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The regular season may be over, but fantasy football sure is not. DFS and playoff leagues are in full swing as fantasy degenerates attempt to keep the magic alive. Fantasy football never truly dies throughout the year.
In some ways, fantasy football becomes more exciting during the playoffs. Every team in the big dance is relatively good which means that their players are relatively good. It is always far more fun to deploy good players in your lineup than average players.
With so much fun ahead of us during Super Wild Card Weekend, there are plenty of chances to exploit matchups and ensure that your DFS or playoff matchup is set properly. Let's dive in and see where you should turn your attention this week.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for the 2025 playoffs:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchups We Love
Jayden Daniels - Washington Commanders
Opponent: at TB
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 28th
Daniels will make his playoff debut this week when the Commanders travel to Tampa Bay. It was difficult not to make his counterpart in Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, the choice here. However, the Bucs have struggled mightily against opposing signal callers this year. They have tried to make up for it by blitzing, but Daniels has developed into one of the better blitz-beaters in the NFL.
Daniels should run all over the field this weekend in a game the Commanders could realistically win. He was playing his best ball of the season at the end of the year. There is no reason he will not be able to carry that momentum into the Wild Card.
Jayden Daniels is already making his mark in the NFL. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LFDkMi4ZrA
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 9, 2025
Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchup to Temper Expectations
Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia Eagles
Opponent: GB
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 3rd
Something feels slightly off in Philadelphia right now. Hurts is coming off a concussion, and both wide receivers, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, are banged up. The Eagles are going to play one of the better pass defenses in the league when the Packers come to town this weekend. This feels like a Saquon Barkley game.
Hurts can always make a great living in fantasy with the tush push. However, the passing output is likely to be limited this weekend. Not to mention, Hurts was not putting up glorious fantasy numbers towards the end of the season anyway. Look elsewhere at quarterback this week.
Fantasy Football Running Back Matchups We Love
Bucky Irving - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Opponent: WAS
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 20th
It is difficult not to target the Commanders' defense in some capacity this week. We are at the point in the season where coaches have no choice but to play their best players without any regard for saving them for the playoffs. As such, Irving's roughly 50% snap share could absolutely rise this weekend.
This game projects to be a shootout with neither defense being particularly stout. Irving should see plenty of rushing and receiving work. He has proven that he is a better running back than Rachaad White and his opportunities could be massive this week.
Bucky Irving among Rookie RBs this season:
🏴☠️ 1,150 Yards (1st)
🏴☠️ 855 Yards After Contact (1st)
🏴☠️ 27 Rushes of 10+ Yards (1st)
🏴☠️ 60 Missed Tackles Forced (1st)
🏴☠️ 8 Touchdowns (1st) pic.twitter.com/f5lMLcQzxR— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) January 7, 2025
Fantasy Football Running Back Matchup to Temper Expectations
Joe Mixon - Houston Texans
Opponent: LAC
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 3rd
Joe Mixon is a major red flag during Wild Card weekend. He was not exactly lighting things up at the end of the season and the Texans are a mess offensively overall. The Chargers defense stumbled down the stretch, but do we really think head coach Jim Harbaugh will not have his boys ready to go this weekend?
This feels like a game in which the Texans might get boat raced. The last time we saw them in a meaningful game, they were run out of the stadium by the Baltimore Ravens. This is an offense that is a fantasy manager's nightmare. Outside of Nico Collins, the Texans should not be touched until they prove otherwise.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchups We Love
Puka Nacua - Los Angeles Rams
Opponent: MIN*
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 32nd
The Rams drew an unlucky matchup this week as they will have to play a 14-win No. 5 seed. However, whether they win or lose this weekend, Nacua should be a monster. Nacua is the definition of matchup-proof. It just so happens that the Vikings are an excellent matchup for opposing wide receivers in fantasy. They bleed points to pass catchers.
With so much at stake, expect quarterback Matthew Stafford to zero in on Nacua the same way he did with Cooper Kupp during the Rams' Super Bowl run in 2021. Nacua could absolutely surpass 100 receiving yards and is a great bet to score a touchdown.
*This game will be played in Arizona due to the currently ongoing Los Angeles wildfires.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchup to Temper Expectations
Jalen McMillan - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Opponent: WAS
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 12th
McMillan has been a great fantasy story this season. He was a monster during the fantasy playoffs on the back of seven touchdowns in five games. Surely, he cannot keep scoring at that rate, right? With Mike Evans on the other side of the field, McMillan's target volume will always be capped and it is difficult to trust a touchdown-dependent player in a matchup that is surprisingly neutral.
If McMillan scores this weekend you will be happy. If his touchdown streak ends, you will likely be searching for answers. Everything will be as simple as that this weekend.
Fantasy Football Tight End Matchup We Love
T.J. Hockenson - Minnesota Vikings
Opponent: at LAR*
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 30th
Hockenson is in a great position to succeed after building momentum towards the end of the regular season. The Rams are coming off a game in which the Seattle Seahawks tight end torched them for 63 yards and a touchdown. With such excellent target volume, it feels like high time that Hockenson found the end zone.
This is another Wild Card matchup that could be a shootout. Both defenses are solid, but both offenses are better. The Vikings should air it out frequently this week giving Hockenson plenty of chances to rack up fantasy points. He is likely flying under the radar this week so he is worth a dart throw.
*This game will be played in Arizona due to the currently ongoing Los Angeles wild fires.
TJ Hockenson didn't play against the Rams in Week 8 but he's back now. He's someone who could give LA trouble in the middle of the field.
Rams allowed 4th-most yards and 7 touchdowns to TEs this season.
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) January 9, 2025
Fantasy Football Tight End Matchup to Temper Expectations
Tucker Kraft - Green Bay Packers
Opponent: at PHI
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 2nd
Kraft quietly had a nice season for a tight end in 2024. He recorded 707 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a great outlet for quarterback Jordan Love. He made a great living on touchdowns early in the season but was far less valuable for fantasy down the stretch due to a lack of scores.
The Eagles boast one of the most complete defenses in the league. They have great coverage ability in the middle of the field which limits opposing tight ends. The Packers may have a tough time offensively all game long this weekend. It is better to look at other options at the position this weekend.
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