NFL Playoffs Power Rankings for Fantasy Football - FFPC Playoff Challenge Draft Picks By Team

January 11, 2025

Scott Engel's NFL playoffs power rankings for fantasy football playoff leagues. He ranks the postseason teams along with providing top lineup picks for FFPC contests.

When building your fantasy football playoff rosters, the first steps are to forecast how the conference brackets will shake out and how many games each team can potentially play. Those exercises are vital in the Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) Playoff Challenge, where you can only roster one player from each NFL team.

My NFL Playoff Power Rankings, assembled for purposes of the FFPC Playoff Challenge, will help you shape an ideal lineup and can be used as a guide for other fantasy football playoff formats, including drafts. Roster requirements and scoring for the FFPC Playoff Challenge can be found here.

The NFL Playoff Power Rankings include scouting reports, player picks, and projected outlooks for how many games each team will possibly play. Teams are ranked by their potential to get to the Super Bowl and participate in the most postseason games. Also, consult my NFL playoff player rankings for your roster construction.

Detroit Lions

This is the most explosive offense in the league, and Detroit wears the aura of an authentic championship team. It buys into what the head coach is selling and has overcome adversity to win the majority of its games. The Lions simply know what it takes to win regardless of the game script and in the face of injury obstacles.

Jared Goff is the poised director of the offensive symphony and is a good bet to win the Super Bowl MVP. He is the best QB to roster outside of Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Amon-Ra St. Brown should have a safe floor and may have a higher ceiling during the postseason. Jahmyr Gibbs would be the best RB pick in the playoffs if David Montgomery was not returning, but both are very good RB1 picks.

Jameson Williams is displaying breakout form and is a very tempting upside play for the postseason. He’s hard to roster in the FFPC Playoff Challenge, though, as you can only pick one player per team. Sam LaPorta is the best TE option if you don’t roster Mark Andrews or Travis Kelce. His numbers were better late in the regular season.

Projected Playoff Road: The Lions will draw the lowest NFC seed in the Divisional Round, which could either be Minnesota or Washington if the Commanders topple Tampa Bay. An NFC Championship matchup with the Eagles may be what we get, and while Philadelphia might have the best chance of knocking the Lions off, this just seems to be Detroit’s year to at least get to the Super Bowl.

Best Lineup Choices (In Order of Preferred Selections): Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, Tim Patrick

Buffalo Bills

It is not easy to make a pick between the Bills and Baltimore when building these power rankings, as both teams are the best selections to potentially play in four games. Buffalo being the higher seed and possibly playing only one road game gives it a slight edge.

Josh Allen may have to carry his team more offensively than any other top contender, and James Cook has emerged as a top TD producer. Khalil Shakir should be the most dependable WR, but the rest of the pass-catchers tend to fluctuate in production with no real floor.

This weekend, Josh Allen could potentially tie or break the record for most career passing touchdowns in the Wild Card round. 👀

🔗 https://t.co/7JZoKww4FW pic.twitter.com/QMLPSaWx6S

— Pro Football Reference (@pfref) January 8, 2025

Projected Playoff Road: Buffalo should sail past Denver before a potential massive clash with Baltimore. Then another rematch with the Chiefs would be next. A trip to Super Bowl LIX would certainly be well-earned if Allen could lead the Bills past two AFC powerhouse opponents.

Best Lineup Choices: Josh Allen, James Cook, Khalil Shakir, Dalton Kincaid, Amari Cooper, Mack Hollins

Baltimore Ravens

These Ravens are the best I have seen during the Lamar Jackson era, as the addition of Derrick Henry has made the offense more potent than ever. The pass defense improved a great deal during the second half of the season. Jackson is the most desirable fantasy player in the postseason, and Henry might be ready to go on a memorable playoff run.

Mark Andrews set a new career high with 11 TDs and is the premier player at his position in the FFPC TE-premium format. Zay Flowers will miss the Wild Card round, elevating the upside of Rashod Bateman.

Projected Playoff Road: The Ravens should get past the Steelers, even if Pittsburgh does recapture some better form to open the playoffs. That will set up the projected and monumental second-round matchup with Buffalo, and a Flowers return would be essential for that game. Then an AFC Championship Game showdown with the Chiefs could be next.

The Ravens will have to win two huge road games to reach the Super Bowl, but I don’t doubt that they can pull it off.

Best Lineup Choices: Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews, Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor

Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City seems to be hitting its collective stride in time for the playoffs and is once again perched on the top seed of the AFC bracket. But the Bills and Ravens present significant threats to the quest to three-peat, and this Chiefs team lacks the fantasy upside of recent teams, so they rank fourth overall.

Patrick Mahomes has not played like an elite fantasy QB for most of the season, and Isiah Pacheco doesn’t look like his true self heading into the playoffs. The WRs are unpredictable, although Xavier Worthy could spike statistically in any week.

Travis Kelce turns on the energy even higher for the postseason and is a very safe pick. There is a falloff at TE from him and Andrews, which must be strongly considered when picking one player per team in the FFPC format.

Projected Playoff Road: The Chiefs should take care of business against the Chargers in the second round before Buffalo or Baltimore takes their latest shot at trying to overcome them.

Best Lineup Picks: Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Isiah Pacheco, Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, Kareem Hunt

Philadelphia Eagles

You should be able to get three games out of the Eagles. Jalen Hurts is the best fantasy QB in the NFC, but a fourth game can only be earned by getting past Detroit. I lean toward the Lions beating Philadelphia in the NFC title game, yet if the Eagles prevail, going with Hurts could be a difference-making pick in the FFPC playoff field.

A.J. Brown will be a big-play threat throughout the postseason, and DeVonta Smith came on stronger late in the regular season. Dallas Goedert can provide respectable production. If you pick Allen or Jackson as your QB, it will be hard to pass on Saquon Barkley as the Philadelphia pick for the FFPC Playoff challenge.

Most Yards Per Reception this Season (min 75 Targets)

🥇 Jameson Williams - 17.3
🥈 AJ Brown - 16.1
🥉 Calvin Ridley - 15.9 pic.twitter.com/TAWWxuqGmj

— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) January 8, 2025

Projected Playoff Road: I fully expect Philadelphia to eliminate Green Bay, which has not shown it can truly compete with the very best teams in the league. Tampa Bay or the Rams would put up a good fight before a projected trip to Detroit. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Eagles win the NFC, and if they do, four games of Barkley or Hurts might provide a fantasy playoff edge.

Best Lineup Picks: Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This is where we see the drop-off to the next tier of teams. Baker Mayfield is coming off an impressive career season, and he is a big reason why the Buccaneers won’t be an easy out. He and Mike Evans can help Tampa Bay keep pace with anyone, and Jalen McMillan and Bucky Irving have been revelations as rookies.

Taking out Washington won’t be easy. I do expect Mayfield to spur the Buccaneers to two good performances before bowing out.

Projected Playoff Road: Tampa Bay should prevail at home in what will be an entertaining NFC Wild Card Game before going down with a valiant fight at Philadelphia.

Best Lineup Picks: Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Bucky Irving, Jalen McMillan, Cade Otton

Minnesota Vikings

Ultimately, Sam Darnold does not have any playoff experience and the pass defense is a concern. Darnold will not hesitate to trade offensive punches with another QB, yet he could also commit a key turnover to end Minnesota’s season at any time.

Projected Playoff Road: It would not surprise me to see the Vikings get eliminated in the first round by the Rams. If they do get past Los Angeles, I am not taking Darnold over Goff in a playoff game, even though the Minnesota QB has done an admirable job of reviving his career. He is just not ready to lead a deep playoff run.

Best Lineup Picks: Justin Jefferson, Sam Darnold, Aaron Jones, T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Addison

Los Angeles Rams

This could be the sleeper team of the postseason. I am just not going to doubt Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford. The Rams won nine of their last 11 games and might be the opponent that no one wants to face.

You can get at least two strong outings from Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams. Cooper Kupp may reemerge to produce well at any time, and you can take a risk on him if competing in the FFPC Playoff Challenge with multiple entries.

Projected Playoff Road: If the Rams eliminate the Vikings, another return trip to Detroit for Stafford could be next. It’s hard to envision Los Angeles lasting past the second round. McVay and Stafford won’t be an easy out, though.

Best Lineup Picks: Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are favored to advance to the second round of the playoffs, but outside of Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey, they don’t offer much dependability. Los Angeles will move past the Wild Card based on its defense, which will likely stifle the Texans.

Ladd McConkey’s 3.2 yards per route vs. men coverage is the fourth highest in NFL history for a rookie, only behind Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and AJ Brown pic.twitter.com/iDj8tqbSOG

— ChargersMuse (@ChargersMuse) January 8, 2025

Projected Playoff Road: After a seventh road win of the season at Houston, a successful rebound season will conclude at Kansas City.

Best Lineup Picks: Ladd McConkey, Justin Herbert, J.K. Dobbins, Quentin Johnston, Will Dissly, Joshua Palmer, Gus Edwards

Washington Commanders

A rookie QB has never made it to the Super Bowl. Jayden Daniels might make some real noise for a game or two and recently beat the Eagles, but don’t expect more than two games of heroics. Terry McLaurin will provide two outings of good production, with a high ceiling for the opener at Tampa Bay.

Projected Playoff Road: A win over Tampa Bay would lead to a certain ending of the season at Detroit.

Best Lineup Picks: Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, Brian Robinson Jr., Zach Ertz, Austin Ekeler, Olamide Zaccheaus

Houston Texans

Late-season losses to Kansas City and Baltimore deflated Houston’s postseason outlook, especially the pathetic two-point performance against the Ravens. Joe Mixon’s production faded away down the stretch and C.J. Stroud lacks weaponry other than Nico Collins. DeMeco Ryans, however, might stir his troops up for a Wild Card win.

Projected Playoff Road: Unless Pittsburgh upsets Baltimore, Houston will get finished off at Kansas City if it gets past the Chargers. In the event of a surprise Ravens loss, the season will end at Buffalo.

Best Lineup Picks: Nico Collins, C.J. Stroud, Joe Mixon, Dalton Schultz, Diontae Johnson, John Metchie III

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay has the talent to challenge almost any playoff team. The Packers, however, falter when faced with equal or better opponents. They were a combined 0-5 against the Lions, Vikings, and Eagles. You may get one good game from Josh Jacobs, the obvious best pick from the Packers offense.

Projected Playoff Road: First-round exit.

Best Lineup Picks: Josh Jacobs, Jordan Love, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Tucker Kraft, Dontayvion Wicks

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh ended the season on a four-game losing streak, and with the defense allowing 27-plus points in three of the defeats, the playoff prospects look quite dim. You don’t have to pick a player from every team in the FFPC Playoff Challenge, so fading all Steelers is worth consideration. The offense simply lacks playmaking punch.

If the @steelers don’t fix this on defense ASAP the @Ravens will run them out of the building#nfllive pic.twitter.com/LjmmdcJk7c

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) January 8, 2025

Projected Playoff Road: First-round exit.

Best Lineup Picks: George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Russell Wilson, Calvin Austin III

Denver Broncos

It was encouraging and inspiring to see the Broncos turn it around after two sorry seasons, with a rookie QB leading the way. A respectable performance at Buffalo will raise optimism for next year. If you do pick a Denver player, it should be Courtland Sutton.

Projected playoff Road: First-round exit.

Best Lineup Picks: Courtland Sutton, Bo Nix, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Marvin Mims Jr., Devaughn Vele

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