NFL Fantasy Football Best Ball Playoff Strategy: Expert Draft Grid & More
At Fantasy Alarm, fantasy football never ends. Of course, we play redraft. We play dynasty. And we play best ball. And, lucky for us, there is still a fantastic best ball format left to be played - playoff best ball! We'll be diving into contests over on Underdog like the Gauntlet and the Mitten to test our strengths.
Our best ball cheat sheet has the basics that you need to get through their 10 rounds, six team best ball drafts. It's got the keys on what teams to target, how to properly stack players, and what rounds you'll need to strike to get your guys.
All on a convenient PDF to print out. Good luck in your quest for best ball playoff glory on Underdog! And, if this is your first time playing, make sure you use promo code ALARM where they will match 50% of your deposit up to $1,000!
Best Ball Fantasy Football Playoff Strategy
When going into these Best Ball fantasy football playoff drafts it's key to have a core set of strategies to target so here are the five rules to live by when formulating your draft strategy:
- SUPER BOWL IS KING: The final week decides the prizes. So getting players to the Super Bowl is our #1 task.
- FIVE ALIVE: The lineup is 1 QB, 1 RB, 2 WR/TE, 1 FLEX (non-superflex). If you do not have five players “alive” with at least 1 QB and 1 RB in the Super Bowl, you are drawing dead. E.G. if you stack Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, and DeVonta Smith then the Eagles go to the SB, you will need an RB from an AFC team to make the Super Bowl to have a shot.
- STACK ATTACK: Based on the nature of this game, stacking is key.
- TRICKLE DOWN: Your first couple of picks will likely decide your “main” team(s). The players from top seeds go first. Lean into those early then take value later with longer-shot teams.
- MIND THE BYES: It can be difficult to navigate because the bye week teams have the highest odds of making the Super Bowl. You need players, especially a QB, in each round if you want to win.
Best Ball Fantasy Football Playoff Draft Based On ADP
Here is an example lineup based on ADP. This hypothetical lineup gives me “five alive” for two different Super Bowl combos (KC vs. PHI and KC vs. LAR). It gives me a round 1 QB if/when Mahomes is on a bye week (Stafford). And Mike Evans can provide a little extra spike for a round or two).
ROUND | PLAYER | POS | TEAM | CONF |
1 | RB | PHI | NFC | |
2 | QB | KC | AFC | |
3 | WR/TE | KC | AFC | |
4 | WR/TE | LAR | NFC | |
5 | RB | LAR | NFC | |
6 | WR/TE | PHI | NFC | |
7 | RB | KC | AFC | |
8 | WR/TE | LAR | NFC | |
9 | WR/TE | TB | NFC | |
10 | QB | LAR | AFC |
Best Ball Fantasy Football Playoff Draft Grid
Player News
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan expects Jaxson Dart to sit his entire rookie year if “all goes well.”
The problem with that otherwise sensible opinion, of course, is that it is extremely unlikely “all goes well” with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on a roster that found itself picking at No. 3 overall last month. If the Giants are genuinely serious about redshirting Dart for a year, it will be easier than most places because of the presence of two veteran quarterbacks instead of just one, but coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen both have their jobs on the line. That almost equals “break rookie glass.” Teams have become more amenable to sitting blue-chip rookie QBs in recent years, but we would be stunned if Dart fails to make 2025 starts.
Colts claimed DT Eric Johnson II off waivers from the Patriots.
A 2022 fifth-round pick of the Colts, Johnson spent two years in Indy before last year’s sojourn in Boston. Waived at final cuts last summer, Johnson was claimed by the Pats. He’s been a steady special teamer and rotational depth piece up front. Johnson’s Colts experience greatly enhances his 53-man roster odds, but his spot will be far from a given. He turns 27 in July.
NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco reports that the 49ers and OT D.J. Humphries do not have a deal in place.
Humphries reported on his social media account a few weeks ago that he had agreed to a contract with the 49ers, but that does not appear to be the case. At least for now. Humphries tore his ACL at the end of the 2023 season and was released by the Cardinals. He spent most of the 2024 season rehabbing before signing with the Chiefs. He started at left tackle in Week 14 before hurting his hamstring and missing the rest of the season. He will continue to search for another opportunity.
Patriots DT Christian Barmore (blood clots) will be ready to play in Week 1.
Barmore was limited to just four games last season while battling blood clots. He told reporters on Thursday that he’s been cleared for all football activity and has been a full participant in the Patriots’ offseason workout program. He expects to be fully ready by Week 1.
Raiders hired Brandon Hunt as Vice President of Player Personnel
Hunt was most recently the senior director of scouting for the Philadelphia Eagles and spent the previous two seasons as their director of scouting. Before joining the Eagles, Hunt spent 12 seasons (2010-21) as the pro scouting coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
ESPN’s Seth Wickersham reports Caleb Williams considered forcing a pre-draft trade from the Bears before ultimately deciding he could win in Chicago.
In other words, he mulled pulling an Elway. “Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,” were the words of Caleb’s father Carl to ESPN’s Seth Wickersham. Williams reportedly desired a trade to the Vikings, but he changed his mind after touring the Bears’ facility. “I can do it for this team,” Caleb reportedly told his dad. “I’m going to go to the Bears.” Williams acknowledged any attempt to force a trade would require going scorched earth on the Bears and city of Chicago, a process he did not have the stomach for. There have been zero reports of Bears/Williams drama since he made his peace with the idea, even after former coach Matt Eberflus’ clown show 2024 mistakes. It’s an interesting story, but one firmly planted in the past.