Photo: USA Today Sports

I was excited after Sunday night. It was a fun day of football, even though I would’ve never guessed how the Dolphins-Chargers game would go. Regardless, chaos is part of the NFL. But then I watched Monday Night Football and suddenly didn’t have as much fun. The chaos wasn’t entertaining. But the playoffs are here, and we’ve got roster decisions to make. With championships on the line, here are my three lessons to help you advance to the next round.

Quarterback: Brock Purdy, 49ers

Week 14 Results: (Projected) 12.5, (Actual) 21.7

I expected a decent performance from Brock Purdy. I didn’t have any data to support the vibes, so I just strolled down Narrative Street. Kyle Shanahan’s offense had been able to prop up backup quarterbacks in the past. C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens are the easiest examples, and Purdy was no different. But the concerns about San Francisco’s offense were valid.

As a head coach, Todd Bowles may not be a long-term fit for the Buccaneers. But he’s still an excellent defensive planner. We watched Tampa dismantle an inexperienced Jalen Hurts in the playoffs last year. So I expected Purdy to be under fire constantly. He was, but how he dealt with the pressure was noteworthy.

Advice Moving Forward:

Purdy is a top streaming candidate through the fantasy playoffs. His ability to deal with pressure will keep the offense moving efficiently, and the matchups provide him with a safe floor.

The Buccaneers pressured Purdy on 40.9% of his dropbacks. It was the sixth-highest rate on Sunday. However, the seventh-round pick didn’t buckle under the pass rush like some expected. He excelled.

I mentally bookmarked Purdy’s stats against pressure after his touchdown throw to Christian McCaffrey. Tampa brought six rushers, and Purdy could still place the ball where only McCaffrey could get it. He had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 under duress. He’s the only quarterback with the highest possible rating this season when pressured at a rate above the single-game average (34.8%). But there is one concern.

The 49ers’ offense typically revolves around middle-of-the-field throws to give the receivers the ability to create. Purdy found success on the outside. With Deebo Samuel out for the short term, Purdy will need to get comfortable in this area to keep his pass-catchers moving. But he’s got at least one more week to learn.

The 49ers travel to Seattle for Thursday Night Football. They haven’t seen each other since Week 2, but Seattle’s defense is about where it was earlier in the season. The Seahawks are giving up 407.7 total yards of offense since their bye. With most of his skill players still intact, Purdy is a strong streaming option for the fantasy playoffs.

Running Back: Cam Akers, Rams

Week 14 Results: (Projected) 7.9, (Actual) 9.3

Baker Mayfield’s game-winning drive has, and should, hold much of the conversation stemming from the Thursday night game. Mayfield reinvigorated his career on a single series. But fantasy managers aren’t focused on the Rams’ passing game anymore. Cooper Kuypp has been on IR for weeks, and Allen Robinson is in the same boat. We’re not trusting Tutu Atwell or Van Jefferson on our playoff rosters unless we’re in the deepest of leagues. But the running game had been productive, and the hope was Cam Akers would be able to return to the fantasy spotlight after an outburst in Week 13.

Advice Moving Forward: