The 2026 fantasy football season is still a few months away. Yet, it’s never too early to prepare for the fantasy playoffs. While much will change between now and the fantasy playoffs, it doesn’t hurt to plan ahead. Therefore, let’s look at eight players with an unfavorable fantasy playoff schedule that fantasy players should avoid in their drafts.
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Players with Unfavorable Fantasy Football Playoff Schedules
Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI)
- Week 15 vs. Seattle Seahawks
- Week 16 vs. Houston Texans
- Week 17 at San Francisco 49ers
Last year, Hurts averaged 18.7 fantasy points per game despite totaling a career-high 25 passing touchdowns. It was the first time the star quarterback averaged under 20.8 fantasy points per game as a full-time starter. Furthermore, he had single-digit rushing touchdowns for the first time in his career since his rookie season. More importantly, Hurts has an awful fantasy playoff schedule. He faces the Seahawks and Texans, arguably the two best defenses in the NFL last year. Meanwhile, the 49ers have to be healthier than they were last season.
Brock Purdy (QB – SF)
- Week 15 at Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 16 at Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 17 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Purdy was outstanding during the 2025 fantasy football playoffs, averaging 297.7 passing yards, 3.7 touchdowns, and 31.3 fantasy points per game, totaling at least 26.2 in every contest. However, he faced three of the most fantasy-friendly pass defenses in the NFL last year. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case in 2026. Purdy will face three of the better pass defenses in the league last season, with two of those games on the road. By comparison, the veteran faced two of three opponents during last year’s fantasy football playoffs at home.
TreVeyon Henderson (RB – NE)
- Week 15 at Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 16 at New York Jets
- Week 17 vs. Denver Broncos
While everyone had high hopes for Henderson as a rookie, the former Ohio State star struggled when Rhamondre Stevenson was healthy. By comparison, he averaged 24.3 PPR fantasy points per game in the three contests without the veteran. Furthermore, Henderson scored 35.4% of his fantasy production for the year during the three games Stevenson missed. More importantly, the Patriots go from playing a last-place schedule in 2025 to a first-place schedule in 2026. Henderson will face two of the top run defenses from last season during the fantasy playoffs.
Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)
- Week 15 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
- Week 16 at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Week 17 vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Panthers let Rico Dowdle walk this offseason, making Hubbard the heavy favorite to be the team’s Week 1 starter. However, Jonathon Brooks is getting healthy and could earn more work as the year progresses. Therefore, don’t be surprised if the former Texas star is Carolina’s lead running back come the holidays. Meanwhile, both running backs have an awful fantasy playoff schedule. The Bengals added Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen this offseason. Furthermore, the Steelers and Seahawks had two of the top run defenses in the NFL last year.
Davante Adams (WR – LAR)
- Week 15 vs. Dallas Cowboys
- Week 16 at Seattle Seahawks
- Week 17 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Despite all the talk that the Rams would add a big-name wide receiver this offseason, Adams remains the clear-cut No. 2 guy. However, the future Hall of Famer’s production regressed last year, totaling only 60 receptions on 114 targets for 789 receiving yards in 14 games. Meanwhile, Adams faces an unfriendly fantasy playoff schedule. The Cowboys and Buccaneers drastically improved their pass defenses during free agency and the NFL Draft. More importantly, Adams scored only 7.1 PPR fantasy points on eight targets in his lone matchup last season against Seattle.
Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS)
- Week 15 vs. Atlanta Falcons
- Week 16 at Minnesota Vikings
- Week 17 at Jacksonville Jaguars
After recording a career-high 13 receiving touchdowns in 2024, McLaurin regressed last year, totaling three scores in 10 games. While injuries to him and Jayden Daniels played a role in his regression, McLaurin didn’t play well in his first season on the wrong side of 30. Yet, fantasy players should expect a solid year from him if Daniels is healthy. Unfortunately, McLaurin’s fantasy playoff schedule is awful, facing A.J. Terrell in Week 15, an elite Minnesota pass defense in Week 16, and an underrated Jaguars’ unit in Week 17.
Harold Fannin Jr. (TE – CLE)
- Week 15 at New York Giants
- Week 16 at Baltimore Ravens
- Week 17 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Unfortunately, Fannin will have massive target competition in 2026 after the Browns drafted KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. The former Bowling Green star averaged 9.3 PPR fantasy points per game in the 11 contests with seven or fewer targets last year. By comparison, he averaged 16.9 fantasy points per game in the five contests with eight or more targets. Meanwhile, Fannin will face two of the top teams at defending tight ends last season during the fantasy playoffs and likely won’t see the target volume to overcome the poor matchups.
Jake Ferguson (TE – DAL)
- Week 15 at Los Angeles Rams
- Week 16 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 17 vs. New York Giants
Dallas held onto George Pickens this offseason, severely limiting Ferguson’s target upside in 2026. Last year, the veteran averaged 8.3 targets and 18.6 PPR fantasy points per game in the four contests CeeDee Lamb missed or left early. By comparison, Ferguson averaged 5.3 targets and 8.8 fantasy points per game in the 13 contests that Lamb was healthy. More importantly, he has an awful fantasy playoff schedule. Ferguson scored only 18.3 fantasy points in two matchups against the Giants last season despite seeing 14 targets in those games.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
