Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 5 Players at Every Position for Divisional Round

It's the Divisional Round of the 2012 NFL Playoffs, which means the pool of talent available to fantasy owners participating in fantasy playoff leagues has shrunk to eight teams.

As a service to those owners, here's a look at the top five fantasy options available at each position headed into this week's action.

After receiving a few requests to do so, we'll be splitting this week's rankings into two "sets."

The first is for the NFL.com Fantasy Playoff Challenge, which is a non-PPR format that allows owners to set a new lineup each week but gives bonuses for using players in consecutive weeks, giving added incentive to select players early that you feel will advance deep into the playoffs.

The second set of rankings is for a more standard "one-and-done" point-per-reception fantasy playoff format, in which each player can be used only once, so players whose run you feel may end this week get a boost in value, as you need to "save" other players lest your pool run dry before the playoffs end.

On with the show!

1. Drew Brees and the Top 5 Quarterbacks

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees torched the Detroit Lions for 466 yards and three touchdowns last week. With how red-hot the 11th-year veteran has been of late and the bonus points he could provide, he's easily the best fantasy option at his position in the NFL.com format.

However, "one-and-done" fantasy owners may want to take a hard look at Eli Manning of the New York Giants, who threw three scoring strikes of his own last week and should be in for a big day in a shootout with the Green Bay Packers.

NFL.com

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (vs. SF)

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (vs. NYG)

3. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (vs. DEN)

4. Eli Manning, New York Giants (at GB)

5. Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos (at NE)

"One-and-Done"

1. Eli Manning, New York Giants (at GB)

2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (vs. SF)

3. Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos (at NE)

4. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (vs. DEN)

5. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (vs. NYG)

2. Frank Gore and the Top 5 Running Backs

While running back Arian Foster of the Houston Texans is a tempting option for owners in the NFL.com format who used him last week, his unfavorable matchup with the Baltimore Ravens drops him below Frank Gore of the San Francisco 49ers. Gore should find the sledding much easier against the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional Round.

NFL.com

1. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NO)

2. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens (vs. HOU)

3. Darren Sproles, New Orleans Saints (at SF)

4. Arian Foster, Houston Texans (at BAL)

5. Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos (at NE)

"One-and-Done"

1. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NO)

2. Arian Foster, Houston Texans (at BAL)

3. Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos (at NE)

4. Darren Sproles, New Orleans Saints (at SF)

5. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants (at GB)

3. Hakeem Nicks and the Top 5 Wide Receivers

After rolling the Atlanta Falcons last week, the New York Giants advance to face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field Sunday. For fantasy owners in the NFL.com format who used either Victor Cruz or Hakeem Nicks a week ago, the bonus points that the Giants wideouts could provide this week make them very attractive options.

However, in a "one-and-done" format, Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas merits strong consideration against a putrid New England secondary, given how much quarterback Tim Tebow looks his way.

NFL.com

1. Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants (at GB)

2. Victor Cruz, New York Giants (at GB)

3. Wes Welker, New England Patriots (vs. DEN)

4. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers (vs. NYG)

5. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints (at SF)

"One-and-Done"

1. Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants (at GB)

2. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos (at NE)

3. Victor Cruz, New York Giants (at GB)

4. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints (at SF)

5. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans (at BAL)

4. Jimmy Graham and the Top 5 Tight Ends

The top fantasy option at the tight end position this week in the NFL.com format is an easy call, as the vast majority of owners likely used Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints last week and should ride that train for all it's worth.

In a "one-and-done" format, it's a bit trickier call, but since the New England Patriots possess a pair of tight ends capable of big fantasy production, they provide fantasy owners with a bit of "insurance" in the Divisional Round.

NFL.com

1. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (at SF)

2. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (vs. DEN)

3. Aaron Hernandez, New England Patriots (vs. DEN)

4. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers (vs. NYG)

5. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans (at BAL)

"One-and-Done"

1. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (vs. DEN)

2. Aaron Hernandez, New England Patriots (vs. DEN)

3. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans (at BAL)

4. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NO)

5. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (at SF)

5. John Kasay and the Top 5 Kickers

Much like with Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints kicker John Kasay represents an easy decision for fantasy owners in the NFL.com format, as the grizzled veteran should rack up the bonus points when the Saints meet the San Francisco 49ers this week.

The waters muddy a bit when considering "one-and-done" kickers, so your best bet is likely to roll out the best option on a team you expect to lose, which means we give the nod to David Akers of the 49ers.

NFL.com

1. John Kasay, New Orleans Saints (at SF)

2. Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers (vs. NYG)

3. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots (vs. DEN)

4. Billy Cundiff, Baltimore Ravens (vs. HOU)

5. David Akers, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NO)

"One-and-Done"

1. David Akers, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NO)

2. Matt Prater, Denver Broncos (at NE)

3. Neil Rackers, Houston Texans (at BAL)

4. Lawrence Tynes, New York Giants (at GB)

5. John Kasay, New Orleans Saints (at SF)

6. Houston Texans and the Top 5 Defenses

The Houston Texans defense was absolutely dominant in throttling the Cincinnati Bengals 31-10 last week, so fantasy owners in the NFL.com format that were prescient enough to start them a week ago should continue doing so.

The Texans are also a decent option in "one-and-done" formats in what could be a low-scoring affair against the Baltimore Ravens this week, and we'll give them the slight nod over linebacker Ray Lewis and the home team.

NFL.com

1. Houston Texans (at BAL)

2. Baltimore Ravens (vs. HOU)

3. Green Bay Packers (vs. NYG)

4. New Orleans Saints (at SF)

5. New England Patriots (vs. DEN)

"One-and-Done"

1. Houston Texans (at BAL)

2. Baltimore Ravens (vs. HOU)

3. San Francisco 49ers (vs. NO)

4. Denver Broncos (at NE)

5. New York Giants (at GB)

For Individual Defensive Player (IDP) rankings for the Divisional Round be sure to check out this week's IDP Cheatsheet at Fantasy Sharks on Thursday morning!