The fantasy football playoffs are right around the corner. If you’re in a good spot in your league, now is the perfect time to start thinking about matchups you need to target and avoid in Weeks 15-17. However, if you’re still in the middle of the pack heading into Week 10, your main priority should be first to make the playoffs and worry about matchups later.
With the fantasy football trade deadline approaching in many leagues, making moves with the playoffs in mind could be the difference between becoming a champion or coming up short. Using RotoBaller’s free fantasy football trade analyzer tool can help you make the right trades.
In this article, we'll list three players at each offensive position (QB, RB, WR, TE) who have great matchups in the fantasy playoffs and should be targeted in trade negotiations. There will also be three players at each position that have tough playoff matchups that you should think about trading away if you can find the right package.
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Best Fantasy Playoff Matchups: QB
Russell Wilson, Broncos (Weeks 15-17: @DET, vs. NE, vs. LAC). No quarterback has a great matchup in all three weeks in the fantasy playoffs. However, Wilson has the best situation in Weeks 15-17. Playing in a dome against a Lions defense that currently allows the 14th-most fantasy points to QBs could benefit Wilson in a potential Week 15 shootout. The Patriots' defense is a neutral matchup in Week 16. However, getting a Chargers defense that allows the most fantasy points to quarterbacks in Week 17 could be a key advantage for your team in the championship.
Other QBs with favorable playoff matchups: Brock Purdy, 49ers (@ARI, vs. BAL, @WAS); Zach Wilson, Jets (@MIA, vs. WAS, @CLE)
Worst Fantasy Playoff Matchups: QB
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (Weeks 15-17: vs. NYJ, vs. DAL, @BAL). It’s unfortunate to see Tagovailoa have such a brutal fantasy playoff schedule. Despite being a solid QB1 this season, he should be someone to trade away before the fantasy trade deadline ends. Tagovailoa will see three straight elite defenses in weeks 15-17, all of whom rank toward the top in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. Tua will see the Jets in Week 15 (20th in fantasy points allowed to QBs), the Cowboys in Week 16 (29th), and the Ravens (32nd) in Week 17. All three playoff matchups are tough, so trading him right now might be the best scenario for your fantasy roster.
Other QBs with unfavorable playoff matchups: Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (vs. BAL, @TB, vs. CAR); Sam Howell, Commanders (@LAR, @NYJ, vs. SF)
Best Fantasy Playoff Matchups: RB
Austin Ekeler (Weeks 15-17: @LV, vs. BUF, @DEN). It doesn't get better than this for fantasy RBs. The Raiders, Bills, and Broncos are all giving up more than 20 half-PPR fantasy points per game to running backs this season. Las Vegas ranks fifth in that department (24.5 points), Buffalo ranks 12th (20.2 points), and Denver ranks first (30.4 points). As long as he's healthy, Ekeler can carry his owners to a fantasy football championship.
Other RBs with favorable playoff matchups: Bijan Robinson, Falcons (@CAR, vs. IND, vs. CHI); Josh Jacobs, Raiders (LAC, @KC, @IND)
Worst Fantasy Playoff Matchups: RB
Saquon Barkley, Giants (Weeks 15-17: @NO, @PHI, vs. LAR). Like Tua Tagovailoa, fantasy owners should think about trading away Barkley due to his brutal fantasy playoff schedule. Those last three games are all difficult matchups, and Barkley will surely struggle to put up solid points. The Saints are allowing just 14.6 half-PPR fantasy points per game to running backs, which is the fourth fewest in the league. It doesn’t get much easier in the following weeks. The Eagles have allowed the fewest fantasy points to RBs, and the Rams have given up the seventh-fewest points to that position in 2023. New York's QB situation won't help matters either.
Other RBs with unfavorable playoff matchups: Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. NYG, @LAR, @TB); Joe Mixon, Bengals (vs. MIN, @PIT, @KC)
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Best Fantasy Playoff Matchups: WR
DK Metcalf & Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (Weeks 15-17: vs. PHI, @TEN, vs. PIT). Metcalf and Lockett have not had the best fantasy seasons, especially Metcalf, who has failed to total above 15 half-PPR fantasy points in any game this year. However, their playoff schedules should help them both finish with a flurry. The Eagles, Titans, and Steelers are three of four teams that allow at least 35 half-PPR fantasy points to wide receivers per game this season. Philadelphia ranks first (37.5 points), Pittsburgh ranks second (36.9), and Tennessee ranks fourth (35.0 points). Both players will be easy starts in the fantasy playoffs, and be sure to use our free fantasy football trade calculator tool to come up with the best trade offer scenarios for your teams.
Other WRs with favorable playoff matchups: Marquise Brown, Cardinals (Weeks 15-17: vs. SF, @CHI, @PHI); A.J. Brown & DeVonta Smith, Eagles (@SEA, vs. NYG, vs. ARI)
Worst Fantasy Playoff Matchups: WR
Tyreek Hill & Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (Weeks 15-17: vs. NYJ, vs. DAL, @BAL). Similar to their quarterback, Miami's wide receivers have the hardest matchups in the fantasy playoffs. Hill has been matchup-proof almost his whole career, so the tough opponents shouldn’t cause fantasy owners to panic too much, but Waddle is a little more worrisome. His success will depend on how good Tagovailoa can be in those games. The Jets and Cowboys rank Nos. 1 and 2 in fewest fantasy points allowed to wideouts this year, while the Ravens have given up the sixth-fewest. Hill has been one of the best fantasy players this year, so only consider dealing him for a major haul, but Waddle is not untouchable.
Other WRs with unfavorable playoff matchups: Terry McLaurin, Commanders (@LAR, @NYJ, vs. SF); Amari Cooper, Browns (vs. CHI, @HOU, @NYJ)
Best Fantasy Playoff Matchups: TE
T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (Weeks 15-17: @CIN, vs. DET, vs. GB)
Hockenson easily has the best fantasy playoff schedule for tight ends. With his value being as low as it is right now with Kirk Cousins (Achilles) out for the year, now could be the perfect time to buy the Vikings playmaker for the playoffs. The best matchups for Hockenson come in Week 15 and Week 16 against the Bengals and Lions. Cincinnati has allowed the most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, while the Lions rank third in that department. Although the Packers are middle of the pack in that category, Hockenson should have a very strong fantasy playoff showing.
Other TEs with favorable playoff matchups: David Njoku, Browns (vs. CHI, @HOU, vs. NYJ); Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (@ IND, vs. CIN, @SEA)
Worst Fantasy Playoff Matchups: TE
Dalton Schultz, Texans (Weeks 15-17: @TEN, vs. CLE, vs. TEN). Schultz has the hardest fantasy playoff schedule among all players at his position this season. Playing the Titans twice in two weeks is good for the Texan wide receivers, but it's terrible news for Schultz. Tennessee has allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season. Sandwiched between those games is a matchup against the Browns' stout defense that gives up just 4.8 half-PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends in 2023. The veteran could see a lot of disappointing performances when it matters most.
Other TEs with unfavorable playoff matchups: Cole Kmet, Bears (@CLE, vs. ARI, vs. ATL); Dallas Goedert, Eagles (@SEA, vs. NYG, vs. ARI)
