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Fantasy football playoff challenge positional rankings 2025: The QBs, RBs, WRs and more to target

charles curtis
·3-min read
Jan 5, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) hands off the ball to running back James Cook (4) against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-881137 ORIG FILE ID: 20250105_db2_sv3_056.JPG
Jan 5, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) hands off the ball to running back James Cook (4) against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-881137 ORIG FILE ID: 20250105_db2_sv3_056.JPG

Just because the NFL regular season is over doesn't mean fantasy football season is completely over.

That's right, it's time for the fantasy football playoff challenge!

It's a different game -- and we did a strategy guide to break down how to win it a few years back (SPOILER: prioritize QBs first!).

Here's how it works: you draft a standard lineup of players who are in the postseason, but instead of head-to-head games, the winner is based on who has the most total fantasy points by the time the Super Bowl is over.

The key here is to focus on which players will play in the most playoff games. So while, say, Baker Mayfield is a pretty good fantasy QB normally, he may play only one game (sorry, Bucs fans).

Keep that in mind with these 2025 positional rankings:

Quarterback

Jan 5, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) on the field after the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-881137 ORIG FILE ID: 20250105_db2_sv3_042.JPG
Jan 5, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) on the field after the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-881137 ORIG FILE ID: 20250105_db2_sv3_042.JPG

  1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

  2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

  3. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

  4. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

  5. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

  6. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

  7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

  8. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings

  9. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  10. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

  11. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

  12. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

  13. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

  14. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Running back

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 29: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on December 29, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 29: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on December 29, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

  1. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

  2. James Cook, Buffalo Bills

  3. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens

  4. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

  5. J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers

  6. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings

  7. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

  8. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers

  9. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs

  10. Joe Mixon, Houston Texans

  11. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  12. Brian Robinson, Washington Commanders

  13. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  14. Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs

  15. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

  16. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

  17. Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills

  18. Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions

  19. Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos

  20. Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos

  21. Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles

Wide receiver

Dec 30, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrates after a catch during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-881126 ORIG FILE ID: 20241230_tbs_ea1_282.JPG
Dec 30, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrates after a catch during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-881126 ORIG FILE ID: 20241230_tbs_ea1_282.JPG

  1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

  2. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

  3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

  4. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  5. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

  6. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

  7. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

  8. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

  9. Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills

  10. Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

  11. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

  12. Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

  13. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens (check his injury status)

  14. DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City Chiefs

  15. Nico Collins, Houston Texans

  16. Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs

  17. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

  18. Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens

  19. Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers

  20. Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills

  21. Quenton Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers

  22. Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  23. Romeo Dobbs

  24. Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos

Tight end

Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) catches a pass against Houston Texans safety Eric Murray (23) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-881096 ORIG FILE ID: 20241221_jdb_ba4_118.JPG
Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) catches a pass against Houston Texans safety Eric Murray (23) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-881096 ORIG FILE ID: 20241221_jdb_ba4_118.JPG

  1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

  2. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

  3. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

  4. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

  5. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

  6. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills

  7. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders

  8. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

  9. Will Dissley, Los Angeles Chargers

  10. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams

  11. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

Kicker

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Tyler Bass #2 of the Buffalo Bills lines up a field goal during the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Highmark Stadium on September 23, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Tyler Bass #2 of the Buffalo Bills lines up a field goal during the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Highmark Stadium on September 23, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

  1. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens

  2. Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills

  3. Jake Bates, Detroit Lions

  4. Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagls

  5. Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs

  6. Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers

  7. Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings

  8. Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  9. Zane Gonzalez, Washington Commanders

  10. Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers

  11. Joshua Karty, Los Angeles Rams

  12. Brandon McManus, Green Bay Packers

Defense (D/ST)

Nov 17, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) tackles Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson (26) in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-881033 ORIG FILE ID: 20241117_pjc_bk3_330.JPG
Nov 17, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) tackles Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson (26) in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-881033 ORIG FILE ID: 20241117_pjc_bk3_330.JPG

  1. Kansas City Chiefs

  2. Buffalo Bills

  3. Philadelphia Eagles

  4. Baltimore Ravens

  5. Detroit Lions

  6. Minnesota Vikings

  7. Los Angeles Chargers

  8. Los Angeles Rams

  9. Washington Commanders

  10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  11. Green Bay Packers

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Fantasy football playoff challenge positional rankings 2025: The QBs, RBs, WRs and more to target