NFL Playoffs Conference Championships: QB Fantasy Rankings and Analysis

Figuring out who the best quarterback plays are from week to week is a little easier than doing so for running backs or wide receivers, especially now that you only have two games to look at.

However, by no means is it simple.

That's why those of us in the fantasy industry put together these lists—to give the reader a gauge of what to expect from their players during the NFL Playoff Championship weekend.

With that, here are the rankings along with some detailed analysis for the four starting quarterbacks in Round 3 of the playoffs:

4. Alex Smith (vs. NYG—Sunday, 6:30pm ET)

During the regular season, the 49ers didn’t need Alex Smith to use his arm all that often in order for the team to pull off a victory. But boy, did the San Fran QB come up big last weekend when the 'Niners needed him the most.

The 299 passing yards he put up were the third-most in his career, while his four combined TDs (one rushing) also set a personal best.

With the Giants a being a little easier to run on than the Saints, it’s doubtful he’ll be asked to repeat last week’s passing performance (Drew Brees being home for the winter doesn't hurt either).

But if Eli turns this into an air show, it’s possible Alex's numbers approach 250 yards and two TDs by the final whistle.

3. Joe Flacco (@ NE—Sunday, 3:00pm ET)

For all intents and purposes, Joe Flacco has had a relatively lackluster year despite his team going 12-4 and earning a first-round playoff bye.

He hasn’t thrown for more than 227 yards in seven straight games now, and only once in his eight career playoff starts has he managed to top the 200-yard mark (265 yards vs. KC in 2010).

That said, even though things haven’t been rolling his way of late, I still believe he comes up with a pretty good game this Sunday against a woeful Patriots defense that allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

The last time these two teams met was in Week 6 of 2010, when the Ravens came up just short of a victory (23-20) despite Flacco throwing for 285 yards, two TDs and no INTs.

I can’t pretend to know what will happen this time around, but somewhere close to those same type of numbers looks pretty good for Joe this Sunday.

2. Eli Manning (@ SF—Sunday, 6:30pm ET)

The streaking New York Giants continue to get the job done, winning their fourth straight game last weekend against the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers.

Much of their success can be attributed to their 31-year-old QB, Eli Manning, who has now thrown for three touchdowns in each of his last three games, as opposed to just one INT in those three games combined.

San Francisco won’t be as easy to thrive against as Dallas, Atlanta and Green Bay were, but Manning did manage to compile 311 yards and two TDs in the Giants' 27-20 loss to the 49ers back in Week 10.

As it was earlier in the season, the Giants won’t be able to run the ball against this 49ers shut-down defense, so I fully expect to see a bunch of passing this Sunday, which should lead to another big game out of Eli.

1. Tom Brady (vs. Bal—Sunday, 3:00pm ET)

What an insane performance by the Patriots and Mr. Brady last week, eh?

363 yards and six touchdowns in basically just three quarters of action is absolutely unreal—even for a guy like the Stetson Man.

However, I wouldn’t expect the same sort of production this week against the Baltimore Ravens, as Brady has averaged just 235 passing yards—while throwing more INTs (5) than TDs (4)—in the three games they’ve played since 2009.

That being said, the Pats are on a big-time roll right now, having won their last nine straight. Brady is averaging just over 322 yards and almost three touchdowns a game during that stretch.

The Ravens haven’t allowed a single QB to toss up more than one TD in a game all year long, but Brady should have a good chance to be the first with the way he and the Patriots are currently playing.

Week 3 Playoff Rankings for Running Backs, Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

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