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Five players with tough fantasy football playoff schedules, big-name players who may be fantasy football busts in the 2025 fantasy playoffs (Weeks 15, 16, 17).
It is hard to imagine that the fantasy football playoffs are already slowly creeping up on us. It felt like yesterday we were all drafting our fantasy squads with the one goal of bringing home a fantasy football championship.
With the playoffs right around the corner, we will dive into five fantasy football superstars that have the potential to become playoff busts due to difficult matchups. These players could be the reason you’re currently in position for a high playoff seed, and also can become the reason we fall short of your fantasy dreams.
This article can be seen as an early warning to add depth to fantasy rosters through the waiver wire or via trades before fantasy trade deadlines. It can also serve as an opportunity to trade away these fantasy stars while they are still perceived highly by your league mates to get a haul in return. At the end of the day, remember, the guys on the other side of the football get paid just as much to stop our fantasy superstars from performing.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
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- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
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- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
Heading into the 2025 season, Herbert was off fantasy managers' radars, with all signs pointing to a historically run-heavy Chargers offense. It took one week for Herbert and Coach John Harbaugh to erase that narrative and go all in on the passing game.
Heading into Week 11, Herbert has been a top-4 quarterback in fantasy points this season. Herbert has completed 240 passes for 2,610 yards and 19 touchdowns on 358 attempts, along with eight interceptions. The former Oregon standout averages over 20 fantasy points a game and has scored over 25 points in a game four times already.
JUSTIN HERBERT CALLS GAME. WHAT A NIGHT.
KCvsLAC on YouTube https://t.co/JVXS9sMrs3 pic.twitter.com/SslSt8mKPd
— NFL (@NFL) September 6, 2025
Despite a red-hot start, Herbert will face three of the top-12 defenses that average the fewest fantasy points to the quarterback position during the fantasy football playoffs.
| Week | Opponent | Avg. Points Allowed to QBs |
| Week 15 | @ Chiefs | 15.7 points |
| Week 16 | @ Cowboys | 24.9 points |
| Week 17 | vs Texans | 11.3 points |
| Week 18 | @ Broncos | 12.6 points |
Outside of Week 16’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Herbert will be facing the best defensive secondaries the NFL has to offer. The other three defenses are all in the top-6 in fewest touchdown passes allowed and top-12 in fewest passing yards allowed.
Herbert’s fantasy playoff schedule raises countless red flags for fantasy managers and screams playoff busts because of his matchups. Herbert's investors need to be ready to pivot during the playoff run and have other options ready to go.
James Cook III, RB, Buffalo Bills
Cook has become a set-it-and-forget-it RB1 over the last two seasons with the Buffalo Bills. The former Georgia product is RB7 on the year and has seven rushing touchdowns already.
Many had feared that Cook would be unable to replicate his success in the endzone last season, but the lack of a consistent redzone threat in the passing game has played to his favor. The 26-year-old is the second option at the goal line in a high-powered offense that is constantly knocking on the door to score touchdowns.
James Cook makes a beautiful juke en route to a 44-yard TD!
BUFvsNYJ on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/6x8MD8hxGa
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025
Over the last two seasons, Cook has relied on scoring touchdowns to be a fantasy superstar and has scored 23 rushing touchdowns. Looking ahead to the fantasy playoffs, Cook will face the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns, who both have allowed a combined seven rushing touchdowns so far this season. Both defenses rank inside the top three in the fewest rushing touchdowns allowed.
Cook will face the Patriots' rush defense again in the first round of most fantasy playoffs, Week 15, which has given up 50 rushing yards in a game to only one running back this season. The Patriots’ defense held Cook to just 4.9 fantasy points in their first matchup in Week 5.
Cook has found paydirt multiple times this season, but will face difficult defensive fronts to end the year. Not to mention, Cook will face the Jalen Carter-led Eagles in Week 17 during most fantasy football championships.
It could be rough sliding for Cook and fantasy managers if he cannot consistently score touchdowns.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers
Now, Dowdle managers, hear me out first before clicking out of the rest of the article. Dowdle has been one of the best surprises of the 2025 season so far and has had one of the most dominant stretches out of the blue we may ever see in our lifetime.
The 27-year-old running back has not only taken over the Carolina Panthers' backfield, but has taken over the entire offense, to the point of frustrating Tetairoa McMillan investors. The Panthers lead the NFL in rushing attempts and are fifth in rushing yards heading into Week 11.
Dowdle has taken advantage of these opportunities and has become the RB10 on the season in PPR Leagues.
RIIIICCCOOOOOO 🗣️ @Panthers pic.twitter.com/VM7t5CtrMm
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) November 5, 2025
After their Week 14 bye, the Panthers will face a favorable run defense in the New Orleans Saints to start the fantasy playoffs. Sneakily, the Saints have forced the most fumbles in the NFL. From Week 16 on, Dowdle will run against some of the toughest run defenses in the league.
Dowdle will have two dates with Vita Vea and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to close the year, and the Seattle Seahawks in between those games. Both defenses are inside the top eight for fewest rushing yards allowed, with Seattle ranking second. Seattle is the scariest defense in all of football right now and has also allowed the third-fewest rushing yards per carry this season.
Dowdle has saved many fantasy managers' seasons this year with his early-season breakout. In the postseason, where you earn your cash, or monthly rent, Dowdle could sink your championship hopes. Dowdle has the potential to go from fantasy friend to fantasy foe quickly in championship weekends.
Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears
This one just hurts being an Odunze truther during the pre-draft process and over the latest offseason, but we will put pride aside for now and dive deep into Odunze’s fantasy football playoff schedule.
The 23-year-old has been the biggest beneficiary of Coach Ben Johnson coming to town for the pass catchers and is in the middle of a breakout season. Odunze is on pace to set season highs in every receiving category and has placed himself as the WR16 heading into Week 11.
.@RomeOdunze makin' it look easy 😮💨
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/S0IeKmW6M3
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 14, 2025
In the fantasy playoffs, Odunze will face three of the top-10 defenses that have allowed the fewest passing yards this season.
| Week | Opponent | Defensive Ranking |
| Week 15 | vs Cleveland | 2nd |
| Week 16 | vs Green Bay* | 6th |
| Week 17 | @ San Fransico | 25th |
| Week 18 | vs Detroit* | 10th |
*Games against a divisional opponent.
Odunze’s final two of three games will be against divisional opponents that not only rank inside the top 10 but also have the best chance at slowing down the Bears' offense. Division rivals spend hours upon hours breaking down film to find weaknesses in each other. If Coach Johnson’s offense has a weakness, the Packers and Lions will know what it is. Not to mention all three teams are fighting for an NFL Playoff spot.
The former Washington standout has been off to a hot start this season, but might cool off with difficult matches down the stretch in the fantasy football playoffs.
Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos
Sutton has ridden the fantasy roller coaster this season with big boom games and some head-scratching finishes. In all, the 30-year-old veteran has settled in as a higher-end WR2 this season for fantasy managers.
Sutton was the WR17 heading into Week 11 and leads the Denver Broncos in receiving yards and explosive receiving plays over 20 yards. Sutton remains Bo Nix’s go-to target on vertical shots, with 10 plays this season going over 20 yards.
Bo Nix slings it to Courtland Sutton for a 30-yard TD!
DENvsHOU on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/FUcd9nV27L
— NFL (@NFL) November 2, 2025
In the fantasy football playoffs, Sutton will face off against three of the top eight defenses that have allowed the fewest receiving yards this season.
| Week | Opponent | Defensive Rank in Yards |
Defensive Rank in Plays Over 20 Yards |
| Week 15 | vs Packers | 6th | 1st |
| Week 16 | vs Jaguars | 24th | 27th |
| Week 17 | @ Chiefs* | 5th | 11th |
| Week 18 | vs Chargers* | 8th | 3rd |
*Games against divisional opponents.
Sutton will finish the 2025 season against division rivals, with all three teams not only fighting for a playoff spot but to win the division. The 6’4 vertical threat has made his money this season on big plays over 20 yards. The Packers, Chiefs, and Chargers all rank inside the top 20 against explosive passing plays, which will force Nix to check down to other receivers like Troy Franklin.
With deep plays coming at a premium down the stretch, Sutton could struggle to put up consistent-reliable fantasy points for fantasy managers in the playoffs.
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