Fantasy Football Playoff Rankings: Wide Receivers (Divisional Round)

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To help the Bruno Boys Nation win FREE PRIZES, we bring to you the Divisional Round Wide Receiver Rankings.

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1. Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers) vs. Arizona 

Even in missing the first two games of the season due to a team-induced suspension for punching teammate Ken Lucas in the face, Smith still finished the season third amongst wide receivers in receiving yards with 1,421.

That's what happens when you go for over 100 receiving yards in eight of 14 games. Perhaps that blow Smith landed on Lucas was simply an early indication that the wide out was fired up for 2008.

With opponents having to worry about the Panthers' two-headed monster of DeAngelo Williams and Jonthan Stewart, Smith is finding himself with a lot less bodies to beat down the field, and he's taken advantage.

He'll continue to do so this weekend against the Cardinals, a team that allowed 36 passing TDs on the year, including two to Smith back in a Week Eight matchup that saw the Panthers' wide receiver go for 23 fantasy points.

Point Projection: 22 points

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2. Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) @. Carolina

During Wild-Card Weekend, Fitz did what it seems he always does, compiled double digit fantasy points, going for 16 thanks to 101 receiving yards and a score. With the effort, the Cardinals' wide receiver has now amassed 13 double digit fantasy performances in 17 games this season.

One of those 13 outings came against the very Carolina Panthers team he'll face this weekend, a team he burned for 115 receiving yards. Fitzgerald should warrant even more attention than usual from quarterback Kurt Warner on Saturday as Fitz's teammate Anquan Boldin deals with a hammy injury.

As such, his 14th double-digit performance in 18 games, shouldn't be hard to come by.

Point Projection: 18 points

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3. Hines Ward (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. San Diego

You may remember the wacky game the Steelers and the Chargers played earlier this season. You know, the one played amongst snow flurries that ended 11 to 10 after a controversial booth review negated a Polamalu fumble recovery for a TD; thereby still giving the Steelers the win, but taking money out of the pockets of all those that bet them to cover the spread.

Yeah, told you it was wacky. But, what you may not remember is that Ward compiled 124 receiving yards on 11 catches in that wintry mix. The veteran has proven all season long that he still has something left in the tank, and he'll continue to show that in the playoffs as he'll post another big game against San Diego this weekend.

Point Projection: 14 points

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4. Anquan Boldin (Arizona Cardinals) @ Carolina **CHECK STATUS**

While Boldin will be a game-time decision due to a strained hammy, the good news is that the Cardinals play on Saturday night, leaving you with two games to find a replacement wide receiver from if you wish to wait it out. And, to be honest, waiting it out, wouldn't be too bad an idea.

After all, Boldin did just post a solid 13 point effort in the Wild Card round and torched the Panthers for 63 yards and two scores in the teams' meeting during the regular season. The strained hammy is of concern, but in reality, even at less than 100 percent, Boldin is still a better option than the guys below him on this list.

Point Projection: 13 points

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5. Santonio Holmes (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. San Diego

The 821 yards and five TDs Holmes posted in 2008 were solid, but following a 2007 season in which he went for 942 yards and eight TDs, they were, also, disappointing.

Holmes, though, has a chance to partially make up for it during the postseason, and what better way to begin doing so than with a matchup with the San Diego Chargers, a team that ranked next-to-last in pass defense during the regular season.

Holmes was once again building a nice rapport with QB Ben Roethlisberger down the stretch run, and we expect that rapport to continue to be solid during their playoff run.

Point Projection: Nine points

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6. Derrick Mason (Baltimore Ravens) @ Tennessee 

Sure, his third lowest fantasy point total (3) came against these Titans back in week 5, but are you really going to bet against Mason after all he's done recently, even while sporting a banged up shoulder? We'd advise against it.

After all, that three-point effort back in Week Five came before Mason and quarterback Joe Flacco had the rapport they've developed throughout the season. Just look at last week to see how in sync these two are.

Despite just completing nine passes, four of Flacco's completions went Mason's way, good for 71 yards. He'll be around that number again this weekend.

Point Projection: Seven points

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7. DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles) @ New York Giants 

If by some bizarre set of circumstances the fantasy playoff league you're in awards bonus points for return yardage, by all means, bump Jackson up on this list as the rookie has game changing ability as a returner, evidenced by his long of 62 yards last weekend.

If not, he's more a mediocre type option.

It's obvious by the 121 targets he received over the course of the season that Jackson has earned the trust of Donovan McNabb, and judging by his 912 receiving yards on the season and his five double-digit fantasy performances, the kid knows what to do with his opportunities.

However, he is a rookie and can at times disappear, much like he did last weekend against the Vikings when he registered just one catch for 34 yards. He's the very definition of a risk-reward-type play.

Point Projection: Seven points

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8. Steve Breaston (Arizona Cardinals) @ Carolina

Breaston's value is likely to jump quite a bit if Anquan Boldin can't go this Saturday, but even if Air Anquan is on the field, Breaston still holds fantasy relevance.

I mean, to tally the 1,006 receiving yards he did during the season, you have to see your fair share of opportunities, and even as the Cardinals' third wideout, Breaston did just that with 113 balls thrown his way.

Based on their previous meeting with the Panthers this season in which they threw the ball 51 times to just 14 rushes, the Cardinals won't be as balanced as they were last weekend.

That's good news for Breaston and all those fantasy owners that employ him during the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Point Projection: Six points

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9. Amani Toomer (New York Giants) vs. Philadelphia

With Amani Toomer, Domenik Hixon, and Steve Smith all in the 500 to 600 yard range for the season, it's a crap shoot as to which will lead the team in receiving any given Sunday, but with Toomer being the veteran of the bunch, we believe Eli Manning will look his way the most in this all important game.

After all, you don't think Manning has forgotten the 280 yards and three scores that Toomer put up during the Giants' playoff run last season, do you?

Point Projection: Six points

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10. Muhsin Muhammad (Carolina Panthers) vs. Arizona

The Moose has been loose of late, racking up at least 70 yards in each of the Panthers' last three games. While opponents focus on stopping the Panthers' running game and containing Steve Smith, Muhammad, the wily vet he is, has occupied the open spots and quarterback Jake Delhomme has found him.

Michael Jenkins, the Falcons number two receiver, took the Cardinals for 51 yards last weekend. There's no reason Muhammad can't do a tad better.

Point Projection: Six points

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To see where the rest of the wide receivers rank for the divisional round of NFL action, click the link below...

Divisional Round Wide Receiver Rankings