The NFL is saving the best for last, waiting until Sunday evening to air the matchup everyone wants to see. It’s Ali-Frazier, Nicklaus-Palmer, Navratilova-Evert, Yankees-Red Sox, Celtics-Lakers, Sea Biscuit-War Admiral, and Maverick-Iceman all rolled into one fabulous night of football. The Buffalo Bills host the Baltimore Ravens. Josh Allen against Lamar Jackson, the top MVP candidates. Eighteen degrees and snow in Western New York. Pass the wings, Labatt Blue, crab cakes and Budweiser. Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?
PLAYOFF PAYOFFS!
QB Josh Allen (vs. Ravens) — Win or lose, “Playoff Josh” manages to keep the Buffalo offense humming with big plays and the accompanying big stat line. If Russell Wilson can throw for 270 yards and two TDs last week against Baltimore, Josh is a very safe start.
QB Jayden Daniels (at Lions) — Prior to Sam Darnold’s implosion in Week 18, the Lions gave up 1,108 passing yards and 10 TDs to QBs Josh Allen, Caleb Williams and Brock Purdy. Encouraging numbers for the electric Daniels, who has 10 TDs of his own in his last three meaningful games.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs (vs. Commanders) — Washington gives up almost five yards per carry. Coincidentally, Gibbs averages almost six, riding a three-game streak of 100 yards or more. Even if backfield mate David Montgomery (knee-check status) returns from injury, you can’t sit Gibbs.
RB Saquan Barkley (vs. Rams) — I don’t expect Barkley to tag the Rams for another franchise record 255 yards like he did in Week 12. But I do expect a healthy dose of the best RB in football against the much-improved Rams.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (vs. Commanders) — Washington’s pass defense has limited WRs to less than a TD per game. But their schedule was a bit soft (Jags, Pats, Raiders, Saints). Talented WRs Evans, Nabers, Godwin, Chase and A.J. Brown all hit paydirt against the Commanders. Amon-Ra should be a ray of light for the Lions.
WR A.J. Brown (vs. Rams) — His one-catch game last week notwithstanding, Brown is arguably the best WR left in the NFL playoffs. He simply wasn’t needed for the Eagles to defeat the Packers. Brown was a problem for the Rams in Week 12, going off for six catches, 109 yards and a touchdown.
TE Dalton Kincaid (vs. Ravens) — It’s a gut feeling, but Kincaid is due for a break-out game against the Ravens’ middle-of-the-pack secondary. 60 yards and a TD would be a win.
PLAYOFF RIPOFFS!
QB C.J. Stroud (at Chiefs) — The Texans have never won a divisional round game (0-5), and Stroud won’t change that record in Arrowhead Stadium. C.J. has the toughest QB assignment of the weekend.
QB Patrick Mahomes (vs. Texans) — Mahomes is magic in the playoffs, make no mistake. But K.C. spreads the scoring wealth around nowadays in the air and on the ground. The Chiefs-Texans game is also the lowest over/under total (42.5 points) to boot.
RB Joe Mixon (at Chiefs) — There’s an old Texas saying: The best way to double your money is to fold it up and place it in your back pocket. Can Mixon move the ball against the best run defense in the NFL? I’d rather you keep him tucked in your back pocket with your money.
RB Derrick Henry (at Bills) — Blasphemy, I know, but Buffalo should score often, necessitating the Ravens to throw more than they’d like. That’s the only way the Bills keep Henry off the field. When the Ravens got into a 35-34 shootout with the Bengals, Henry only saw 16 carries for 68 yards. In December, the Bills held RB stalwarts Jahmyr Gibbs (31 yards), Kyren Williams (87) and Christian McCaffrey (53) in check.
WR Cooper Kupp (at Eagles) — This Kupp doesn’t runneth over. I thought his late-season demise was just a hicKupp, but after last week’s one-catch outing, he’s playing like a butterKupp. It’s not a Kuppcake matchup against Philly. It’s time for a Kupp check.
WR DeAndre Hopkins (vs. Texans) — If DHop played more than 60% of the time after his midseason trade, K.C. would have owed the Texans a fourth-round pick instead of a fifth rounder. That explains why he hasn’t topped 37 receiving yards in six of his last seven games.
TE Tyler Higbee (at Eagles) — There’s more talented TEs in the playoff field than Higbee. He’s the one I prefer the least.
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Bill Reinhard is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and a columnist for FantasyGuru.com.
