6 Players Who Could Make or Break Your Fantasy Team in the Playoffs

If you're still a contender in your fantasy football league, congrats to you. I know there are many people out there that have already conceded the season and are looking ahead to next year.

If you are one of the teams that is still in the hunt, you likely got their by drafting well, hitting a few sleeper picks and working the waiver wire. While those players have helped you get to the playoffs, it's crucial that they step up and finish the season strong.

Here are five players who could make or break your fantasy football team in the playoffs.

DeMarco Murray, Running Back, Dallas Cowboys

Plucked off the waiver wire by most fantasy owners in Week 8, Murray has been a solid option at running back. Murray has 534 total yards in the past four games and has one touchdown.

The good news for fantasy owners who have Murray, he's getting 20-30 touches per game, including 16 catches in the last three games. The only frustrating part is he isn't scoring touchdowns. The Cowboys have a tendency to use play action around the end zone, which could impact Murray's fantasy point total.

Fantasy spin: Depending on when your league's playoffs start, Murray has a stretch of very favorable match-ups in Weeks 13-17 and remains a solid starting running back for the rest of the season.

Fred Jackson, Running Back, Buffalo Bills

Jackson's season got off to an unbelievable start for his fantasy owners. In his first six games, Jackson had 880 total yards and six touchdowns. In Week 7, the Bills had their bye week, and ever since then, Jackson hasn't found the end zone. He's still piling up yards, 496 total yards in the past four games, but no touchdowns.

Jackson was one of those mid-round fantasy draft picks who has played above his draft position. However, the fantasy owners that have watched him have early success are wondering which Fred Jackson is going to show up during their championship push.

Fantasy spin: Jackson is nursing a leg injury and is considered questionable against the New York Jets in Week 12. If Jackson is healthy enough to play, he should be in your starting line-up. While his match-ups in Weeks 13-17 aren't overwhelmingly favorable, Jackson should be an every week starter regardless of his opponent.

Ryan Mathews, Running Back, San Diego Chargers

Just when it looked like Mathews was ready to take hold of the Chargers feature running back role, he gets injured and catches a case of "fumblitis." Mathews was running extremely well at the beginning of the season, totaling 675 yards rushing and receiving yards in the first five games. He also added three touchdowns during that time.

However, since then, Mathews has 285 total yards in four games and zero touchdowns. He's also missed one game with a groin injury.

Mathews' inability to stay healthy, his recent struggles holding onto the ball and the presence of Mike Tolbert have all made Mathews a frustrating fantasy player. However, he's too valuable to keep out of your lineup because he might get 20-25 touches in any given game.

Fantasy spin: Mathews has a couple nice match-ups in Weeks 13-17, with the exception of the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15. As long as Mathews is healthy, fantasy owners should consider keeping him in their lineup. He's the best running back in San Diego, and if last year is any indication, he'll finish the season strong.

Steve Smith, Wide Receiver, Carolina Panthers

Smith's success can be directly tied to the arrival of rookie quarterback Cam Newton. Newton has brought the big play back to Carolina, and Smith has been the main benefactor.

Smith is coming off a 2010 season where he caught 46 passes for 554 yards and two touchdowns. This year through 10 games, Smith has 56 catches, 992 yards and five touchdowns. Smith is rewarding fantasy owners who took a chance on him in the mid- to late-rounds with a season that is reminiscent to his 2005 season, when he caught 103 passes for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns.

However, as good as Smith has been this year, he's had two games in a row where he's been held to under 50 yards receiving. Without a solid second receiver in Carolina, you wonder if defenses have game planned to limit Smith's big plays.

Fantasy spin: Smith is still a solid option at wide receiver despite his recent slide in production. Smith remains Newton's top target, including in the red zone, where Smith caught a touchdown in Week 11. With the exception of a Week 15 matchup with the Houston Texans, Carolina has a favorable schedule to end the season. Have confidence in Smith and keep him in your lineup.

A.J. Green, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals

Everyone loved Green's talent coming out of Georgia, but the concern for many fantasy owners was who is going to throw him the ball in Cincinnati. That caused Green to slide in many fantasy drafts.

Now 11 weeks into the season, Green has proven to be a very reliable fantasy receiver. He and rookie quarterback Andy Dalton have given Bengals fans hope for the future, and he's rewarding the fantasy owners who took a chance on him.

In nine games this season, Green has 41 catches for 635 yards and six touchdowns. One thing that Green has been good at this year, at least from a fantasy football perspective, is he's scored his six touchdowns in six different weeks. That type of consistent scoring is what fantasy owners crave.

However, Green is coming off a one-catch game against the Pittsburgh Steelers where he injured his knee. He missed last week's game against Baltimore Ravens, but is expected back this week against the Cleveland Browns.

Fantasy spin: Green and the Bengals have an extremely tough stretch of games coming up. In Weeks 13-15, they face the Steelers, Houston Texans and St. Louis Rams. All of those teams currently have a pass defense ranked in the top 10. A matchup against the Arizona Cardinals is a dream come true if your fantasy team makes it that far. Despite the tough schedule ahead, Green is worth a spot in your starting lineup—if, of course, he's healthy.

Tim Tebow, Quarterback, Denver Broncos

I've written it before and I'll say it again, Tim Tebow is good for your fantasy football team. His ability to run the ball makes him a valuable fantasy commodity.

In the five and half games this season that Tebow has played in, he has scored 105 fantasy points (standard scoring league). His 19 point/game average is amazing when you consider it ranks fifth among quarterbacks, trailing only Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton, Drew Brees and Tom Brady.

With that said, Tebow is scheduled to face five defenses in Weeks 13-17 that are stout against the run and vulnerable against the pass. This scenario does not bode well for fantasy owners who have counted on Tebow to get them 19 points every week. If Tebow leads your team to a fantasy championship, it may be his most impressive feat.

Fantasy spin: Tebow's Week 13-17 schedule sets up like this: at Minnesota, vs. Chicago, vs. New England, at Buffalo, vs. Kansas City. The Vikings, Bears and Patriots all rank near the bottom of the league in pass defense, but are in the top half in rush defense. If your Tebow-led fantasy team makes it to Week 16 or Week 17, Tebow has a couple of nice matchup against the Bills and Chiefs.