Postseason has begun, and teams are inching toward a fantasy championship. Every nugget of information is key to putting together a winning starting lineup. And Sportsfan’s Jordan Goethe is here to help, with his most recent rankings.
Quarterback
1) Drew Brees vs Car
2) Russell Wilson vs SF
3) Jared Goff vs Phi
4) Ben Roethlisberger vs NE
5) Deshaun Watson vs NYJ
6) Tom Brady vs Pit
7) Cam Newton* vs NO
8) Andrew Luck vs Dal
9) Matt Ryan vs Ari
10) Baker Mayfield vs Den
11) Mitchell Trubisky vs GB
12) Aaron Rodgers vs Chi
13) Kirk Cousins vs Mia
14) Derek Carr vs Cin
15) Dak Prescott vs Ind
16) Lamar Jackson vs TB
17) Jameis Winston vs Bal
18) Josh Allen vs Det
19) Marcus Mariota vs NYG
20) Nick Mullens vs Sea
— One of the big QB questions this week is Mitchell Trubisky vs Aaron Rodgers: Who will have a better
fantasy day? My big prediction is Trubisky will outshine Rodgers in Chicago. That Bears pass rush is
going to be all over Rodgers, however the loss of Chicago’s Bryce Callahan could open up opportunities for WRs in the slot for Green Bay. I wouldn’t bench Rodgers, unless you have another top-5 QB available. On the other side, Green Bay is banged up on defense, especially on the line, meaning the Bears should be able to run the ball effectively, which will allow Matt Nagy to mix it up and let Trubisky find his open receivers.
— Derek Carr is a good play this week vs the Bengals, but I would avoid Jameis Winston at all costs vs the Ravens.
Running Backs
1) Christian McCaffrey vs NO
2) Todd Gurley vs Phi
3) Saquon Barkley vs Ten
4) Ezekiel Elliott vs Ind
5) Alvin Kamara vs Car
6) Joe Mixon vs Oak
7) Phillip Lindsay vs Cle
8) Leonard Fournette vs Wsh
9) David Johnson* vs Atl
10) Nick Chubb vs Den
11) Tarik Cohen vs GB
12) Chris Carson vs SF
13) James White vs Pit
14) Dalvin Cook vs Mia
15) Sony Michel vs Pit
16) Lamar Miller vs NYJ
17) Aaron Jones vs Chi
18) Mark Ingram II vs Car
19) Jaylen Samuels vs NE
20) Tevin Coleman vs Ari
21) Jalen Richard vs Cin
22) Marlon Mack vs Dal
23) Gus Edwards vs TB
24) Jordan Howard vs GB
25) Jeff Wilson Jr. vs Sea
26) Josh Adams vs LAR
27) Kenyan Drake* vs Min
28) Elijah McGuire vs Hou
29) Dion Lewis vs NYG
30) Kenneth Dixon vs TB
31) Doug Martin vs Cin
32) Peyton Barber vs Bal
33) LeSean McCoy* vs Det
34) Nyheim Hines vs Dal
35) Derrick Henry vs NYG
36) Chris Thompson vs Jax
37) Theo Riddick vs Buf
38) Ito Smith vs Ari
39) Adrian Peterson* vs Jax
40) Frank Gore vs Min
— The Ravens RB group is an interesting storyline over these last few weeks. Gus Edwards has been the guy so far, but after another poor performance last week vs Kansas City, Kenneth Dixon is starting to get an increase in workload. HC John Harbaugh even said after the game: “We have to get Dixon more involved in this offense”. If Dixon is available, pick him up.
— Avoid Adrian Peterson and Aaron Jones. The Bears have allowed the fewest rushing touchdowns in the NFL this season, and Green Bay may be playing from behind.
— New York’s Elijah McGuire is an intriguing option with Isaiah Crowell already ruled out.
Wide Receiver
1) Michael Thomas vs Car
2) Antonio Brown vs NE
3) DeAndre Hopkins vs NYJ
4) Adam Thielen vs Mia
5) Julio Jones* vs Ari
6) Ju-Ju Smith Schuster vs NE
7) Amari Cooper vs Ind
8) Devante Adams vs Chi
9) Robert Woods vs Phi
10) Brandin Cooks vs Phi
11) Stefon Diggs vs Mia
12) Julian Edelman vs Pit
13) Jarvis Landry vs Den
14) Tyler Boyd vs Oak
15) Odell Beckham Jr.* vs Ten
16) Tyler Lockett vs SF
17) DJ Moore vs NO
18) Josh Gordon vs Pit
19) Mike Evans vs Bal
20) TY Hilton* vs Dal
21) Allen Robinson* vs GB
22) Adam Humphries vs Bal
23) Josh Reynolds vs Phi
24) Randall Cobb vs Chi
25) Alshon Jeffrey vs LAR
26) Larry Fitzgerald vs Atl
27) Corey Davis vs NYG
28) Demaryius Thomas vs NYJ
29) Chris Godwin vs Bal
30) Curtis Samuel vs NO
31) DaeSean Hamilton vs Cle
32) Kenny Golladay vs Buf
33) Dante Pettis* vs Sea
34) Sterling Shepard vs Ten
35) Courtland Sutton vs Cle
36) Golden Tate vs LAR
37) Dede Westbrook vs Wsh
38) Jordy Nelson vs Cin
39) Calvin Ridley vs Ari
40) Doug Baldwin* vs SF
— We saw what Amari Cooper did to that Eagles secondary last week, so start every Ram’s receiver you have.
— If Odell Beckham Jr. can’t go this weekend, Sterling Shepard is a must start, along with Randall Cobb. Cobb will be playing a lot in the slot vs the Bears who will be without their slot corner Bryce Callahan.
–Josh Reynolds vs Philly and Demaryius Thomas vs NYJ are also good plays.
— DaeSean Hamilton vs Cle on Saturday could be a nice flex option. He has filled in nicely for the injured Emmanuel Sanders.
Tight Ends
1) Zach Ertz vs LAR
2) George Kittle vs Sea
3) Rob Gronkowski vs Pit
4) Jared Cook vs Cin
5) Eric Ebron vs Dal
6) Ian Thomas vs NO
7) Austin Hooper* vs Ari
8) Jimmy Graham* vs Chi
9) Kyle Rudolph vs Mia
10) Vance McDonald vs NE
11) David Njoku vs Den
12) Cameron Brate vs Bal
13) Vernon Davis vs Jax
14) CJ Uzomah vs Oak
15) Gerald Everett vs Phi
16) Evan Engram vs Ten
17) Trey Burton vs GB
18) Chris Herndon vs Hou
19) Anthony Firkser vs NYG
20) Benjamin Watson vs Car
— I’m really intrigued with Ian Thomas. After coming off a great performance last week (9 rec for 77 yds), I
really like his potential in this offense. But there is some caution with him this weekend. Cameron Brate had two touchdowns last week vs the Saints, but before that game, New Orleans was the 2nd-ranked team vs opposing TEs in fantasy this season.
Defenses and Special Teams
1) Texans vs NYJ
2) Ravens vs TB
3) Jaguars vs Wsh
4) Bills vs Det
5) Bears vs GB
6) Vikings vs Mia
7) Seahawks vs SF
8) Falcons vs Ari
9) Lions vs Buf
10) Rams vs Phi
11) Broncos vs Cle
12) Cowboys vs Ind
13) Redskins vs Jax
14) Saints vs Car
15) Titans vs NYG
Kickers
1) Greg Zuerlein vs Phi
2) Justin Tucker vs TB
3) Will Lutz vs Car
4) Stephen Gostkowski vs Pit
5) Ka’imi Fairbairn vs NYJ
6) Brett Maher vs Ind
7) Aldrick Rosas vs Ten
8) Adam Vinateri vs Dal
9) Jason Myers vs Hou
10) Matt Bryant vs Ari
*-Injury concern