• Kyren Williams can continue to shine: The Rams’ running back has been on fire since returning from IR, and he has the most favorable schedule among running backs.

• Rashee Rice’s nice schedule: The Chiefs wide receiver has the easiest remaining schedule at the position. 

• Get ahead of the game: PFF’s Fantasy Strength of Schedule (SoS) metric provides a league-wide, season-long view of opponent matchups for each fantasy position.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Jump to a position group:

QB | RB | WR | TE

We’ve arrived. The fantasy football playoffs are finally here, and everything fantasy managers have built throughout the season comes down to the next few weeks.

Don’t be a one-and-done championship hopeful. Instead, find ways to push yourself through the playoffs, such as playing the stars with the easiest remaining schedules, according to PFF’s strength of schedule tool.

Quarterback

1. Nick Mullens, Minnesota Vikings

• Nick Mullens is the Vikings’ new starting quarterback and faces the easiest remaining schedule at the position with games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions, but he carries value only in deeper leagues.

• The Bengals have the third-lowest coverage grade (54.9) in the NFL this season. Only the Rams and Broncos have worse grades.

• The Lions are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.

2. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

• Matchups against the Lions and New England Patriots will aid the Broncos' push for the playoffs.

• The Lions' defense has allowed 21 passing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks, the sixth-most in the NFL this season.

• Wilson should have ample time in the pocket as the Patriots have the third-lowest pressure rate in the league (31.6%).

3. Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts

• With four wins in five games, the Colts are on the brink of the postseason, and Minshew has the third-most favorable schedule throughout the fantasy playoffs, with games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons.

• The Steelers defense has allowed 12.0 yards per reception this season, the third-highest in the NFL.

• The Falcons have allowed the third-most rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season (5), and Gardner Minshew has scored three rushing touchdowns.

Running Back

1. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

• Williams has averaged 24.3 fantasy points per game since returning from IR and now has the easiest fantasy playoff schedule among running backs, as the Rams face the Washington Commanders, followed by the New Orleans Saints.

• The Commanders allow the most points in the NFL this season (30.4).

• New Orleans gave up a combined 161 rushing yards to Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard in Week 14, with the duo averaging 4.87 yards per carry.

2. Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots

• With Rhamondre Stevenson out for the foreseeable future, Ezekiel Elliott has stepped into the starting role and scored 27 fantasy points against the Steelers in Week 14 — a season-high. The Patriots take on the Chiefs and Broncos next.

• The Chiefs have allowed 4.6 yards per carry to opponents this season, the sixth-highest in the NFL. No team has allowed more rushing yards per game than the Broncos this season. They’re allowing 144 rushing yards per game.

3. Josh Jacobs/Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders

• Josh Jacobs‘s status for Thursday night is up in the air, so Zamir White could be in line to get the share of the carries. Regardless, the Raiders have a favorable schedule with games against the Chargers and Chiefs.

• Only five teams are allowing more fantasy points per game to running backs than the Chargers this season.

• The Chiefs are dead last in EPA allowed per play on rushing plays this season (0.026).

Wide Receiver

1. Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

• Rashee Rice is the WR30 in his rookie season, averaging 18.7 PPR points in his last three games. He has the most favorable schedule among WRs for the rest of the fantasy playoffs.

• The Patriots have earned a 63.1 coverage grade this year, 25th in the NFL, and allowed 14.7 fantasy points to Diontae Johnson in Week 14.

• Rice caught eight passes for 107 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders in Week 12, scoring 24.7 fantasy points and finishing as the WR3 on the week.

 2. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

• Sutton is having his best fantasy season since 2019 and has the chance to be a factor in the fantasy playoffs as the Broncos play the Lions and Patriots in Weeks 15 and 16.

• The Lions defense allows the fourth-highest percentage of 15-plus-yard passing plays in the NFL (14.9%).

• Sutton has 10 receiving touchdowns this season. Could he add another against the Patriots?

3. D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

• The Seahawks are looking to rebound from four straight losses and have the third-most favorable schedule for wide receivers throughout the fantasy playoffs.

• The Eagles are the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season.

• Tennessee’s defense isn’t far behind. They’re the sixth-most fantasy points per game to receivers. Metcalf has a chance to feast.

Tight End

1. Kylen Granson, Indianapolis Colts

• Granson has been a peripheral part of the Colts offense but has the easiest remaining schedule among all tight ends as the Colts face the Steelers and Falcons in their next two games.

• The Steelers allowed 19 fantasy points to Hunter Henry in Week 14, can G. Cann repeat his success?

• The Falcons are allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season.

2. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

• Hockenson is currently the TE2 in fantasy football. His favorable schedule includes games against the Bengals and Lions, which gives him a chance to become the TE1.

• The Bengals are allowing the most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season.

• Since Week 10, the Lions have the worst coverage grade in the NFL (41.7) and have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.

3. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

• Henry posted a season-high 19 fantasy points against the Steelers in Week 14 and now has the third-most favorable remaining schedule for tight ends.

• Henry has scored five touchdowns this season, with two in his last game. Can he make it six against the Chiefs?

• The Broncos are allowing the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season.