NFL Playoff Fantasy Rankings: Best Players to Draft for Postseason Contests

Draft Rankings for Your Playoff Tournaments

The regular season concluded with Ravens-Steelers, but we're just days away from kicking off Wild Card Weekend with Rams at Panthers.

And that means you're in a narrow window to join playoff fantasy contests.

As we've done for over a decade, we've compiled our NFL playoff fantasy rankings below. Use them for home leagues -- or for national, big-money contests found on the FFPC, Underdog Fantasy, and other sites.

Let's begin with a macro view of the NFL playoffs, followed by positional and overall rankings:

AFC Playoff Picture: Bills, Jaguars Couldn't Be Much Closer

(Numbers in parentheses show the team's chances of winning the AFC, based on The Athletic's Playoff Simulator)

1. Denver Broncos (33.3%)
2. New England Patriots (18.3%)
3. Houston Texans (14.4%)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (13.6%)
5. Buffalo Bills (12.5%)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (4.8%)
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (2.7%)

The Athletic's Playoff Simulator ultimately has the Broncos with the best odds of winning the Super Bowl (16.6%).

NFC Playoff Picture: It's Seattle ... And Then Everybody Else

(Numbers in parentheses show the team's chances of winning the NFC)

1. Seattle Seahawks (48.3%)
2. Los Angeles Rams (20.0%)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (15.3%)
4. Chicago Bears (7.0%)
5. Green Bay Packers (4.2%)
6. San Francisco 49ers (3.2%)
7. Carolina Panthers (1.8%)

Seattle leads the group with a 24.1% chance of winning the Super Bowl.

Playoff Rankings: Top 50 Overall

*Italic text designates an injured player. Writeups coming on Tuesday.

1. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

Nacua had a spectacular 2025 season. He finished as a top-six PPR WR in nine of his 16 games and ended the year as the WR1 overall in both total points and points per game. The Rams have the easiest matchup of the weekend, traveling to face the 8–9 Carolina Panthers. The visitors are double-digit favorites and should win comfortably. The Rams also have a legitimate path to the Super Bowl, making Nacua the top priority in nearly every playoff fantasy format.

2. Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

Smith-Njigba ended the season as the WR2 overall in both PPR points and points per game. Even with late-season struggles from the offense, he remained the Seahawks’ primary receiving option. He finished as a top-15 PPR WR in 14 of his 16 games. Seattle has a first-round bye and is currently favored to reach the Super Bowl. Even two games from Smith-Njigba could outscore three or four games from most other WRs.

3. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

The playoff RB landscape is volatile, but Barkley draws an excellent first-round matchup at home against the 49ers. San Francisco allowed 171 rushing yards and a TD to Seahawks RBs last week and gave up two rushing TDs to D’Andre Swift two weeks earlier. This sets up as a game where the Eagles can lean on Barkley. As defending Super Bowl champions, Philadelphia could make a run and play three or four postseason games.

4. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

Brown heated up late in the regular season. He finished as a top-20 PPR WR in four of his final six games, including two top-five performances. With the 49ers dealing with injuries in the secondary, Brown could start strong and remain productive throughout the playoffs. As defending Super Bowl champions, the Eagles could make a deep postseason run.

5. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

Adams missed the final three games of the regular season with a hamstring injury but is set to return against the Panthers. He finished as the WR6 in PPR points per game, scoring 14 TDs in just 14 games. The Rams have the easiest matchup of the weekend, traveling to face the 8–9 Panthers. They are double-digit favorites and have a realistic path to the Super Bowl.

6. James Cook, Buffalo Bills

The Bills open the playoffs with a difficult road matchup against the Jaguars. Still, having the best QB remaining in the AFC gives Buffalo a path to a deep run. Cook won the rushing title with 1,621 yards and finished as the PPR RB6 in points per game. He topped 100 rushing yards in four of his final six full games. Cook is a strong bet for a productive wild-card round with upside to lead all RBs across the playoffs.

7. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Stafford had an MVP-caliber season and continued producing late in the year. Over his final five games, he averaged 327 yards and 2.8 TDs per game. With Davante Adams returning, Stafford’s ceiling as the top playoff QB only rises. The Rams have the easiest matchup of the weekend, traveling to face the 8–9 Panthers. They are double-digit favorites with a legitimate Super Bowl path.

8. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Maye finished the season as QB4 in fantasy points per game, driven by 31 passing TDs and 450 rushing yards, which ranked fourth among QBs this season. The Patriots draw a difficult Chargers defense on Wild Card Weekend, but Maye has yet to falter. New England could make a run to the AFC Championship or Super Bowl, giving Maye upside throughout the postseason.

9. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts finished the season as QB9 in points per game, with two top-10 weekly finishes in his final three games. His 421 rushing yards ranked sixth among QBs, but that rushing floor and Philadelphia’s playoff experience keep him elevated. As defending Super Bowl champions, the Eagles could play three or four games, making Hurts an intriguing playoff QB option.

10. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Allen is the most talented QB in the playoff field, even if this is the weakest Bills team to make the postseason in recent years. The AFC field is relatively soft, and Allen still finished as the QB1 in fantasy points per game. He posted a top-six QB performance in three of his final four games. If Buffalo advances past Jacksonville, Allen has Super Bowl upside, though the one-and-done risk keeps him slightly lower in the rankings.

11. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lawrence caught fire in the second half of the season. He finished as a top-five fantasy QB in each of his final four games, including a road matchup against Denver’s strong defense. With the Jaguars at full strength, he should play well against the Bills on wild-card weekend. Still, one-and-done risk keeps Lawrence slightly lower, despite the upside.

12. Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars

Etienne finished the season as RB14 in PPR points per game but delivered six top-12 RB performances over his final 10 games. His receiving role boosts his floor, averaging 2.7 catches per game over his final three fantasy outings. He faces a Bills defense that has been a run funnel. If Jacksonville advances, Etienne carries strong upside across multiple playoff games.

13. Nico Collins, Houston Texans

Collins finished the year as WR11 in PPR points per game, with four top-10 performances over his final eight games. While the Houston offense has been inconsistent, they're favored to win in the first round against the Steelers. Pittsburgh has struggled against opposing WR1s, giving Collins a chance to start fast and potentially play multiple playoff games.

14. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

Williams had a volatile 2025, finishing as RB11 in PPR points per game. Recent usage splits with Blake Corum make him a riskier playoff option, though the upside remains. Williams posted two top-eight finishes over his final five games but failed to score a TD in his last three. The Rams have the easiest matchup of the weekend and are double-digit favorites -- with Super Bowl potential.

15. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

McCaffrey finished as the RB1 overall in PPR and remains the focal point of the 49ers offense. He logged a top-14 RB finish in each of his final eight games, including five top-five performances. He also averaged nearly five catches per game over his final three outings. The primary downside is a potential first-round loss to the Eagles, limiting McCaffrey to a single playoff game.

16. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Sutton finished as WR22 in PPR points per game in a volatile season. Over the final four fantasy games, he produced two top-10 finishes and two outside the top 30. As the AFC’s top seed with a bye, Denver likely needs a Super Bowl run for Sutton to pay off in a playoff format. Outside of Buffalo, potential Round 2 opponents rank top 10 in pass defense DVOA. Sutton is worth a pickup only if you believe in a Broncos Super Bowl run.

17. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

Smith finished the season as WR30 in PPR points per game and has not cracked the top 15 since Week 7. Smith still saw at least eight targets in four of his final seven games. With the Eagles positioned for a deep playoff run, Smith profiles more as a volume-based option than a weekly ceiling play.

18. R.J. Harvey, Denver Broncos

From Week 11 on -- with J.K. Dobbins out -- Harvey averaged 13.6 carries and 4.1 targets per game. A Divisional Round matchup with Buffalo would be ideal given the Bills’ struggles vs. the run. Overall, Denver holds home-field advantage throughout the postseason in a down year for the AFC.

19. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers

Jacobs rested for Week 18 after going limited-limited-full in practice. He posted rushing lines of 20 carries for 86 yards and a score, and 12 carries for 36 yards in two meetings with the Bears.

20. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

Henderson enters the postseason in a timeshare with Rhamondre Stevenson. The good news? Since Stevenson returned from a toe injury in Week 12, the rookie holds the backfield edge in carry share (55% to 33%). Just note: Stevenson holds the lead in route rate (55% to 33%) and target share (11% to 7%). Henderson’s big-play ability and potential for three games make him an intriguing target.

21. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots

Stevenson has averaged 10.3 touches per game since Week 12, which marked his return from a multi-week toe injury. New England opens with a negative Wild Card matchup vs. the Chargers, but we ultimately expect at least two games from the Pats.

22. Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots

NFL insider Albert Breer doesn’t expect Diggs’ legal trouble to force any missed games this postseason. Before Sunday's dud vs. Miami, the veteran posted lines of 9-138 and 6-101-1.

23. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

The Packers rested Watson for Week 18. He'll be a full-go against a Bears defense that's eighth-worst in PPR points allowed to WRs. Note: Watson posted lines of 4-89-2 (Week 14) and 2-17 (Week 16) vs. Chicago in 2025.

24. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Nix and the Broncos enter a bye week as an already-healthy offense. While Nix put up an inconsistent season, Denver’s defense boasts enough talent to make a Super Bowl run.

25. Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks

Walker's wildly inconsistent season concluded with a 17.3-point fantasy effort vs. San Francisco. He posted that mark despite going without a TD for the sixth time over his past seven games. While a lack of scoring upside is troublesome, Walker has chipped in 3+ catches in five of his past eight games. And he certainly benefits from Seattle’s status as the favorites to come out of the NFC.

26. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks

Per Pro Football Reference, Charbonnet finished fourth among RBs in carries inside the ten-yard line (31). That helped elevate him to a surprising 12 rushing TDs on the season. Scoring appeal – coupled with Seattle’s realistic shot at a Super Bowl appearance – makes Charbonnet an enticing playoff asset.

27. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

Goedert set a career-high with 11 TDs during the regular season. That includes four scores over his final three games. (Goedert was rested for Week 18.) In the Wild Card Round, he draws a 49ers pass defense that’s bottom-ten in fantasy points allowed to TEs.

28. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

Henry just set a single-season career high with 768 receiving yards. His seven TDs marked his most since 2021. The Chargers supply a tough matchup for TEs, sitting fifth-toughest in adjusted fantasy points allowed. Still, we like Henry’s chances of playing at least two games.

29. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills

Hurt by injuries, Kincaid's supplied spotty fantasy production in 2025. In fact, he's finished as a top-12 fantasy TE in only five of 12 appearances. The young TE remains a low-floor fantasy option, especially with Buffalo entering a coin flip of a Wild Card game at Jacksonville.

30. Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams

Corum (ankle) suited up for Week 18, despite missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He remained in a rotation with Kyren Williams, one that should continue into the postseason. They open with a positive Round 1 matchup vs. Carolina, while the Rams are in excellent shape to play at least two games.

31. Jakobi Meyers, Jacksonville Jaguars

Since joining the Jags, Meyers leads the team in route rate (90%) and target share (24%). A red-hot Trevor Lawrence has helped the veteran WR rack up 6+ targets in eight straight. Buffalo presents a legit opening-round matchup, but we certainly wouldn’t be surprised if Jacksonville advanced as small home favorites.

32. Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills

Shakir's averaged only 7.9 PPR points over his final five games (Week 13 to Week 17; he rested for the regular season finale alongside Josh Allen). A run-oriented offense and a spread-it-around passing game limits the appeal on Shakir, even if the Bills play multiple games.

33. Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars

Washington enters the postseason as one of the hottest WRs league-wide. He's racked up 19 catches, 347 yards, and 2 TDs over the past three weeks. His target share over that stretch? A massive 29%. Buffalo supplies a run-funnel matchup in Round 1, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Jags squeak by with a win.

34. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Despite some struggles down the stretch, Darnold still finished as the QB13 in total fantasy points. Seattle earned the top seed and an opening-round bye, while the team’s WR corps is already at full strength. The Seahawks could also get LT Charles Cross (hamstring) back from injury. A run all the way to the Super Bowl is certainly in play.

35. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

In a pair of regular-season games against the Packers, Williams averaged 218 passing yards and 22.5 rushing yards, posting QB16 and QB8 finishes. Overall, the Packers allowed the 12th-fewest fantasy points to QBs, but Williams has thrown two TD passes in each of his last five outings. (That stretch includes a pair of games against Green Bay.) As of this writing, the Bears are slight underdogs for Wild Card Weekend.

36. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

The Texans have never won a road playoff game, but they enter Pittsburgh as 3.5-point favorites. Stroud has won three straight road starts and faces a favorable matchup against a Steelers’ defense that has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. However, Stroud has averaged just 217.2 passing yards and 1.4 TD passes per game. The implied total of 39.5 points is the lowest in the opening round of the playoffs, so view Stroud as a middling choice in postseason lineups.

37. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

Loveland enters the playoffs with some serious momentum. He comes off back-to-back games with 10-plus targets, 90-plus receiving yards, and a TD grab. However, this week he’ll face a Packers defense that allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to TEs. Green Bay held Loveland to 29 and 30 yards in their previous two meetings, with one TD in Week 14. That was the last TD that the Packers allowed to a TE, so Loveland is unlikely to carry over his hot streak. Still, his volume keeps him in play as a decent bet at a position that has no must-starts.

38. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Kittle remains the most reliable pass-catcher in San Francisco, but this is a tough matchup. The Eagles allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to TEs during the regular season. Philadelphia only allowed 4 TDs all season to the position, and only two TEs exceeded 45 yards against this defense. Kittle should get his targets, but he carries more risk than usual.

39. Luther Burden, Chicago Bears

Since Week 10, Burden has averaged 11.4 PPR points per game, WR23 overall. In his one game against the Packers, Burden caught all four of his targets for 67 yards. Burden ranks second in Chicago’s WR corps with a 19% target share in his last eight games, but Rome Odunze’s projected return could put a dent in his upside. View Burden as a modest starting option in playoff lineups against an average Green Bay secondary.

40. Woody Marks, Houston Texans

Marks only has three season-long rushing TDs, while Pittsburgh has only allowed five rushing TDs to RBs all season. Overall, the Steelers allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to RBs, so it’s a tough matchup for Marks in a game with the lowest implied total for the week. We do expect Houston to advance to the Divisional Round.

41. D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears

Swift scored 11.2 and 9.0 PPR points in two games against the Packers this season. He received 13 carries in both contests, right around his average per game. Green Bay was right around average, allowing the 15th-fewest fantasy points to RBs during the regular season. Swift will continue to split reps with Kyle Monangai in an average spot, so view him as a modest option in playoff lineups.

42. Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Since returning from a two-month stint on IR, Hampton has averaged 17.5 touches per game. He sat out LA’s regular-season finale, but had averaged 14.7 PPR points per game since Week 14 – RB22 overall numbers. New England surrendered just 19.8 PPR points per game to RBs this season, eighth-lowest in the league. It’s not the best matchup for the Chargers, but Hampton’s volume keeps him in the Flex conversation in Week 19.

43. Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears

Chicago’s RB rotation has been consistent. Monangai has played 40-45% of the Bears’ snaps in his last six games, but his involvement as a runner has dipped. Mongangai’s number of carries has declined for six straight weeks. Note: The rookie averaged 9.5 PPR points per game against the Packers this season. The biggest risk here is that Chicago goes one-and-done in what projects as a close game vs. Green Bay.

44. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Purdy and the 49ers were red hot until they ran into Seattle’s elite defense in Week 18. The Seahawks held Purdy to a season-low 127 passing yards and planted serious doubts about San Francisco’s ability to make a deep playoff run. Those concerns begin in the opening round when the Niners travel to Philadelphia to face an Eagles defense that surrendered fewer fantasy points per game to QBs than Seattle during the regular season. This game also has the second-lowest implied total in the Wild Card round, making Purdy a risky choice as a starter.

45. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Jordan Love had one good game against the Bears (234 yards, 3 TD), but suffered a concussion in the rematch, which limited him to 77 yards. Love hasn’t played since that injury, but will be good to go in the Wild Card round. Chicago allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to QBs this season, but also led the NFL in INTs (23). Love only threw 6 INTs all season, but Green Bay’s four-game losing streak entering the playoffs doesn’t instill a lot of confidence. On the year, the Packers' offense ranked 15th in yards and 16th in points.

46. Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Thomas has fallen behind Jakobi Meyers and, more recently, Parker Washington in Jacksonville’s target hierarchy. In his final three regular-season games, Thomas was held under 40 receiving yards and 8 PPR points while the Jaguars averaged 345 yards and 32.7 points per game. In addition to concerns about Thomas’s lack of production, the Jaguars host a Buffalo defense that has been strong against the pass. The Bills allowed the fifth-fewest PPR points per game to WRs in the regular season. There’s plenty to like about the Jaguars, but Thomas isn’t one of them.

47. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

Schultz ranks second among Houston’s skill-position players in snap share (71%), route rate (77%), and target share (19%). Surprisingly, Schultz compiled top-10 fantasy numbers in the regular season, and he gets a solid matchup in the opening round of the postseason against a Pittsburgh defense that allowed the second-most fantasy points to TEs. Nico Collins is the obvious target for Houston in playoff lineups, but Schultz has some contrarian appeal at a TE position that lacks depth.

48. Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Strange is another against-the-grain pick that makes sense, but his opening-round matchup has far less appeal. The Jaguars host a Bills defense that ceded the fewest fantasy points to opposing TEs. Strange has scored a TD in two of his last three, but Buffalo only allowed four TDs to TEs all season. Strange also has single-digit scores in three of his past five games, so there’s considerable risk with targeting him.

49. Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams

Parkinson has been on a tear, scoring a pair of TDs last week and scoring 11-plus PPR points in four of his past five. However, Davante Adams will return for the playoffs, which will cut back on the Rams’ recent reliance on TEs. The matchup looks fine. Carolina is league-average in terms of allowing fantasy points to TEs. Parkinson should continue to lead LA’s TE rotation, but with Puka Nacua, Adams, and a pair of quality RBs, his potential as a playoff option looks limited.

50. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams

Higbee saw his first action since Week 11 last week and immediately played 64% of LA’s snaps. He caught 5-of-6 targets for 91 yards and a TD. However, with Davante Adams returning, there won’t be as many targets for LA’s TE group. Additionally, Higbee trailed behind Colby Parkinson in snaps.

Playoff Rankings: QBs

1. Matthew Stafford

2. Drake Maye

3. Jalen Hurts

4. Josh Allen

5. Trevor Lawrence

6. Bo Nix

7. Sam Darnold

8. Caleb Williams

9. C.J. Stroud

10. Brock Purdy

11. Jordan Love

12. Justin Herbert

13. Aaron Rodgers

14. Bryce Young

Playoff Rankings: RBs

1. Saquon Barkley

2. James Cook

3. Travis Etienne

4. Kyren Williams

5. Christian McCaffrey

6. R.J. Harvey

7. Josh Jacobs

8. TreVeyon Henderson

9. Rhamondre Stevenson

10. Kenneth Walker

11. Zach Charbonnet

12. Blake Corum

13. Woody Marks

14. D'Andre Swift

15. Omarion Hampton

16. Kyle Monangai

17. Kenneth Gainwell

18. Jaylen Warren

19. Rico Dowdle

20. Kimani Vidal

21. Bhayshul Tuten

22. Jaleel McLaughlin

23. Emanuel Wilson

24. Jawhar Jordan

25. Ty Johnson

26. Brian Robinson

27. Chuba Hubbard

Playoff Rankings: WRs

1. Puka Nacua

2. Jaxson Smith-Njigba

3. A.J. Brown

4. Davante Adams

5. Nico Collins

6. Courtland Sutton

7. DeVonta Smith

8. Stefon Diggs

9. Christian Watson

10. Jakobi Meyers

11. Khalil Shakir

12. Parker Washington

13. Luther Burden

14. Brian Thomas Jr.

15. Romeo Doubs

16. Jayden Reed

17. D.K. Metcalf

18. Jauan Jennings

19. Ladd McConkey

20. Tetairoa McMillan

21. Jayden Higgins

22. Quentin Johnston

23. Rome Odunze

24. Pat Bryant

25. Troy Franklin

26. Ricky Pearsall

27. Rashid Shaheed

28. Cooper Kupp

29. DJ Moore

30. Keenan Allen

31. Kayshon Boutte

32. Josh Palmer

33. Jalen Coker

34. Marvin Mims

35. Christian Kirk

36. Brandin Cooks

37. DeMario Douglas

38. Tyrell Shavers

39. Gabe Davis

40. Kyle Williams

Playoff Rankings: TEs

1. Dallas Goedert

2. Hunter Henry

3. Dalton Kincaid

4. Colston Loveland

5. George Kittle

6. Dalton Schultz

7. Brenton Strange

8. Colby Parkinson

9. Tyler Higbee

10. A.J. Barner

11. Oronde Gadsden

12. Terrance Ferguson

13. Evan Engram

14. Pat Freiermuth

15. Dawson Knox

16. Luke Musgrave

17. Cole Kmet

18. Jonnu Smith

19. Tommy Tremble

Playoff Rankings: Kickers

1. Harrison Mevis

2. Jason Myers

3. Cam Little

4. Will Lutz

5. Andres Borregales

6. Ka'imi Fairbairn

7. Jake Elliott

8. Cairo Santos

9. Brandon McManus

10. Cameron Dicker

11. Matthew Wright (Matt Prater has a quad injury)

12. Eddy Pineiro

13. Chris Boswell

14. Ryan Fitzgerald

Playoff Rankings: Defense/Special Teams

1. Rams

2. Seahawks

3. Broncos

4. Texans

5. Eagles

6. Patriots

7. Packers

8. Bills

9. Jaguars

10. Bears

11. Steelers

12. Chargers

13. 49ers

14. Panthers

Next Up

2026 Dynasty Rookie Rankings: The Wild Card Class That Has Scouts Guessing

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Kevin English, Senior Analyst

Kevin brings 15+ years of experience as a fantasy analyst and mid-stakes competitor across various formats (redraft, best ball, dynasty, DFS). He finished 1st in FantasyPros Draft Accuracy competition in 2024. Kevin's work has been featured in The Mercury News, NBC Sports/Rotoworld, and FantasyPros.