#7 Isla Sorna Raptors at #2 Cloud 9 (-7.1)
This marks the third meeting of the regular season between FFC North rivals and fierce competitors. Both matchups were extremely close as Cloud 9 prevailed in Week 2 75.58-73.12 and the Raptors got their revenge in Week 13 by a score of 104.64-97.58. Expect a third close game and an instant classic in wildcard weekend.
Quarterbacks: Rookie sensation Jayden Daniels started the season on fire, went through a few slumps, but has put together two strong games in a row and is looking for a third straight against the Saints. Despite the Saints struggles, this will be a tougher matchup on the road but Daniels has great upside as a dual threat quarterback. If you level up Jayden Daniels a few years in the future, you get the opposing quarterback in this matchup. Lamar Jackson, the #1 QB in fantasy, faces an incredibly favorable matchup against the Giants. Jackson’s record against the NFC is a staggering 23-2 as a starter and as a heavy favorite, Jackson will be a huge favorite in this matchup.
Running Backs: The running backs matchup features some great talent, including a few second year electric running backs who will have their careers pitted against each other as they came out in the same draft class. Jahmyr Gibbs, ranked third across all running backs, faces a Buffalo defense at home that just gave up 44 points to the Rams, while Bijan Robinson faces a pathetic Vegas defense. Despite the incredible matchup for Robinson, it’s hard to not sway toward Gibbs who plays on the most potent and explosive offense in the NFL that can hang with anybody in the league and manufactures fantasy points in bunches. Bijan comes into the matchup as the #6 running back and has quietly put together an impressive sophomore season with higher usage than his rookie season. The secondary running backs, D’Andre Swift (Cloud 9) and Gus Edwards (Raptors) face tougher matchups against the Vikings and Buccaneers respectively. With both primary and secondary running backs’ matchups being about as even as you can get, it’s impossible to call this one way or the other.
Wide Receivers: Newcomer Tyreek Hill has scored touchdowns in four of the last five games and will play alongside two sensational rookie passcatchers in Malik Nabers and Brock Bowers. Nabers faces a Baltimore defense that has become a pass funnel. If Tommy DeVito can get him the ball, he could have a monster day. Meanwhile, Brock Bowers has gone through his own quarterback ups and downs but has been one of the most reliable tight ends in the league as a rookie. This is not the position of strength for Cloud 9 but there are avenues to victory in this matchup. Nico Collins and his big play upside is accompanied by Xavier Worthy, who one deep pass away from putting up a big game, and rookie Ladd McConkey who is ranked WR21 on the season. With four out of the six starting receivers in this matchup being rookies, I’m giving the edge to the Raptors who showcase slightly better talent in better matchups.
X-Factors: I think this matchup will be decided by the running back vultures: David Montgomery and Tyler Allgeier. Any touchdowns lost by Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson will be detrimental to this matchup. It’s difficult to predict which game script is favorable for either running back and it’s going to come down to who can find the endzone and who gets vulture.
Verdict: It’s been challenging to pick against Cloud 9 all season, but I think the Raptors have momentum on their side and I just like their edge in big play potential by playmakers like Gibbs, Hill, Nabers and Bowers. I’m picking a massive upset with the Raptors 95-92.
#6 Pool of the Dead at #3 Bruce Almighty (-5.3)
Both teams matched up once this season back in Week 12 where Bruce routed the defending champion by a score of 112.12 to 45.16 albeit the Pool was short their stud quarterback Joe Burrow. Now both teams will rematch at full strength as both GMs are eying their second Superbowl championship.
Quarterbacks: No quarterback has been hotter in the last month than Joe Burrow who has bounced back from a rough start to enter the matchup as QB3 on the season. Burrow has thrown thirteen touchdowns and just two interceptions in his last four matchups and now faces a Tennessee defense which has shown great ability to generate pressure on the QB but is torchable in the secondary. Bruce will trot out Brock Purdy who enters the matchup as QB12 in a favorable matchup against the Rams. In his previous game against the Rams, Purdy managed 28 fantasy points with three passing touchdowns to zero interceptions. With both Bengals and 49ers being in desperation mode and can’t afford to lose a game, I expect both quarterbacks to show out. Burrow has played better and I have to give the edge to the Pool of the Dead here.
Running Backs: Look away because this part is going to get ugly. And it has nothing to do with a lack of talent on the Pool’s side, but Bruce Almightys has been absolutely crushing teams at the RB position all season long due to an incredible trade which landed them the touchdown machines of Kyren Williams (RB5) and David Montgomery (RB9). Williams has 14 touchdowns on the season including three against the 49ers in their last matchup while Montgomery has 12 and has been automatic on the goal line for the Lions. The Pool of the Dead brings out solo RB Joe Mixon who has had a nice resurgence in Houston operating as a workhorse back and enters as RB7 on the season. I am giving this matchup to Bruce easily.
Wide Receivers: Nobody has made a bigger case for being the first overall pick in 2025 than Justin Jefferson who is QB-proof, matchup-proof and is the modern day Antonio Brown without the CTE. The Pool of the Dead will also roll out rookie Marvin Harrison who has battled his own inconsistency throughout the season and a 34-year old Adam Thielen who is looking to make his last hurrah in BFFL after 11 seasons of being criminally underrated and underdrafted. Bruce will roll out Mr. Consistent Mike Evans, the #4 ranked Terry McLaurin who is flourishing with a good quarterback for the first time his career and one of the hottest rising receivers in the league: Jaxon Smith-Njigba who is ranked WR7 on the season. While nobody can compete with Jefferson for the best receiver in the matchup, I like Bruce’s trio to get the edge over the Pool of the Dead’s trio plus TJ Hockensen.
X-Factors: I think as a big underdog, the biggest player who can swing this matchup is Justin Jefferson. Jefferson just came off his biggest game of the season with 25 fantasy points, but it doesn’t feel like we’ve seen his ceiling game of 2024 yet…
Verdict: Bruce has bruised into the playoffs in sheer domination, going 7-1 in his last eight games, taken the top scorer in two of the last three weeks and is steamrolling opponents. I pick Bruce to take down the defending champion 90-80.
#5 Elk Grove Spartans at #4 Gandalf the Goat (-6.4)
This is a true battle of the goats as three-time champion Spartans face two-time champion Gandalf the Goat in supreme bragging rights as both teams could make a bid for history with another added trophy. These teams matched up once in the regular season in Week 10 as Gandalf edged out the Spartans by a score of 58.30 to 49.08.
Quarterbacks: Josh Allen has never looked better, coming off a 6-touchdown game where he became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for three touchdowns and rush for three touchdowns in the same game. On the other side of the ball, Geno Smith faces a tough matchup against Green Bay. Smith has been the model of consistency scoring a steady 16 fantasy points a game seemingly against all opponents. Allen’s elite rushing upside and MVP performance all season long makes him the biggest asset in fantasy football and the biggest advantage the Goats have on a weekly basis.
Running Backs: King Henry enters the matchup the RB2 on the season in an interesting matchup against the Giants. Although the interior defensive line has been problematic for running backs, the Ravens are a huge favorite and there will be opportunity for Henry to feast particularly on goal to go scenarios. The Goats are awaiting to hear the availability of Isaac Guerendo who has been catapulted into RB1 relevancy after season ending injuries to both McCaffrey and Mason. While the RB1 matchup is weighed heavily in favor of the Spartans, the RB2 position leans toward the Goats as Alvin Kamara enters the matchup as RB8. Although Kamara’s production has begun to fade with the decline of the Saints, his rushing and receiving opportunities have remained steady despite the dip in efficiency. The Spartans will roll out second year running back Sincere McCormick who will lead the platoon for the Raiders with the loss of Mattison and White. McCormick has shown great potential averaging over 5 yards a carry with 12 and 15 carry games in the past two weeks where he has assumed a bigger role in the offense. This is a tough matchup to compare, so this one is a push for me.
Wide Receivers: This is an interesting matchup because it’s basically an assortment of receivers in Lamb, McBride and Meyers vs the 49ers. While San Francisco has been one of the more efficient pass offenses in the league this year, it’s hard to stake three positions on one team. While Keenan Allen may be an option to replace one of the receivers, it’s hard to pinpoint which 49ers receiver could be benched between Deebo who excels against zone defenses and historically has his best games against the Rams versus Jauan Jennings and George Kittle who are both having career years. Despite having a stellar year in yardage, Trey McBride has not found the endzone in 14 weeks and could be due for a touchdown. Having said all that, I think the right combination of receivers for the Spartans is advantageous in this matchup.
X-Factors: In 2024 there is no bigger x-factor in fantasy football than Josh Allen who just came off a career high 57 point fantasy game. If he goes nuclear again, this one could be over fast.
Verdict: The matchups are split 1-1 with a push at running back, so I am banking on the upside of Josh Allen to carry the Goats to a win 85-83.
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