This article is part of our NFL Playoff Rankings series.
This list is geared toward playoff leagues with PPR fantasy scoring (4/6, 20/10) and that draft only once before the playoffs and count all scoring through the Super Bowl. So it's a mix of per-game production and the number of projected games for a given team.
For non-PPR rankings, not much changes. You could bump up Carlos Hyde and Sony Michel slightly, for example, but it's hard to think of anyone else who makes a significant move.
For postseason rankings for the upcoming week, check out Jeff Erickson's Weekly Rankings.
This list is geared toward playoff leagues with PPR fantasy scoring (4/6, 20/10) and that draft only once before the playoffs and count all scoring through the Super Bowl. So it's a mix of per-game production and the number of projected games for a given team.
For non-PPR rankings, not much changes. You could bump up Carlos Hyde and Sony Michel slightly, for example, but it's hard to think of anyone else who makes a significant move.
For postseason rankings for the upcoming week, check out Jeff Erickson's Weekly Rankings.
*injured, check status
Notes:
The first thing that jumps out is the No. 3 seeded Saints are much more highly ranked than the No. 2 seeded Packers. That's because the Saints are big favorites at home against the Vikings during the Wild Card round, giving them an excellent chance for at least two games, would likely be favored at Green Bay in the divisional round and are good enough to make it to the Super Bowl, giving them a chance for four games, something none of the bye-week teams have.
By contrast the Packers cannot play four games, and if the Saints beat the Vikings -- which is about 75-80 percent likely -- will likely be underdogs even to see a second game. And if they do see that second game, it's likely to be in San Francisco where they got killed earlier this year.
Of course, if the weather in Lambeau were miserable, the dome-team Saints might not find it easy going, especially after having played the week prior.
At quarterback, my cutoff is Jimmy Garoppolo whom I expect to play at least two games and who should have at least one good matchup. Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson have a ton of upside, but it won't be easy for either to get out of the first round. After that, the next five are a crap shoot -- I love Ryan Tannehill but he has a miserable matchup at the Patriots. The key for me would be avoiding Kirk Cousins, who's likely one and done in a tough venue.
At running back, it's a mess. Alvin Kamara is the only rock solid pick, and after that you're dealing with injuries, committees and good players on weaker teams like Aaron Jones/Derrick Henry/Dalvin Cook.
Wide receiver has a clear top-two, and then it gets dicier. My rule of thumb is when in doubt, take the DeAndre Hopkins types over the players on elite teams but with less target share and skill. You never know when a team will surprise.
Tight end, oddly, is the deepest in recent memory. The top four could all be ranked No. 1 in other years, and Zach Ertz should be big if he can suit up, Dallas Goedert huge if he can't.
Kicker and defense are mostly ranked by projected games played, though the best kickers happen to be on the best teams this year.
The one real wild card are the Patriots who have been terrible offensively and couldn't even hold off the Dolphins at home to gain home field advantage. But you never want to count them out in the playoffs, and they are five and a half point home favorites this week.
