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Fantasy football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em and lineup advice for all 2026 Conference Championship matchups. Joey Pollizze analyzes in-depth matchups via game-by-game breakdowns.
Welcome, RotoBallers, to another start'em and sit'em piece as we look ahead to the two Conference Championship games! This matchups analysis and Start 'Em, Sit 'Em article will look at the best and worst matchups of the week.
There are only four teams remaining in the hunt for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The New England Patriots will head to Denver to take on the Broncos, and the Los Angeles Rams will go up against the Seattle Seahawks for the third time this year. The winners of these two games will face each other in the Super Bowl.
So, let's dive into both the AFC and NFC Conference Championship games and analyze the best starts and sits of the week.
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Matchups Analysis - AFC Championship
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos
Matchups We Love:
WR Stefon Diggs
Stefon Diggs has been a bit underwhelming in the team's first two postseason games. He has caught just six passes for 56 yards and one touchdown over the past two weeks. However, Diggs will be a solid play against a Broncos defense that allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing slot WRs in the regular season. Considering Diggs plays over 38% of his snaps in the slot, he could put up nice numbers on Sunday.
Drake Maye let it rip to Stefon Diggs for another six!
HOUvsNE on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/iid97fd1m8— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026
TE Hunter Henry
Hunter Henry will be a solid TE1 option this weekend. Dalton Kincaid just totaled six catches for 83 yards and one touchdown against this Broncos defense a week ago, and Denver gave up the seventh-most receiving yards to opposing TEs in the regular season. So, Henry is a nice option in most DFS/fantasy playoff challenges.
Matchups We Hate:
Rhamondre Stevenson has been the better Patriots RB in the first two rounds of the postseason. He has played over 60% of the team's offensive snaps and has totaled over 80 yards from scrimmage in both games. However, Stevenson will be a riskier play this week against the Broncos. Denver gave up the fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs in the regular season.
TreVeyon Henderson also finds himself on the "hate" list in this tough matchup against the Broncos. Denver ranked first in fantasy points allowed, fifth in rushing yards allowed, first in receptions allowed, and second in receiving yards allowed to RBs in the regular season. Therefore, Henderson won't be a top RB option in most DFS contests. He has totaled under 30 rush yards in each of the team's first two playoff games.
RB J.K. Dobbins
Injury Update: Dobbins has been ruled out.
There is a chance that J.K. Dobbins suits up in the AFC Championship after suffering a Lisfranc injury back in Week 10. The Broncos have opened his 21-day practice window, and he was a limited participant in Thursday's practice. However, Dobbins should be avoided in most cases if he plays. The Patriots allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards to opposing backs in the regular season, and the Broncos' RB will certainly be limited in this game.
Kayshon Boutte has been impressive in the team's first two playoff games. He caught four passes for 66 yards against the Chargers in the Wild Card Round and then totaled three catches for 75 yards and one touchdown against the Texans in the Divisional Round. The problem this week is that Boutte could see most of his reps against Patrick Surtain II -- who primarily plays on the outside. So, he could struggle to put up numbers on Sunday.
Courtland Sutton was non-existent in the passing game in most of last week's win over the Bills. Unfortunately, things don't get easier for him in the AFC Championship. Not only will Sutton catch passes from backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, but he could be shadowed by Christian Gonzalez in this game. Gonzalez ranks ninth in fantasy points allowed per target among all CBs this season. That makes him a lower-end option.
Other Matchups:
RB RJ Harvey
The rushing production has not been there for RJ Harvey recently. He has totaled under 45 rush yards in three straight games and will now face a Patriots defense that allowed the fifth-fewest rush yards in the regular season. The good news for Harvey is that most of his production has come in the receiving game. Since New England has allowed the fifth-most receptions to RBs, that's enough to roll with Harvey in some DFS tournaments.
QB Drake Maye
Drake Maye will be a safe quarterback option this week. He averaged 21.5 fantasy points per game in the regular season and just threw three passing touchdowns against the Texans last weekend. Considering the Broncos have allowed Trevor Lawrence (Week 16) and Josh Allen (Divisional Round) to have solid fantasy games in recent weeks, Maye is a strong play in most contests.
Stidham will fill in for the injured Bo Nix (ankle) in the AFC Championship. This will be his first start since Week 18 of the 2023 season. In that game, Stidham threw for 272 yards and one touchdown en route to a 14.1 fantasy point day. Therefore, there is some risk in rolling with the Broncos QB in all formats this week. He's going up against a Patriots defense that just forced five turnovers last week.
Injury Update: Franklin is questionable.
Troy Franklin left last week's game early due to a hamstring injury. Assuming he's able to suit up this week, he could be a cheap option in some DFS contests. He has caught at least four passes in three of his last four games and should continue to operate as the No. 2 target in this Denver offense. With Gonzalez likely shadowing Sutton, Franklin should have an easier matchup on the other side.
WRs Marvin Mims Jr./Pat Bryant
Injury Update: Bryant will play in the AFC Championship.
Marvin Mims Jr. benefited from both Franklin and Pat Bryant (concussion) leaving last week's game early. That resulted in his best receiving numbers of the season, as he caught eight passes for 93 yards and one touchdown. But he won't be startable in most contests if Bryant suits up. Mims could go back to being that No. 4 WR in this offense.
MARVIN MIMS JR. FOR THE LEAD
BUFvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/KxgLMR7wvr— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026
As for Bryant, he could be a sneaky option in some DFS contests if he plays. He has seen a bigger role in this Denver offense in recent weeks, and his snap share has hovered around 55% for most of the second half. Although he left last week's game early, he has a strong chance to suit up on Sunday. He practiced in full on Thursday.
TE Evan Engram
It's best to avoid Evan Engram in most contests this week. He has played under 50% of the team's offensive snaps in six straight games and only caught one pass for seven yards in the Divisional Round. Given that Stidham will be under center in this game, there isn't much appeal in starting Engram in most lineups.
Injuries:
- Troy Franklin (hamstring)
- J.K. Dobbins (foot) - OUT
Matchups Analysis - NFC Championship
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
Matchups We Love:
Kenneth Walker III had his best rushing performance of the season last week against the 49ers. He ran for 116 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 35.5 PPR fantasy point day. With Zach Charbonnet officially out for this week's contest due to a torn ACL, Walker will be the top RB play of the week. He averaged 22.8 PPR fantasy points in two meetings against the Rams this season.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba will come in as the best WR play of the week. He scored over 20 PPR fantasy points in both games against the Rams in the regular season, and this defense has struggled to stop outside WRs for most of the year. Los Angeles gave up the second-most fantasy points to outside WRs in the regular season.
TE AJ Barner
Two of AJ Barner's best fantasy games this season have come against the Rams. He totaled a season-high 10 catches for 70 yards back in Week 11 and then caught four passes for 49 yards and one touchdown in Week 16. As a result, Barner is a sneaky TE option this week. Los Angeles allowed over 13 PPR fantasy points per game to the TE position in the regular season.
Matchups We Hate:
RB Blake Corum
Blake Corum will not be a solid RB option in most DFS contests this week. He only saw six carries in last week's Divisional Round win over the Bears, and the Seahawks allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs in the regular season. Considering Corum only totaled 58 combined rushing yards in the two meetings against Seattle this year, he won't be a viable play.
WR Cooper Kupp
Cooper Kupp had a solid game last week, catching five passes for 60 yards. But he has a difficult matchup in the slot this week against his former team. The Rams gave up the ninth-fewest fantasy points to opposing slot WRs in the regular season, and Kupp scored under seven PPR fantasy points in both meetings against Los Angeles earlier this year. That makes Kupp harder to trust in all DFS contests.
Other Matchups:
There's no doubt that the Seahawks have one of the best defenses. They allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points and the fifth-fewest passing touchdowns to opposing QBs in the regular season. However, Stafford threw for 587 yards and five touchdowns in two meetings against Seattle this year. So, he will be a solid QB play in all formats this week.
QB Sam Darnold
Despite entering last week's game with an oblique injury, Sam Darnold looked fine in the win. He completed 71% of his passes for 124 yards and one touchdown. Given that Darnold threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams in his last meeting, he's worth a look as a cheaper option in DFS contests.
Kyren Williams has a tough matchup on his hands in the NFC Championship. The Seahawks gave up the fifth-fewest fantasy points, third-fewest rushing yards, and the fewest rushing touchdowns to opposing RBs in the regular season. Still, Williams will be a top RB option this week. He totaled over 80 yards from scrimmage in both meetings against Seattle this year.
Kyren Williams' second TD puts the @RamsNFL ahead!
LARvsCHI on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/HkjLuDUvhB— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2026
Davante Adams has been a bit quiet in the postseason. He caught five passes for 72 yards against the Panthers in the Wild Card Round and was held to two catches for 24 yards against the Bears in the Divisional Round. Surprisingly, Adams has also not caught a touchdown pass in each of his last four games. Nevertheless, the Rams playmaker will still be a top WR option due to his touchdown upside.
WR Puka Nacua
Puka Nacua will be a strong play in all contests this week. He is the clear top target in this Los Angeles offense and dominated this Seattle secondary the last time these two teams played. Nacua caught 12 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns against this defense back in Week 16. While we shouldn't expect him to repeat those numbers this time around, he should be a top fantasy target.
Rashid Shaheed hasn't really been involved in Seattle's offense since he was acquired by the team at the deadline. He has totaled more than 30 receiving yards in just two of 10 games with the Seahawks. After playing only 22 snaps in last week's win over the 49ers, Shaheed should be avoided in most DFS contests this week.
Colby Parkinson has been a nice fantasy option for most of the second half. That has continued into the postseason, as Parkinson has caught five passes for 90 yards and one touchdown in the team's first two postseason games. Although he was held to under 10 PPR fantasy points in both meetings against the Seahawks in the regular season, he will be a top TE option this week after seeing seven targets in the Divisional Round.
TE Tyler Higbee
It's too hard to trust Tyler Higbee in all formats this week. After catching two passes for 45 yards in the Wild Card Round, Higbee saw his snap share drop to 10% in the Divisional Round. With Terrance Ferguson back from his hamstring injury, Higbee dropped lower on Los Angeles' depth chart. That's enough reason to avoid him in the NFC Championship.
Injuries:
None
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