Hopefully, if you’re reading this, you’re not just battling for third place in your fantasy league and still have a shot at the championship. No matter what the case is, if you’re an owner who still has money on the line, the time to set the best lineup is now. With some major injuries the past few weeks and some tough matchups, it can be hard to pick what players are the best for the starting lineup. If you are in this situation, here are three players who are must-starts in the second round of the 2025 fantasy playoffs.
Even though the New York Giants may be having one of the worst seasons in their history, sitting at a 2-12 record, they have had a few great fantasy options. The first name everyone thinks of is Jaxson Dart, who is having possibly the best statistical season among all rookie quarterbacks. Not only do they have Dart, but they have had a few dual-threat running backs that have scored well in fantasy. For instance, Tyrone Tracy Jr., who many fantasy owners drafted to be a starter in 2025.
Sadly for those, Tracy Jr. lost starting duties to the dominant rookie Cam Skattebo, becoming a bust for fantasy owners for quite some time. Tracy Jr. wound up back as the starter after Skattebo suffered a season-ending ankle injury, and since then, he has been a reliable flex player. Out of his six starts since Skattebo’s injury, Tracy Jr. has scored over 16 fantasy points three times while averaging over 13 carries and 57 yards per game.
Not only has Tracy Jr. been playing well, but in his most recent game against the Washington Commanders, he dominated. He rushed 15 times for 70 yards with a rushing touchdown, plus three catches for 27 yards and a receiving touchdown, scoring 24.7 fantasy points.
After a great game against the Commanders, Tracy Jr. heads into the second week of the fantasy playoffs playing against the Minnesota Vikings, who have been awful against the run. More specifically, the Vikings rank 24th against the rush, allowing, on average, over 127 rushing yards per game and 13 rushing touchdowns in 2025. Having an awful run defense, combined with Tracy Jr. being the focal point of the offense in recent weeks, he will explode past his projection of 12 points in fantasy.
If you were one of the fantasy owners who left Kyle Pitts on the bench last week, don’t panic; there’s still time to take advantage of his great situation. Over the course of this season, Pitts has had some dominant performances while also having many to forget. Being a hit-or-miss fantasy player for a majority of the year, many owners have looked to a new starting tight end. This may have been the smart move for the time being, but since Kirk Cousins became the starting quarterback, Pitts has been unstoppable.
Over the past three weeks, Pitts has been targeted on average 10 times per game, catching at least six and scoring more than 15 fantasy points, with a high of 45.6. His three touchdowns, 11 catches, and 166 receiving yards for 45.6 fantasy points may have been an anomaly, but this is the most consistent he has been all year. Some would say his whole career. Nevertheless, Pitts has become the Falcons’ top target through the air, leaving owners no other choice but to start him.
Some fantasy owners will argue that the success is due to Drake London’s injury. When he returns to the starting lineup, Pitts will revert to a secondary option. While this may be true, London is a better first option in the receiving game than Pitts, but it doesn’t take away the connection he and Cousins have built.
With London back in the lineup, Pitts will still see six or more targets, and without London in the lineup, the sky is the limit for Pitts. This week, against the 26th-ranked Arizona Cardinals defense, whether London is playing or not, Pitts will surpass his 12-point projection and be a reliable option for all current owners.
If you are one of the few unlucky fantasy owners who had Daniel Jones or Patrick Mahomes as your starting quarterback, you may have thought your season was over. Without a solid starting quarterback, it could look bleak heading into the second round of the playoffs. While this may be true, hopefully, you thought ahead and were lucky enough to claim Tyler Shough. In his rookie campaign, he has had the typical highs and lows. With a fantastic schedule remaining, though, he could be the difference between winning the championship and not.
In Shough’s first six starts and eight games of his NFL career, he has thrown for over 1,400 yards, with six passing touchdowns, and has also rushed for two. He has made some big plays and scored well in fantasy, having over 17 fantasy points in four out of his six starts. Some fantasy owners will be scared off by his eight total touchdowns compared to his seven total turnovers. This is something all rookies go through, though, and it goes away with time and great matchups.
For the remainder of the fantasy playoffs, Shough has one of the best, if not the best, schedules for a possible starting quarterback. This week, in the second round of the playoffs, Shough and the New Orleans Saints face the New York Jets, who have struggled defensively against almost every team this year.
New York ranks 20th overall with the 29th-worst rushing defense and the 12th passing defense. Opponents have dominated on the ground, opening up every facet of their offenses. With the Jets’ opponents scoring an average of just over 28 points per game, the Saints’ offense will explode, and Shough will destroy his 16-point projection in fantasy.
For any fantasy owner with Shough, the time to start him won’t stop after the Jets. In the fantasy championship round, the Saints and Shough face the Tennessee Titans, one of the league’s worst defensive teams, ranked 27th overall. This is one of the best remaining playoff schedules for any potential starting quarterback, and it’s something any owner without a star under center should utilize.
If you’re a fantasy owner with Pitts or Tracy Jr. on the roster and still alive in the playoffs, don’t overthink it and start them this week. Both have played well in recent weeks, and in the second round of the playoffs, they will boom past their projections. If you’re a fantasy owner who is at a loss for a quarterback and needs someone now, start Shough and expect a huge game. He has been very consistent over the past three weeks and has the perfect matchup to excel.
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