Thanks to websites such as Fanduel.com, Draftkings.com, and ESPN Gridiron Playoff Challenge, your fantasy football season doesn't have to be over. These three websites allow fantasy players from all over the country to draft new players and play in new fantasy leagues each week throughout the NFL playoffs.
The access to these websites helps bring entertainment to fans everywhere, but if you are interested in more than just fun and want to earn some extra cash, it is important to draft and start the best players each week.
This week's divisional round of the NFL playoffs has many quality fantasy players available to draft, including: quarterbacks Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, running backs Ray Rice and Arian Foster, wide receivers Andre Johnson and Julio Jones, and tight end Rob Gronkowski.
There are also a handful of surprising or under the radar players that should produce solid fantasy outings this week.
For this article, we will look at which players I believe have the best chance of contributing to one’s perfect roster for fantasy football this week.
Perfect quarterback
QB Tom Brady
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady should produce the most fantasy points of all QBs playing in this week of playoffs. Brady and the Patriots are hosting the Houston Texans, who allowed the 18th most fantasy points to QBs throughout the regular season. (via Yahoo! Sports)
The Texans have an above average defense, but in their three regular season match-ups against top ranked QBs: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning, the Texans gave up an average of 29.62 fantasy points. These are promising numbers for Pats fans and fantasy owners this week.
Perfect running backs
RB Marshawn Lynch
Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch has the best chance to put up big fantasy points this week. Of the eight teams left in the playoffs, Lynch’s opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, have allowed the most points to RBs this season.
RB Frank Gore
San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore should also have an impressive week, as he will be facing the Green Bay Packers. In order to try and slow down Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ high powered offense, the 49ers will have to establish a solid running game to eat up the clock. Gore will have plenty of carried and opportunities to rack up fantasy points against the Packers, who allowed the 15th most fantasy points to RBs this season.
Perfect wide receivers
WR Andre Johnson
Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson is going to have to come up big this week in order to help give the Texans any chance in New England. The Patriots’ defense gave up the ninth most fantasy points to WRs during this year’s regular season, which is the most of all the teams left in the playoffs.
WR Brandon Lloyd
Andre Johnson will not be the only WR putting up big fantasy numbers in the Pats/ Texans match-up, as Patriots’ WR Brandon Lloyd should also produce some impressive numbers. In week 14’s game, Brandon Lloyd was able to score 20.90 against the Texans defense.
Lloyd has been the Patriots’ number two receiver behind Wes Welker this season, but with a healthy Rob Gronkowski, Welker will lose some of his red zone opportunities.
WR Demaryius Thomas
Denver Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas may have the toughest match-up of my top three projected WRs, as he is going up against the Baltimore Ravens defense, who allowed the 21st most fantasy points to WRs during the regular season.. Despite the unfavorable match-up, I still believe Thomas will score a respectable amount of fantasy points.
In the week 15 game between the Ravens and Broncos, the Ravens’ defense double covered Thomas, which left WR Eric Decker free to score 19.30 fantasy points and RB Knowshon Moreno to score 18.60. For this week’s game, I expect the Ravens defense to tighten up coverage on Decker and the running game, freeing up Thomas in the passing game.
Perfect tight end
TE Rob Gronkowski
Patriots QB Tom Brady and WR Brandon Lloyd are projected to produce a lot of points this week, so why would Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski be any different? Gronkowski is Brady’s favorite option in the Red Zone and should have plenty of opportunities to score at least one touchdown against the Texans this week.
Perfect defense/special teams
Denver Broncos D/ST
Of all the teams left is this year’s playoffs, the Denver Broncos’ opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, have scored the least amount of fantasy points on opposing defenses. The Broncos defense is not too shabby itself, as it has a top 5 ranked defense in almost every major category.
In the week 15 match-up against the Ravens, Denver’s defense was able to produce three sacks, one interception returned for a touchdown and one fumble.
What players do you think will have the best fantasy outings this week? Comment at the bottom of page or E-mail me at apalinckx@yahoo.com
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