Wild Card Rankings: NFL Playoff Fantasy Football

The fantasy football season isn’t over. You read that right! If you’re looking to spice up Wild Card weekend and the NFL playoffs as a whole, then I highly recommend starting a league. There are plenty of ways to play, all of which can be found at Fantrax.com or on the Fantrax mobile app! I’ll be compiling weekly rankings and analysis along the way, as well.

Some leagues will draft applicable players from the NFL playoffs and total the points from the Wild Card round to the Super Bowl. Obviously, as teams are eliminated, so are the players. Another way to play, and my favorite, is to have managers set lineups on a week-to-week basis. While there may be some overlap in player selections, the catch is that once a player is selected, they cannot be again for the remainder of the NFL playoffs.

In both formats, there is some strategy in saving players on teams you think will go deep into the NFL playoffs. In the “one-and-done” format, it’s also wise to consider selecting quarterbacks, kickers, and defenses from the same conference so you’re guaranteed a player at each position from the other conference once the Super Bowl rolls around. Whatever way you decide to play, just make sure you do!

Now, check out my rankings and fantasy analysis for each position for the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs!

NFL Wild Card Round Rankings by Position

Rankings last updated January 13th

QUARTERBACK

It’s no surprise the QB1 from the fantasy football regular season leads the way in the Wild Card round of NFL playoff fantasy football. Josh Allen carries his 24.0 fantasy points per game average into a home playoff game against a T.J. Watt-less Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts are close behind as the only other two Wild Card quarterbacks to average more than 20.0 fantasy points per game during the regular season. While Hurts and the Eagles seem dysfunctional, he should still put up points against a Buccaneers defense that’s allowed the second-most pass yards this season.

Patrick Mahomes will host an injury-riddled Miami Dolphins defense in the Wild Card round. They’ve allowed 10 passing touchdowns in their last three games with at least two in each. Meanwhile, I like Jared Goff hosting his former team, the Los Angeles Rams. The Lions are a top-five scoring offense with plenty of weapons in what should be a competitive game.

While the Houston Texans defense hasn’t allowed a passing touchdown since Week 16, Joe Flacco has 13 passing touchdowns in five starts with the Browns. He’s averaging a hefty 40.8 pass attempts per game, as well. Matthew Stafford returns to Detroit against a Lions defense that’s allowed the fourth-most passing yards and sixth-most passing touchdowns. It pains me to rank C.J. Stroud so low, but the Cleveland Browns defense is the most dangerous unit in the Wild Card round. They’ve allowed just 185 passing yards per game with a strong 18 interceptions in 17 games this season. I want to rank Jordan Love higher, too, but playing the Cowboys’ defense in Dallas keeps him down at the bottom of the top 10 Wild Card quarterbacks.

RUNNING BACK

After a somewhat disappointing regular season, Tony Pollard is at the top of the Wild Card rankings for running backs in a smash spot at home against the Packers. They’ve allowed over 4.0 yards per carry to running backs this season. I expect Dallas to command with Pollard seeing plenty of work to kill the clock.

Jahmyr Gibbs has the edge over David Montgomery averaging 57% of the snaps per game to Monty’s 42% since Week 10. Gibbs tends to play more in close matchups or from behind. That may be the case when the Rams come to town. Speaking of the Rams, Kyren Williams is averaging 25 touches per game in six games since returning from injury. He’s scored eight total touches in that span, as well. He’s a certified stud in a tough matchup at Detroit. Volume also comes to mind with Rachaad White. He’s averaging 22.8 touches per game since the start of December. He’ll look to get revenge at home against the Eagles who held him to just 62 scoreless yards on 17 touches in Week 3.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has allowed the 10th-most rushing yards to running backs this season. I like James Cook to have a big day in what should be a runaway victory especially without T.J. Watt to worry about. Aaron Jones has at least 20 carries and 111 rush yards in each of his last three games. The Packers will want to lean on him in a tough road bout with the Cowboys. Isiah Pacheco and De’Von Achane are both explosive playmakers that should be busy in a cold, cold battle out in Kansas City.

Najee Harris is the clear leadback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’ll look to carry 312 rushing yards and four touchdowns from his last three games into Buffalo against a Bills defense that’s allowed a rushing touchdown in every game since their Week 13 Bye. D’Andre Swift rushed for 130 yards against the Buccaneers in Week 3. The Eagles’ game plan to avoid another embarrassing loss should probably center around him.

WIDE RECEIVER

The top-six players in my wide receiver Wild Card rankings all rank inside the top eight in most targeted wide receivers this season. CeeDee Lamb and Tyreek Hill are genuinely matchup-proof and should each see double-digit targets this weekend. Amon-Ra St. Brown has a 28.7% target share on the Lions offense that could find themselves in a shootout.

Stefon Diggs and Puka Nacua each drew 160 targets on their respective teams this year. After a lackluster fantasy regular season, I think Diggs can light it up against a Steelers defense that’s allowed the 11th most receiving yards on just the 20th most receptions to wide receivers.

A.J. Brown‘s knee injury from Week 18 has kept him off of the practice field this entire week. If available, he needs to be a focal point on the Eagles offense against the Buccaneers who’ve allowed the fourth most receiving yards to wide receivers this season. That includes Brown’s 131 yards from Week 3. Meanwhile, the Eagles’ Wild Card defense is not playing like the defense that held Mike Evans to two catches for 13 scoreless yards before a big “junk time” scoring drive for him toward the end of the game.

Amari Cooper (heel) is good to go, so he will reestablish himself as Joe Flacco’s top target. Remember his 11/265/2 receiving line from Week 16? Rashee Rice is averaging 9.3 targets per game in his last six played. Jaylen Waddle has eight or more targets in five of his last six games played.

As tough as it may be, I’m avoiding Nico Collins in the Wild Card round. The Browns’ defense has allowed the second-least receptions and third-lease yards to wide receivers. However, I do love Cooper Kupp who has a touchdown in four of his last five games. He gets a Detroit Lions defense that’s allowed the third-most receiving touchdowns to the position this season.

If Jayden Reed is back, he’s the Packers wide receiver I prefer. Keep an eye out to see if Christian Watson and/or Romeo Doubs play, while Dontayvion Wicks, who’s fun to root for, is an extremely bold play in this format. As for Steelers wide receivers, Diontae Johnson has the higher floor while George Pickens brings a high ceiling to the table every week. With Mason Rudolph under center, I am leaning toward Johnson as the safer pick if any at all for your Wild Card lineups.

TIGHT END

Travis Kelce leads a somewhat lackluster group of Wild Card rankings of the tight end position. He’s the only tight end to finish top-five in scoring to be playing in the first round of NFL playoff fantasy football. While this season is by no means his best, Kelce still holds a team-leading 21% target share on the Chiefs.

Not far behind Kelce is David Njoku who is averaging 21.8 points per game in his last four with quarterback Joe Flacco. That’s a result of 28 receptions, 373 yards, and four touchdowns on 39 targets during that stretch. The Houston Texans defense has allowed a league-high 107 receptions to tight ends and the fourth-most yards per game to the position.

There’s a mini-tier break after Kelce and Njoku. Dallas Goedert, Jake Ferguson, and Dalton Kincaid are all second or third options on good offenses with equally good matchups. Goedert gets a bit of a boost against the Buccaneers who have allowed the second-most receptions, yards, and third-most touchdowns to tight ends this season. The Eagles should create looks for him on Monday night.

The remaining tight ends feel a bit “boom-or-bust” given their roles and/or Wild Card matchups this weekend. Dalton Schultz has the absolute worst matchup against a Browns defense that’s allowed the least receptions and yards to tight ends in 2023. Brock Wright could see a bigger role, but Sam LaPorta got in a full practice on Friday. That’s a good indication the rookie will play.

KICKER

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS