Tera Roberts | Wed, Jun 19th 2024, 7:10am EDT

Fantasy Football Playoff Schedules: Favorable Matchups to Target (2024)

It’s only June but keen fantasy managers are already thinking ahead to the fantasy football playoffs. With the recent release of the 2024 NFL schedule, we can analyze fantasy football playoff schedules and find players to target with favorable playoff schedules across all offensive positions. We’ll look at three teams with late-season upside — the Cowboys, Saints and Buccaneers. Here are favorable matchups to target for fantasy football playoff schedules.

Favorable Fantasy Football Playoff Schedules to Target

Dallas: Dak Prescott (QB8) and Jake Ferguson (TE10)

Playoff schedule: @ Carolina, vs. Tampa Bay, @ Philadelphia

Snagging CeeDee Lamb is only possible with an early-round pick but Dak Prescott and Jake Ferguson will be readily available in the middle rounds of your fantasy draft. The quarterback position is deep in 2024 and drafting last year’s QB3 in round seven offers incredible value, even without the advantageous playoff schedule. The Cowboys lost Tony Pollard in free agency and will continue to aggressively push the pass, making Prescott one of the strongest value picks in 2024. Ferguson also presents strong value at TE10. With the Cowboys’ lack of investment at receiver, Ferguson should repeat as Prescott’s second look.

The Cowboys’ playoff schedule is deceptively juicy against the pass. In 2023, Carolina’s defense hemorrhaged fantasy points to opposing running backs and stifled opposing pass attacks. But, 2024 could tell another story. The Panthers were gutted this offseason with multiple losses in free agency and trades, leaving their pass rush extremely vulnerable in 2024. Tampa Bay’s defense allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and should remain a strong matchup for opposing quarterbacks.

The Eagles are a bit of a wild card. They allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2023 but addressed their positional needs in the draft, using their first two picks on two of the draft’s top prospects at cornerback. But rookies are often inconsistent and Prescott can still thrive in what should be a high-scoring affair, making the Cowboys’ playoff schedule one of the best in 2024 for quarterbacks and pass-catchers.

New Orleans: Chris Olave (WR11), Alvin Kamara (RB17)

Playoff schedule: vs. Washington, @ Green Bay, vs. Las Vegas

Trusting New Orleans’ offense for consistency and upside has been challenging in recent years but two Saints offer strong upside in the fantasy playoffs. The Saints’ playoff schedule offers defenses vulnerable to running backs and receivers, making Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara strong playoff targets.

For Olave, the Commanders lost top cornerback Kendall Fuller in free agency and will look vastly different on defense in 2024. Green Bay has been inconsistent and average at best against receivers. The Raiders opted to draft Brock Bowers versus a position of need in cornerback after losing Marcus Peters. Olave is the Saints’ clear WR1 and while his second-round ranking isn’t cheap, he has upside in a new offensive system.

The playoff advantage for Kamara is simple. Washington, Green Bay, and Las Vegas were all in the top 12 of most fantasy points allowed to running backs in 2023, and Kamara’s RB17 ranking is extremely juicy. Kamara’s ground production in 2023 was limited but he had a strong rebound in receptions with his highest total since 2020. Kamara’s receiving upside combined with excellent rushing matchups could yield multiple top-five finishes throughout the playoffs.

Tampa Bay: Mike Evans (WR14), Chris Godwin (WR35), Rachaad White (RB12), Baker Mayfield (QB22)

Playoff schedule: @ L.A. Chargers, @ Dallas, vs. Carolina

Despite excellent years from Rachaad White and Mike Evans and a comeback year for Baker Mayfield, all Tampa players have very friendly average draft positions (ADP) and an intriguing playoff schedule. We’ve already discussed the vulnerability in Carolina — a team that struggled against the run in 2023 and should have a regression in pass defense in 2024.

The addition of Jim Harbough should help get the Chargers’ defense on track but don’t expect a dramatic change from 2023. Progressing towards just the average would be a massive improvement for a Chargers defense that ranked third in most fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers and 11th in points given up to running backs. The Cowboys’ defense has been stout recently but lost defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

The Bucs’ playoff schedule is a sneaky favorable target for all skill positions. White is ranked RB13 in FantasyPros’ expert consensus rankings (ECR), coming off an overall RB4 finish in full PPR. Evans is ranked WR12, coming off an overall WR7 finish and the second-best year of his career. Mayfield had a career year in 2023 and finished as the QB10 and offers excellent value in Superflex. Chris Godwin struggled in 2023 but offers value at a reduced ranking of WR35.

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