It's time to set our divisional-round fantasy football lineups and identify our favorite DFS plays and fades for the next round of the NFL playoffs.
Below, you'll find tiers and rankings for every position, including analysis, implied point totals, betting spreads and more.
For adjustments after the timestamp below, check out PFF's weekly rankings and projections.
Last updated: 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20
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KEY:
- SOS: PFF's Fantasy Strength of Schedule (SoS) metric provides a league-wide, season-long view of opponent matchups for each fantasy position.
- OL Pass-Block Advantage (OL PBA): offensive-line pass blocking matchup; derived from the OL/DL Matchup tool (pass blocking advantage — the higher the number, the better the matchup for the offensive line, and vice versa).
- OL Run-Block Advantage (OL RBA): offensive-line pass blocking matchup; derived from the OL/DL Matchup tool (run-blocking advantage — the higher the number, the better the matchup for the offensive line, and vice versa).
- WR/CB Matchup Advantage (WR/CB MU): wide receiver versus cornerback matchup; derived from the WR/CB Matchup tool (matchup advantage grade — the higher the grade, the better the matchup for the receiver, and vice versa).
- TE Matchup Advantage (TE MU): tight end versus linebackers and safeties; derived from the TE Matchup tool (matchup advantage — the higher the number, the better the matchup for the tight end, and vice versa.
- Projections: from PFF projections tool.
- Injuries: Q = Questionable; D = Doubtful (typically removed from ranks on Saturday); GTD = game-time decision
JUMP TO A POSITION RANKING:
QUARTERBACKS
| Tier | Rank | Player | Opponent | Total | Spread | Implied Points | QB SOS | OL PBA | PPR | Injury Status |
| 1 | QB1 | Josh Allen | @KC | 54.5 | 1.5 | 26.50 | 3.5 | -4 | 22.0 | |
| 2 | QB2 | Patrick Mahomes | BUF | 54.5 | -1.5 | 28.00 | 4.3 | 25 | 20.6 | |
| 2 | QB3 | Joe Burrow | @TEN | 47.0 | 3.5 | 21.75 | 8.3 | -3 | 21.1 | |
| 2 | QB4 | Aaron Rodgers | SF | 47.0 | -6.0 | 26.50 | 3.1 | -31 | 19.2 | |
| 2 | QB5 | Tom Brady | LA | 48.5 | -3.0 | 25.75 | 0.0 | -25 | 21.1 | |
| 2 | QB6 | Matthew Stafford | @TB | 48.5 | 3.0 | 22.75 | 1.8 | 38 | 18.0 | |
| 3 | QB7 | Ryan Tannehill | CIN | 47.0 | -3.5 | 25.25 | 10.0 | -5 | 18.8 | |
| 3 | QB8 | Jimmy Garoppolo | @GB | 47.0 | 6.0 | 20.50 | 1.3 | -11 | 14.4 |
Removed from ranks: N/A
Tier 1 – Josh Allen handled the third-most designed rushing attempts (17%) of any quarterback this season, and with us down to eight teams, he is the last of his kind. Ryan Tannehill is the next closest at 6%, providing Allen with a larger-than-usual advantage over the field.
Allen also draws the No. 1 game environment for the divisional round against the Chiefs with a 54.5-point game total and 26.5 implied points. The Chiefs' defense runs the sixth-most man coverage in the NFL, but they may make some tweaks after Allen ripped the Patriots' man-heavy approach last weekend. If Kansas City's defenders turn their backs in coverage, expect Allen to take advantage.
Allen's past three rushing performances against the Chiefs:
| Season | Week | Attempts | Yards | Touchdowns |
| 2021 | 5 | 12 | 69 | 1 |
| 2020 | Conference Championship | 7 | 88 | 0 |
| 2020 | 6 | 9 | 42 | 0 |
Tier 2 – Joe Burrow draws the No. 2 QB SOS (8.3) on the slate against the Titans, and the Bengals are throwing the ball more across all game scripts over their past four games.
Pass rates vs. the NFL average by game script
| Game Script | Pass Rate in First 15 Games | Pass Rate in Past Four Games |
| Trailing by four or more points | -5% | +0% |
| Within three points | +2% | +8% |
| Leading by four or more points | -2% | +14% |
The Bengals' implied point total is the lowest on the slate, but this new commitment to the passing game and the surrounding weapons provide Burrow with blowup potential.
Tier 2 – Tom Brady has gone to the quick game more over the past two contests (2.31 and 2.20 average time to throw) without his full complement of weaponry. Expect that to continue this week — especially if tackle Tristan Wirfs (questionable) or center Ryan Jensen (questionable) can't play.
Despite the challenges, Brady has 597 yards and five touchdowns over his past two games. However, the Rams provide the toughest QB SOS on the slate, bringing the No. 1 PFF pass-rush grade to town. Los Angeles applies the league's eighth-highest pressure rate (35%).
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