Top 25 WR fantasy football rankings for 2023 NFL playoff best ball

The NFL playoffs are around the corner and a new opportunity arises for those that enjoy fantasy football. Playoff fantasy football gives you a clean slate with a new opportunity to build a squad of players that are either already in the playoffs or likely to make it. Drafts start as early as Week 17, but create an added wrinkle where you may end up drafting players that don’t end up making the playoffs.

One of the main differences for playoff fantasy football is that the rules can vary depending on the platform you use. You may be on one platform that is best ball scoring, and you draft and then find out if you won at the end of the playoffs. Others are similar to season-long leagues where you set a lineup each week, and it is survive and advance.

As much as you likely debated over rankings ahead of the season, fantasy playoffs are a little different. Garnering zeros in the first round is not how to win your league so you have to not only think about teams that won’t have a first round bye, but also teams that are likely to make it further in the playoffs.

As we head into Week 17, the Ravens, 49ers, Eagles, Lions, Dolphins, and Cowboys are all in the playoffs, while the Buccaneers, Browns, Chiefs, Seahawks and Bills are very close to clinching a playoff berth. The Rams, Jaguars, and Colts are also close, but when drafting at this point, it’s probably best to play it as safe as possible.

When looking at wide receivers, it’s hard to look past Miami Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill. He has thrown his name into the MVP conversation and has proven that when he is healthy, there is likely not a better wide receiver in the league. Hill leads the position with 1,641 yards, 217 ahead of CeeDee Lamb, who has the second-most. If Miami beats the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17, they will head into the final week of the season, sitting with the No. 1 seed. If they secure it, Hill would get a first-round bye, so if you’re in a survive and advance type of league, make sure to have depth with a lot of upside in case Hill takes a zero in the first week of the playoffs.

Deebo Samuel is in a similar boat. He has stayed healthy this season and has finally had the season that was expected of his versatility. Samuel heads into Week 17 with 834 yards and six touchdowns on 53 receptions while adding 179 yards and five touchdowns on the ground over 13 games. He has as much upside as anyone, but the concern is that the San Francisco 49ers are currently the favorites to win the NFC and earn its No. 1 seed. This would be another scenario where your top wide receiver could be getting a goose-egg in the first round, but has upside the rest of the way if you are in those weekly leagues.