Before 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. Spreading your picks out on 6-7 teams is a losing strategy. 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. 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. If you wanted Peyton, but had to settle for Brady, then you are going to favor Patriots over Broncos for the rest of your draft.
Quarterbacks
1. Peyton Manning - DEN
2. Russell Wilson - SEA
3. Tom Brady - NE
4. Andy Dalton - CIN
5. Andrew Luck - IND
6. Colin Kaepernick - SF
7. Nick Foles - PHI
8. Drew Brees - NO
9. Cam Newton - CAR
10. Aaron Rodgers - GB
11. Philip Rivers - SD
12. Alex Smith - KC
Notes: Manning should be the #1 pick of every playoff draft. Wilson offers a great chance to have a Super Bowl quarterback, but he is also an underwhelming fantasy commodity. Brady is #3 in terms of Super Bowl chances, but also trending down in fantasy performance. #4-#8 are tightly packed, with Dalton having both the best shot at 2+ games and a big wild card week to get your team out to a lead, although there is a case for any of them to be your QB1 if you don't get a top 3 quarterback early. I have Newton at #9 and Rodgers at #10 because I believe the Panthers are in great danger of a one and done and the Packers are unlikely to win in a matchup against a tough defense, but your picks should reflect your beliefs about who will advance in the playoffs. If you do land a top three quarterback, feel free to be the last to take your QB2 (assuming a six team league).
running backs
1. Marshawn Lynch - SEA
2. Knowshon Moreno - DEN
3. LeSean McCoy - PHI
4. Frank Gore - SF
5. Eddie Lacy - GB
6. Shane Vereen - NE
7. Jamaal Charles - KC
8. LeGarrette Blount - NE
9. Giovani Bernard - CIN
10. Donald Brown - IND
11. Montee Ball - DEN
12. Stevan Ridley - NE
13. Ryan Mathews - SD
14. Pierre Thomas - NO
15. Trent Richardson - IND
16. DeAngelo Williams - CAR
17. Darren Sproles - NO
18. Danny Woodhead - SD
19. Benjarvus Green-Ellis - CIN
20. Mike Tolbert - CAR
21. Robert Turbin - SEA
22. Mark Ingram - NO
23. James Starks - GB
24. Bryce Brown - PHI
25. Chris Polk - PHI
26. Kendall Hunter - SF
27. Knile Davis - KC
28. Christine Michael - SEA
29. Ronnie Hillman - DEN
30. Brandon Bolden - NE
31. LaMichael James - SF
32. John Kuhn - GB
33. Anthony Dixon - SF
34. Khiry Robinson - NO
35. Jed Collins - NO
36. Stanley Havili - IND
37. James Develin - NE
38. Ronnie Brown - SD
39. Derrick Coleman - SEA
40. CJ Anderson - DEN
Notes: Lynch and Moreno are excellent first-round picks if the top quarterbacks are gone. None of the other "stud" running backs in the playoffs are overwhelming bets for more than one game, so you might be able to get away with sloughing running back. LeGarette Blount is surging and could be a surprise key to winning your playoff league. Once the top 5-7 backs are gone, make sure to prioritize bolstering the positions you have on your first/second-round pick teams over taking the better fantasy running back.
wide receivers
1. Demaryius Thomas - DEN
2. Julian Edelman - NE
3. Eric Decker - DEN
4. AJ Green - CIN
5. Wes Welker - DEN
6. DeSean Jackson - PHI
7. TY HIlton - IND
8. Anquan Boldin - SF
9. Michael Crabtree - SF
10. Golden Tate - SEA
11. Doug Baldwin - SEA
12. Marvin Jones - CIN
13. Riley Cooper - PHI
14. Jordy Nelson - GB
15. Marques Colston - NO
16. Randall Cobb - GB
17. Keenan Allen - SD
18. Danny Amendola - NE
19. Percy Harvin - SEA
20. Brandon LaFell - CAR
21. Ted Ginn Jr - CAR
22. Dwayne Bowe - KC
23. Lance Moore - NO
24. James Jones - GB
25. Jarrett Boykin - GB
26. Steve Smith - CAR
27. Andre Caldwell - DEN
28. Aaron Dobson - NE
29. Jermaine Kearse - SEA
30. Mohamed Sanu - CIN
31. Andrew Hawkins - CIN
32. Jason Avant - PHI
33. Da'Rick Rogers - IND
34. Quinton Patton - SF
35. Kenny Stills - NO
36. Kenbrell Thompkins - NE
37. Robert Meachem - NO
38. Griff Whalen - IND
39. Dexter McCluster - KC
40. Donnie Avery - KC
41. Eddie Royal - SD
42. Ricardo Lockette - SEA
43. Vincent Brown - SD
44. Junior Hemingway - KC
45. AJ Jenkins - KC
46. Brad Smith - PHI
47. Domenik Hixon - CAR
48. Josh Boyce - NE
49. Jonathan Baldwin - SF
50. Darrius Heyward-Bey - IND
Notes: QB/WR combinations from a Super Bowl team are lethal in contests like this, so don't shy away from doubling up on one team in the first two rounds. There will be plenty of wild card round wide receivers available late, so don't worry if your first two wide receiver picks don't play on the first weekend. Percy Harvin could still play, so don't forget him in the second half of your draft.
tight ends
1. Julius Thomas - DEN
2. Jimmy Graham - NO
3. Vernon Davis - SF
4. Greg Olsen - CAR
5. Zach Miller - SEA
6. Zach Ertz - PHI
7. Brent Celek - PHI
8. Coby Fleener - IND
9. Luke Willson - SEA
10. Jermaine Gresham - CIN
11. Andrew Quarless - GB
12. Tyler Eifert - CIN
13. Antonio Gates - SD
14. Ladarius Green - SD
15. Michael Hoomanawanui - NE
16. Jacob Tamme - DEN
17. Joel Dreessen - DEN
18. Anthony Fasano - KC
19. Sean McGrath - KC
20. Matthew Mulligan - NE
Notes: Graham is still not 100% and has a 50-50 shot at best to play more than one game. He could lap the field in his one game, but he is a risky pick in the first, or even second round. Target Julius Thomas at the 2-3 turn if you get Peyton Manning at #1. Luke Willson is an excellent later pick as one of the few big play threats at tight end in the playoffs on a team that should make a run deep into the postseason/
d/st
1. Seattle
2. Denver
3. New England
4. Carolina
5. San Francisco
6. Cincinnati
7. Philadelphia
8. Indianapolis
9. Kansas City
10. New Orleans
11. Green Bay
12. San Diego
Notes: How early is too early for the Seattle D/ST? The fourth round is not outlandish if you use 1 or 2 of your earlier picks on Russell Wilson or Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks D/ST should produce at least double the points of any other D/ST if they can make the Super Bowl.
kickers
1. Steven Hauschka - SEA
2. Matt Prater - DEN
3. Stephen Gostkowski - NE
4. Phil Dawson - SF
5. Graham Gano - CAR
6. Mike Nugent - CIN
7. Adam Vinatieri - IND
8. Alex Henery - PHI
9. Shayne Graham - NO
10. Mason Crosby - GB
11. Ryan Succop - KC
12. Nick Novak - SD
Notes: Getting a kicker from Denver or Seattle is always a good hedge if you are left out in the cold at the skill positions.
