Fantasy Football Receivers With Hardest Playoffs

We may be 3 months away from the first game of the NFL season, but it’s never too early to talk about some fantasy football receivers. Here, I will be talking about three receivers I believe might struggle in the upcoming fantasy football playoffs.

We consider the fantasy football playoff schedule to take place during weeks 15 through 17, so if your league includes week 18 or doesn’t include week 15, this list will not apply to you. 

Note that this list is coming out very early and is subject to change. While this won’t completely stop me from drafting these guys, I believe that taking an early look at these matchups prior to the draft can be very beneficial.

Rashee Rice Fantasy Football Playoff Schedule

Rice has had a less-than-ideal offseason, to say the least. On top of the upcoming suspension he will have a very difficult playoff schedule this year. 

Rice vs Browns

To start, he will be playing against the brutal Browns defense, which allowed the fourth-lowest number of fantasy points to wide receivers last season. The scary thing about last season is that it was Jim Schwartz’s first season as the Browns’ defensive coordinator. In the upcoming year, this defense could be more comfortable in the scheme and even better. 

Rice vs Texans

After that, he goes against a surprisingly good Texans defense that only allowed 10 touchdowns to receivers last year and was ranked eleventh most difficult defense for wide receivers last season. 

Rice vs Steelers 

Finally, he will play a decent Steelers defense that ranked third in defense against wide receivers inside the red zone, which is a problem for Rice since 6 of his 7 touchdowns last season came from within 15 yards of the end zone.

Overall, given the difficult fantasy football playoff schedule and the currently unknown amount of time he will be suspended, I am hesitant to draft him high in my leagues. 

Jaylen Waddle Fantasy Football Playoff Schedule

Obviously, Tyreek is a must-draft NFL player who has proven to be nearly matchup-proof, and Waddle will likely get drafted within the first three rounds this year, but the upcoming fantasy football playoffs are looking difficult.

Waddle vs Texans

To start, he will be going against the Texan’s defense, which, as I mentioned earlier, was sneakily good last season and now has more promising new pieces coming from the draft in Kamari Lassiter and Callen Bullock.

Waddle vs 49ers

Following that, he has to play the 49ers defense, which is not too rough on receivers. However, if Pro Bowl safety Talanoa Hufanga is able to stay healthy this season, this defense will see improvements compared to the second half of last season. 

Waddle vs Browns 

In the championship round, he will be forced to play the Browns, who were ranked fourth most difficult defense for wide receivers last year, only allowing three 100+ yard games to receivers (George Pickens, Josh Downs, Puka Nacua).

Overall, I believe Waddle will have difficulty dealing with these defenses, especially the Browns, in the championship game. Waddle scares me in the playoffs because he was a receiver who struggled to find the end zone last season. With such a challenging playoff route, I am worried that he will struggle to put a good amount of points up with limited touchdowns.

Curtis Samuel Fantasy Football Playoff Schedule

Samuel could have some upside this season with Josh Allen as his new quarterback as one of the few receiving options for that Bills offense. However, he still will have a difficult playoff schedule in the upcoming year.

Curtis Samuel vs Lions

It will start light with the Lions, who were a bad defense last year against receivers, but after that is when his schedule gets really difficult.

Samuel vs Patriots

He then goes on to play the Patriots, who ranked 10th most difficult defense against receivers in standard leagues last season.

Samuel vs Jets

Finally, to end the season, his championship game will be against the Jets, who were already ranked the number 1 most difficult defense against receivers in both standard and PPR leagues. Last season against the Jets in week 16 he only had 1 reception for 6 yards, and although he is on a new team I do not see him having a great game this year against that brutal Jets defense.

Curtis Samuel could be a good receiver for really deep leagues this season, but his matchups in the fantasy football playoffs concern me, especially when he faces arguably the best defense in the NFL during the championship game.