X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

Heroes and Zeroes - Divisional Round Fantasy Football Picks

I have to admit I'm a bit peeved that LeSean McCoy miraculously healed from his ankle injury in time to ruin my Marcus Murphy sleeper pick. Otherwise, I might have gone six-for-six on my Hero picks last week. Sure, Kareem Hunt didn't put up huge numbers, but he did score a touchdown to at least touch double-digit fantasy points. Hey, it was a lot better than going with Mark Ingram or Leonard Fournette. Still, when you can successfully identify players like Demarcus Robinson and Josh Hill as fantasy assets, it's a good week. FWIW, only Blake Bortles bucked the Zero tag I slapped on him for Wild Card weekend. Let's keep it rolling in the divisional round where I can smell some more upsets coming...

If you're here for some DFS advice, you've also come to the right place. While I won't get too detailed into prices and game types, I will recommend some viable tournament plays that could help you cash out, in a week where the choices are slim.

Now, let's get to my fantasy "heroes" and "zeroes" at each position for the NFL Divisional Round Playoffs. For a full set of rankings, look no further than our very own RotoBaller consensus weekly rankings.

Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 10% off using code BALLER! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!

 

Divisional Round Lineup Heroes

QUARTERBACK

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons - It's pretty hard to get excited about Matt Ryan these days. He threw just 20 touchdowns this season, didn't put up three scores in any single game, and exceeded the 300-yard mark four times. In other words, he went back to being Matt Ryan. In 2016, against a not-altogether-dissimilar Eagles team, he threw for 267 yards and one touchdown. The Eagles of 2017 had the fourth-best scoring defense in the league! Their pass defense was not quite as sharp, however, coming in 17th. This alone doesn't mean a big game is coming for Ryan, but game flow might work in his favor if the Falcons can't generate any action on the ground. Devonta Freeman hasn't looked right for a while and is averaging barely three yards per carry in the last three games, including the Wild Card win. By contrast, in his last six playoff games, Ryan has a 16:3 TD:INT ratio, which includes more than just last year's historic run. I can't say Ryan will approach Tom Brady this week, but given the tough matchups that Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger have and the inexperience of every other QB on the slate, Ryan might be the next best thing going.

RUNNING BACKS

Latavius Murray, Minnesota VikingsTo paraphrase myself, momentum is everything late in the season. Murray and the Vikings certainly have it. Here are the statlines from Murray's last three games: 61 carries, 256 yards, three TD with three receptions for 37 yards. By contract, backfield mate Jerick McKinnon: 28 carries, 110 yards, zero touchdowns and eight receptions for 123 yards. Murray has become the lead back and has owned the red zone role all year, nearly tripling McKinnon in carries where it matters most (47-17). If the Vikings fall behind early, it could force them to pass more than they'd like and involve McKinnon more, but with the way they beat New Orleans earlier this year and the level their defense is playing at, I don't foresee that happening.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Rishard Matthews, Tennessee Titans - I could say that Julio Jones is a really good bet to get a ton of targets and will probably be the top-scoring WR, but that bit of information isn't likely to help much with lineup decisions. Instead, let's go a bit off the radar with Matthews as an WR2. New England gives up the third-most points per game to wide receivers. The Patriots are still sticking Malcolm Butler on the other team's top receiver, but that doesn't mean Matthews will get shutout. The Belichick gameplan is to take away what the other team does best. In this case, it's a power run game that creates play-action opportunities for Marcus Mariota. The Titans could be forced to drop back more often than they want if the running game gets clamped down and they are in a big hole in the second half. Matthews presents more upside than any other Titans receiver, so I'm betting he'll come down with the best receiving day.

TIGHT END

Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles - Nick Foles has been derided quite a bit over the last couple of weeks, but it's not as if he morphed into Kordell Stewart all of a sudden. Despite being underdogs at home, Foles should get the ball into the hands of his most capable receivers, with Ertz being the primary target. In the two full games Foles started in Weeks 15-16, Ertz caught 15 of 23 targets for 137 yards and a touchdown. You may remember that Ertz ended 2016 on a hot streak as well, but didn't get the chance to make a playoff appearance. This time I'd bet on Ertz to top the TE charts, over even Gronk. At the very least, you can get similar production at a cheaper price point in daily leagues. Plus, if you're in a one-and-done player league, you may as well use your TE position on Ertz before the Eagles are eliminated early from the playoffs.  ;)-

 

Divisional Round Lineup Zeroes

QUARTERBACKS

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers - Really going out on a limb here, aren't I? If you don't think Big Ben will throw five picks against the Jags again, then I'm totally fine with that assessment. The problem is that I see him as the QB3 on the expert consensus for FantasyPros right now and am starting to wonder what some of the sharpest minds in the fantasy world are smoking. Home-field advantage means nothing; that five-pick game that almost caused Roethlisberger to retire mid-season was also played in Pittsburgh and that was with a 100% healthy Antonio Brown. Redemption is a fine theme for newspaper writers looking for a headline ahead of Sunday's game, but are you going to stake your fantasy playoff life on it? Reminder: Jacksonville has allowed 17 passing touchdowns in 17 games (including playoffs) while forcing 22 interceptions. Differentiation is fine if you're rolling out 20+ tournament lineups and want to throw Big Ben into one, but those of you who play in a pick 'em league with one QB shouldn't even consider the risk here.

RUNNING BACKS

Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints - To show how far I'm going with this call, I made my bold prediction on this week's podcast that Ingram would be outscored by Corey Clement this weekend. Now, I'm not putting money on that prediction, but that's why we slap the "bold" in front of it. Ingram isn't just facing the top rush defense in the league, he's also slowly getting phased out for new superstar Alvin Kamara. Wild Card weekend marked the first time all season that Kamara outrushed Ingram (10-9) and it was Kamara getting the short touchdown via red zone carry late in the game. Coach Sean Payton has loved Kamara before he was even drafted by the team and Ingram has had his ups-and-downs through the years while the team constantly searches for a replacement. He may be favoring his new toy even more in a must-win playoff game, especially if the interior runs with Ingram fail early. The fact that New Orleans will be missing starting LG Andrus Peat (fibula, ankle) doesn't help his prospects either. I also believe Kamara will be more involved in the passing game, which makes Ingram a hard fade for me this week.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings - Diggs gets matched up with rookie Marshon Lattimore and it could be a shadow situation. It shouldn't be understated how much that could negatively impact Diggs' fantasy value. Lattimore graded out as the fourth-highest cornerback in 2017, according to ProFootballFocus. Diggs had a nice three-game scoring streak to end the season, but none came against teams with top-flight CBs (Cincy, Green Bay, Chicago). He will be touchdown-dependent, which isn't what you want out of a WR1 in the playoffs.

TIGHT END

Jesse James, Pittsburgh Steelers - It's a rough slate to choose from when Jesse James is the fifth-most expensive tight end. James gets one of the worst matchups at the position, going up against the Jaguars. Safety Barry Church has helped this unit limit opposing TEs to the fourth-fewest fantasy points allowed. The Steelers finished just ahead of them, allowing just two touchdowns to a tight end all year, but telling you to bench Marcedes Lewis would probably be a waste of time. After all, it's Brad Koyack you should be targeting, right?

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kirill Kaprizov2 hours ago

Ruled Out For Saturday
Auston Matthews2 hours ago

May Return To Maple Leafs Lineup Next Week
Max Domi2 hours ago

To Remain Out On Sunday
Jakub Vrana2 hours ago

Sits As Healthy Scratch Saturday
Alex Pietrangelo2 hours ago

Remains Out Saturday
William Eklund2 hours ago

A Game-Time Call For Saturday
Kasperi Kapanen3 hours ago

Moves To First Line Saturday
Darnell Nurse3 hours ago

Expected To Return On Saturday
Aaron Rodgers5 hours ago

Could Be Placed On IR Or Benched
Jordan Eberle9 hours ago

To Miss At Least Three Months
Matthew Knies9 hours ago

Placed On Injured Reserve
Owen Power9 hours ago

Tallies Two Helpers On Friday
John Gibson9 hours ago

Busy In Overtime Loss
Connor Hellebuyck9 hours ago

Sharp in Friday's Victory
Kyle Connor10 hours ago

Tallies Two Points In Friday's Victory
Noah Fant17 hours ago

Questionable For Week 12, Update Coming On Saturday
Brock Purdy19 hours ago

Week 13 Status Uncertain
19 hours ago

Nationals Non-Tender Kyle Finnegan On Friday
20 hours ago

Rays Non-Tender Dylan Carlson
20 hours ago

Rockies Non-Tender Brendan Rodgers, Cal Quantrill
Mike Yastrzemski20 hours ago

Avoids Arbitration With Giants
20 hours ago

Blue Jays Non-Tender Closer Jordan Romano
Dustin May20 hours ago

Dodgers Sign Dustin May To One-Year Deal To Avoid Arbitration
Walker Kessler20 hours ago

Might Return To Action Saturday
Kyle Filipowski20 hours ago

To Miss Saturday's Game
Jordan Clarkson21 hours ago

Considered Questionable For Saturday
Miles McBride21 hours ago

Questionable To Face Jazz
Joel Embiid21 hours ago

To Remain Out On Sunday
Nikola Jokic21 hours ago

Returns To Action Friday
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope21 hours ago

No Longer On Injury Report
Wendell Carter Jr.21 hours ago

Considered Questionable For Saturday
Brady Singer21 hours ago

Shipped To Cincinnati
Jonathan India22 hours ago

Traded To Kansas City
Tre Mann22 hours ago

Listed As Out For Saturday
Torrey Craig22 hours ago

Available Versus Hawks
Nick Richards22 hours ago

Ruled Out For Saturday
Jarace Walker22 hours ago

Ready To Face Bucks
Ben Sheppard22 hours ago

Misses A Third Consecutive Game
Anfernee Simons22 hours ago

Returns To Action Friday
Ja Morant22 hours ago

Considered Doubtful For Saturday
Jerami Grant22 hours ago

Ready For Action Friday
Marcus Smart22 hours ago

Questionable For Saturday
Deandre Ayton22 hours ago

Remains Out On Friday
Yves Missi22 hours ago

Will Not Play On Friday
Stephen Curry22 hours ago

Available Versus Pelicans
Scoot Henderson23 hours ago

Absent On Friday
Rashod Bateman23 hours ago

Added To Week 12 Injury Report
Vince Dunn23 hours ago

Could Be An Option For Kraken Next Week
TOR24 hours ago

Alexander Nylander Joins Maple Leafs On One-Year Deal
George Kittle24 hours ago

Cleared For Week 12
Jason Dickinson24 hours ago

Expected To Play On Saturday
Cam York24 hours ago

Expected To Return Saturday
San Francisco 49ers24 hours ago

Nick Bosa Won't Play Against Packers
Mason McTavish1 day ago

Remains Out On Friday
Brock Purdy1 day ago

Ruled Out For Week 12
Tage Thompson1 day ago

Continues To Sit On Friday
Kevin Hayes1 day ago

A Game-Time Call Friday
Ladd McConkey1 day ago

Returns To Practice On Friday
CeeDee Lamb1 day ago

Cleared To Play In Week 12
Sam LaPorta1 day ago

Off The Injury Report, Cleared For Week 12
Jake Ferguson1 day ago

Ruled Out With Concussion
DeVonta Smith1 day ago

Ruled Out For Week 12
Brock Purdy1 day ago

Not Seen At Friday's Practice
T.J. Hockenson1 day ago

Expects To Be More Involved In Week 12
Alexander Mattison1 day ago

Zamir White Doubtful To Face Broncos
Nico Collins1 day ago

Set For Increased Workload Against Titans
Mike Evans1 day ago

Officially Listed As Questionable
Malik Nabers1 day ago

Questionable For Week 12, Intends To Play
Sam Darnold1 day ago

Cleared For Sunday
D'Andre Swift1 day ago

Gets Questionable Tag For Week 12
Keenan Allen1 day ago

Lands On Injury Report, Questionable For Week 12
Shohei Ohtani1 day ago

In Early Stages Of Recovery From Shoulder Surgery
Tabatha Ricci1 day ago

Looks To Extend Her Win Streak
Yan Xiaonan1 day ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Muslim Salikhov1 day ago

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Chris Sale1 day ago

To Have Normal Offseason
Garrett Crochet1 day ago

Drawing Plenty Of Interest
Song Kenan1 day ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Zhang Mingyang1 day ago

Set For His Second UFC Fight
Ozzy Diaz1 day ago

An Underdog At UFC Macau
Carlos Ulberg2 days ago

Looking To Cement Himself As A Title Contender At UFC Macau
Volkan Oezdemir2 days ago

Eyes Another Knockout At UFC Macau
Gabriella Fernandes2 days ago

A Big Underdog At UFC Macau
MMA2 days ago

Cong Wang Puts Undefeated Record On The Line At UFC Macau
Deiveson Figueiredo2 days ago

Looks To Extend Win Streak At UFC Macau
Petr Yan2 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Shohei Ohtani2 days ago

Named National League MVP In 2024
Aaron Judge2 days ago

Wins American League MVP Award
Cody Bellinger2 days ago

Cubs Looking To Trade Cody Bellinger?
2 days ago

Blake Snell Has Met With Red Sox, Dodgers
Chris Sale3 days ago

Wins National League Cy Young Award
Tarik Skubal3 days ago

Wins 2024 American League Cy Young Award
Austin Eckroat3 days ago

Heads To The RSM Classic After Win
Harris English3 days ago

Finding Form Heading To The RSM Classic
Ben Griffin3 days ago

Continues Playing Well Heading To The RSM Classic
Denny McCarthy3 days ago

Returns to The RSM Classic
Ludvig Aberg3 days ago

Looks To Defend RSM Classic Title
Si Woo Kim3 days ago

An Intriguing Option At RSM Classic
Maverick McNealy3 days ago

In Solid Form Ahead Of RSM Classic
Eric Cole3 days ago

Chasing First Tour Victory At RSM Classic
4 days ago

Guardians' Stephen Vogt Named AL Manager Of The Year
Milwaukee Brewers4 days ago

Pat Murphy Named NL Manager Of The Year
4 days ago

Nick Pivetta Declines Boston's Qualifying Offer
Jose Siri4 days ago

Mets Acquire Jose Siri From The Rays
Charles Oliveira5 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Michael Chandler5 days ago

Gets Dominated At UFC 309
Karine Silva5 days ago

Suffers Her First UFC Loss
Viviane Araujo5 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Mauricio Ruffy5 days ago

Extends His Win Streak To Six

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
DK Metcalf - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS and Betting Picks

Wide Receiver Matchups to Target in Week 12 - DK Metcalf, Courtland Sutton, Jauan Jennings, Noah Brown, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Week 12 is here, and with it, another edition of WR Matchups to Target. Last week was one of our most successful of the season, with two home run DFS picks (3x multiplier on DraftKings salary) in Jauan Jennings and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to go along with two additional hits (2x multiplier). Week 12 brings a […]


Matthew Stafford - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Landmines to Avoid for Week 12 - Matthew Stafford, D'Andre Swift, Mark Andrews, and more

Week 12 in the fantasy football season is a critical juncture. With six teams on bye, options are slim, and managers must make savvy lineup decisions as the playoffs loom.  One misstep—a "landmine" starter who underperforms—could cost you a victory and potentially a playoff berth. This week, we spotlight five players who may look tempting […]


Devaughn Vele - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

High-Upside Bench Stashes: Weekend Waiver Wire Adds for Week 12 Includes Blake Corum, Trey Benson, Keaton Mitchell, Jaylen Wright, Devaughn Vele, Theo Johnson, and more

Mastering the waiver wire is a crucial skill that can lead you to a fantasy football championship. It's not just about strategically placing your FAAB budget on specific players but also about knowing when to stash players. This dual strategy keeps you engaged and focused on your ultimate goal of winning a fantasy championship. As […]


Bucky Irving - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Key Starters and Tough Calls - Week 12 Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Include Bucky Irving, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DeVaughn Vele And More

Scott Engel’s Lineup Spotlights on RotoBaller.com feature key players to consider starting every week during the 2024 fantasy football season. “The King” highlights preferred starting options when you are dealing with challenging lineup decisions. The players included in this rundown are based on Scott’s Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available in the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter the […]


Kareem Hunt - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire Pickups, NFL Injury News

2024 Fantasy Football Rankings (Weekly Rankings)

Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.


Tampa Bay Bucs Defense D/ST Streamers, Rankings, Waiver Wire - Vita Vea Fantasy Football IDP

Week 12 Team Defense Rankings for Fantasy Football: D/ST Updates for Buccaneers D/ST, Chiefs D/ST, Commanders D/ST, Vikings D/ST, Lions D/ST

If you've struggled to get strong production out of your D/ST and need a few wins to qualify for the fantasy football playoffs, you have come to the right place. Our NFL team's Week 12 fantasy football defense (D/ST) rankings are here to guide you in setting the best optimal lineup. The Broncos, Chiefs, and Vikings […]


C.J. Stroud - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Week 12 Superflex 2QB Rankings for Fantasy Football: Updates for C.J. Stroud, Justin Herbert, Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford, Baker Mayfield

With bye weeks and injuries being major factors this week, Superflex fantasy managers will need to dive deeper into the rankings to find the top available options. Our Week 12 fantasy football Superflex rankings (2QB) for 2024 are here to help you navigate close start-or-sit calls and take home a "W" in an important week […]


Courtland Sutton - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Week 12 PPR Rankings for Fantasy Football: Overall Updates Include Courtland Sutton, Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, Austin Ekeler, Tony Pollard, DeAndre Hopkins

Welcome back to another weekend edition of RotoBaller's overall fantasy football rankings. It's a must-win week for many fantasy managers, so it's time to lock in. Below, you'll see our NFL team's updated Week 12 fantasy football PPR rankings for 2024. Let's see where key players like Deebo Samuel Sr., Jameson Williams, Austin Ekeler, Jaylen […]


Rico Dowdle - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Week 12 FLEX Rankings for Fantasy Football (RB, WR, TE) - Updates Include Jameson Williams, Jayden Reed, Jakobi Meyers, Rico Dowdle, Christian Watson

The 12th slate of the NFL season featured many players out of action via bye week or injury. That said, fantasy managers will need to dig deep into this week's rankings to find the top available FLEX consideration. We're here to help with our NFL team's updated Week 12 fantasy football FLEX rankings for 2024. […]


Chuba Hubbard - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Week 12 Running Back Rankings for Fantasy Football: RB Updates Include Bucky Irving, Kareem Hunt, Chuba Hubbard, J.K. Dobbins, Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Somehow, we're already onto the 12th week of the fantasy football season. Needless to say, time is running out to stack wins together, so let's get to crucial start-or-sit decisions with help from our updated Week 12 fantasy football running back rankings for 2024. Let's see where key players such as Jonathon Brooks, Chuba Hubbard, […]


Jauan Jennings - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Week 12 Wide Receiver Rankings for Fantasy Football: WR Updates Include Josh Downs, Quentin Johnston, Jauan Jennings, Calvin Ridley, Tank Dell

The wide receiver position is volitile, and WRs that aren't clear must-start studs are largley matchup dependent. If you need help with your start-or-sit calls ahead of the important Week 12 slate, we're here to assist with our NFL team's updated Week 12 fantasy football wide receiver rankings for 2024. Let's dig into the rankings […]


Anthony Richardson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL News

Week 12 Quarterback Rankings for Fantasy Football: QB Updates Include Anthony Richardson, Bo Nix, Tua Tagovailoa, Geno Smith, Sam Darnold, Jared Goff

Early in the 2024 NFL season, quarterbacks struggled in fantasy football due to a regression in passing productions. However, many are picking up steam in the second half of the year. Still, start-or-sit decisions remain difficult when comparing two similar QBs. We're here to help with our updated Week 12 fantasy football quarterback rankings for […]


Will Dissly - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire Pickups, NFL Injury News

Week 12 Tight End Rankings for Fantasy Football: TE Updates Include Will Dissly, Cade Otton, Zach Ertz, Jonnu Smith, Sam LaPorta, TJ Hockenson, Cole Kmet

It's make-or-break time for many fantasy managers, as the fantasy football playoffs are quickly approaching. Tight ends are always the toughest offensive position to navigate, so if you need help setting optimal lineups, you can come to the right place. Below, you'll see our NFL team's updated Week 12 fantasy football tight end rankings for […]