Playoff Cheat Sheet: Position Rankings

Playoff Cheat Sheet: Position Rankings

This list is geared toward playoff leagues with PPR fantasy scoring (4/6, 20/10) and that draft only once before the playoffs and count all scoring through the Super Bowl. So it's a mix of per-game production and the number of projected games for a given team.

For non-PPR rankings, not much changes. You could bump up LeSean McCoy over Christian McCaffrey, for example, but it's hard to think of anyone else who makes a significant move.

For postseason rankings for the upcoming week, check out Jeff Erickson's Weekly Rankings.

QBWRTE
Tom BradyAntonio Brown*Rob Gronkowski
Case KeenumBrandin CooksKyle Rudolph
Drew BreesMichael ThomasTravis Kelce
Blake BortlesAdam ThielenZach Ertz
Jared GoffJuJu Smith-SchusterVance McDonald
Ben RoethlisbergerTyreek HillGreg Olsen
Alex SmithJulio JonesDelanie Walker
Matt RyanStefon DiggsJesse James
Cam NewtonRobert WoodsCharles Clay
Nick FolesCooper KuppAustin Hooper
Marcus MariotaMarqise LeeTyler Higbee
Tyrod TaylorAlshon JefferyGerald Everett
RBTed GinnJosh Hill
Le'Veon BellKeelan ColeMarcedes Lewis
Dion LewisSammy WatkinsJames O'Shaughnessy
Todd GurleyDevin FunchessTrey Burton
Mark IngramDanny AmendolaLevine Toilolo
Leonard FournetteNelson AgholorDavid Morgan
Alvin KamaraChris Hogan*Nick O'Leary
Kareem HuntMartavis BryantXavier Grimble
Latavius MurrayDede WestbrookJonnu Smith
Jerick McKinnonRishard MatthewsEd Dickson
Devonta FreemanMohamed SanuK
Christian McCaffreyCorey DavisStephen Gostkowski
LeSean McCoy*Kelvin BenjaminKai Forbath
Rex Burkhead*Eric DeckerChris
This list is geared toward playoff leagues with PPR fantasy scoring (4/6, 20/10) and that draft only once before the playoffs and count all scoring through the Super Bowl. So it's a mix of per-game production and the number of projected games for a given team.

For non-PPR rankings, not much changes. You could bump up LeSean McCoy over Christian McCaffrey, for example, but it's hard to think of anyone else who makes a significant move.

For postseason rankings for the upcoming week, check out Jeff Erickson's Weekly Rankings.

QBWRTE
Tom BradyAntonio Brown*Rob Gronkowski
Case KeenumBrandin CooksKyle Rudolph
Drew BreesMichael ThomasTravis Kelce
Blake BortlesAdam ThielenZach Ertz
Jared GoffJuJu Smith-SchusterVance McDonald
Ben RoethlisbergerTyreek HillGreg Olsen
Alex SmithJulio JonesDelanie Walker
Matt RyanStefon DiggsJesse James
Cam NewtonRobert WoodsCharles Clay
Nick FolesCooper KuppAustin Hooper
Marcus MariotaMarqise LeeTyler Higbee
Tyrod TaylorAlshon JefferyGerald Everett
RBTed GinnJosh Hill
Le'Veon BellKeelan ColeMarcedes Lewis
Dion LewisSammy WatkinsJames O'Shaughnessy
Todd GurleyDevin FunchessTrey Burton
Mark IngramDanny AmendolaLevine Toilolo
Leonard FournetteNelson AgholorDavid Morgan
Alvin KamaraChris Hogan*Nick O'Leary
Kareem HuntMartavis BryantXavier Grimble
Latavius MurrayDede WestbrookJonnu Smith
Jerick McKinnonRishard MatthewsEd Dickson
Devonta FreemanMohamed SanuK
Christian McCaffreyCorey DavisStephen Gostkowski
LeSean McCoy*Kelvin BenjaminKai Forbath
Rex Burkhead*Eric DeckerChris Boswell
Jay AjayiEli RogersJosh Lambo
LeGarrette BlountTorrey SmithWil Lutz
Derrick HenryBrandon ColemanHarrison Butker
DeMarco Murray*Justin HunterMatt Bryant
Stevan RidleyWillie SneadSam Ficken
Tevin ColemanPhillip DorsettGraham Gano
T.J. YeldonAllen HurnsJake Elliott
James White*Kenny BrittRyan Succop
Mike GillisleeTaywan TaylorStephen Hauschka
Charcandrick WestJarius WrightD
Jonathan StewartLaquon TreadwellJacksonville Jaguars
Fitzgerald ToussaintJosh ReynoldsMinnesota Vikings
Corey ClementTommylee LewisNew England Patriots
Kenjon BarnerMichael FloydPittsburgh Steelers
Malcolm BrownPharoh CooperSt. Louis Rams
Chris IvoryAlbert WilsonNew Orleans Saints
Lance DunbarRussell ShepardPhiladelphia Eagles
Akeem HuntC.J. SpillerDemarcus RobinsonCarolina Panthers
Cameron Artis-PayneTaylor GabrielKansas City Chiefs
Mack BrownKaelin ClayAtlanta Falcons
Fozzy WhittakerDeonte ThompsonTennessee Titans
Marcus MurphyZay JonesBuffalo Bills
Terron WardJustin Hardy
Mike TolbertTavon Austin
Brenton Bersin
Marvin Hall
*check status

Notes:

This was a tricky year with the NFC's No. 1 seed, the Eagles, looking like a possible home dog the second week, and opening up more possibilities than usual in the NFC. In the AFC, the Steelers have arguably the most loaded fantasy roster, but they're likely to draw the best defense in the NFL, one that destroyed them in Pittsburgh early this year, in their first game. And should they survive the rematch, they head to New England. Complicating matters further, Antonio Brown is returning from a calf injury.

The Saints, Vikings and Rams all have a good shot to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, but the Rams are only 4.5-point favorites in their first game over the Falcons. The Saints have a home game against the Panthers, but their second game would be in Minnesota against a tough defense. The Vikings might have the easiest path to the Super Bowl, but they would be only three or four point favorites in their first game against the Saints (should the Saints make it through.) And the Vikings split production between two backs and two receivers.

The Saints and Vikings have the easiest paths to the Super Bowl in the NFC. New Orleans has a home game against the Panthers, and should both they and the Rams (4.5-point favorites over the Falcons) prevail, the Saints would head to Philadelphia, quite likely as favorites. The Vikings get the first-round bye, and if the Eagles go down, would have home field in the divisional round and the NFC title game, should they make it that far.

The Chiefs and Jaguars have easy opening round games, making both very likely to play at least two. The Jaguars have more upside than the Chiefs, though. And keep an eye on the Falcons. If they get by the Rams, who are only 4.5-point favorites over them, they would go to Philadelphia and face Nick Foles. We could easily see the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game against the Saints-Vikings winner.

Keep in mind these rankings were created Monday morning after Week 17, so check back for injury updates on players like McCoy, Rex Burkhead, Brown, etc.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Liss
Chris Liss was RotoWire's Managing Editor and Host of RotoWire Fantasy Sports Today on Sirius XM radio from 2001-2022.
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