The NFL’s post-season is coming in for a landing. The Super Bowl is Sunday, and the season will officially be over. This week, I’m looking at those who helped themselves and hurt themselves throughout the NFL post-season. Today, we’re looking at winners.
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
About: The Packers were a surprise entry to the playoffs and a surprise winner during Wild Card Weekend, hanging 48 points on the Dallas Cowboys. Love, who spent the season proving he could be a franchise quarterback, made his mark in his first post-season, too. Facing a good Cowboys and 49ers defense, Love finished with 466 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. He’s moving into the QB1 range in the dynasty, which means he’ll be expensive to acquire but could be a good piece to build around or flip for picks if you have the depth.
Stock Up: C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
About: This will only get higher if he wins the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year this week, which I expect. But Stroud was another young quarterback who delivered in his first postseason. He looked good in beating the Browns, and with his Offensive Coordinator staying in place, this is a young offense that will just keep getting better. Stroud had 449 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in two post-season games. He’s another young player who should—rightly—be in QB1 consideration in Dynasty. He’s looking like a steal as the third quarterback off the board in most rookie drafts last summer.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
About: Jones struggled to stay on the field much of the regular season, but he stepped up when it mattered most. In two post-season games, he rushed for 226 yards and three touchdowns, topping 100 yards in each of the Packers’ games. He’s an older player on a young offense, but he proved his worth to this team. I suspect he’ll be back with a good, young Packers’ offense in 2024, and he could be a great player to try and acquire low or sell high, depending on your situation this off-season.
Stock Up: Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
About: The Chiefs have been strong all post-season, moving to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years. But it’s undeniable that the team has changed strategies over the years. The Chiefs have more of a conservative, ball-control offense built to compete with a strong defense. And Pacheco fits that plan. He rushed for 254 yards and three touchdowns in three games. I understand the reservations about a running back that doesn’t get a lot of play in the passing game, but Pacheco looks like a good, reliable piece of the Chiefs’ offense that will be an affordable sidekick for Patrick Mahomes in the next few years.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
About: The regular season was no fluke for Nacua. The Fifth-Round draft pick showed up big when it mattered most. The Rams weren’t able to beat the Lions in the Wild Card Round, but with Nacua, they made it awfully close. The rookie caught nine passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. It was a great cap to an excellent rookie year. He was a steal in the 2023 Rookie Drafts that should bear fruit for years to come with the Rams.
Stock Up: Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
About: Rice is the other young Chief who is showing he’s a valuable part of the offense. Rice has 20 receptions for 223 yards and a touchdown so far in the playoffs. He’s become the top wide receiver in this offense, and a target Mahomes is looking for. I’m using this as an opportunity. I think the Chiefs will continue to bring in targets, and while Rice will be a strong contributor, his hype is pushing high. If I have him, especially if he has a great game on Sunday, I’m moving him while his value is maxed out.
Tight Ends:
Stock Up: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
About: What a difference the post-season makes! Kelce looked like he’d lost a step at times in the regular season. And it looked as though he might hang it up after the season. But Kelce found the fountain of youth again in the post-season, catching 23 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. He’s been dominant. I’m using this surge as a chance to sell Kelce high this off-season. He will probably have a decent 2024, but the gulf between him and other tight ends has shrunk. I’m making the move to maximize my return before the gulf shrinks even more.
Stock Up: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
About: It wasn’t a great post-season for the Browns, but despite the loss, Njoku continued to shine. He came on during the season and continued that hot stretch in the post-season. He caught seven passes for 93 yards and looks like a player moving into strong TE1 consideration moving forward.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
