The fantasy football playoffs have finally arrived, and every lineup decision now carries do-or-die weight. Week 1 of the postseason is where stars separate themselves, unexpected heroes emerge, and even the smallest edge can determine whether your season survives or ends abruptly. With matchups tightening and injuries piling up across the league, navigating these opening playoff games requires a sharp eye on player usage, recent trends, and matchup-based advantages. As we break down performances and expectations for the week, the goal is simple—identify the players who can carry your roster to the next round and avoid the pitfalls that have ended countless fantasy campaigns before.
Josh All-in
Heading into the 2025 fantasy football postseason, one name stands out among signal-callers: Josh Allen. All year long, he’s delivered on the dual-threat upside that makes him a fantasy-winner — but nothing quite encapsulates his season like his Week 14 snow-game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Playing in a classic Buffalo snowstorm, Allen didn’t just handle the conditions — he thrived in them. He threw for three touchdowns, ripped off a 40-yard rushing score (the longest by a Bills QB ever) and added a game-sealing scramble to end the game. That performance didn’t just showcase his elite arm and legs — it reinforced why he’s widely viewed as one of the top fantasy options as the playoffs begin.
With that snow-game surge still fresh, Josh Allen heads into the fantasy playoffs with all the makings of a high-ceiling difference-maker. His ability to thrive in poor weather, scramble for meaningful yardage, and consistently find the end zone — by air and on the ground — gives him a level of upside that’s hard to match. For managers who started him in Week 14, it reinforced the value of trusting him even in risky conditions; for those still deciding on playoff lineups, Allen offers both safety and upside. If the postseason comes with cold weather, slick fields, or high stakes, Allen isn’t just a safe play — he might be the one that carries your championship hopes.
Burrow Back At It
Joe Burrow’s return from his early-season turf toe injury has given fantasy managers a much-needed spark heading into the playoffs. After missing a large chunk of the year, Burrow came back in Week 13 and immediately delivered usable fantasy production, throwing for 261 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first game back against Baltimore. He followed that up with one of his best showings of the entire 2025 season in Week 14, completing 25 of 36 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns in a high-scoring snow game against Buffalo. Across his two games since returning, Burrow has totaled over 545 passing yards and six touchdowns, reaffirming that when he’s healthy, he still operates as a high-volume, high-upside fantasy quarterback. His chemistry with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins remains intact, and the Bengals continue to lean heavily on his arm near the goal line—exactly what fantasy managers want during playoff season.
Looking ahead to the fantasy playoffs, Burrow carries legitimate top-10 QB upside with the potential to swing matchups thanks to his proven ability to post multi-TD blowup games. His Week 14 performance alone shows he can single-handedly win a playoff week if game script leans in his favor. The only caution is consistency, as the sample size since returning is still small, and the Bengals’ losing record creates some uncertainty about how aggressively he’ll be used late in games. Still, the ceiling is undeniable, and as long as he remains healthy, Burrow profiles as a strong fantasy starter with league-winning upside heading into Weeks 15–17.
Michael Wilson: The Truth?
Michael Wilson has emerged as a surprise fantasy asset for the Arizona Cardinals in 2025, especially over the past few weeks with Marvin Harrison Jr. sidelined. In the two games without Harrison, Wilson has caught 25 of 33 targets for 303 receiving yards, showing he can step into the WR1 role and produce strong volume and yardage when asked to be the top option in the offense. In Week 14, he followed that up with another dominant outing, hauling in 11 of 16 targets for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns, giving him multiple high-scoring fantasy performances in a short span. For the 2025 season overall, Wilson has around 50 receptions for roughly 570 yards and a score, placing him solidly within WR2/flex territory based on raw counting stats—though his recent surge was the real jump in fantasy relevance. With Jacoby Brissett under center in a pass-heavy offense, Wilson has shown he can command a high target share and produce double-digit fantasy points in PPR formats as long as he remains a focal point of the passing game.
Looking toward the fantasy playoffs, Wilson’s value will hinge on how long he continues to operate as the Cardinals’ primary receiver and how much his target share holds up once Marvin Harrison Jr. returns—if and when that happens. Even if Harrison comes back, some projections suggest Wilson could still see 6-7 targets per game and serve as a consistent flex play, especially in favorable matchups, thanks to the trust Brissett has shown in him. Overall, Wilson has legitimate WR2 upside with breakout potential through the final weeks and into the fantasy postseason, making him a valuable roster piece for managers who grabbed him off waivers or added him during Harrison’s absence.
Omarion Hampton Inn The Endzone
Omarion Hampton entered the 2025 season as a highly drafted rookie running back for the Los Angeles Chargers and showed substantial early promise, averaging 4.8 yards per carry for 314 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns through his first five games before a broken ankle sidelined him for seven weeks. Prior to the injury, Hampton was trending as a strong fantasy contributor, including a big 128-yard, 1-touchdown performance that highlighted his workload and efficiency on early downs. After being activated from injured reserve, he made an immediate splash in his return by scoring a touchdown against the Eagles, showing he can still find the end zone even as he works back into the rotation. Over the season when healthy, Hampton has shown a balanced skill set with roughly 62.8 rushing yards per game and around 27 receiving yards per outing, giving him a profile as a dual-threat back capable of fantasy relevance in PPR formats.
Looking ahead to the fantasy playoffs, Hampton’s outlook is promising but nuanced. On the plus side, his efficiency (nearly 4.8 yards per carry) and early role before injury suggest he could reclaim a significant workload in the Chargers backfield, a scenario that translates directly to RB2/flex value and the potential for RB1 weeks if volume increases. However, there are risks — shared backfield usage with Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins, and the fact that Hampton is just returning from a long absence means his exact snap share and role remain somewhat uncertain. If he can regain a workhorse role and stay healthy, Hampton has the upside to be a valuable fantasy playoff option, especially in formats that reward receptions and yardage, but managers should be cognizant of potential committee touches until his role is fully re-established.
Bijan and JT Disappoint
In Week 14, both Bijan Robinson and Jonathan Taylor under-performed relative to expectations, leading to surprise busts for fantasy managers. Robinson faced the Seattle Seahawks’ stingy run defense and finished with 20 carries for 86 rushing yards and just 2 receptions for 8 yards, failing to find the end zone and ultimately turning in a modest fantasy line that severely underwhelmed given his usual workload and status as a weekly RB1 target. Despite commanding a high rush share most weeks and ranking among the top running backs in fantasy scoring this season, his Week 14 output barely moved the needle and capped what had been a streak of solid volume numbers without explosive production. Meanwhile, Taylor — long one of the top fantasy backs in 2025 — also fizzled against the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense, finishing well below his typical output and marking one of his rougher outings of the season.
Looking ahead to the fantasy playoffs, both backs still carry significant value, but with some important caveats. Robinson remains a high-end RB1 play in most formats, especially given his overall volume and role in Atlanta’s offense — and his Week 15 matchup versus the Buccaneers presents a more favorable run game environment that could help restore his fantasy floor. However, a dip in receiving involvement and occasional inefficiency in finding the end zone create some volatility, meaning managers should temper expectations a bit and be prepared for week-to-week variance. Taylor, on the other hand, still ranks among the elite running backs in fantasy this season thanks to his massive workload and scoring prowess, and one sub-par Week 14 doesn’t erase what has been a historically strong campaign. He should continue to see a bell-cow role in an offense that leans on him heavily, and his touchdown upside and consistent touches make him a rock solid RB1 through Weeks 15–17. The biggest risk for both remains game script and matchup defenses — but as long as Taylor stays healthy and Robinson continues to handle significant volume, both remain core starters in fantasy playoff lineups despite their Week 14 struggles.
As the opening Week of the fantasy playoffs vastly approaches, the margin for error grows even slimmer. Some managers will advance thanks to breakout performances, clutch late-game production, or simply trusting the right matchup at the right time. Others will see their seasons end despite strong rosters or favorable projections—because in the playoffs, nothing is guaranteed. What matters now is staying proactive, analyzing trends, and preparing for every possible scenario as the stakes continue to climb. Whether you’re moving on or heading into consolation play, this week offered a reminder of why fantasy football remains one of the most unpredictable and thrilling parts of the NFL.
