In the words of Jim Mora, “we’re talking about playoffs” – the fantasy football playoffs. If your league playoffs start this week or next week, it’s time to talk about the playoffs because they are here.

This year has a unique setup with some teams having a Week 13 bye week, which is very rare. Please be aware of that and please don’t be that fantasy league that has their playoffs starting too late and lasting until Week 17 just because you want an extra week in the regular season. This will cause multiple issues and could find some of your top players sitting out in the final week of the NFL regular season, impacting the fantasy championship that you’ve played all year for. Don’t do that.

Playoffs are one-week matchups just like it is on the gridiron in the NFL. Anything can happen. You need to do everything can to win that particular week as it is all that matters to keep your championship hopes alive. Checking the injury report throughout the week, doing some research on player matchups, being aware of the weather report for your crucial games, and knowing the statistics you need to know to put your best fantasy team on the field when it matters most.

Once all that is done, sit back and enjoy watching your team compete to see who comes out on top when it is all said and done.

Lions vs Bears fantasy focus

Early December weather in the city of Chicago can be very unpredictable. The current weather report shows temperatures in the mid 30’s and cloudy, but we all know that is just about as reliable as the Lions defense this year. Wind, rain, sleet, and snow are all reasonable options to consider, and all of those potential weather elements can impact your fantasy players when the Detroit Lions kick off against the Chicago Bears this Sunday.

D’Andre Swift has a chance to return at running back for the Lions, but it’s still very uncertain. Kenny Golladay seems to be a long-shot to play at this point, but the Lions would love to see him lineup at wide receiver as soon as possible. Swift would be looking for redemption from the dropped pass he had in Week 1 that would have won the game for Detroit, and Golladay is from the Chicago area so he would enjoy suiting up if he could possibly play this week too.

The Chicago Bears appear to be playing Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback again. He has feasted against the Lions as much as most of us feasted last week at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Will Trubisky eat again against the Lions or will the Lions defense be hungry?

Other fantasy-relevant players for the Bears would be Allen Robinson (WR), David Montgomery (RB), Jimmy Graham (TE), Cole Kmet (TE), and Anthony Miller (WR). Expect all of their skill players to be good options this week against a poor Detroit defense.

Darrell Bevell is taking over as the Lions interim head coach after Matt Patricia was fired last weekend. Lions fans and fantasy owners will both be interested in what the new leader brings to the table this Sunday. Neither of these teams will be in the playoffs, but their players might help your fantasy team in the playoffs.

Start/Sit

Start
Taysom Hill (QB Saints)
Miles Sanders (RB Eagles)
Cooper Kupp (WR Rams)
Darren Waller (TE Raiders)

Sit
Alex Smith (QB Washington)
Todd Gurley (RB Falcons)
Christian Kirk (WR Cardinals)
Mike Gesicki (TE Dolphins)

Top 3 projected players by position

Quarterbacks
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Josh Allen, Bills
Deshaun Watson, Texans

Running Backs
Dalvin Cook, Vikings
Derrick Henry, Titans
Austin Ekeler, Chargers

Wide Receivers
Davante Adams, Packers
Tyreek Hill, Chiefs
D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks

Tight Ends
Travis Kelce, Chiefs
Darren Waller, Raiders
Hunter Henry, Chargers

Team Defenses
Ravens
Steelers
Dolphins

Kickers
Younghoe Koo, Falcons
Jason Sanders, Dolphins
Harrison Butker, Chiefs

Waiver wire options

Drew Lock (QB Broncos)
Mitchell Trubisky (QB Bears)
Cam Akers (RB Rams)
Devontae Booker (RB Raiders)
Keke Coutee (WR Texans)
T.Y. Hilton (WR Colts)
Trey Burton (TE Colts)
Dawson Knox (TE Bills)

Intriguing games and players in Week 13

(Week 13 Bye Weeks: Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers) 

New Orleans at Atlanta, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST

NO: Alvin Kamara (RB), Taysom Hill (QB) ATL: Julio Jones (WR), Calvin Ridley (WR)

Detroit at Chicago, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST

DET: T.J. Hockenson (TE), D’Andre Swift (RB) CHI: Anthony Miller (WR), David Montgomery (RB)

Cleveland at Tennessee, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST

CLE: Kareem Hunt (RB), Austin Hooper (TE) TEN: Derrick Henry (RB), A.J. Brown (WR)

LA Rams at Arizona, Sunday 4:05 PM, EST

LAR: Jared Goff (QB), Cam Akers (RB) AZ: Kyler Murray (QB), Kenyon Drake (RB)

Washington at Pittsburgh, Monday 5:00 PM, EST

WSH: Terry McLaurin (WR), Steven Sims (WR) PIT: JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR), Chase Claypool (WR)

Buffalo at San Francisco, Monday 8:15 PM, EST

BUF: Josh Allen (QB), Stefon Diggs (WR) SF: Deebo Samuel (WR), Raheem Mostert (RB)

Dallas at Baltimore, Tuesday 8:05 PM, EST

DAL: CeeDee Lamb (WR), Ezekiel Elliott (RB) BAL: J.K. Dobbins (RB), Marquise Brown (WR)

Bottom Line

Both in the NFL and fantasy football, we all are playing in hopes to make the playoffs. Once you are in the playoffs anything can happen and often does. Your fantasy team has battled all year for playoff time and now that time is here.

Focus on your team if you need one more win to get in. Look over all the scenarios that could get you in the playoffs, and also be aware if there are any situations that could bounce you from the playoff picture. Many teams have snuck in late and there are always a few teams that get eliminated at the wire when it comes to fantasy football.

It’s this simple. Get in and then win.