Craig Rondinone analyzes players with favorable upcoming schedules so fantasy owners can target them in their leagues.

Sometimes a football player’s fantasy value can skyrocket due to his team’s schedule. Fantasy football owners like to take things one week at a time, which is understandable with all of the injuries, depth chart changes and soap opera storylines that happen during the course of the NFL season.

But when acquiring players in trades or from the waiver wire, studying their immediate schedules and checking to see if their upcoming contests are favorable over the following few weeks can be instrumental in winning fantasy leagues. Take a look at these players and how their schedules and situations could make them perfect fantasy finds for the next month.

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Bright Days Ahead for Fantasy Owners?

Matt Asiata, Minnesota Vikings (RB)

Asiata and Jerick McKinnon have been splitting touches in a timeshare that has been painful for fantasy owners since Adrian Peterson suffered the knee injury that landed him on injured reserve.  But thanks to an ankle injury that McKinnon is dealing with, Asiata may be able to monopolize the carries in the coming weeks.

Asiata is a power back who can actually catch passes out of the backfield, a combination that is harder to find these days then a Republican who thinks abortion is OK.  So Asiata can play on any down and in any situation, despite his lack of breakaway speed.  He has a nose for the end zone and can add 20-40 receiving yards to the 60-90 he can rack up on the ground if he becomes the primary tailback in Minnesota’s offense.

If McKinnon is unable to play or has to take fewer touches over the next few games due to his ankle, the schedule shapes up nicely for Asiata to do some damage.  Minnesota’s next three opponents are Chicago, Detroit and Washington, who are ranked 17^th, 18^th and 25^th respectively in run defense.  Keep an eye on every injury report this week and the following weeks to see if McKinnon will play and if Asiata will be Minnesota’s main man.

Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears (QB)

Cutler is at the point where he is more recognized for being Kristin Cavallari’s husband then he is for being NFL quarterback.  When you fall from being a starting signal caller to being Brian Hoyer’s backup in a three-week span, your name does not get mentioned much in fantasy leagues.

Hoyer’s broken arm and Cutler’s healed thumb add up to Cutler being brought up again around water coolers and bathroom stalls, though.  Cutler will be Chicago’s starter for the foreseeable future.  Last time I looked he still has a rifle for an arm and still has Alshon Jeffery, Cameron Meredith, Eddie Royal and Zach Miller as his receiving corps, so there is no reason why he could not provide fantasy owners help in deep leagues or when fantasy squads have their No. 1 quarterbacks on their byes.

If Cutler can clear this Monday’s matchup with Minnesota without breaking another bone or losing his job to Matt Barkley after throwing four interceptions, the schedule future is bright for him.  His next four games would be against Tampa Bay, the New York Giants, Tennessee and San Francisco.  He could turn his season and his fantasy value around and be a dark horse helper for fantasy owners during that stretch.

The New York Jets defense

For all the bluster and revelry the Jets defense received in the offseason, the unit has fallen flatter than a stack of pancakes.  “Gang Green” has been the least scary gang since Spanky, Buckwheat and the Little Rascals comprised “Our Gang.”  Darrelle Revis and Co. is at the bottom of the league in turnovers and below-average in points allowed and sacks, making the defense worthless for fantasy football purposes.

But the Jets came alive against Baltimore this past weekend, stymieing top tailback Terrance West (eight rushes for 10 yards) and not allowing an offensive touchdown to Joe Flacco’s inconsistent club.  The defense created three turnovers and added a sack as well, dominating the line of scrimmage from start to finish.  And with the cupcake offenses lined up next on the schedule, the Jets defense might become a surprise fantasy force.

The Jets defense has three very fantasy-friendly matchups coming up against the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams, a trio of offenses that will never be confused with any of Warren Moon’s run-and-shoot Houston Oilers teams from the 90s.  If you pick up the Jets D it will not be a one-off because of this slew of offensive offenses they will be facing.  You could use them until they play division nemesis New England four games from now.