RADIO
Five high-upside fantasy football playoff matchups, schedules, starts for Weeks 15, 16, 17 (2025). Kipp's favorite players with juicy matchups in the fantasy playoffs.
If you manage any fantasy football teams that have already gotten to eight or more wins, or are in a great position to make the fantasy football playoffs, you might start thinking about roster moves to set yourself up for success in the fantasy postseason, as gaining an edge headed into the playoffs is always welcomed.
Even sure-fire must-start players have a string of difficult matchups in Weeks 15 through 17 that might hinder their upside at the most inopportune time for fantasy managers. Considering that you have to win each playoff game that you play in, that matters a great deal.
If you're able to avoid players that have poor playoff schedules, and instead target players that have excellent playoff matchups, you can have the upside to win it all. With that being said, let's break down five players with juicy matchups and playoff schedules in the final weeks of the fantasy football season to help you bring home your league's trophy.
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- Wide receiver (WR) rankings
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- Tight end (TE) rankings
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Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Jaylen Waddle has had a solid season thus far, hauling in 52 receptions for 762 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He has truly been the top dog since Tyreek Hill went down with basically every ligament in his knee torn, and has seen at least six targets in every game since Week 8.
The matchups down the stretch for him are pretty solid as well. He will open up Week 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have been abysmal vs. wide receivers this season. Overall, they have allowed an average of over 37 fantasy points per game to the position, which ranks second-worst in the league behind only the Dallas Cowboys.
In Week 16, Waddle will have a bit of a tougher matchup against the Bengals, but this game will be at home, and the Bengals are not exactly stout against wide receivers; it is just that they are easily run on and have given up a ton of production to tight ends in the passing game.
Finally, in Week 17, Waddle will go up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have allowed an average of over 34 fantasy points per game to wideouts, which ranks in the bottom half of the league. The Bucs have also allowed the eighth-most receiving yards to wide receivers, which sets up as a good spot for Waddle to shoot for 1,000 yards on the season.
Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
I know Mark Andrews has not had quite the season we all had hoped for, or even a season like we are accustomed to from him, but he has quite a bit working in his favor down the stretch to help fantasy managers with their playoff run.
First and foremost, Andrews is still the snap leader at the tight end position in Baltimore and has outpaced Isaiah Likely in each of the previous four games. He has also seen five or more targets in three of the previous four weeks and has scored a total of five touchdowns this season.
Additionally, Andrews has a great schedule for your playoff run. In Week 15, he will go up against a Bengals' defense that the tight end position has absolutely tormented. They have allowed an average of over 22 fantasy points per game to tight ends, which ranks last in the NFL. They have also allowed the most receiving yards and touchdowns to tight ends.
In Week 16, he will get the Patriots, who, despite their strong defense, have struggled against tight ends. They allow an average of over 14 fantasy points per game, ranking them eighth-worst in the league.
While Week 17's matchup against Green Bay could prove to be tough, the Week 15 and 16 matchups more than make up for this.
MARK ANDREWS FAKES TUSH PUSH FOR 35-YARD TD RUN!
BALvsCLE on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/Nd8MTxntDP
— NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2025
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
I could have listed either Henderson or his counterpart, Rhamondre Stevenson, here, but Henderson is getting the bulk of the workload and has not disappointed with it. He has racked up 55+ rushing yards in each of the previous six weeks and now has six total touchdowns on the season.
The schedule for him could not be much better for your playoff run, either. In Week 15, Henderson will go up against the Buffalo Bills, who have been absolutely gashed by the running back position, having allowed an average of over 25 fantasy points per game, ranking them third-worst in the league.
In Week 16, Henderson will get the Ravens, who, while not horrid versus running backs, have still allowed an average of over 23 fantasy points per game, which ranks them in the bottom half of the league. Finally, in Week 17, he will match up against the Jets.
Overall, the Jets are allowing an average of nearly 25 fantasy points per game to running backs, which ranks them fifth-worst in the league, just behind the aforementioned Bills. If you can make a move to get Henderson on your roster, now is certainly the time.
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucky Irving just came off the IR in Week 13 and was promptly handed the ball 17 times and quickly took over the role of lead back once again. He is set up for a prime run down the stretch with a schedule that is very beneficial to the running back position.
On tap for Irving in Week 15 will be NFC South rival Atlanta. Atlanta has struggled quite a bit against the running back position this season, as they have allowed an average of 24 fantasy points per game to them, which ranks seventh-worst in the league. They have allowed over 4.4 yards per carry and have given up a total of 12 touchdowns to running backs this season.
In Week 16, Irving will square off against another NFC South foe in the Carolina Panthers. Carolina ranks sixth-worst in terms of fantasy points allowed to running backs by allowing an average of just under 25 points per game. They have allowed nearly 4.9 yards per carry and have allowed 14 total touchdowns to running backs.
Finally, Irving will go up against the Dolphins' defense in Week 17, and while Miami is the toughest defense he will face down the stretch, they are still allowing an average of nearly 23 fantasy points per game to running backs, which ranks in the bottom half of the league.
Bucky Irving is back in the end zone!
AZvsTB on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/q3j5PMZoev
— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2025
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings
I know this is absolutely ugly, as McCarthy has not looked good in his rookie campaign, but if this kid is ever going to get it going this season, it could be down the stretch here over the next few weeks. His matchups in Weeks 15-17 are dream-like matchups against some of the worst defenses in the league.
In Week 15, McCarthy will go up against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Dallas has allowed an average of nearly 25 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, which ranks last in the league. They have allowed the most passing yards and most passing touchdowns to quarterbacks.
As an encore to this matchup, McCarthy will get the New York Giants in Week 16, who rank second-worst behind Dallas by allowing an average of nearly 21 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Finally, in Week 17, McCarthy will square off against the Lions, who allow an average of just under 20 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, ranking them fourth-worst in the league. Detroit has also allowed 24 passing touchdowns, which ranks second-worst in the league.
Again, McCarthy is being noted here due to the fact that the matchups down the stretch are unbelievably good. He makes the most sense for any playoff manager who has suffered a recent injury or is not getting the production they had hoped for from their quarterback position. This also assumes he returns from concussion protocol before his Week 15 matchup against the Cowboys.
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