Do you still have a fantasy football itch that you need to scratch? Did your first FFPC lineup not go as planned, and you need a fresh start? Your season doesn’t have to be over! With the FFPC Playoff Challenge, you can still play fantasy football. What is the FFPC Playoff Challenge, you ask? Don’t worry. If you missed the first article, we’ll cover the FFPC Playoff Challenge lineup strategies and more for Round 2!
The FFPC Playoff Challenge is as simple as setting a fantasy football lineup. There is no draft order like in a fantasy football draft. No salary cap like in DFS. You don’t even have to bid on players like in an auction draft. It’s as simple as picking your players with a couple of twists. We’ll get into those in this article as well.
Go here for free NFL picks!
FFPC Round 2 Playoff Challenge: Lineup Strategies, Tips, And More
Setting Your FFPC Playoff Challenge Lineup
Setting a lineup is easy. First, go here and create an account and make a deposit using promo code SGPN for a $25 credit after your first deposit. Second, sign up in the lobby for Round 2. The last thing to do is to set your lineup. Is there anything else? Of course! Let’s get to the twist!
In Round 2 of the FFPC Playoff Challenge, each team consists of eight players. You have one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, and two flex (RB, WR, or TE). Unlike the first FFPC playoff challenge last week, there is no defense or kicker.
If you missed the first article, there is a twist. You can only have one player from each team. Unlike last week, in Round 2 of the FFPC Playoff Challenge, you are picking a player from each team. Each week, a player will advance, and one will go home. When they lose, you get no more points.
Speaking of points, you’ll get four points for every passing touchdown and one point for every 20 yards passing. Other touchdowns are worth six points.
Rushing and receiving yards are one point for every 10 yards. You also get a point per reception unless it’s a tight end, where you’ll get one-and-a-half points per reception. Everything else is pretty standard, aside from the fact that safeties are worth five points.
Round 2 FFPC Playoff Challenge Quarterbacks
The Obvious Choice
Is there an obvious choice for Round 2 of the FFPC Playoff Challenge at quarterback? A lot of these quarterbacks can pop off at anytime. Others may be held to relatively low points this week by the defense they’re playing.
Josh Allen finished as the top fantasy football quarterback in 2025, so he may seem like the obvious choice. However, he plays against the Broncos. The Broncos finished fifth in points allowed to quarterbacks and are coming off an extra week of rest. While I have trust in Allen and the Bills to get it done, I’m not sure he’s the best choice.
If you think the Broncos are going to beat the Bills, I think Bo Nix is a great choice for your quarterback spot. He finished seventh among quarterbacks in fantasy football rankings this year. Although the Bills’ defense did finish fourth in fewest points allowed, last week they let Trevor Lawrence pass for 207 yards and three touchdowns.
Nix and Allen are both fiery competitors, and I would pick whichever one you think is going to win this week and advance.
The Dark Horse Quarterback
Maybe you don’t want an AFC quarterback, though. Maybe you think the defensive matchups are too tough. Afterall, the Texans, Bills, Broncos, and Patriots all finished in the Top-12 for fewest points allowed to the quarterback position.
So flipping to the NFC, one matchup stands out to me. The Bears vs. the Rams. On paper, the Rams have the easiest matchup. Matt Stafford is coming off a 304-yard, three-touchdown performance that could potentially carve the Bears’ defense up. However, historically, his stats have dropped when he’s playing in cold weather. Soldier Field will definitely be cold this weekend.
Therefore, maybe you want to go for the “Ice Man” himself, Caleb Williams. Coming off a Chicago Bears playoff record-breaking performance, he threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for an additional 20 yards. Caleb Williams has been a star in the making. I’m a Bears fan, so call it a homer pick. However, I think the Bears advance, and Williams makes a great dark horse candidate.
Round 2 FFPC Playoff Challenge Running Backs
The Obvious Choice
You get two running backs in Round 2 of the FFPC Playoff Challenge. The obvious choice that 99% of lineups will have is Christian McCaffrey. I don’t think there is a lot of reason to debate that. He finished as the RB1 in the fantasy football season, and makes big plays in both the ground game and the receiving game. Don’t overthink this one. Whether the 49ers win or lose, CMC will get carries and catches.
The second running back is a little trickier. The options range from James Cook, RJ Harvey, Kenneth Walker, Zach Charbonnet, Woody Marks, Rhamondre Stevenson, Treveyon Henderson, Kyren Williams, D’Andre Swift, and Kyle Monnagai. A case can be made for a lot of these guys, however, there’s one I’m circling as another big play potential in both the rushing and receiving game.
That guy would be James Cook. He finished sixth overall in fantasy football this year. Yes, the Broncos were the fifth-best team against running backs as far as fantasy football points scored go. However, he shows up in big games, and I think he’ll get the carries, the catches, and even a touchdown.
The Dark Horse Running Back
I named every starting running back in the section above, and I can make an argument for and against each one. Therefore, dark horse may not be the right term for this.
I don’t like taking the Bears’ running backs because I think the value of picking somebody on their team lies elsewhere. Remember, you can only pick one player from each team. I also don’t like the Rams’ running back Kyren Williams because how can you pass up on Puka Nacua?
RJ Harvey is an intriguing selection for the Broncos. Especially given that the Bills were the 25th-worst team when it comes to fantasy points allowed to running backs. That makes me circle Harvey as somebody who I want either in the running back spot or in my flex, potentially. However, if you took Bo Nix as your quarterback, that won’t work.
Therefore, I’m looking at Woody Marks. Even with Nick Chubb healthy, Marks went against the third-best team against fantasy running backs and had a good day. He ran the ball 19 times compared to Chubb’s 10, and turned those carries into 112 yards and a touchdown. He’s definitely worth considering for your roster.
Round 2 FFPC Playoff Challenge Wide Receivers
The Obvious Choice
Unlike running backs, three’s an obvious choice for wide receivers. The problem is, it’s very likely everybody else will have them. Therefore, your team will have to set itself apart from others with your other picks. Puka Nacua finished number one among fantasy football wide receivers. Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished number two. With the amount of volume these two get, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be on your team.
Even looking at the rest of their team and who you could take on their team if you pass on them, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Will Kyren Williams outscore Puka? It’s possible, but it’s not likely in PPR. The same goes for Kenneth Walker or Zach Charbonnet when comparing their points to JSN.
These two lead their teams in targets, catches, and yards by a long way. They should be on your FFPC team. I’m so confident in this, I don’t even have dark horse receivers. However, I’ll give out one just for the sake of your flex spot. That person is Christian Kirk. He showed up in a big way last week after Nico Collins left with a concussion. We don’t know if Collins will play. A way to set your team apart from others, whether good or bad, could be by rostering Kirk. He had eight catches for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Round 2 FFPC Playoff Challenge Tight Ends
The Obvious Choice
Tight ends are important because it’s a tight-end premium. That means they’ll score 1.5 points per catch rather than just one. The obvious one to me may be a bit of a homer pick. However, his stats speak for themselves. A new star has been born over the second half of the season, and he has shone his brightest in the last three games.
I’m of course talking about Colston Loveland. The same guy who just broke tight end rookie records in the playoffs by being the first to have 8+ catches and over 130 yards. He didn’t end up in the endzone, but it didn’t matter. He still finished with 25.7 points in the FFPC.
The Rams’ defenders in the middle have let up a lot of catches and yards. This is where Colston Loveland will feed off of them. Not to mention, he’s become one of Caleb Williams go-to targets. They’re connecting at a great level. When the pocket breaks down, and Williams is running around, they play backyard ball perfectly.
The Dark Horse Tight End
The tight end position doens’t have a lot of standouts in the playoffs this year. Dalton Kincaid did score a touchdown last week, but to pick him over James Cook or Josh Allen seems too risky. Evan Engram on the Broncos hasn’t exactly been consistent.
The Rams’ tight ends both had just two receptions. Dalton Schultz of the Texans had three catches for 12 yards. With George Kittle hurt, Jake Tonges could be a sneaky play. However, it is tough relying on a backup to come through for you on the big stages. Seattle rarely uses their tight ends as well.
Therefore, the only dark horse candidate I can circle is Hunter Henry. Multiple times this season, Maye has found Henry and utilized him as a safety blanket. He’s been on this team for quite a while and is a tough player who doesn’t come off the field often.
Last week, Henry finished with three catches for 64 yards and a touchdown. He has a tough matchup. However, a great way to slow that Texans’ pass rush will be with quick dump-offs. Oftentimes, quick throws target the tight end position as they push off a block and get open. He’s a good dark horse candidate or even a flex candidate.
