Conference Championship Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings
Which fantasy wide receivers can be trusted in the Conference Championships?
We have one final fantasy football position to go over for the Conference Championship Games, and it's the wide receiver spot.
We already looked at quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends in different stories. Also be sure to check out our fantasy matchup article, and check back later in the week for projections, start/sit analysis and more!
Use the FantasySP start/sit tool to help determine the best options for the Conference Championships.
1. Puka Nacua
Nacua is my top fantasy wide receiver again for the upcoming playoff round.
He was the top fantasy wideout all season, and has remained heavily involved in the postseason. Nacua has 10 and 18 targets over the two playoff games. He was limited to five catches and 56 yards last week, but the 10 targets is what is most important.
His matchup against the Seahawks is very tough, and actually was the second-toughest test for a fantasy wideout all season. Seattle allowed 25 fantasy points per game.
Nacua had 75 yards on seven catches and eight targets in the first regular season game against Seattle. He exploded for 225 yards and two touchdowns over 12 grabs and 16 targets in the second game.
I don't know how you take anyone over Nacua at this point.
Smith-Njigba was the only option to top Nacua, and after his slow outing last week, I couldn't get myself to make that call.
He had just 19 yards on three catches and four targets in the team's lopsided win over San Francisco. JSN had 105 yards on nine receptions and 12 targets against LA in the first regular season game, then 96 yards and a touchdown on eight grabs and 13 targets in the last meeting.
His matchup is above average, and the best of the week. LA allowed 33 fantasy points per game this season.
After last week though, I just do not trust JSN over Nacua. I do think Smith-Njigba bounces back and delivers a big fantasy score this week.
Adams was slowed last week as well, but I still like him at the No. 3 spot.
He had 24 yards on two grabs and six targets last round. Adams had 72 yards on five catches and 13 targets in the first round.
He only faced Seattle once, missing the second game with his injury. Adams had just one catch in the first game, but it was a touchdown. He had eight targets.
I expect Adams to be more involved and productive this time around, so don't worry about his slow showing last week, and down performance in the first meeting between the teams.
4. Stefon Diggs
Diggs gets my No. 4 ranking for the upcoming round.
He went for 40 yards and a touchdown across four receptions and six targets last week. Diggs was held to 16 yards on two grabs and five targets in the first postseason game.
Diggs and the Pats have not faced the Broncos this season. Denver is a pretty tough test on fantasy wideouts, allowing just 27 fantasy points per game.
With Bo Nix out for Denver, I see a lot of offensive possessions for New England, and I think it helps guys like Diggs deliver a good amount of fantasy points eventually.
Sutton lands in the No. 5 spot for me despite Nix being out - he would be a spot higher with him around, and would have a much higher fantasy ceiling.
Sutton could still go off, but his outlook is weakened with Jarrett Stidham taking over as the starting quarterback.
Sutton went for 53 yards on four receptions and nine targets in the team's playoff game last week. He's the No. 1 pass catcher, especially with some injuries around him.
He's just not the safest fantasy starting option with Nix out of the picture, but maybe he could steal a score or rack up a handful of catches to deliver some fantasy points this week.
His matchup against the Patriots is below-average, but actually the second-best test among the wideouts this week. New England allowed 28 fantasy points per game to wideouts.
Boutte has been pretty good in the two postseason games so far, so I debated taking him earlier, and even over Diggs.
He had 75 yards and a score on three catches and five targets last week. Boutte tallied 66 yards across four grabs and targets in the first round.
Boutte could surprise again, so consider him in your fantasy/DFS lineups this week.
7. Marvin Mims
Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant both have uncertain statuses for this week, so Mims could be the No. 2 wideout in Denver.
He went for 93 yards and a score on eight catches and targets last week, but his outlook is down with Stidham throwing to him now.
I'll cover this a bit more in a bit, but you'll want to watch the status of Franklin and Bryant before considering Mims here. I think regardless of the status of his teammates that Mims is worth the No. 7 spot amongst wide receivers.
8. Cooper Kupp
Kupp surprised last week, going for 60 yards on five catches and targets. He only had 29 yards on two grabs and three targets in the first round.
I think the Seattle, Los Angeles game could turn into a high-enough scoring game to support a couple fantasy wideouts posting decent marks, and Kupp could be one of them.
He had 39 yards over three receptions and four targets in his last game against LA. Kupp posted 23 yards on three catches and seven targets in the first meeting between the two teams.
Maybe Kupp could surprise again against his former team.
Humphrey gets the No. 9 ranking, but that's only if Bryant and Franklin miss the upcoming game.
He took advantage of the expanded role last week, catching two of his five targets for 33 yards and a touchdown.
Humphrey is capable of a similar showing, or even more, if he's the No. 3 wideout for Sunday's game. Watch the status of his teammates to determine if Humphrey is worth a gamble.
10. Rashid Shaheed
Shaheed gets the final ranking for today.
He was only targeted twice last week, and he failed to catch either pass. Shaheed did help out a bit in the running game, and he could get a few more looks now that Zach Charbonnet is out for the season.
Shaheed should take on more in general with Charbonnet out, so I thought he was worth at least a top-10 ranking.
He has faced the Rams three times this season - twice with the Seahawks and once while on the Saints. He had 68 yards on five catches and nine targets while with New Orleans, but combined for just 27 yards on two catches and six targets in his two games against LA while in Seattle.
Other Notes
Franklin would replace Humphrey in the rankings if he's able to suit up this week. Bryant would not make the top 10 if he's active.
Franklin has been a bigger part of the offense, but an injury concern likely means that Mims would overtake him for the No. 2 WR role in the AFC title game. Bryant is more a secondary option, but could steal some targets and production, so his status is still noteworthy.
Jake Bobo and Dareke Young played 13 and 11 snaps last week, respectively, for the Seahawks. Bobo had a 16-yard catch, while Young wasn't targeted. The snap totals could have been impacted by the lopsided game Seattle was in, so I don't see either as big fantasy options for the coming game.
Efton Chism, Kyle Williams and DeMario Douglas played 22, 22 and 17 offensive snaps, respectively, last week for New England.
Douglas had 36 yards and a score over two catches and targets, so he was close to making my top 10, but I ultimately passed on him. Williams was targeted three times, but didn't make a catch, so he landed outside my top 10 too. I see Diggs and Boutte doing the heavy lifting at wideout for New England, then Chism, Douglas and Williams filling in and not being very good assets in secondary roles.
Jordan Whittington (47), Konata Mumpfield (36) and Xavier Smith (9) all played offensive snaps for LA last week. Whittington had 35 yards across two catches and targets, plus a carry that didn't gain a yard. Mumpfield made two catches across three targets for 11 yards, while Smith wasn't targeted.
Nacua and Adams will do most of the damage for LA, with tight ends helping out more than Whittington, Mumpfield and Smith. I'd avoid the final three LA wideouts going into a brutal matchup, although they could surprise with just a catch or two.
