Special thank you to guest contributor, Kushal, for providing these playoff previews.
These predictions are based on the matchups of the week. No one can predict with 100% accuracy what will happen in fantasy. If they could, they would be rich and probably wouldn’t be sharing their insights. This is for entertainment purposes only.
To those who are predicted to lose: Think of this as a reverse jinx.
To those who are predicted to win: No one believes in jinxes in anyway, this are the ramblings of a GM who’s not in the play offs.
uur UPS vs PGD
Projections don’t mean a thing. We all know this, but one thing they’re good for is providing a base line of whether or not two teams are evenly matched. These two teams are the most even match up of the playoffs so far. Both have strength at the same positions. QB, RBs, and WR1. It will all come down to individual match ups.
QBs
Brock Purdy and the Niners will be on the road vs the Colts. The Colts defense has been good all year and held the high flying Seahawks passing game to 0 TDs in the narrow loss last week. The main difference between Seattle and SF is the run game. So if the 49ers can get CMC going, it will help open up the passing game for Brock.
Jalen Hurts followed up his worst game of the year (and worst game by any fantasy player in the league) of -14.60 with a 28.9 point return to form. Washington’s defense is older and not as talented in the secondary. Hurts has the better match up in a key divisional game.
Will the Dumps consider swapping out Purdy for Stafford?
The advantage at QB goes to Uur UPS
RBs
This is the best set of RBs in the entire league. Both teams have 2 stud RBs, a rarity. Whats even crazier is the match ups are favorable for both as well. Bijan is facing a porous Cardinals defense. Achane is facing the woeful Bengals defense. The RB2 situation is where it gets interesting. Jevonte Williams is currently listed as questionable and has a tougher match up vs the LA Chargers. Jonathan Taylor is going up against a 49ers defense that made Tony Pollard look like CJ2K. If Williams is out Uur UPS could sub in Harvey but he’s got a tough match up vs the Jags.
Based on the tougher match ups for Williams and Harvey, the edge on RBs goes to the dumps.
WRs
Amon Ra is facing the Steelers at home, a huge boost for the Lions and the Dumps. Its no secret that Goff’s home and away splits are significant. Home matchup against a middle of the pack (older) secondary of the Steelers should result in a productive day.
3rd and Jauan, its a thing. Everytime it’s 3rd down and Jauan is on the field, the ball is most likely going to go his way. With Kittle, Ricky, and Jauan all healthy it leads to even more opportunities for Jauan. If the niners get the run game going, Jauan should be able to get opportunities. The issue is the limited number of targets is low. In order for Jauan to make a huge impact, he’s going to need a TD.
Olave is going up against a Jets defense that just fired their defensive coordinator whose specialty was the secondary. He should have a good game, with at least 8 targets.
Egbuka is going up against a divisional foe that has amazing corner backs. Carolina’s record may not be great, but their secondary is spectacular. They are ball hawks and Baker likes to sling it. Egbuka should still get 7 targets or so but with Mike Evans and Godwin also healthy, the opportunities might be more limited.
Devonta is coming off of a game tying for a season low in targets, 2. The match up is great for him vs the Commanders, he should return to form with at least 7-8 targets.
Marvin Harrison Jr went out in week 13 and has missed the last two weeks. He’s officially listed as questionable. If he does play he’s going to have a favorable matchup vs the Falcons.
A very narrow WR advantage to the PGD based on Amon Ra alone.
Kickers
Kicking game matters in fantasy. These kickers put up more points than most Tight Ends. Boswell has the better match up as he will be kicking indoors in a dome. Most of the kickers’ output comes down to an offense that’s good enough to move the ball but stalls in the red zone. Often times that can be a result of goign up against a decent defense. This is too close to call, push.
Jaguars have a tough match up against Denver. But is Bo Nix actually good?
Defense/Special Teams
Defense/Special Teams has been fantasy relevant this year, determining the out come of multiple games. Its often one of the hardest roster decisions to make. These GMs have interesting options before them.
Giants have a favorable match up vs Vikings, but Mccarthy and the vikings looked surprisingly component last week. The higher ranked (per Spartan Metrics) defense would be the Titans. Titans have been a scrappy team and are going up against a Chiefs offense that doesn’t have Patrick Mahomes. The entirety of the Chiefs offensive production has been the result of Mahomes. Titans could be a risky gamble that pays off.
The UPS have to decide between bad and worse. Both of their rostered defenses are going up against high powered offenses. Pick your poison, Bo Nix and the Broncos at Mile High or Lamar and the Ravens in Baltimore. Jacksonville has been great with generating pressure and turnovers. Jaguars could be the better play. Patriots have played good defense as well but collapsed vs the Bills in the second half last week. Though its risky, the Jags are the better play.
PGD: RBs, WR, D/ST
uur UPS: QB
Push : K
Prediction: With the slight advantage at RB and WR , the PGD should be going to their 4th superbowl to compete for a 3rd championship.
Jedi Knights vs Da Moon’s Huge Craters
QBs
Baker faces his divisional rival for the first time this season. One thing Baker loves to do is sling the ball, the one thing Panthers have going for them on defense is their ball hawk secondary. Who wins? It is not an easy match up. Last season when the Bucs played at Carolina, Baker had 1 TD and 2 Interceptions. The second time they played at home vs Carolina, he had 5 TDS and 0 ints. 5 TDS! This week’s game is at Carolina and all of the Bucs WRs are healthy. In a win or go home game, will Baker deliver? If he does, the Craters are going to the superbowl.
Justin Herbert faces a weak Dallas defense that has one of the worst secondaries in the league. Excellent match up for the Chargers offense overall. Herbert should also have opportunities to get a few rushing yards on the QB runs.
Advantage: Jedi Knights
RBs
Christian McCaffery is a cheat code. He faces a tough challegne vs the Colts defense that effectively held Seattle and many other rushign offenses in check. If CmC gets going in the passing game (a role that has diminished upon the return of Ricky Pearsall) it could offset limited yardage on the ground. CmC has the most opportunities on offense of any player in the league. Against the toughest rush defense faced this year (Browns), he had 50 rush yards and 20 recieving yards with a TD to boot.
Woody Marks has had a great season but he’s currently listed as questionable. If he is healthy expect him to get plenty of work against the lowly Raiders. Texans defense should have a good game and give the offense plenty of posessions, so Marks is an excellent play. Assuming of course he is healthy. This is a gamescript heavily favoring Marks and the Texans rushing attack.
Kyren Williams has a tough divisional game vs the Seahawks. In the last meeting between these teams he had an excellent game. Though he’s lost opportunities as of late (~13 rushing attempts / game last 5 games), He is still a talented scoring option that gets a lot of red zone opportunities. He’s scored 8 TDs in the last 7 games. If the Rams have sucess in the red zone, it will be through Kyren Williams. Especially if Puka is getting double teamed with Devante out (most likely).
James Cook is the man. A runner who has improved every season, he is at the peak of his pwoers at the moment. The problem is he’s got a horrible match up. He’s going against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland. With his talent and the Bills’ current play style, he’ll definitely get the rushing atempts but the production will be lower than other weeks.
Based on RB match ups alone this is almost too close to call. Slight edge to Jedi Knights, by the narrowest of margins.
WRs
This is where things are not as favorable matchup wise for the Moons.
JSN is the #1 WR in fantasy and has a good match up vs the RAms.
Lad McConkey is in a favorable situation against Dallas and AJ Brown should have an excellent game against the Commanders.
One could argue the Rams matchup will be tough. In the first meeting between these two teams, JSN had 12 targets, 105 yards recieving. He should produce tonight as well.
All 3 of the Jedi Knights WRs have great match ups.
The Moons have Zay Flowers vs a middle of the pack New England secondary. One that gave many 3rd and 4th quarter passing TDs to Josh Allen last week. Alec Pierce has a good match up but can Philip Rivers really throw the deep ball to him? He had just 1 target last week vs Seattle. The X factor then comes down to the tight end, Kyle Pitts. Pitts has had a fantastic season, rewarding all of the GMs who drafted him. He’s going up against a terrible Cardinals defense that has given up many yards and TDs vs Tight Ends. He’s not going to put up 35 points again but he should have a great game. Will it be enough to over come a potential low scoring game from Alec Pierce and Zay Flowers?
Jedi Knights
Kickers
Fairbirn is a great kicker but given that the Raiders defense is atrocious he will likely end up kicking more extra points than actual Field Goals. The Saints kicker will have more opportunities to kick field goals and is doing so at Metlife. If the weather is a factor, the Houston kicker would be the better match up. Too close to call.
Defense/Special Teams
The Rams are playing divisional rival Seattle. They have a young pass rush that can get sacks, especially against Darnold. The Vikings defense is going against Jaxson Dart and a depleted NY offense, given Flores’ propensity to blitz, they should be able to generate more fantasy points.
D/ST: Craters
Jedi Knights: QB, RB, WR
Da Moon’s Huge Craters: D/ST
Push : K
Prediction: Jedi Knights go to their first franchise super bowl.
The only way this isn’t the case is if Baker has a game like his 5TD game against the Panthers last season.
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