It’s fantasy football playoff time and we’re all excited with the stakes raised. And come three weeks from now, you might be in your moment of glory, confetti falling on you and deafening cheers all throughout the stadium (or living room).
Life only makes sense looking backwards, but of course we need to live it forwards. But if you’d like a sneak peak of what might happen this month, I’m here to entertain you.
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Let’s go through the four main positions and give you 12 players who could have a December to Remember in the fantasy playoffs. I’ll give an obvious pick, an underrated pick and a sleeper pick at all four spots. Dream big, gamers — you just might get what you want.
Quarterbacks
The Obvious Pick: Josh Allen doesn’t have the easiest slate for the fantasy playoffs (Patriots, Browns, Eagles), but he’s proven to be matchup-proof for his career. He’s three points better than the QB field on average, and tends to amp up his rushing game in the latter part of the season.
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An Underrated Pick: It would help Brock Purdy if his opponents fight back on offense and force a few pinball games. But there’s nothing wrong with a finishing kick of Titans, Colts (ravaged by injury) and Bears, with every game weather-safe. The Niners are getting healthy at the right time, boosted by the Week 14 bye.
A Sleeper Pick: Marcus Mariota will start Week 15 against the Giants, then it’s wait-and-see mode with Jayden Daniels. But in Mariota’s last three starts, good things have happened: QB3, QB9, QB13. Washington closes with a lovely schedule for passing production: Giants, Eagles, Cowboys.
Running Backs
The Obvious Pick: Christian McCaffrey is an unfair cheat code again this season, 40 touches ahead of the field and playable in any game script. He’s currently on pace to sail past 1,000 yards in both rushing and receiving, and he’s already banked 13 touchdowns. No reason this music won’t play all season.
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An Underrated Pick: Saquon Barkley has been sitting in the disappointment file all year, but maybe last week’s splashy game against the Chargers (20-122-1) will get him going. Star OT Lane Johnson should be back soon, and Barkley gets a dream slate to attack in December (Raiders, Commanders, Bills).
A Sleeper Pick: Bam Knight can’t be a proactive pick in Week 15, up against that ridiculous Houston defense. But if you can survive through this week, Knight gets to aim at the Falcons and Bengals, two defenses that everyone runs against. Trey Benson is out for the year, clearing the runway for Knight.
Wide Receivers
The Obvious Pick: Jaxon Smith-Njigba has outclassed the receiver field all year, giving us just one washout game out of 13. And it’s possible the Seahawks might lean on him a little more than usual going forward — not that he’s lacked for opportunity — if the team feels the 2,000-yard milestone is in play.
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An Underrated Pick: There are conditions with a Michael Wilson recommendation: he needs to get past Houston this week, and things become complicated if and when Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) returns. But Wilson has been a locked-in WR1 for the weeks Harrison doesn’t play, and I doubt he’d vanish even if Harrison comes back. The Bengals in Week 17 could be a holiday present from the fantasy gods.
A Sleeper Pick: Over the last six weeks, Wan’Dale Robinson leads all receivers in both targets and catches. There’s only been one touchdown, but Jaxson Dart is back and the PPR scam is alive. The Commanders in Week 15 and Raiders in Week 17 are lovely matchups.
Tight Ends
The Obvious Pick: As you know, Jacoby Brissett took over the starting QB job in Arizona two months ago. Over that period, this is how Trey McBride has performed: TE2, TE3, TE6, TE1, TE1, TE3, TE2, TE13. If you’d prefer the raw numbers, they add up as such: 64-662-7. It feels like years ago when McBride couldn’t buy a touchdown; that was probably a Kyler Murray problem. Survive Houston in Week 15, and then McBride can take you home (he should torch the Bengals in Week 17).
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An Underrated Pick: Harold Fannin Jr. is on pace for 77-809-5, a remarkable rookie season given all the chaos around him. And Fannin and Shedeur Sanders showed legitimate chemistry in last week’s blow-up against Tennessee. The remaining games are all gettable: Bears, Bills, Steelers. It’s a shame the Cincinnati rematch is tucked into Week 18.
A Sleeper Pick: I understand the Miami passing volume is a reason to be concerned, and Darren Waller wasn’t even the team’s best tight end last week. But Waller always carries significant touchdown equity, and we need to be mindful of his delicious schedule for the fantasy playoffs (Steelers, Bengals, Buccaneers). Maybe you need a “show-me” game for now, but be ready when the Bengals come to town.