Has Jermaine Gresham’s recent consistency propelled him into the low-end TE1 conversation?

The fantasy playoffs are here! It’s time to find the delicate balance between paying more attention to detail without overthinking every lineup decision. Here are five burning questions to help you focus your process heading into round one of the playoffs.

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Will weather affect the outcome of fantasy contests?

Winter weather was an issue for the first time last week as games in Green Bay and Chicago were potentially altered significantly by snowy conditions. This week, there is potential for more snow. Snow looks likely in several games, including Seattle vs. Green Bay, Pittsburgh vs. Buffalo and Cincinnati vs. Cleveland. In addition, snow is possible in the Cowboys vs. Giants game and Washington vs. Philadelphia game.

Combining the unpredictable nature of both football and weather makes giving advice incredibly difficult. Benching the likes of Jordy Nelson, Le’Veon Bell and Terrelle Pryor are extremely difficult, if not impossible. Instead, weather could be used as a tie-breaking decision between two players who are otherwise equal. Weather forecasts for all games will be imperative this week and down the stretch of the fantasy playoffs, as they any leg up over an opponent is needed at this time of the season.

Will RGIII affect the output of any Browns’ pass-catchers?

Robert Griffin will return as the quarterback of the Browns after a less than inspiring debut with the team. While it is far from certain that his return will result in Browns’ victories, there is always a chance his play either helps or hurts the causes of pass-catchers Terrelle Pryor, Corey Coleman and Gary Barnidge.

Pryor should comfortably remain the number one option for the team, as he has been heavily targeted throughout the season and has been effective. Barnidge, on the other hand, has not been targeted much, though depending on his chemistry with Griffin could see a nice bump in production at a very thin fantasy position. Corey Coleman will likely remain inefficient in his rookie campaign, so it’s hard to imagine that he will be a trustworthy option moving forward regardless of the quarterback.

Is Mike Gillislee a threat to LeSean McCoy’s red zone carries?

Mike Gillislee had only eight carries last week against the Raiders, but two of them went for touchdowns. While it is still quite clear that LeSean McCoy is the lead back in Buffalo, there are reports that Mike Gillislee will continue to steal red zone carries. Even worse, the numbers say that it could be a smart move.

While touchdowns are always desirable, McCoy still performed well last week and was heavily involved in both the rushing and passing attack of the Bills. He remains a must-start option, but to find the end zone, he may have to break off a long run.

Is Jermaine Gresham a TE1?

Tight end has been a tricky position to solve all season, and that is not changing this week, as Jordan Reed will not be at 100% even if he takes the field on Sunday. Ladarius Green has emerged as a potential lineup boost for the playoff run, and Jermaine Gresham might be the next to add to the list. Setting arbitrary endpoints aside, after seeing four or fewer targets in each of the Cardinals’ first seven games, Gresham has seen more than four targets in four of the Cardinals’ five games since.

In addition, he has found the end zone twice in those games. Gresham has shown the ability to be a solid receiving tight end in past seasons, so he is a player that could emerge as a key figure in playoff matchups.

Is the Buccaneers’ defense this good?

The Bucs’ defense doesn’t have the reputation of shutting down opponents, but it has been pretty staunch the past four weeks. They forced Phillip Rivers, Russell Wilson and Jay Cutler into two interceptions and held Thomas Rawls and Spencer Ware in check.

There were some impressive performances against them too, Melvin Gordon last week is an example, but it may be time to give this defense the credit it deserves. Drew Brees and the Saints will travel to Tampa Bay this week and even given the Saints’ road splits, it will be interesting to see how the Buccaneers’ defense holds up.

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Daniel Marcus is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Daniel, check out his archive, visit fantasy-phenoms.com, or follow him @danmarcus3.