Congratulations! You might have dealt with bust fantasy picks, injuries, suspensions, losing by .19 points (Just me? Hopefully not), but by the graces of the fantasy gods, you’re in the playoffs.
Now comes the hard part, it’s win or go home, no second chances. If you’re like me, you’re looking at your roster almost every hour, switching players, looking up stats to figure out the best matchups.
I did a lot of that for you so let me help you out.
I’m giving a list of players you definitely need to have in your fantasy lineups in the upcoming playoffs and some players I’d be cautious about.
Good luck! DM me (@ImThatSupi85) with any more questions or you if you want to give a little piece of your winnings.
Quarterbacks To Start
Ryan Tannehill
Week 14: at Oakland Raiders
15: vs. Houston
16: vs. New Orleans
Tannehill has played well since becoming the starting quarterback for the Titans. He was the QB4 in weeks 7-10 as the starter. This is someone I have mentioned as a pickup in the waiver wire; if you were lucky enough to get him, I’d look to start him in the playoffs.
He has great matchups against Oakland and Houston in the quarter and semi-finals with both defenses giving up 20 fantasy points-per-game to opposing quarterbacks.
Jameis Winston
Week 14: vs. Indianapolis Colts
15: at Detroit lions
16: vs. Houston Texans
From a fantasy perspective, Winston is a reliable quarterback; from weeks 3-10, he is ranked as the QB6. He’s only failed to throw under 300 yards in three of his starts going into Week 12 and has a passing touchdown in every game this season, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson can’t say that.
He’s going against the Lions and Texans who are ranked in the bottom nine in terms of points-per-game to the quarterback. He’s going throw some picks, but the risk is worth the reward.
Other Quarterback To Consider Starting
Nick Foles, Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jacoby Brissett, Kyler Murray
Top Stars who will shine in the playoffs:
Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz
Quarterbacks I’m Hesitant To Start
Patrick Mahomes
Week 14: at New England Patriots
15: vs. Denver Broncos
16: at Chicago Bears
You drafted Mahomes very high, probably the first quarterback taken. There’s no denying he’s one of those players in fantasy.
He faces the worst playoff schedule of any quarterback. These three defenses are averaging 13 fantasy points or lower to the quarterback this season. You’re still going to start him, but temper your expectations, and hopefully, you have other players to pick up the slack.
Derek Carr
Week 14: vs. Tennessee Titans
15: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
16: at Los Angeles Chargers
Carr has helped turn the Raiders around over the last few weeks and has them competing for a playoff spot. A big factor was the favorable schedule, including games against the Bengals, Lions, and Texans, all bottom six teams to the quarterback.
The outlook for Carr in the playoffs is not good. He’s facing the eighth toughest schedule, including on the road against a Chargers defense that’s allowing 13.7 fantasy points in your championship.
Other Quarterbacks I’m Hesitant To Start:
Mitch Trubisky, Kirk Cousins, Josh Allen, Sam Darnold
Star Quarterbacks I’m Cautious About Starting
Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Jared Goff, Matt Ryan
Wide Receivers To Start
Terry McLaurin
Week 14: at Green Bay Packers
15: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
16: vs. New York Giants
McLaurin has been one of the bright spots on the Redskins. Hopefully, now that Dwayne Haskins is the permanent starter, they can develop chemistry.
He gets some great matchups against the Eagles in Week 15 and the Giants in Week 16, both are in the bottom four in terms of points-per-game to wide receivers with over 27 points each.
D.J. Chark
Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
15: at Oakland Raiders
16: at Atlanta Falcons
Chark emerged as the top receiver in the Jaguars offense with Gardner Minshew, and now with Nick Foles. He has the possibility to shine further in the playoffs with matchups against Oakland and one of the worst passing defenses in Atlanta in your championship.
Other Wide Receivers To Start
Corey Davis, Golden Tate, Mike Williams, Jarvis Landry, Marvin Jones, DeVante Parker, D.J. Moore
Stars Who Will Shine:
Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emmanuel Sanders, Keenan Allen, Odell Beckham Jr., T.Y. Hilton, Tyler Lockett, Kenny Golladay, Deandre Hopkins
Wide Receivers I’m Hesitant To Start
Tyreek Hill
Week 14: at New England Patriots
15: vs. Denver Broncos
16: at Chicago Bears
Like Mahomes, it’s almost too hard not to play a healthy Tyreek Hill. With three 20+ performances, he’s a consistent WR1.
The matchups, though, all three are in the top five in terms points-per-game to the wide receiver. Hill is talented enough to break those trends, but I’d still be hesitant.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4a4JF1Bgqr/
Brandon Cooks
Week 14: vs. Seattle Seahawks
15: at Dallas Cowboys
16: at San Fransisco 49ers
Cooks started the season hot with double-digit fantasy points in weeks 2-4, but has severely dipped since.
As a whole, the Rams offense cannot find that same magic that brought them to the Super Bowl last year. This year, their offense is predicated on the talent of the defense they’re playing.
Cooks will face Dallas and San Fransisco on the road in your semi-finals and championship, who are third and sixth respectively in points-per-game to wide receivers.
Other Wide Receivers I’m Hesitant To Start
Christian Kirk, Stefon Diggs, Tyrell Williams, Mohamed Sanu, Robert Woods, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd,
Stars That Will Burn Out
Allen Robinson, John Brown
Running Backs To Start
Josh Jacobs
Week 14: vs. Tennessee Titans
15: at Jacksonville Jaguars
16: at Los Angeles Chargers
Safe to say Jacobs is a leading candidate for offensive rookie of the year; as of week 12, he has 923 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, which is good enough to have him as the current RB10.
He gets the Jaguars and Chargers in Weeks 15 and 16, who are both allowing 21 points-per-game to opposing running backs. The Raiders will probably be playing for a playoff spot, they need a playmaker like Jacobs to win.
Phillip Lindsay
Week 14: at Houston Texans
15: at Kansas City Chiefs
16: vs. Detroit Lions
As much as the Broncos struggle on offense, they have some talented guys, one of which is Lindsay. He has the most favorable schedule in the playoffs, facing the worst running defense (Kansas City Chiefs) in the semi-finals, then the second worse (Detroit Lions) in your championship.
Royce Freeman will see enough snaps to where he’s also a strong flex starter.
Other Running Backs I Would Start
David Montgomery, Ronald Jones, Chris Carson, Derrius Guice, Sony Michel, Jordan Howard, Kareem Hunt
Stars That Will Shine
Dalvin Cook, Nick Chubb, Saquon Barkley, Aaron Jones, Leonard Fournette
Running Backs I’m Hesitant To Start
Devin Singletary
Week 14: vs. Baltimore Ravens
15: at Pittsburgh Steelers
16: at New England Patriots
Singletary has taken the lead back job since returning from a hamstring injury although getting most of the work hasn’t resulted in high-end production, he only has one game over 100 total yards this season.
He is faced with one of the toughest playoff schedules as all three teams are in the top eight in terms of points-per-game to running backs. Add the fact he loses snaps to Frank Gore, and Josh Allen loves to run it himself, it’s not looking good at all for Singletary.
Carlos Hyde
Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos
15: at Tennesse Titans
16: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hyde has been a solid RB2 this season. Unfortunately, he’s is nowhere near matchup-proof, and that’s why it’s tough to start him in the playoffs. If you somehow make it through with him against Denver then Tennessee, you have Tampa Bay, who is the second-best run defense in the league for the championship.
Other Running Backs I’m Hesitant To Start
Damien Williams, Tevin Coleman, Joe Mixon, Detroit running backs
Stars That Might Burn Out
Alvin Kamara, Todd Gurley, Joe Mixon, Ezekiel Elliott
Tight Ends To Start
Kyle Rudolph
Week 14: vs. Detroit Lions
15: at Los Angeles Chargers
16: vs. Green Bay Packers
I wouldn’t have thought I’d be mentioning Rudolph a few weeks ago. The first six games he had zero touchdowns and a total of 72 receiving yards. He’s finally seeing the ball as the Vikings have developed a passing game.
He sees two teams who are in the bottom 10 of points-per-game to tight ends in the playoffs, including the Packers who are allowing the fourth-most in your championship.
Greg Olsen
Week 14: at Atlanta Falcons
15: vs. Seattle Seahawks
16: at Indianapolis Colts
Olsen is ranked TE9 going in Week 12. The veteran does not put the numbers he once did, but he still has talent. He has the sixth-best schedule for the fantasy playoffs.
Other Tight Ends To Start
Jacob Hollister, Hunter Henry, Noah Fant, Vance McDonald, T.J. Hockenson
Stars That Will Shine
Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz
Tight Ends I’m Hesitant To Start
Jonnu Smith/Delanie Walker
Week 14: at Oakland Raiders
15: vs. Houston Texans
16: vs. New Orleans Saints
Smith has played well in Walker’s absence so when he returns from injury, who knows what that situation will be.
Either way, I don’t like their matchups against Houston in Week 15 and New Orleans in Week 16. Both are top 10 against the tight end allowing only six points per game.
Evan Engram
Week 14: at Philadelphia Eagles
15: vs. Miami Dolphins
16: at Washington Redskins
It’s been a tough year for Engram; he’s missed multiple games due to injury and he hasn’t had the same connection with Daniel Jones as he had with Eli Manning.
I’m not confident starting him in the playoffs as he has the seventh-toughest playoff schedule, including a first-round matchup against the Eagles who are allowing only 5.8 points-per-game to tight ends.
Other Tight Ends I’m Hesitant To Start
Dawson Knox, Mike Gesicki, Jared Cook, Tyler Eifert, Ryan Griffin, Jason Witten
Stars That Will Burn Out
Mark Andrews, Darren Waller, Austin Hooper