Fantasy Football Matchups We Love for Conference Championships - The Fantasy Matchmaker

The best Conference Championship fantasy football matchups, predictions from Joey Pollizze. Strong start/sit matchups that he loves for fantasy football playoff lineups and DFS plays.

Only four teams remain in the hunt for the Lombardi Trophy. The Kansas City Chiefs will travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in the AFC Championship, while the Detroit Lions will square off against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship.

With only two games on the horizon this weekend, there are not many players to pick from for daily fantasy sports (DFS) lineups. There are only four quarterbacks to choose from, a handful of running backs and wide receivers, and only four or five tight ends to choose from.

However, the fantasy matchmaker is in full swing for another edition to help you find the best and worst matchups in the Conference Championships. So, let's dive in and see which players make this list for Sunday.

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Conference Championship: Quarterback Matchups We Love

Brock Purdy - San Francisco 49ers
Opponent: vs. DET
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 31st

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is coming off a mediocre performance in the Divisional Round, where he threw for 252 yards and one touchdown. But Purdy is my favorite play this week, given his matchup against this Lions secondary. Detroit has given up the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season and has really struggled to defend the pass in recent weeks.

They've allowed at least 345 pass yards and two touchdowns in five straight games, including 349 yards and three touchdowns to Baker Mayfield last week in the Divisional Round. Over those last five contests, this Detroit secondary has given up a combined 1,868 pass yards and 11 passing touchdowns. Purdy should be in for a nice fantasy day in the NFC Championship.

Conference Championship: Quarterback Matchups to Avoid

Patrick Mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs
Opponent: at BAL
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 3rd

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is in the worst spot this weekend against a tough Ravens defense. Mahomes has been solid this postseason. But his numbers aren't dazzling, throwing for a combined 477 yards and three touchdowns. So, it might be hard to trust him in DFS lineups this weekend.

The Ravens have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season and have shut down almost every signal-caller they have faced. Last week, rookie sensation C.J. Stroud threw for just 175 yards against this secondary. Baltimore has also only allowed five teams to throw for at least two touchdowns in a game in 2023, making Mahomes a risky option.

Conference Championship: Running Back Matchups We Love

Gus Edwards / Justice Hill - Baltimore Ravens
Opponent: vs. KC
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 14th

All four teams remaining have been semi-good at preventing fantasy points to running backs this season. But the Chiefs come in as the "worst," giving up the 19th-most fantasy points at 20.1 half-PPR fantasy points. They also have allowed 114.9 rush yards per game this year, which ranks middle of the pack.

That should help Baltimore Ravens running backs Gus Edwards and Justice Hill on Sunday. The Ravens run the ball at the highest mark (51%) this year, which is key for both players in the AFC Championship Game. Last week, the Chiefs gave up 101 rush yards on 25 carries against the Bills, and that seems like a safe floor for Baltimore's running back group.

Conference Championship: Running Back Matchups to Avoid

David Montgomery - Detroit Lions
Opponent: at SF
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 4th

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery has been a touchdown machine during the 2023-2024 season. He did not cross the goal line in the Divisional Round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which marked just the fourth time that has happened all year. However, he might struggle to find the end zone again in the NFC Championship against the 49ers.

San Francisco has been one of the best against the run this season, giving up 92.3 rush yards per game (third-fewest). They have also allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this year, which doesn't bode well for Montgomery. He is primarily used in the run game, and this run defense is one of the best in the NFL. The 49ers have given up just three rushing touchdowns since Week 12.

Conference Championship: Wide Receiver Matchups We Love

Brandon Aiyuk - San Francisco 49ers
Opponent: vs. DET
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 31st

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is a player I am targeting this weekend in all contests, regardless if Deebo Samuel (shoulder) plays. If Samuel is out, that obviously boosts Aiyuk's fantasy value. But he should be in store for a big game against a Lions secondary that gives up the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers.

Detroit's defense has had a hard time stopping the pass this season and has really struggled in recent weeks against WR1s. The Lions have allowed big games to WR1s in five straight games, which included Justin Jefferson (141 yards & 192 yards), CeeDee Lamb (227 yards), Puka Nacua (181 yards), and Mike Evans (147 yards). Aiyuk could be next in line for a monster game in the NFC Championship.

Conference Championship: Wide Receiver Matchups to Avoid

Odell Beckham Jr. / Rashod Bateman- Baltimore Ravens
Opponent: vs. KC
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 6th

Baltimore Ravens wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman could potentially be cheap options to fill DFS lineups this weekend. But they should likely be avoided in almost all contests. Neither has done a ton this season and now gets a Chiefs secondary that has played extremely well. 

The Chiefs have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this year. They've given up under 95 receiving yards combined to wideouts in five of the past seven games, including just 75 total receiving yards to Bills wide receivers in the Divisional Round. Beckham and Bateman will also likely match up against cornerback L'Jarius Sneed for some of the game, which is not great news for their fantasy value. 

Conference Championship: Tight End Matchups We Love

George Kittle - San Francisco 49ers
Opponent: vs. DET
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 28th

Honestly, all 49ers pass catchers get a major boost against this Lions pass defense, which includes tight end George Kittle. Kittle is coming off a strong showing, where he caught four passes for 81 yards and one touchdown. Detroit has given up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season, and that should help the San Francisco playmaker on Sunday.

Just last week, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton had a solid day, catching five passes for 65 yards and one touchdown. That seems like a nice floor for Kittle, who figures to be more involved if Samuel is inactive for the NFC Championship.

Conference Championship: Tight End Matchups to Avoid

Travis Kelce - Kansas City Chiefs
Opponent: at BAL
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 7th

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is not a player that I am absolutely avoiding this weekend. But he does have the toughest matchup of the bunch against the Ravens. Baltimore's defense is legit, and the linebacker duo of Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen are great in coverage, which will limit Kelce in this game.

But this Ravens defense has given up at least four catches to opposing tight ends in nine straight games and 11 of the past 12 contests. So, Kelce appears to have a safe floor, even against this secondary. However, Baltimore has also only allowed three receiving touchdowns to tight ends all year.

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