But in reality, it does. Gone are four teams that offered little excitement in terms of options to play. Here are four very good teams — Arizona, Carolina, Denver and New England — to give you a lot more to think about.
Here’s sifting through all that to give you some play-or-not-play advice in what’s now Week 19:
Playoff fantasy football rankings:Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Defenses | Kickers
Stud: Carson Palmer, Cardinals vs. GB ($8,900). He’s the most expensive QB, with good reason. He has the fewest concerns and questions on whether he will produce, given he was the most consistent fantasy QB in the regular season. He didn’t do much against the Packers in Week 16, but he’ll likely need to throw considerably more in the rematch with a revved-up Aaron Rodgers.
Sleeper: Peyton Manning, Broncos vs. PIT ($7,000). Brock Osweiler had one great half in Pittsburgh, so that gives confidence Manning can put together one complete pleasing game at home. Expect a whole lot of dinking and dunking, as Manning relies on his bevy of talented wideouts, tight ends and backs to make some plays after the catch. You should be able to squeeze 250 yards and two TDs out of him as the floor – maybe without those old turnovers.
Bust: Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers at DEN ($8,100). He continued his road statistical struggles in Cincinnati, and now he’s suddenly the most shorthanded he’s been on skill player support all season. That’s bad news against a Broncos’ defense that can contain the run and be in a position to tee off on him all day.
Stud: David Johnson, Cardinals vs. GB ($8,500). There’s a lot more to love in the desert. Although a Palmer-Johnson stack isn’t conventional, neither is the way Johnson is used. He should be busy as a runner, for sure, as Arizona’s best threat to score the short ones. But the Cardinals should also want to get him busy as a receiver to take advantage of linebacker or safety matchups. Johnson is worth trying to get in tournament lineups as a great player around whom to build because there’s just not much else looking studly or non-committee at the position.
Sleeper: James White, Patriots vs. KC ($6,500). It’s hard to know how much White will be involved carrying the ball, but this recommendation comes from the fact Tom Brady should be getting the ball out quickly into the open field, and with the Chiefs’ cornerbacks causing problems for his wideouts, the versatile White should get plenty of chances, both in and well out of the red zone.
Bust: Jonathan Stewart, Panthers vs. SEA ($6,300). Stewart found the end zone twice in the first matchup, and that’s what you’d be banking on for him to pay off against a Seahawks’ run defense that’s better this time with Jordan Hill and Bobby Wagner healthy and helping to plug the middle. Stewart should have no worries with the foot injury, but Seattle’s front seven is concern enough.
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Stud: Demaryius Thomas, Broncos vs. PIT ($8,100). Thomas is the type of wide receiver who can give the Steelers’ fits with his elusiveness after the catch and his ability to sneak downfield. You can bet Peyton will want to be fully locked in with his top target to take advantage of the matchup.
Sleeper: Michael Floyd, Cardinals vs. GB ($6,500). He costs less than teammates John Brown and Larry Fitzgerald, despite dropping 111 yards on the Packers in Week 16. His size should give the Packers’ cornerbacks more problems.
Bust: Martavis Bryant, Steelers at DEN ($7,100). So everyone’s bound to flock to Bryant with news that Antonio Brown (concussion) won’t be suiting up Sunday. The memories of last week’s crazy touchdown catch only make that more so. It’s a trap. Bryant isn’t built to handle the Broncos’ tough single coverage without Brown drawing plenty of attention away from him.
Stud: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots vs. KC ($8,300). Greg Olsen should be heavily owned as many recall his big game against Seattle in Week 6 and flock to his $6,500 price tag. Strangely, that makes Gronk a high-priced contrarian play. Sure, it looks like New England’s wideouts are healthy and Kansas City makes TEs evaporate, but this is Gronk…in the playoffs. He’s due to explode.
Sleeper: Heath Miller, Steelers at DEN ($5,400). The Broncos have had the most trouble in coverage against tight ends, mainly because no one wants to mess much with their cornerbacks. As Roethlisberger will be forced to check down often without Brown, Miller can rack up some short receptions.
Bust: Travis Kelce, Chiefs at NE ($6,600). Kelce had one big play to really make him worth it at Houston, turning a good 7-for-80 day into a great one with a 48-yard catch and run. The Patriots have been stingy against tight ends, so it’s hard to expect an encore against another good defense on the road. They also should key on Kelce to take him away with Jeremy Maclin (ankle) in line to miss the game.
Stud: Broncos vs. PIT ($5,300). You’re paying the highest price for them, but they’re also the safest play given Roethlisberger has been rough on the road even when at his healthiest. Now with limited healthy weapons around him, he’s ripe for some sacks and turnovers under pressure. It’s hard to see Pittsburgh scoring a lot, too, likely without both DeAngelo Williams and Brown.
Sleeper: Patriots vs. KC ($4,700). This a terrific matchup for New England’s defense, which will need to come up with sacks and takeaways against Alex Smith in what could be an ugly, lower-scoring affair. It doesn’t hurt that Maclin is hurting. Kansas City is careful with the ball, but with Smith having to do more, it will allow the Pats to score more defensive points.
Bust: Panthers vs. SEA ($5,000). When Carolina went to Seattle in October, it got four sacks, and nothing else, as the Seahawks scored 23 points and had a pretty good day offensively. Russell Wilson is playing better than he was then, and, really, with Cam Newton on the other side, it’s hard to recommend the Seahawks here, too. It just comes down to the Panthers being more expensive.
