Players with the best fantasy football playoffs schedules, plus Week 14 streamers

A precious few weeks remain to tie a big old holiday bow on this 2025 fantasy football season. Lock in, let’s get those trophies. There’s no point in speculating with so few grains of sand left in the hourglass, so it’s time for our annual playoff pivot.

With just a couple of whacks left at this tree, I’ll set the playoff table the best I can.  Set a bookmark for easy reference later — I’ll be laying out all the best and worst playoff schedules by position — using a proprietary blend of advanced stats, home/away splits, and potential for impactful weather.

I also know lots of teams out there still haven’t punched their ticket to the dance just yet. So, of course, I could never forget my last-minute managers on the go with the final “Sunday Streaming Service” section. With no time to waste, let’s get into it …

Quarterback

Best Fantasy Playoff Schedules (QBs)

TeamW15 OPPW16 OPPW17 OPP

Giants

Eagles

Cowboys

Steelers

Bengals

Buccaneers

Cowboys

Giants

Lions

Titans

Colts

Bears

Interest piques immediately, as fantasy gamers’ mettle is put to the test. Excluding Brock Purdy (who you’re starting with confidence), all the best QB matchups may very well be sitting on your bench as we speak. Marcus Mariota just went for 294-2-1 passing and 10-55-0 rushing (QB3 finish), marking his second top-8 performance in a row. Just keep in mind that Jayden Daniels could return soon (is he available?). Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa boasts just one top-10 week in the past two months, rendering him persona non grata in most fantasy circles. Don’t let that necessarily discourage you from him, though; variance is at an all-time high. And the Vikings? Well, they say no guts no glory, but I’d have to see something pretty special this weekend from J.J. McCarthy to put my fantasy fate in his hands going forward.

Worst Fantasy Playoff Schedules (QBs)

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Chargers

Titans

Broncos

Patriots

Browns

Eagles

Browns

Packers

49ers

Broncos

Bears

Ravens

Conversely, half of the worst QB matchups belong to the two highest-ranked players in points per game. Should you realistically ever sit Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen? The answer is honestly no. Short of natural catastrophes, I’m starting my studs. There’s nothing wrong with kicking the tires for a more optimal situation, but there’s also such a thing as being too cute. Now, when it comes to less certain, though viable fantasy assets like Caleb Williams or Jordan Love, I’d absolutely pivot away from them in the right circumstances — especially with some potentially nasty weather waiting in the second half of December.

Running back

Best Fantasy Playoff Schedules (RBs)

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Panthers

Jets

Titans

Falcons

Panthers

Dolphins

Giants

Eagles

Cowboys

Raiders

Commanders

Bills

My first thought when looking at the softest RB schedules is to target the reinforcements. Bucky Irving and Saquon Barkley clearly have homes, but maybe Sean Tucker or Tank Bigsby were dropped out of frustration recently. Grab Saints starter Devin Neal immediately if you can. For the rest of us, former Colt Evan Hull actually leapfrogged Austin Estime for the backup spot in New Orleans, suddenly making for an interesting deeper league flex add in The Big Easy. Finally, while it’s not overly exciting, Washington’s Chris Rodriguez will look to stack as much positive game film as possible down the stretch.

Worst Fantasy Playoff Schedules (RBs)

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Packers

Jaguars

Chiefs

Seahawks

49ers

Jaguars

Jaguars

Saints

Patriots

Running backs who are weekly assets are tougher to move away from during the playoffs. This year in particular, anytime you can project north of 15 carries for a RB, it generally translates into a fantasy starter regardless of who they’re lining up against. For reference, this season, there are five RBs with a higher per-game scoring average than the top wide receiver: Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson and De’Von Achane. One of them happens to land on the worst schedule list. So what? You should not care whatsoever. There’s a time and place for matchups. Put on your blinders and start Jonathan Taylor, obviously. In fact, I’d extend that same grace to New York’s Breece Hall. But Denver’s RJ Harvey? I’m not as certain. I’ll nitpick those sorts of coin flips next week …

Wide receiver

Best Fantasy Playoff Schedules (WRs)

Team

  

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W16 OPP

  

W17 OPP

  

Titans

Colts

Bears

Cowboys

Giants

Lions

Raiders

Commanders

Bills

Giants

Eagles

Cowboys

I can already tell the bulk of next week’s work will center on wideouts. It’s amazing that 14 weeks into an NFL season, there are still so many moving pieces and questions to be answered in wide receiver rooms — playoff hopeful teams included! If you think you possess the answer to any, position yourself early. Will the Bills’ No. 1 wide receiver ever become clear? If it’s finally Keon Coleman, roster him now before it’s too late. And where’s the Ricky Pearsall who won fantasy championships last season? If he can regain peak powers, Pearsall has some soft secondaries ahead.

Worst Fantasy Playoff Schedules (WRs)

TeamW15 OPPW16 OPPW17 OPP

Patriots

Browns

Eagles

Chargers

Titans

Broncos

Broncos

Bears

Ravens

The New York Jets may not be on our list, but the first two legs of their playoff run are worth noting. Another QB1 finish from Tyrod Taylor validates Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie as undrafted players who could make a difference. The same can be said for New Orleans if we get another strong outing from Devaughn Vele. Tyler Shough has improved markedly throughout the back half of the season and could easily bring a second WR along for the ride with Chris Olave. Other than that, stand pat, heads on a swivel.

Tight ends

Unless you jumped the last TE train out of town on a sustainable passing game option like Brenton Strange or Juwan Johnson, every playoff matchup is a one-week season. I’m far less concerned with the aggregate schedule than with the single best play each week.

Consequently, when it comes to streaming tight ends, remember that the best indicator of future points allowed is receptions allowed in the past. Target the seven teams that have allowed more than 75 catches to the position: Bengals, Jaguars, Seahawks, Colts, Patriots and Dolphins.

Sunday’s Week 14 streaming service (sub-50% rostership)

Quarterback

1. Tyler Shough, NO at TB
2. Tyrod Taylor, NYJ vs. MIA
3. Marcus Mariota (if he starts), WAS at MIN
4. J.J. McCarthy, MIN vs. WAS

Running back

1. Bam Knight, ARI vs. LAR
2. Devin Neal, NO at TB
3. Chris Rodriguez, WAS at MIN
4. Blake Corum, LAR at ARI
5. Samaje Perine, CIN at BUF

Wide receiver

1. Keon Coleman, BUF vs. CIN
2. Malik Washington, MIA at NYJ
3. Jayden Higgins, HOU at KC
4. John Metchie, NYJ vs. MIA
5. Pat Bryant, DEN at LV

Tight end

1. Colston Loveland, CHI at GB
2. Harold Fannin, CLE vs. TEN
3. Darren Waller, MIA at NYJ
4. Mason Taylor, NYJ vs. MIA