The Browns and Ravens split the series this year (in fact, Cleveland is the last team Lamar Jackson lost to), and they didn't play after Joe Flacco took over, so maybe this should be low confidence. But if it's Philadelphia or Tampa Bay, neither team seems like they can go into Arlington and win right now. So the outcome of the other Wild Card games is going to have a big effect on the relative ease or difficulty in the path to a rematch with the 49ers or, even better, hosting the NFC Championship game. If the Cowboys draw the Lions, this will be a low-confidence Cowboys pick. We would have even more confidence in San Francisco if they play anyone but the Rams in this round. Christian McCaffrey's calf is an X factor, and the game between these two in Week 2 was a three-point game going into the fourth quarter, so it's not a slam dunk. Kyle Shanahan has had the edge over Sean McVay for a while, and the 49ers clearly have the better roster. Divisional Round Picks in Order of Confidence HIGH CONFIDENCE This game is the closest to a coin flip on the Wild Card slate. The Buccaneers have an injured quarterback and a lesser roster. The Eagles offense is banged up at multiple positions, and the team couldn't be colder entering the playoffs. It feels very close to 50-50, but the Dolphins have lost their top two pass rushers, while Xavien Howard is iffy at best. The Mike McDaniel Dolphins hung around after falling behind 17-0 in the playoffs last year at Buffalo, losing 34-31 and leading 24-20 in the second half at one point with Skylar Thompson at quarterback. The Chiefs offense is limited, so this is probably going to be a one possession game. The weather in Kansas City is forecast to be colder than Buffalo and not as windy, but still enough to affect the downfield passing game. Goff gaps still make it hard to pick the Lions. The playoff coaching experience and Stafford vs. They have impact players on both sides of the ball and probably have a better roster than the Rams. The Lions have been great at home this year, and they have more than demonstrated that they can perform at a playoff level of play there. But this Cowboys team summarily dismissed the Tom Brady Buccaneers on the road last year in the Wild Card round, and they are one of the best home teams in the league. The recent resurgence of Aaron Jones and the possible return of Christian Watson make the Packers offense more capable of hanging with Dak Prescott and the league's hottest offense in the second half of the season. Still, the Bills are just the better team, and picking Mason Rudolph to win a road playoff game feels like a stretch. The weather is forecast to be cold and extremely windy, nullifying some of the Buffalo quarterback advantage, and the Steelers have the better running game. The Steelers can turn this into a streetfight. This is the kind of game the young Texans use to learn what it takes to win in the postseason. But the Browns are the more balanced team, and Joe Flacco has energized them. Stroud story is great, and when Cleveland thumped the Texans in Week 16, they didn't have their starting quarterback, so we won't completely rule out the home team here. Wild Card Picks in Order of Confidence HIGH CONFIDENCE But relying on small margins to make selections is the essence of what we do in fantasy football. Some of these calls are 52/48, and the way they break can greatly affect projecting the next round in the bracket. Take a stand on the outcome of the playoff brackets with your picks. Much more than a typical fantasy draft, your early picks should dictate the mid and late parts of your draft. If you wanted Lamar Jackson but had to settle for Brock Purdy, then you are going to favor 49ers over Ravens for the rest of your draft. You might not be able to pick the exact teams that you want, but it is important to roll with the flow of the draft. At the end of your playoff fantasy draft, you want to see two or three potential matchups in the Super Bowl that should equal a high chance of winning for you. Spreading your top 10 picks out on 6-7 teams is a losing strategy. Delivered straight to your inbox, 100% free.īefore we begin the rankings, the most important strategy tip is to take strong positions on a group of 1-2 teams on each side of the bracket. Start your morning with our roundup of the most important stories in football - with the fantasy insight you need to make league-winning decisions. Photo: William Glasheen, USA Today Sports
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