WR Fantasy Football Playoffs Strength of Schedule - Best/Worst Wide Receiver Matchups

Andrew looks at WR fantasy football playoffs strength of schedules, the best/worst wide receiver matchups for 2025 fantasy football playoffs (Weeks 15, 16, 17).

Fantasy managers need two things to win a championship: Good players and the right matchups.

It can be a real bummer to see your superstar wide receiver is going to be shadowed by an All-Pro cornerback in Week 17. It feels amazing to see your superstar wide receiver face a defense that allows the most passing yards per game.

In this article, we analyze the strength of schedule for wide receivers in the fantasy football playoffs. I will include WR1s to lean on and those to be cautious about, as well as streamers who will be available in more leagues.

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Best WR1 Stud for Fantasy Football Playoffs

A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

Oh, how I wish this said Justin Jefferson instead.

The schedule couldn't have aligned more perfectly for Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Minnesota's three fantasy playoff opponents allow the most, third-most, and second-most fantasy points to the position this season. But, alas, J.J. McCarthy can't accurately throw a football, and both Minnesota pass-catchers have been colossal busts. So, let's put Jefferson in the honorable mention category.

But I digress. A.J. Brown has broken out of his early season rut in the biggest way. He's earned double-digit targets in the last four games, compared to just one instance in the first eight. That's translated to at least 100 yards in the last three games. He scored once in Week 12, twice in Week 13, and was a dropped pass and a penalty away from two more in Week 14.

PERFECT THROW, MASSIVE DROP pic.twitter.com/3qBFWflRCj

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 9, 2025

To no surprise, he's the WR3 in that stretch.

Brown benefited from some soft matchups, but 100 yards against the Chargers is a rare feat. Courtland Sutton, back in Week 3, is the only other receiver to reach the century mark against Los Angeles.

Fantasy Playoffs Strength of Schedule

Unfortunately, the Eagles have already played Dallas twice this season. However, the entire NFC East is susceptible to explosive passing games. Washington, which allows the ninth-most fantasy points, is on deck in Week 16 (and Week 18 if you play in a league that runs for the entire regular season).

Before that, the Las Vegas Raiders, who surrender the fifth-most points to the position. The "tough" matchup of the slate is Week 17 in Buffalo. A late-season road game in upstate New York always brings weather concerns. Defensively, however, the Bills are middle of the pack against fantasy football wide receivers.

Honorable Mentions for Best WR1 Fantasy Playoff Schedules:

• Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings - @DAL, @NYG, DET
• Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams - DET, @SEA, @ATL
• Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers - TEN, @IND, CHI

The Detroit Lions, at home no less, is a dream first-round matchup for managers of Rams receivers. Seattle is one of the best secondaries this season and has improved over the last stretch of games. Still, Nacua had seven for 75 (plus 18 rush yards and a fumble) against it in the first go-around. Adams only caught one of his eight targets for one yard, but it was in the end zone.

Then there's Atlanta, a team that has steadily gotten worse against wide receivers as the season progresses. Over the last four weeks, Detroit has been the only team worse than Atlanta. It's a great matchup, especially since the Falcons will have nothing to play for when Week 17 rolls around (well, they already don't. Sorry, Falcons fans). The Rams own Atlanta's first-round pick.

Jennings has scored a touchdown in four of his last five games. The Chicago Bears, San Francisco's Week 17 opponent, have given up 18 receiving touchdowns to wideouts this year. That's the third-highest mark. Indianapolis and Tennessee are both in the top eight for most points allowed to the position.

Best WR Streamer for Fantasy Football Playoffs

Darius Slayton, New York Giants

Generally speaking, wide receiver isn't a "streaming" position. If a wideout is on a good offense, the top two to three options are rostered. If not, they're left on waiver wires. And an injury doesn't necessarily mean the backup's opportunities drastically rise.

However, keep your eye on the big-play wide receivers, the guys you don't want to use on a week-to-week basis because they lack consistency, but can deliver in the perfect matchups.

Slayton fits that bill. A questionable offensive pass interference call wiped away a long touchdown in Week 8. A drop in the end zone prevented a 34-yard touchdown in Week 9. Finally, in Week 13, he found paydirt on a long reception.

Darius Slayton catch-and-run for a Giants TD!

NYGvsNE on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/Zwo7IP6ZB7

— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2025

Slayton averages over 15 yards per reception, and Jaxson Dart averages the 10th-most air yards per attempt.

Fantasy Playoffs Strength of Schedule

We already discussed how the NFC East is a cakewalk for wide receivers (except Philadelphia), and the Giants get to play one of their division foes in the fantasy playoffs.

Managers in the fantasy playoffs shouldn't need a streaming play like Slayton, but injuries happen. With Washington in Week 15 and Las Vegas in Week 17, Slayton could deliver in a pinch.

Honorable Mention for Best Fantasy Playoff Streamers:

• Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers - TEN, @IND, CHI

There's a decent chance Pearsall was dropped after a mediocre (to put it nicely) return from a lengthy injury-induced absence. He and the rest of the 49ers had a late bye week, so he's had two weeks of rest heading into the fantasy postseason.

He had two 100-yard performances in the first three games of the season. Given the schedule, it's not impossible to envision a return to form for the second-year receiver.

Tough WR1 Matchups for Fantasy Football Playoffs

Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

I'm going to preemptively call everyone a liar who says they believed Wilson would be a WR1 heading into the fantasy football playoffs. But here we are.

Wilson is the WR1 over the last four weeks, averaging 24.8 PPR points per game. That's two points more per game than Jaxon Smith-Njigba. In the three games without Marvin Harrison Jr., who is now nursing a heel injury, that number jumps to 30.8. Wilson looks more like Marvin Harrison Sr. than his offspring does.

What's the point in rushing Harrison Jr. back? The 3-10 Cardinals are out of playoff contention and don't need to develop chemistry between him and Jacoby Brissett, given the question marks around the future of the quarterback position. Brissett can keep slinging it with Wilson and Trey McBride all the way through until the offseason.

Fantasy Playoffs Strength of Schedule

Unfortunately, those gaudy numbers are bound to come down. The Cardinals open the fantasy football postseason with the Houston Texans, who currently allow the third-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. It could be a rough day for the Arizona offense as a whole, with a replacement-level offensive line blocking the fearsome Houston pass-rushers.

Week 16 is nothing to worry about. As discussed above, the Falcons secondary is collapsing, and receivers are putting up plenty of fantasy points recently.

Cincinnati is an interesting test case for Week 17. It's an awful defense that can't tackle and lets running backs and pass-catchers rack up yards after contact. But it is so bad against running backs and tight ends that wide receivers are only scoring 26 points per game against the secondary. That's the fifth-lowest mark this season. Over the last four games, it has been the best defense against wideouts. Cornerback DJ Turner II is playing at a Pro Bowl level.

Honorable Mentions for WR1s with Tough Fantasy Playoff Schedules:

• Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs - LAC, @TEN, DEN
• CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys - MIN, LAC, @WSH

Rice, Lamb, and Pickens, three top-10 wide receivers in points per game, have one cupcake matchup in the fantasy playoffs: Tennessee for Rice and Washington for the Dallas duo.

Leading up to Washington, Dallas draws the Vikings and the Chargers, the first- and second-ranked defenses against fantasy football wide receivers. It's not enough to bench Lamb or Pickens; few defenses have slowed down the league's best offense. But it could knock a point or two off their projections.

Rice's freebie is sandwiched between the aforementioned Chargers and the Denver Broncos. Against Denver's elite defense in Week 11, Rice caught six passes for just 38 yards.

Tough Flex WR Matchups for Fantasy Football Playoffs

Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills

Khalil Shakir was one of the more consistent wide receivers in our fake game of football. He scored double-digit fantasy points in seven of his first nine games. Since then, however, it's been maddeningly inconsistent, and the matchups don't paint a clear picture.

Games he should have thrived in? One catch for -3 yards against Tampa Bay and one catch for five yards in Pittsburgh. A touchdown salvaged his day in the tougher Cincinnati matchup. Surprisingly, he totaled a season-high in yards (110) in Houston.

So, maybe this matters. Or, maybe, this recent trend is just a coincidence. Regardless, on paper, Shakir has a tough schedule in the fantasy playoffs.

Fantasy Playoffs Strength of Schedule

Buffalo's late-season schedule starts with a rematch with New England. There's nothing too concerning here. The Patriots are a middling defense against wide receivers. Shakir caught six balls for 45 yards against them in Week 5.

The other two matchups, however, limit fantasy receivers, especially in the slot. Cleveland (Week 16) and Philadelphia (Week 17) are top 10 in limiting slot receivers. The Eagles, in particular, have Cooper DeJean to track Shakir, should they so choose.

Honorable Mentions for Flex WRs with Tough Fantasy Playoff Schedules:

• Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens - @CIN, NE, @GB
• Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears - CLE, GB, @SF

Flowers has two 100-yard games this season. Coincidentally, it's the first and most recent game of his season. Quarterback injuries have contributed to his inconsistent play, but he's also not used as a red-zone weapon. His production must come through volume.

Lamar to Zay has the Ravens in scoring position

PITvsBAL on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/3LbK6bCu0g

— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2025

That volume has been sparse this season. He played against Cincinnati two weeks ago and had his fewest receptions (two) and yards (six) of his season (although another questionable offensive pass interference took a long touchdown away). Along with the Bengals, the Packers and Patriots are in the top 10 for fewest targets to wide receivers.

The Chicago Bears' passing game is a mess. Following Cleveland (fourth-fewest points allowed), a rematch with Green Bay is on tap. Burden, Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Devin Duvernay combined for 94 yards against the Packers last week. The Week 17 matchup with San Francisco isn't worrisome, but will there be any trust in Chicago's wide receivers left by then?

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