Fantasy Football Rankings: Top Players at Every Position for Championship Round

It's Conference Championship Game week of the 2012 NFL playoffs, and that means with only four teams still alive, the pool of talent available to fantasy owners in playoff leagues is getting precariously thin.

However, we still have to attempt to pull some decent-sized fish from that shallow pond, so here's a look at the top fantasy options available at each position headed into this week's action.

As with last week's rankings, we'll be splitting this week 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 that you feel will advance to Indianapolis.

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 Super Bowl.

On with the show!

1. Tom Brady and the Top Quarterbacks

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was ruthlessly effective in the Patriots' demolition of the Denver Broncos last week, throwing for 363 yards and six touchdowns, and even against the vaunted Baltimore Ravens defense, Brady is easily the best fantasy option available at his position in the NFL.com format this week.

In "one-and-done" leagues, it's a much trickier call, as fantasy owners in that format would be well served to try to stay away from either the AFC or NFC Championship game altogether, as that way, no matter who wins, they'll have a warm body to plug in at the position for the Super Bowl.

NFL.com

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (vs. BAL)

2. Eli Manning, New York Giants (at SF)

3. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

4. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYG)

"One and Done"

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

2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (vs. BAL)

3. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

4. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYG)

2. Ray Rice and the Top Running Backs

Running back Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens was held in check by the Houston Texans a week ago, managing only 80 total yards in the Ravens win, but with a slightly more favorable matchup than Frank Gore of the San Francisco 49ers, Rice tops the fantasy running backs available in the NFL.com format this week.

In "one-and-done" leagues, this is the week to use Ahmad Bradshaw of the New York Giants if you have yet to do so, holding back Brandon Jacobs as a sort of "safety net." But otherwise, the pool has thinned to the point where you might as well just go big and try for the best score possible, hoping that a fluke Super Bowl performance by a backup can make up for it later.

NFL.com

1. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

2. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYG)

3. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants (at SF)

4. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants (at SF)

5. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, New England Patriots (vs. BAL)

"One and Done"

1. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants (at SF)

2. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

3. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYG)

4. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants (at SF)

5. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, New England Patriots (vs. BAL)

3. Hakeem Nicks and the Top Wide Receivers

Hakeem Nicks of the New York Giants has been on an absolute tear to this point in the postseason, reeling in 13 catches for 280 yards and four scores in two games, and fantasy owners in NFL.com playoff leagues would be well served to keep riding the hot hand.

Nicks is also an excellent option in "one-and-done" formats, as not only is the third-year pro more than capable of posting another big game, but the Giants also have enough depth at the position to provide viable fantasy options should the G-Men advance to Indianapolis.

NFL.com

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

2. Wes Welker, New England Patriots (vs. BAL)

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

4. Anquan Boldin, Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

5. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYG)

"One and Done"

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

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

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

4. Anquan Boldin, Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

5. Mario Manningham, New York Giants (at SF)

4. Rob Gronkowski and the Top Tight Ends

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski carried his monster regular season into the playoffs last week, hauling in 10 catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns, and "Gronk" is a no-brainer choice as the top fantasy tight end this week in the NFL.com format.

Gronkowski is also the top fantasy option in "one-and-done" leagues, as there's no point in holding him back given that a Patriots victory would still leave Aaron Hernandez available to fantasy owners in the Super Bowl.

NFL.com

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

2. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYG)

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

4. Jake Ballard, New York Giants (at SF)

5. Dennis Pitta, Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

"One and Done"

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

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

3. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYG)

4. Jake Ballard, New York Giants (at SF)

5. Dennis Pitta, Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

5. David Akers and the Top Kickers

San Francisco 49ers kicker David Akers added three more field goals to his record-setting total for this season in last week's victory over the New Orleans Saints, and the bonus points he could provide fantasy owners in the NFC Championship game in the NFL.com format gives him the edge at his position Sunday.

In a "one-and-done" format, the decision gets a bit more difficult, and the best course of action would be to leave one of the two conference games (and their kickers) alone altogether, hedging your bet and guaranteeing that no matter who wins, you will be able to fill the kicker slot for the Super Bowl.

NFL.com

1. David Akers, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYG)

2. Lawrence Tynes, New York Giants (at SF)

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

4. Billy Cundiff, Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

"One and Done" 

1. David Akers, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYG)

2. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots (vs. BAL)

3. Lawrence Tynes, New York Giants (at SF)

4. Billy Cundiff, Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

6. San Francisco 49ers and the Top Defenses

The San Francisco 49ers were one of the National Football League's top defenses in 2011, ranking fourth in total defense, second in scoring defense and tied for first in takeaways, so playing at home, the Niners are the best fantasy play at the position in the Championship game round in the NFL.com format.

Much like with kickers, the best play this week with team defenses is to "hedge your bet," and by avoiding either the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens or San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants, you can be sure that you'll have a defense to plug in for the last round of the playoffs.

NFL.com

1. San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYG)

2. Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

3. New York Giants (at SF)

4. New England Patriots (vs. BAL)

"One and Done"

1. New York Giants (at SF)

2. San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYG)

3. Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

4. New England Patriots (vs. BAL) 

For Individual Defensive Player (IDP) rankings for the Championship Game Round be sure to check out this week's IDP Cheatsheet at Fantasy Sharks,