Year after year, there are always a few players who get hot at the most critical point in the fantasy season and lead owners to a title. Derrick Henry obliterated opponents last season during the fantasy playoffs to the tune of 71-492-7. Savvy owners who snagged Damien Williams late in the year also reaped the rewards and laughed their way to championship glory. People would’ve thought you were crazy entering December 2018 if you said Williams could be the key to victory, but you would’ve been absolutely correct.
That’s the beauty of bold predictions. They have a low chance of being correct as is, so it’s not the end of the world if you’re wrong. But if you’re right, you hit the jackpot and significantly improved your odds of being atop your league’s standings in the end. We’ve asked our most accurate experts to have some fun, throw caution to the wind, and give us their bold predictions for the last three weeks of the fantasy football season. Godspeed on your playoff journey!
Set your playoff lineup with advice from My Playbook
“Ryan Fitzpatrick is a league-winner. Yes, you read that right. The longtime journeyman signal-caller has seemingly single-handedly turned around a lost season for the Dolphins in the second half by willing his team to wins in three of their past five games. What’s more is that he’s also been fantasy football’s QB4 during that timespan with 103.6 fantasy points and a 20.6 FPPG average. Blasé supporting cast and no running game? That doesn’t seem to matter to Fitzpatrick since he is making good with what he has to work with. Not only has he resurrected the career of DeVante Parker, who is the WR3 with 98.1 PPR points since Week 9, but Fitzpatrick has also sprinkled his magic dust on second-year tight end Mike Gesicki, who is the TE6 with 55.8 PPR points in that same five-game timespan. With tremendous matchups against the Jets, Giants, and Bengals from Weeks 14-16, which are the fantasy playoffs in most formats, Fitzpatrick should not only be stashed, but he should also receive serious starter consideration in the next three games, especially if, dare I say, you’re a Patrick Mahomes or a Josh Allen owner for example. Both Mahomes and Allen have matchups in the red through the fantasy playoffs. And, while they are hot, there are always speed bumps along the way that could hinder their production. If Fitzpatrick is available in your league, pick him up and stash him right now.”
– Anthony Cervino (Gridiron Experts)
“Sony Michel is positioned to be this year’s out-of-left-field fantasy playoffs difference-maker. We (briefly) saw how the Patriots want to use him before the Texans began blowing them out and it’s similar to late last season – when New England saddled him up and rode him to another Super Bowl. The Patriots get the Chiefs, Bengals, and Bills in the fantasy playoffs and they respectively rank 32nd, 28th, and 21st in PFF run-defense grade, sit 31st, 29th, and 22nd in yards-per-carry allowed, and opponents are handing off against them at the fifth, first, and 21st-highest rates during one-score games. It’s not sexy, but it’s Sony season again.”
– Patrick Thorman (Establish the Run)
“Ryan Tannehill will be a top-five quarterback in the fantasy playoffs. Tannehill has been exceptional since taking over as the Titans’ quarterback, ranking sixth in fantasy points per game for quarterbacks since Week 7. Whether it is with his arm or his legs, Tannehill has been playing at an elite level, and not just for fantasy purposes. With an upcoming schedule of Oakland, Houston, and New Orleans, the latter two of which come at home, Tannehill will be pitted against three bottom-10 defenses in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. If you’re rostering him, don’t be afraid to roll with him for the rest of your fantasy playoffs, even in a one-quarterback league.”
– Dan Harris (FantasyPros)
“Everyone needs some magic for the fantasy football playoffs, so why not look to start the magician himself, FitzMAGIC. The bearded ivy-leaguer will finish as a top-eight quarterback in each of the next three weeks. The Dolphins’ passer has five touchdowns in his last two outings and went over 300 yards in two of his last three games. Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins take on the Jets, Giants, and Bengals in Weeks 14, 15, and 16. That’s the third-easiest schedule for all quarterbacks. With no rushing attack to speak of, the pressure to move the ball and put up points falls directly on the shoulders of the 12-year veteran.”
– Bill Enright (FFChamps)
“Darwin Thompson will be a league winner. Much like last year when Kareem Hunt went out and we saw the rise of Spencer Ware, then finally Damien Williams, this year is Thompson’s turn. With injuries to both Damien and Darrel Williams, along with LeSean McCoy being put into a secondary role at best, Thompson has a huge chance to thrive here. The Chiefs rank 12th in points per game for running backs in half-PPR leagues with 22. If Damien Williams is indeed out long-term, Thompson will be the primary back for this high-scoring offense and the beneficiary of those points.”
– Joe Bond (Fantasy Six Pack)
“DeVante Parker will be the top-scoring receiver during the fantasy playoffs. The Dolphins’ wideout is the WR20 in PPR leagues through 13 weeks, but he’s taken his game to another level of late. In fact, over the last three outings, Parker was already the leading point-getter at his position. With an upcoming schedule that features a trio of plus matchups against the Jets, Giants, and Bengals, the 26-year-old is about to carry his fantasy owners to a title.”
– Justin Boone (theScore)
“Josh Allen will be a QB1 in every week of the fantasy playoffs. Some fantasy owners are seeking a replacement for Allen because of his schedule (vs. BAL, @ PIT, @ NE), but the recent changes made by Buffalo — more no-huddle and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll going up in the booth — seem to have unlocked his full potential as a dual-threat playmaker and the rushing production should remain a big part of his game, regardless of the opponent. I am confidently starting Allen over the next two weeks and it will be tough to jump off the bandwagon if he passes both tests before a Week 16 matchup in New England. Remember, Allen has been one of the best late-game quarterbacks in the league and was injured very early in the fourth quarter of the first meeting against the Patriots.”
– Dylan Chappine (White Wolf Sports)
“Phillip Lindsay will be a league-winner. He’s been getting the bulk of the carries and has been electric, but with one problem. He hasn’t scored touchdowns. Now he gets to face three of the worst teams when it comes to giving up touchdowns to running backs with Houston, Kansas City, and Detroit in back-to-back-to-back playoff games. Lindsay was a top-12 running back last season and will be one for the rest of this season.”
– Jason Moore (The Fantasy Footballers)
“DeVante Parker ends up on a majority of fantasy championship rosters. Finishing the year against the Jets, Giants, and Bengals — Parker continues his hot season with a strong finish. He’s an every week must-start at this point, with seven top-24 finishes in the last nine weeks and a monster performance against Philly to cap his run. Parker will somehow be the king of fantasy to end the year.”
– Andy Holloway (The Fantasy Footballers)
“Carson Wentz will be a top-10 quarterback for the fantasy playoffs thanks largely in part to the Eagles getting healthy-ish. With Alshon Jeffery back, Dallas Goedert highly developed thanks to heavy work this year, Lane Johnson healthy as well, and that schedule — oh, that schedule — Wentz will be the top-10 quarterback everyone expected and wanted to see…well, except for his owners who likely won’t enjoy it since many probably missed the playoffs.”
– Jake Ciely (The Athletic)
“Sony Michel will score as an RB1. Tom Brady and the Patriots’ passing game are struggling. The weather is turning and New England’s next three opponents — the Chiefs, Bengals, and Bills — all rank among the bottom eight in adjusted fantasy points allowed to running backs.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)
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Thank you to the experts for providing their bold predictions. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter if you’re not already doing so and check out our latest podcast below for more great advice.
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