The fantasy football playoffs are here, making every matchup do-or-die from this point forward. Setting lineups is never more stressful than it is in December, but it is important not to overreact to just a few bad performances.
Any manager in the playoffs has gotten to this point because of their roster. Some league-winners might have cost managers their Week 14 matchups, but that does not mean players like Bijan Robinson, George Pickens, Justin Jefferson and Terry McLaurin should be trusted any less in the fantasy football playoffs.
It is officially crunch time, and the entire season comes down to these final weeks. But as important as it is to research matchups and scour the waiver wire for any last-minute league savers, it is equally as vital not to forget who got you to the dance.
Bijan Robinson is still fantasy football royalty
Bijan Robinson is the type of player who cannot exit any fantasy football lineup, regardless of matchup. He let managers down with an 8.4-point performance in Week 14, which was even worse in non-PPR formats, but he is primed to rebound in Week 15.
All things considered, Robinson's lackluster performance was still impressive. He faced the best rushing defense in the league and still produced 94 yards on 22 touches. A costly fumble and his failure to reach the end zone simply marred what was otherwise an encouraging outing against a stout defensive front.
Robinson's matchup will be much easier in Week 15, when the Atlanta Falcons face the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers have been a top-10 defense against the run all season, but they just allowed 62 rushing yards to Bam Knight and 70 yards to Devin Neal.
Robinson is levels above both players and will be seeking vengeance after notching just 24 rushing yards against Tampa Bay in Week 1.
Expect big week from George Pickens
Fantasy football managers who have ridden the success of George Pickens were let down in Week 14 when the star wideout caught five passes for just 37 receiving yards. The yard total marked Pickens' second-lowest of the season and his fewest since Week 1.
However, few players' stock rose more than that of Pickens in Week 14. The troubled star has a chance to reclaim his former role as Dak Prescott's No. 1 target with CeeDee Lamb suffering a scary concussion injury in the game.
In three games without Lamb earlier this year, Pickens averaged 8.7 targets, 6.3 receptions, 119.7 receiving yards and 1.3 touchdowns, which translated to 26.3 fantasy points. He was the No. 1 receiver in fantasy football during that span.
Even if Lamb plays, his odds of maintaining his usual workload do not appear to be high. Pickens should return to elite status against the Vikings' zone-heavy defense, a scheme he has had a lot of success against in 2025.
Don't doubt Terry McLaurin in Week 15
Terry McLaurin's disappointing fantasy football season continued with another mediocre outing in Week 14. The seven-year veteran turned in just 41 receiving yards in the Washington Commanders' shutout loss, but his stock took an even bigger hit with Jayden Daniels suffering yet another injury.
Another potential absence from Daniels lowers McLaurin's ceiling on paper, but it might not actually be as much of a downgrade as fans fear. McLaurin's two worst performances of the season have both surprisingly been with Daniels under center, while the rest of his games have come with Marcus Mariota commanding the huddle.
In seven total games with Mariota, McLaurin averages 7.7 targets, 4.9 receptions and 76.7 receiving yards. That includes his 41-yard game in Week 14, in which Mariota only played 13 snaps.
The chemistry with the oft-injured Daniels has not been there, but McLaurin has remained effective with Mariota. Regardless of which quarterback plays, the Commanders' star wideout should have a field day against the New York Giants' bottom-five passing defense in Week 15.
Justin Jefferson could finally blow up
Few players have disappointed more in 2025 than Justin Jefferson, who is barely a top-25 fantasy football receiver. Frustrated managers might be contemplating benching Jefferson, but they need to trust him for one more week.
Jefferson posted just 11 receiving yards in Week 14, giving him just 15 yards in his last two games. Regardless, he is set up with his best matchup of the year in Week 15.
The entire Minnesota Vikings offense should have its best fantasy football day in Week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys rank in the bottom five in nearly every major defensive category, including fantasy points against receivers.
The primary concern with Jefferson is quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but even the Michigan alum should have success in the positive matchup. Dallas' defense has ceded season-high performances to nearly every quarterback it has faced thus far. Even Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, who have both been benched since, played like MVP candidates against them.
If there is a time Jefferson will finally reward his managers for their patience, it will come in prime time against the Cowboys.
Keep Tyler Warren in fantasy football lineups
The fantasy football tight end field can be a crapshoot at times, but Tyler Warren has been one of the few consistent players in the NFL. Warren's production has dipped in the last two weeks, resulting in back-to-back season-low performances in Week 13 and Week 14.
Warren, now coming off a career-worst 15-yard game, undeniably let managers down in the fantasy football regular season finale. His circumstances surrounding that performance further lowered his rest-of-season outlook, as he will no longer catch passes from Daniel Jones.
Instead of Jones, Warren will work with either 44-year-old Philip Rivers or rookie Riley Leonard in Week 15. The transition from Jones to either player lowers the ceiling of the Colts' entire offense, but Warren could still churn out a productive afternoon against the Seattle Seahawks' elite defense.
The Seahawks have been potent in all areas, but they allow the second-most receiving yards to tight ends. Indianapolis will be forced to throw the ball, and Warren will be Rivers' most favorable matchup.
Both Rivers and Leonard have historically favored tight ends, even in his lone season with the Colts. Rivers' top target throughout his career was Antonio Gates, while Leonard fed tight end Mitchell Evans a team-high 43 catches with Notre Dame in 2024.
