{
  "id": 1629797,
  "title": "Early season schedules you need to take advantage of",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/early-season-schedules-you-need-to-take-advantage-of",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/article/early-season-schedules-you-need-to-take-advantage-of-040000425.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Yahoo Fantasy Forecast hosts Matt Harmon and Justin Boone discuss how early season strength of schedule can give fantasy managers an advantage over their leaguemates. They identify players with strong starts, those facing tough early stretches, and how to capitalize on these matchups.\n\nJeremiyah Love will miss time with a high ankle sprain, while Breece Hall is dealing with a groin injury. The hosts explain how savvy managers can use these early season schedules to their advantage.\n\nFor quarterbacks, easy schedules include Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray, while tougher stretches are expected for Josh Allen and Trevor Lawrence. Running backs with favorable early schedules include David Montgomery and Omarion Hampton, while James Cook III and Chase Brown have more difficult openings.\n\nWide receivers with easy schedules feature the Eagles, Zay Flowers, Saints, and Garrett Wilson, while the Bucs, Bears, Jaguars, and Steelers present more challenging matchups. Tight ends like Harold Fannin Jr. and George Kittle have easier schedules, whereas the Chargers and Juwan Johnson face tougher starts.\n\nDefensive units with easier schedules include the Chargers, Ravens, and Jaguars, while the Commanders and Broncos present more demanding openings.",
  "summary": "Matt Harmon and Justin Boone break down how to use early season strength of schedule to gain an edge over your leaguemates. The two identify the players poised for hot starts, the ones facing brutal opening stretches and how savvy managers can use early season matchups to get ahead.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}