I mean just look at Middlesbrough, from 6 wins in a row to 2 points in 3 games. Still a lot of games to go and plenty of them won’t go the way they are predicted to go prior to kick-off.
Parachute payments weren’t as big of a deal pre-2015 or 2016 (whenever that massive Prem TV deal came into effect) but they have been hugely impactful since Covid with Ipswich being the only team not in receipt of parachute payments to be promoted automatically.
I’d rather have our fixtures than Millwall or Ipswich’s. Middlesbrough have a very kind run in of home fixtures but their away fixtures are a bit harder.