Conference Championship Rankings: NFL Playoff Fantasy Football

After a crazy set of Divisional Round games, the NFL’s final four are now set. By the end of this upcoming weekend, we’ll know which two teams will face off in Super Bowl LIX in February. There is a ton of fantasy firepower left among the final four teams. Check out these Conference Championship rankings, set your lineups, and finish strong to win your NFL playoff fantasy football league.

NFL Conference Championship Rankings by Position

Rankings last updated January 23

QUARTERBACK

Choosing your quarterback from the Conference Championship rankings is all about strategy rather than the actual value of the player. For instance, if you have not played Josh Allen nor Patrick Mahomes yet, but have played Jayden Daniels or Jalen Hurts, then it’s best to choose the other NFC quarterback for the Conference Championship.

The goal should be to guarantee yourself a playable quarterback for the Super Bowl. If you have played Josh Allen, and decide to start Jayden Daniels with expectations that he has a top performance on Sunday, and both of their teams advance, you run the risk of not having a quarterback for the Super Bowl.

Only you know what players are available to you. This process of elimination is specifically applicable to positions that you start just one of. That’s quarterback, tight end, kicker, and defense/special teams.

RUNNING BACK

It’s no surprise Saquon Barkley is at the top of the running back Conference Championship rankings. He is averaging 28.5 touches per game so far through the playoffs. On most sports books, Barkley’s rushing line for the Conference Championship sits at Over/Under 130.5 yards. The Washington Commanders defense allowed the fourth-most total rushing yards to running backs this season. That includes 146 and 150 yards from Barkley in two regular season meetings. Since Jalen Hurts enters this game with a knee injury, Kenneth Gainwell could see an increased workload, as well. There isn’t a high ceiling, however, as he is touchdown dependent to make the start truly worthwhile.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs both rank in the bottom-seven in rushing yards allowed to running backs during this year’s regular season. Josh Jacobs did have an incredible 31 yard run against the Eagles, but just a 2.94 yards per carry average on his 17 other rush attempts. Kyren Williams had more success with a 19/106/0 line last week without Philly’s starting linebacker, Nakobe Dean, available.

Brian Robinson Jr. should lead the way in the Commanders’ run game in the Conference Championship. He has 25 carries to Austin Ekeler’s 14 so far this playoff. Ekeler has a bit higher upside as a receiver, however. He’s drawn four targets in each of the Commanders’ last two games. Robinson logged five in the Wild Card Round, but was not targeted last week in the Commanders’ 45-31 Divsional Round win.

In regards to workload, Kareem Hunt seems to be leading a committee in Kansas City. Since Isiah Pacheco’s Week 13 return from a Week 2 broken leg, Hunt has led the backfield or evenly split with Pacheco in snaps played. More specifically, Hunt logged eight more snaps than Pacheco in the Divisional Round after both backs rested in Week 18 and had a Wild Card bye. Hunt (8) logged a handful more carries than Pacheco (5), notably getting the call at the goal line for a one-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter.

WIDE RECEIVER

In two games against the Eagles this season, Terry McLaurin was locked up for one catch then got his revenge with a 5/60/1 receiving line in their second meeting. McLaurin is rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’ clear-cut top target. He has nine touchdown receptions in his last eight games. That includes a score in each of the Commanders’ two playoff games. He is averaging eight targets per game in the postseason with no less than 87 yards in either contest.

I’m still ranking A.J. Brown near the top of the Conference Championship rankings for wide receivers despite his pitiful playoff numbers. For those keeping score at home, Brown has just three receptions for 24 scoreless yards in the postseason. The fact of the matter is that the Eagles have leaned heavily on their run game. Brown drew seven targets in last week’s “Snow Bowl” and is still Philadelphia’s top wide receiver. If you think the Eagles make the Super Bowl, it may be worth saving him.

There is a significant drop off as you continue on through the wide receiver Conference Championship rankings. Aside from the Eagles, the other three teams remaining spread the ball around in the passing game. Including the Eagles, the tight ends are also major factors for most of these teams, as well.

I do want to mention Hollywood Brown as someone I think deserves to be in Conference Championship lineups. After missing a heavy majority of the regular season, Brown logged 15 total targets in two games in December when he finally took the field. He logged five receptions of 10+ yards on nine total receptions. Though he was held without a catch in the Divisional Round, Brown ran the second-most routes (23) amongst Chiefs wide receivers behind only Xavier Worthy (28). His 67 air yards on just two targets are further indication that Brown is a high-ceiling start.

TIGHT END

Travis Kelce consistently steps his game up in the playoffs. His 24.7 fantasy points in the Divisional Round against the Houston Texans last week are a season-high. That includes a season-high 117 receiving yards, his first game of more than 100 receiving yards this season. If you didn’t start Kelce last week, I recommend investing in the top tight end from the Conference Championship rankings this week. There’s no guarantee he and the Chiefs make the Super Bowl. Even if they do, you can still play Noah Gray or the “NFC tight end” if still available to you.

Dalton Kincaid comes in at fourth amongst the Conference Championship tight end rankings behind Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz. Kincaid has topped 50 receiving yards just once in seven games played since the start of November. He has not found the end zone since Week 8. To make matters worse, Dawson Knox (13) ran two more routes than Kincaid (11) and caught the same number of passes as Kincaid (2) in their Divisional Round win.

KICKER

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS