With fantasy playoffs approaching, it's the savvy owner who makes the shrewd deals now to put himself in the best position to win. By knowing the matchups during weeks 14, 15, and 16 and knowing which players to trade for, and trade away, you can set yourself up for your championship run.

 

Below are the rankings vs. the run for all 32 NFL teams in weeks 14-16 based on the amount of fantasy points their opponents allow on average thru week 10. The higher the total score; the more favorable the matchups are in those 3 weeks combined.

 

Rushing Matchups Fantasy Playoffs Weeks

 

 

As you can see, the Green Bay Packers have the most favorable schedule against opposing run defenses of all 32 teams. Conversely, the Minnesota Vikings have the worst schedule vs. the run overall. Now, while I am a big advocate f trying to acquire Packers RB Eddie Lacy based on this, I would not be trading away Vikings RB Adrian Peterson straight up for him. Peterson has proven to be an elite fantasy RB who can get his points against any opponent. There is a measure of common sense that must be applied when using these rankings for determining what players to trade for and trade away.

 

For example, the Atlanta Falcons have been a miserable rushing offense this season. While Steven Jackson was supposed to provide them with the missing element of a power rushing attack, it just hasn't happened. And a split situation with Jacquizz Rodgers and maybe even Jason Snelling by week 14 is not farfetched to the imagination. I wouldn't recommend trading Zac Stacy of the Rams or Reggie Bush of the Lions (the 27th and tied for the 28th toughest schedule vs. the run) to acquire any Falcons RB.

 

However, if I could package a trade of Zac Stacy for Eddie Lacy, that I would strongly recommend doing.

 

And it also needs to be remembered which RB's give a lot of value in the passing game as well as the rushing game for their team. A guy like Reggie Bush not just gets you fantasy points through his legs, he gets receiving yards as well on a regular basis. So apply common sense to this.

 

That said, here are some guys to definitely target to acquire:

 

1) Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers.

2) Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals.

3) Demarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys.

4) Ben Tate, Houston Texans.

 

You can even target guys that are the better fantasy RB's but are part of a time share as well. Andre Ellington of the Arizona Cardinals, Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller of the Buffalo Bills, and even Benjarvus Green-Ellis of Cincinnati. These guys may or may not be the best RB's for you to start those weeks, but having bench players who have superior matchups is certainly a lot better to have in case of an injury than having guys like Trent Richardson and Donald Brown, or Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell.

 

And even though I wouldn't trade away Adrian Peterson just because of the matchups, I might consider trading Peterson in a package deal that nets me great players with great matchups those weeks.

 

For example if you look at the passing matchups below, I could easily see making the offer of Adrian Peterson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Marques Colston in return for Eddie Lacy and Brandon Marshall. You could even ask for a lesser player with great matchups as the 3rd player in the trade and maybe get Riley Cooper or Kendall Wright. The matchups for Lacy and Marshall are fantastic while the matchups for Peterson, Fitzgerald, and Colston (the 2 WR's having higher name value than actual fantasy value) are poor.

 

Here are the rankings vs. the pass for all 32 NFL teams in weeks 14-16 based on the amount of fantasy points their opponents allow on average thru week 10.

 

Passing Matchups Fantasy Playoffs Weeks

 

 

As you can see here, the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears have the best passing/receiving matchups for the fantasy playoffs. Nick Foles, DeSean Jackson, Riley Cooper, along with Jay Cutler (and Josh McCown is not a bad safety net to have for Cutler), Brandon Marshall, and Alshon Jeffery all are great players to have on your fantasy roster come the fantasy playoffs.

 

On the other side, the Saints, Cardinals, and Colts are all on the wrong side of the equation. Now just like with Adrian Peterson at RB, I certainly would not be giving up Saints QB Drew Brees in a trade that didn't net me a lot in return. Those 2 games against Carolina's 2nd ranked pass defense in weeks 14 and 16 are weighing heavily. But you know a stud QB like Brees is still going to get his fantasy points. So I wouldn't trade away Brees.

 

But I could trade away his pass catchers, maybe even Jimmy Graham because of the injury concerns. The Saints may have things locked up by week 16, and then they'd likely sit Graham so he can be as healthy as possible for the NFL playoffs. I could also definitely trade away anyone involved in the Cardinals or Colts passing games, including Andrew Luck. T.Y. Hilton might be the only guy from those 2 teams' passing games I would have a high degree of hope for producing quality fantasy points.

 

Look at trying to pry Aaron Rodgers away from the guy who has him in your league. Rodgers is fully expected back by week 14 and gets great matchups in weeks 14 and 15, and the Packers are likely to be fighting for a playoff spot.

 

Use these rankings to make the right trades to help put you in the best position to win your league's fantasy championship. The final piece of putting together your championship run is getting those great players who also have those great matchups during your playoff weeks. Go make it happen.