Wild Card, Playoff Challenge fantasy football rankings

Did your fantasy football season end at the hands of Aaron Rodgers, David Johnson or Jordy Nelson? Did you start Julio Jones over Adam Thielen in Week 16? (All right you made the right move, but still ... 32.6 fantasy points!) I feel for you, but the pain of defeat can be eased (at least somewhat) with a new challenge. The NFL Playoff Challenge! You can set up your own league with friends and family, or you can join my league and compete against me. You can even win a trip to Super Bowl LII scheduled to take place in February 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota!

So what is the NFL Playoff Challenge?

Well, Alex Gelhar gives a great description here so check that out. Unlike daily fantasy leagues, a player's value also includes how far you project his team to advance in the postseason. We all know Odell Beckham Jr. is a much better fantasy wideout than Julian Edelman, right? Well that's not the case in the NFL Playoff Challenge, at least not if you believe that the Patriots will advance a round or two further in the postseason than New York. That's where you'll see a difference in the player rankings below. One set is for the Wild Card Weekend alone (DFS), and one is for the entire duration of the postseason (NFL PC).

I'll be updating these suckers all throughout the postseason, so check back after each round. Enjoy!

Quarterbacks -- Wild Card Round (DFS)

1. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
   2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
   3. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
   4. Eli Manning, Giants
   5. Matthew Stafford, Lions
   6. Matt Moore, Dolphins
   7. Brock Osweiler, Texans
   8. Connor Cook, Raiders

Quarterbacks -- NFL Playoff Challenge

1. Tom Brady, Patriots
   2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
   3. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
   4. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
   5. Matt Ryan, Falcons
   6. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
   7. Alex Smith, Chiefs
   8. Eli Manning, Giants
   9. Matthew Stafford, Lions
   10. Matt Moore, Dolphins
   11. Brock Osweiler, Texans
   12. Connor Cook, Raiders

Running backs -- Wild Card Round (DFS)

1. Le'Veon Bell, Steelers
   2. Lamar Miller, Texans
   3. Jay Ajayi, Dolphins
   4. Latavius Murray, Raiders
   5. Ty Montgomery, Packers
   6. Paul Perkins, Giants
   7. Thomas Rawls, Seahawks
   8. Zach Zenner, Lions
   9. Rashad Jennings, Giants
   10. Alex Collins, Seahawks
   11. DeAndre Washington, Raiders
   12. Damien Williams, Dolphins
   13. Jalen Richard, Raiders
   14. Alfred Blue, Texans
   15. DeAngelo Williams, Steelers
   16. Kenyan Drake, Dolphins
   17. Christine Michael, Packers
   18. Dwayne Washington, Lions
   19. Aaron Ripkowski, Packers
   20. Marcel Reece, Seahawks

Running backs -- NFL Playoff Challenge

1. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
   2. LeGarrette Blount, Patriots
   3. Le'Veon Bell, Steelers
   4. Devonta Freeman, Falcons
   5. Lamar Miller, Texans
   6. Jay Ajayi, Dolphins
   7. Spencer Ware, Chiefs
   8. Ty Montgomery, Packers
   9. Thomas Rawls, Seahawks
   10. Tevin Coleman, Falcons
   11. Latavius Murray, Raiders
   12. Paul Perkins, Giants
   13. Dion Lewis, Patriots
   14. James White, Patriots
   15. Zach Zenner, Lions
   16. Rashad Jennings, Giants
   17. Charcandrick West, Chiefs
   18. Alex Collins, Seahawks
   19. DeAndre Washington, Raiders
   20. Alfred Blue, Texans

Wide receivers -- Wild Card Round (DFS)

1. Antonio Brown, Steelers
   2. Odell Beckham Jr., Giants
   3. Jordy Nelson, Packers
   4. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks
   5. Davante Adams, Packers
   6. Golden Tate, Lions
   7. Jarvis Landry, Dolphins
   8. Amari Cooper, Raiders
   9. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans
   10. Sterling Shepard, Giants
   11. Michael Crabtree, Raiders
   12. Kenny Stills, Dolphins
   13. Anquan Boldin, Lions
   14. DeVante Parker, Dolphins
   15. Eli Rogers, Steelers
   16. Marvin Jones, Lions
   17. Jermaine Kearse, Seahawks
   18. Will Fuller, Texans
   19. Victor Cruz, Giants
   20. Paul Richardson, Lions

Wide receivers -- NFL Playoff Challenge

1. Antonio Brown, Steelers
   2. Julian Edelman, Patriots
   3. Dez Bryant, Cowboys
   4. Jordy Nelson, Packers
   5. Odell Beckham Jr., Giants
   6. Julio Jones, Falcons
   7. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks
   8. Davante Adams, Packers
   9. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs
   10. Taylor Gabriel, Falcons
   11. Amari Cooper, Raiders
   12. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans
   13. Michael Crabtree, Raiders
   14. Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs
   15. Sterling Shepard, Giants
   16. Golden Tate, Lions
   17. Jarvis Landry, Dolphins
   18. Malcolm Mitchell, Patriots
   19. Cole Beasley, Cowboys
   20. Mohamed Sanu, Falcons

Tight ends -- Wild Card Round (DFS)

1. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks
   2. Ladarius Green, Steelers
   3. Eric Ebron, Lions
   4. C.J. Fiedorowicz, Texans
   5. Jared Cook, Packers
   6. Dion Sims, Dolphins
   7. Will Tye, Giants
   8. Clive Walford, Raiders

Tight ends -- NFL Playoff Challenge

1. Martellus Bennett, Patriots
   2. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks
   3. Travis Kelce, Chiefs
   4. Jason Witten, Cowboys
   5. Ladarius Green, Steelers
   6. Jared Cook, Packers
   7. Eric Ebron, Lions
   8. C.J. Fiedorowicz, Texans
   9. Austin Hooper, Falcons
   10. Will Tye, Giants
   11. Dion Sims, Dolphins
   12. Clive Walford, Raiders

Kickers -- Wild Card Round (DFS)

1. Steven Hauschka, Seahawks
   2. Mason Crosby, Packers
   3. Chris Boswell, Steelers
   4. Nick Novak, Texans
   5. Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders
   6. Matt Prater, Lions
   7. Robbie Gould, Giants
   8. Andrew Franks, Dolphins

Kickers -- NFL Playoff Challenge

1. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots
   2. Matt Bryant, Falcons
   3. Dan Bailey, Cowboys
   4. Steven Hauschka, Seahawks
   5. Cairo Santos, Chiefs
   6. Mason Crosby, Packers
   7. Chris Boswell, Steelers
   8. Nick Novak, Texans
   9. Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders
   10. Robbie Gould, Giants
   11. Matt Prater, Lions
   12. Andrew Franks, Dolphins

Defense/special teams -- Wild Card Round (DFS)

1. Seattle Seahawks
   2. Houston Texans
   3. Pittsburgh Steelers
   4. Green Bay Packers
   5. Oakland Raiders
   6. New York Giants
   7. Detroit Lions
   8. Miami Dolphins

Defense/special teams -- NFL Playoff Challenge

1. New England Patriots
   2. Seattle Seahawks
   3. Kansas City Chiefs
   4. Dallas Cowboys
   5. Atlanta Falcons
   6. Pittsburgh Steelers
   7. Green Bay Packers
   8. New York Giants
   9. Houston Texans
   10. Oakland Raiders
   11. Detroit Lions
   12. Miami Dolphins

Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!