If you’re reading this, you’re most likely either in the playoffs or will be in the playoffs this fantasy season. Congratulations! It was certainly a trying season with injuries and COVID-19 galore. If you’re on the outside looking in or are already eliminated, my condolences. Hopefully, I can at least help you avoid any last place punishments in your league or help you win the consolation championship. Every year, there are a small handful of fantasy football pickups that go off in the playoffs.
Here are my top fantasy football pickups that I can see being the difference in the fantasy playoffs.
Fantasy Football Pickups for Playoff Teams
Wayne Gallman, RB (NYG)
Owned in only 28.3% of ESPN leagues, running back Wayne Gallman has reached the end zone five times in the past four games, and his workload is only increasing for the New York Giants. He doesn’t contribute much in the passing game, with only eight receptions in the past four weeks. Gallman isn’t the most efficient runner and he does split carries in the backfield, but he produces. If this continues, he’ll keep getting more and more opportunities to shine. The last four weeks of the season see him matched up against the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys. Baltimore is really the only tough matchup and he is a sneaky FLEX play, especially in deep leagues.
Nyheim Hines, RB (IND)
Raise your hand if you bought into the Nyheim Hines hype after Week 1, picked him up, and have been disappointed ever since? Just me? Anyways, Hines may be a running back, but his productivity comes in the form of a pass catching RB. Owned in just 41.2% of ESPN leagues, Hines has four touchdowns in his last three games. The scariest thing is his workload might continue to rise. With Jonathan Taylor’s inefficiency and struggles holding onto the ball, Hines is slowly starting to see more work. In the last four weeks, he faces the Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars. With only one tough matchup for him, he should continue to shine for the Indianapolis Colts.
Darnell Mooney, WR (CHI)
What if I told you two Chicago Bears could be serviceable in fantasy with this horrid offense? Don’t believe me? Enter receiver Darnell Mooney. He is not the flashiest, but he had ten receptions between Weeks 8 and 9 for 112 yards and a touchdown. You’d think people would start to jump on the bandwagon, yet he’s only owned in 18.5% of ESPN leagues. He’s certainly becoming an intriguing FLEX option. With Bears head coach Matt Nagy giving up play calling duties, it’s hard to imagine the offense can go anywhere but up. Mooney lines up against the Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Green Bay Packers the last four weeks of the season. None of those secondaries should scare you away from him.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR (IND)
For starters, I am incredibly biased when it comes to Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. I thought he was one of the best, if not the best, receivers in this past NFL Draft. He returned from injury in Week 8 and, outside of a bad game against Detroit, has posted 11 receptions for 157 yards in the last two weeks. Quarterback Philip Rivers loves big targets and, at 6’4, Pittman fits the bill. He’s a big target with sure hands, good routes and solid speed. Not to mention he faces Las Vegas, Houston, Pittsburgh and Jacksonville to close out the season. Absurdly, he is only owned in 5% of ESPN leagues. This is the opportunity to be one of the first on the Pittman bandwagon.
Jared Goff, QB (LAR)
The Blake Bortles award goes to the quarterback who will be subpar all season and then suddenly ball out in the playoffs. This year, it likely goes to Jared Goff. Just like former Jaguars quarterback Bortles, Goff is far from the sexy pick. Guess what? Sexy doesn’t get you anywhere in fantasy. Goff may be the 17th-ranked QB right now, but the last four weeks of the season see him face the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. Owned in only 59.2% of ESPN leagues (33.7% before Week 10), he could be the guy you forever look favorably upon, as he did just enough to get you over the edge in your pursuit of fantasy glory.
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