Fantasy football rankings for the Divisional Round

Just eight teams remain alive in the NFL playoffs as we head into the Divisional Round. We still have three more weeks of fantasy football before we head into the offseason, so let’s get it. The following NFL playoffs fantasy football rankings are geared toward overall fantasy scoring for the Divisional Round.

However, you don’t want to just blindly use the top options for one-and-done postseason contests. In those formats, you want to carefully balance the present with the future. That means we don’t necessarily want to start the highest-scoring options, but rather the highest scorers who are likely on losing teams. You could also potentially load up on one conference early with the plan to use the other conference later in the playoffs. Regardless of your approach, here’s how things shake out for fantasy football in the NFL Divisional Round:

Quarterback

1. Patrick Mahomes, KC
2. Lamar Jackson, BLT
3. Josh Allen, BUF

Quarterbacks matter in the NFL. At the top we have three of the league’s most dynamic options. Among signal callers who played the full season, Allen and Mahomes ranked Nos. 1 and 2 respectively in fantasy points per game. Jackson was a tick behind them in the seven spot, but he also led the position in fantasy scoring over the final month of the season. For one-and-done contests this week, the optimal move is to save Mahomes and go with either Jackson or Allen.

4. Aaron Rodgers, GB
5. Tom Brady, TB

Rodgers actually outscored Jackson on a points-per-game basis in the regular season, but it’s tough to place him in the top tier given his matchup. The Rams are the league’s best pass defense with opposing quarterbacks averaging just 212 net passing yards per game against LA. Brady had a rough go against the Saints in Week 9, with three picks in that contest, but the Bucs offense improved down the stretch.

6. Drew Brees, NO
7. Baker Mayfield, CLV
8. Jared Goff, LA

While we could get away with using Brady in one-and-dones, there isn’t much appeal in this tier. Brees managed a lackluster 5.6 air yards per attempt last week. That number screams low ceiling. Mayfield and Goff are the two biggest underdogs on the card. While there might be some contrarian appeal to using Mayfield in one-and-done, he’s probably best left for DFS contests this week.

Running back

1. Alvin Kamara, NO
2. Aaron Jones, GB

Kamara nearly landed in a tier by himself this week, but there is merit to placing Jones in the elite group. He not only finished the regular season as fantasy’s No. 5 back, but like Kamara, Jones is on the favorite team for the week. It’s wise to save both of these guys in one-and-done contests.

3. Nick Chubb, CLV
4. Cam Akers, LA
5. Devin Singletary, BUF
6. Leonard Fournette, TB
7. J.K. Dobbins, BLT
8. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC

This group is going to form the core of one-and-done rosters this week. The Browns are the biggest dogs on the board, but Chubb has a reasonably good matchup against the Chiefs defense that allowed 4.52 yards per carry to running backs in the regular season. Akers is also in play as an underdog. The Rams have fed Akers 113 carries over his last five games. Both Singletary and Fournette figure to benefit from injury with Zack Moss out and Ronald Jones looking very iffy. Dobbins has found pay dirt in an impressive seven straight games, but he also played just four more snaps than Gus Edwards last week (33-29). Edwards-Helaire will likely be back after missing the end of the regular season due to injury, but he proved to be quite untrustworthy throughout much of 2020.

9. Kareem Hunt, CLV
10. Gus Edwards, BLT
11. Latavius Murray, NO
12. Le'Veon Bell, KC
13. Jamaal Williams, GB
14. Malcolm Brown, LA
15. T.J. Yeldon, BUF
16. Darrel Williams, KC
17. Ke'Shawn Vaughn, TB
18. Patrick Ricard, BLT
19. A.J. Dillon, GB
20. Justice Hill, BLT

Wide receiver

1. Davante Adams, GB
2. Tyreek Hill, KC
3. Stefon Diggs, BUF
4. Michael Thomas, NO

If this week goes to chalk, then all four of these receivers will be playing next week. That means it’s wise to fade them if you can. Adams is still the clear No. 1 option despite a looming matchup with Jalen Ramsey. Hill doesn’t have an intimidating draw, but unlike Adams, he does have major competition for targets from Travis Kelce. Diggs continued his impressive run with the Bills last week and figures to see another big workload. This was not Thomas’ year, but the Saints wideout did score last week and will be a big part of what the Saints do Sunday night.

5. Mike Evans, TB
6. Chris Godwin, TB
7. Jarvis Landry, CLV
8. Marquise Brown, BLT
9. Robert Woods, LA

As with running backs, the second tier is really our sweet spot for one-and-dones. Evans managed to get back on the field last week and topped 100 receiving yards in the process. While Godwin technically had the biggest fantasy day, Evans offers slightly more fantasy appeal after topping 100 receiving yards in three of his last four games. The Chiefs secondary is one of their strong suits, but Landry actually gets a favorable draw in the slot and should see a heavy workload. Brown has continued to trend up down the stretch and is coming off a 109-yard outing in the Wild Card round. Woods sneaks his way into the backend of this tier, despite Jared Goff’s thumb issue.

10. Cooper Kupp, LA
11. Antonio Brown, TB
12. Cole Beasley, BUF
13. Emmanuel Sanders, NO
14. Rashard Higgins, CLV

This group of five wideouts come with more questions, and therefore more risk, than the previous tier. Kupp will also have to deal with Goff’s thumb along with bursitis. Brown saw his snaps reduced last week with the Bucs running a lot of 12-personnel to slow the Washington pass rush. Expect more of that this week. Beasley managed to suit up in the Wild Card round, but he’s been dealing with a knee injury. Sanders is third or fourth in the Saints target pecking order. The same could be said for Higgins in Cleveland.

15. Sammy Watkins, KC
16. John Brown, BUF
17. Gabriel Davis, BUF
18. Allen Lazard, GB
19. Mecole Hardman, KC
20. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB
21. Josh Reynolds, LA
22. Demarcus Robinson, KC
23. Donovan Peoples-Jones, CLV
24. Deonte Harris, NO
25. Willie Snead, BLT
26. Miles Boykin, BLT
27. Dez Bryant, BLT
28. Equanimeous St. Brown, GB
29. Scott Miller, TB
30. Isaiah McKenzie, BUF
31. Van Jefferson, LA
32. Byron Pringle, KC
33. Devin Duvernay, BLT
34. Khadarel Hodge, CLV

Tight end

1. Travis Kelce, KC
2. Mark Andrews, BLT

We have two of the best tight ends in the league playing this weekend. Kelce is one of the greatest fantasy tight ends of all time, but there’s no way we should be using him this week. Save him for the Super Bowl. Andrews is tempting even if you think the Ravens win. Going that route would give you and NFC tight end to play next week. You could then ideally use Kelce in Super Bowl.

3. Robert Tonyan, GB
4. Austin Hooper, CLV
5. Jared Cook, NO

If you don’t want to use Andrews, Hooper is really the most appealing one-and-done option. He saw a massive 11 targets last week, and figures to be heavily involved in what will likely be the highest-scoring game on the slate. Tonyan offers touchdown upside after finding pay dirt 11 times in the regular season. In case you’re wondering, Gronkowski doesn’t make this tier after staying in to block on 38% of his passing plays last week.

6. Rob Gronkowski, TB
7. Tyler Higbee, LA
8. Dawson Knox, BUF
9. Cameron Brate, TB
10. Gerald Everett, LA
11. David Njoku, CLV
12. Adam Trautman, NO
13. Harrison Bryant, CLV
14. Deon Yelder, KC
15. Lee Smith, BUF
16. Nick Keizer, KC