It starts out solid with games against the Eagles and Cowboys, but there will be an immediate Week 3 hurdle against the Seahawks. After that, the schedule is relatively clear for fantasy purposes until Week 14 against the Texans. It’s not the fantasy playoffs, but if you need a big game out of Daniels or McLaurin to get in, you’re probably not getting it.
If you do make the playoffs with a Commander or two, the run out is pretty good. The Falcons and Jaguars in Weeks 15 and 17 are very nice spots for some offense. It’s unclear whether the Vikings will be a defense to fear. That’s the Week 16 opponent. Given that it could go either way, it’s not something we can really factor into our decisions in August.
Impact On The New York Giants
Bye: Week 8
The Giants are an offense that could take a large step forward this season. They may start out slow with Malik Nabers’ Week 1 status in jeopardy, but Jaxson Dart’s mobility will keep him on the QB1 radar regardless. He did it all of last season as a rookie.
A Week 1 matchup against Dallas should be a lot of fun. The Rams present a challenge in Week 2, but that also could be a higher-scoring game.
The first real challenge comes in Week 7, when it’s the Giants’ turn to run into the Texans defense. After that, things are mostly smooth sailing until Week 14 against Seattle, which could be a problem for fantasy managers in must-win matchups. The NFC East is not doing fantasy managers any favors in Week 14 outside the Eagles.
In the fantasy playoffs, though, things look pretty good. The Giants get the Browns, Lions, and the aforementioned Week 17 game against the Cowboys. Dart, Cam Skattebo, and, if healthy, Nabers, are all appealing targets in 2026 fantasy drafts.
