Divisional Round fantasy football rankings

We had a fun start to the NFL playoffs with some big fantasy performances out of Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook, and D.K. Metcalf. Looking forward to the Divisional Round, all three have the potential to be fantasy football factors yet again. Let’s set the table for this weekend’s action with an initial look at the Divisional Round fantasy football rankings. Don’t forget to also check out our divisional round fantasy football projections and divisional round fantasy football matchup charts.

Quarterback

1. Lamar Jackson, BAL
2. Patrick Mahomes, KC

There’s no question who belongs at the top this week, but the gap between Jackson and Mahomes isn’t that big. The Texans are the No. 1 fantasy matchup for quarterbacks, so Mahomes has the potential to go off this weekend.

3. Russell Wilson, SEA
4. Deshaun Watson, HOU
5. Aaron Rodgers, GB

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We have a bit of a dropoff to this next tier. With the Seattle backfield scraping the bottom of the barrel, Wilson again figures to have to put the Seahawks on his back. Watson did just that last week, but will have another reasonably tough matchup. As for Rodgers, we can never fully count him out, but he’s operating with essentially only one weapon in the passing game.

6. Jimmy Garoppolo, SF
7. Ryan Tannehill, TEN
8. Kirk Cousins, MIN

The 49ers/Vikings contest figures to be the lowest-scoring on the slate. It’s best to avoid Garoppolo and Cousins outside of minimal DFS exposure. Likewise, Tannehill gets a brutal draw against the Ravens.

Running back

1. Derrick Henry, TEN
2. Aaron Jones, GB
3. Dalvin Cook, MIN

Two of the biggest fantasy plays from last week top the list at running back in Henry and Cook. Expect both to see big workloads yet again. Likewise, the Packers figure to feed Jones against Seattle. His nose for the end zone makes him a premium play.

4. Damien Williams, KC
5. Raheem Mostert, SF
6. Mark Ingram II, BAL

Williams was a fantasy bust this season, but he’s surging at the right time for the playoffs. Likewise, Mostert is riding a hot streak into the postseason. Ingram’s status isn’t 100% clear right now, but he’ll move up if he’s good to go for Saturday’s contest.

7. Carlos Hyde, HOU
8. Travis Homer, SEA
9. Duke Johnson Jr., HOU
10. Marshawn Lynch, SEA

On paper, the Texans backfield has a good matchup. Kansas City allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to running backs in the regular season. However, gamescript doesn’t figure to favor Hyde in this one. As for the Seattle backfield, Homer figures to see more touches, but Lynch is the clear goal-line back. Neither player really stands out as a strong play this week.

11. Tevin Coleman, SF
12. Gus Edwards, BAL
13. Darwin Thompson, KC
14. Alexander Mattison, MIN
15. Matt Breida, SF
16. Dion Lewis, TEN
17. Kyle Juszczyk, SF
18. LeSean McCoy, KC
19. C.J. Ham, MIN
20. Dexter Williams, GB
21. Tyler Ervin, GB
22. Ameer Abdullah, MIN
23. Justice Hill, BAL
24. Khari Blasingame, TEN
25. Mike Boone, MIN
26. Robert Turbin, SEA
27. Anthony Sherman, KC

Wide receiver

1. Davante Adams, GB
2. Tyreek Hill, KC
3. DeAndre Hopkins, HOU

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As mentioned above, Aaron Rodgers really only has one weapon in Adams. The Packers wideout has seen double-digit targets in eight of his last nine games and should see another big workload this week. Hill has game-breaking ability and a favorable draw against the Texans. While Hopkins’ matchup isn’t a good one, he’s still a top-tier play give his ability and target volume.

4. Tyler Lockett, SEA
5. Stefon Diggs, MIN
6. D.K. Metcalf, SEA
7. A.J. Brown, TEN

While Metcalf was the star in the Wild Card Round, Lockett comes in ahead this week. Seattle picked on the Eagles secondary with Metcalf, but they won’t be able to get away with that against Green Bay. Diggs and Brown were both shut down last week and neither has a particularly good matchup in the Divisional Round. That said, their home-run ability boosts them up into this second tier.

8. Adam Thielen, MIN
9. Emmanuel Sanders, SF
10. Deebo Samuel, SF
11. Marquise Brown, BAL

Thielen was widely written off, but he showed us he can still get it done. Of course, he has to face one of the league’s best secondaries this weekend. The 49ers duo has been tough to predict on a week-to-week basis. Sanders gets the slightest of edges over Samuel, but neither is especially appealing. Likewise, Brown doesn’t offer much juice this week. Despite his massive upside, the Ravens just don’t throw enough to warrant a higher ranking.

12. Sammy Watkins, KC
13. Kenny Stills, HOU
14. Corey Davis, TEN
15. Allen Lazard, GB
16. David Moore, SEA
17. Tajae Sharpe, TEN
18. Kendrick Bourne, SF

This is your DFS punt tier. Watkins and Stills offer big-play punch, and the rest have moderate potential to get in the end zone. But we’re really just throwing darts at this point.

19. Keke Coutee, HOU
20. Seth Roberts, BAL
21. Willie Snead IV, BAL
22. Mecole Hardman, KC
23. Demarcus Robinson, KC
24. Geronimo Allison, GB
25. Olabisi Johnson, MIN
26. Jake Kumerow, GB
27. Miles Boykin, BAL
28. DeAndre Carter, HOU
29. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB
30. Jaron Brown, SEA

Tight end

1. Travis Kelce, KC
2. George Kittle, SF

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We’re lucky enough to have the top two fantasy tight ends in fantasy on the board this weekend. Of course, for DFS purposes, neither player is cheap.

3. Mark Andrews, BAL

Andrews gets his own mini-tier. The Ravens tight end certainly broke out in 2020, but he isn’t quite consistent enough to join Kelce and Kittle at the top.

4. Jacob Hollister, SEA
5. Jonnu Smith, TEN
6. Kyle Rudolph, MIN
7. Jimmy Graham, GB
8. Darren Fells, HOU

After the top three options, we’re essentially trying to find the end zone. This group of five players gives you your best bet to do so.

9. Irv Smith Jr., MIN
10. Hayden Hurst, BAL
11. Nick Boyle, BAL
12. Anthony Firkser, TEN
13. Jordan Akins, HOU
14. Marcedes Lewis, GB
15. Robert Tonyan, GB
16. MyCole Pruitt, TEN
17. Blake Bell, KC
18. Tyler Conklin, MIN
19. Ross Dwelley, SF
20. Luke Willson, SEA