I look forward to the playoffs every season. Not only is the best football played at this time, but for obvious reasons, my workload dwindles significantly, so I have more time to actually enjoy the football.
But I always have another itch to scratch… because fantasy football isn’t over.
Every year, I use MyFantasyLeague to run a one-and-done playoff contest for me and my friends (many of whom you know through Fantasy Points).
The rules are simple.
You pick a starting lineup of 10 players every week: 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RWT FLEX, 1 PK, and 1 DST. PPR scoring with 4 points per TD and -2 per INT. You get 3 points per field goal and 1 per XP, and return TDs (but not yards) count.
You can pick any player from any team for your lineup every week… except you can only use a guy ONCE throughout the playoffs. And we dwindle from 14 teams available in Playoff Week 1… to just 2 for the Super Bowl.
THIS YEAR IN MY POOL, I’VE MADE SCORING IN THE SUPER BOWL 1.5X… SO IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO HAVE PLAYERS WHO ADVANCE.
In other words, you have to predict both this week’s games and next week’s games. So there’s a lot of strategy involved.
I also pay out weekly prizes in addition to the playoff-long grand prizes.
So I figured I’d talk through my strategy in this contest for a quick article, for those of you doing something similar. Some of the other guys on staff who participate will follow with their picks, as well.
Joe Dolan
As I mentioned two weeks ago, I am basically screwed. I basically used every notable Chief against Buffalo hoping for a Kansas City loss — I got a lot of points from Mahomes and company, but now I have no Chiefs to use for this weekend. Moreover, I thought the Ravens were going to win last week, so I’ll have a 49ers-heavy lineup.
Quarterback (Start 1, Max of 1)
No strategy here — I have to use Brock Purdy.
Already Used: Joe Flacco, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson
Running Back (Start 2, Max of 4)
Hey, at least I have Christian McCaffrey.
The other guy I’m using? Well, I’ll be lucky if he gets 5 touches: Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Jerick McKinnon doesn’t look like he will play).
Already Used: Aaron Jones, Isiah Pacheco, Kyren Williams, Rachaad White, Devin Singletary, Gus Edwards, Jahmyr Gibbs
Wide Receiver (Start 2, Max of 4)
I have Deebo Samuel and a bunch of scrubs: Jauan Jennings, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson. The Chiefs really narrowed their WR rotation last week and I’m not scared off by Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney potentially returning to the lineup.
Already Used: Rashee Rice, Jayden Reed, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Nico Collins, Amari Cooper, Tyreek Hill, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Brandon Aiyuk, Jameson Williams, Zay Flowers
Tight End (Start 1, Max of 3)
I saved George Kittle, so I’m using him.
Already Used: Travis Kelce, David Njoku, Isaiah Likely
Kicker and DST (Start 1 Each)
I’m using Harrison Butker. I have both kickers left, but Butker is better.
I also have the Chiefs Defense left.
Graham Barfield
With 449.96 FP through the first three rounds, I’m in 3rd place overall in the tournament. I need to outscore the current leader by 30 FP in the Super Bowl to take down first place. Thanks to saving the 49ers offense (except for Brandon Aiyuk) and the Chiefs special teams (K + D/ST), I have 7-of-10 slots easily filled out.
Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle are all locked into the lineup.
On the Chiefs side, we used Mahomes-Kelce-Rice in the Divisional Round. Figuring out RB2, WR3, and FLEX are the tricky calls. Let’s run hot.
Quarterback (Start 1, Max of 1)
Brock Purdy
Already Used: Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson
Running Back (Start 2, Max of 4)
Christian McCaffrey
Jerick McKinnon – Since I have already used Isiah Pacheco, we’re forced into either McKinnon, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, or Elijah Mitchell at the RB2 slot. After missing the last four games with a groin injury, McKinnon returned to limited practice this week. If he’s able to suit up, I expect he’ll handle some 3rd downs and maybe get a red-zone play. If McKinnon is ruled out, I will pivot to CEH.
Already Used: Kyren Williams, Aaron Jones, Isiah Pacheco, James Cook, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Justice Hill
Wide Receiver (Start 2, Max of 4)
Deebo Samuel
Marquez Valdes Scantling and Justin Watson – Gross. But, we have to do it. If you’re chasing the Chiefs receivers, MVS (82% route share) and Watson (52%) easily led Kansas City’s WR group in routes run in the Conference Championship after Rashee Rice (89%). Mecole Hardman (1 route) was benched for Richie James (7) against the Ravens.
Jauan Jennings – Maybe we’ll get 2-3 targets.
Already Used: Nico Collins, Amari Cooper, Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rashee Rice, Brandon Aiyuk, Zay Flowers, Josh Reynolds
Tight End (Start 1, Max of 3)
George Kittle
Already Used: David Njoku, Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta, Mark Andrews
Kicker and DST (Start 1 Each)
Harrison Butker (KC) and Chiefs D/ST – We used the Lions and 49ers special teams (K + D/ST) in the Divisional and Championship rounds so we could save either Chiefs or Ravens for the Super Bowl.
D/ST Already Used: Bills, Lions, 49ers
K Already Used: Brandon Aubrey, Mike Badgley, Jake Moody
Tom Brolley
I have nothing to play for but pride heading into the Super Bowl.
Quarterback (Start 1, Max of 1)
Patrick Mahomes (KC)
Already Used: Jared Goff (Det), Brock Purdy (SF), Jordan Love (GB)
Running Back (Start 2, Max of 4)
Christian McCaffrey (SF)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC)
Already Used: Jahmyr Gibbs (Det), Justice Hill (Bal), Devin Singletary (Hou), James Cook (Buf), Kyren Williams (LAR), Isiah Pacheco (KC)
Wide Receiver (Start 2, Max of 4)
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (KC)
Kadarius Toney (KC)
Justin Watson (KC)
Already Used: Rashee Rice (KC), Josh Reynolds (Det), Jauan Jennings (SF), Odell Beckham (Bal), Deebo Samuel (SF), Nico Collins (Hou), Christian Watson (GB), Jayden Reed (GB), Amon-Ra St. Brown (Det), Mike Evans (TB), Tyreek Hill (Mia)
Tight End (Start 1, Max of 3)
Travis Kelce (KC)
Noah Gray (KC)
Already Used: Sam LaPorta (Det), George Kittle (SF), Isaiah Likely (Bal), David Njoku (Cle)
Kicker and DST (Start 1 Each)
Jake Moody (SF)
San Francisco 49ers D/ST
Already Used: Harrison Butker (KC), Justin Tucker (Bal), Riley Patterson (Cle), Baltimore Ravens D/ST, Buffalo Bills D/ST, Kansas City Chiefs D/ST
