ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly from training camp through the Super Bowl with answers to a new question being posted Thursday morning. How the guest experts responded when we asked them: Several teams currently sitting around .500 will make the playoffs. Which of these teams is a threat to win a couple of games there?
SAM HENDRICKS
The Denver Broncos are 6-5. Their next 4 weeks are easy....LV, CLE, Bye, IND. They could easily be 9-5 cruising into a critical week 16 matchup with LAC. Bo Nix is starting to show promise with connection to Courtland Sutton. The ground game is three-pronged with Javonte Williams, Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin all contributing and giving the Broncos a revolving running back opponents have to game plan for. Finally, their defense needs no introduction. They are and have been a sneaky surprise. And any time you have Sean Payton at head coach...well this team can and will make the playoffs with a 10-7 record. Their last 3 games are tough so they may not have any momentum entering the playoffs but crucial experience will be gained in tough losses to Cincinnati and Kansas City to finish.
Hendricks is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook, Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Basics, all available at ExtraPointPress.com, at all major bookstores, and at Amazon and BN.com. He is a 30-year fantasy football veteran who participated in the National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) and finished 7th and 16th overall in the 2008 and 2009 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC). He won the Fantasy Index Open in 2013 and 2018.
JASON WOOD
The easy answer is the San Francisco 49ers, who fell to 5-5 this week. Despite their middling record, they are 6th in the NFC with a +28 point differential. And they've been dealt incomprehensible injury woes so far. While some injuries like Brandon Aiyuk are season-ending, Christian McCaffrey is back and George Kittle should be okay down the stretch. Given their experience, the talent including Brock Purdy, and excellent coaching, they stand a good chance at making a playoff push.
Wood is Senior Editor at Footballguys.com and has been with the company since its start in 2000. For more than 20 years, Footballguys has provided rankings, projections, and analysis to help fantasy managers dominate their leagues.
SCOTT SACHS
In the AFC, the 6-win Denver Broncos have steadily improved and look ready to make their move. Quarterback whisperer, Sean Payton, has taken Bo Nix under his wing. After a shaky start, the rookie QB has made great strides, not just passing the ball, but also running the ball, and in one game, actually catching the ball for a gadget play TD.
With 2 perfect seasons and multiple league championships to his credit, Scott Sachs runs Perfect Season Fantasy Football, featuring LIVE Talk & Text Advice. He is a 3-time winner of the Fantasy Index Experts Auction League, as well as a previous winner of the Fantasy Index Experts Poll.
IAN ALLAN
Arizona to me looks like a team that’s peaking. They seem to be the ascending team in the NFC West.
Allan co-founded Fantasy Football Index in 1987. Since that time, he’s written and edited most of the content published in the magazines, newsletters and at www.fantasyindex.com. Allan is a member of the FSGA Fantasy Sports Hall of Fame and the Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame.
KEN HOLIZNA
While several teams with 5-6 wins could make a strong push, I believe the Los Angeles Rams present the most compelling case. My reasoning centers on their recent resurgence. The team's improved health is a significant factor; with key players like Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, and Matthew Stafford healthy, the offense is operating at a higher level. Furthermore, the Rams' defense has demonstrated remarkable consistency, holding opponents under 22 points in five consecutive games and never allowing more than 24 points all season. This defensive solidity provides a crucial foundation for a playoff run. While a 9-8 record is a realistic minimum projection, I anticipate the Rams achieving a 10-7 record or better, depending on favorable outcomes. Their combination of a revitalized offense and a consistently strong defense positions them as a formidable force capable of not only reaching the playoffs but also making a significant impact once they arrive. The improved health across the roster is the key differentiator, making them a team to watch closely.
Holizna is a 29-year fantasy football enthusiast and founder of Faith-Family-Fantasy Football in 2019, a family-friendly, faith-based, G-rated fantasy football platform. Rankings contributor to the 2023 Fantasy Index magazine. Find him on Twitter @holihandicapper
DAVID DOREY
I don't see any of the 5- or 6-win teams doing much in the playoffs. The NFL already has three teams at 7 wins other than division leaders, so making it will be tough. The NFC West beats each other up too much to produce a wildcard. The rest of the also-rans are no better than four wins. In the AFC, the 6-5 Broncos have a good shot at the final wild card. They are playing great defense and Bo Nix is improving rapidly. They won't likely get past the Wild Card Round, but they are easily the most likely non-7-win team that can reach the playoffs.
Dorey co-founded The Huddle.com in 1997. He's ranked every player and projected every game for the last 26 years and is the author of Fantasy Football: The Next Level. David has appeared on numerous radio, television, newspaper and magazines over the last two decades.
ANDY RICHARDSON
Their defense has been bad, which will ultimately be a problem. But their offense has been really impressive despite numerous injuries, and I believe that Tampa Bay, though just 4-6, will go on a nice little run with their very favorable remaining schedule to win the NFC South. The playoffs will be tough, but recall how competitive they were going into Detroit in last year's playoffs and hanging around until the very end (they also clobbered the likely East winner, Philadelphia, both last year and then this year). Ultimately their defense will probably come up short against a team like the Lions, but that might be true of every NFC team this season.
Richardson has been a contributing writer and editor to the Fantasy Football Index magazine and www.fantasyindex.com since 2002. His responsibilities include team defense and IDP projections and various site features, and he has run the magazine's annual experts draft and auction leagues since their inception. He writes a weekly gambling newsletter, Index Bets, during the NFL season and also previews all the games on Saturdays and writes a wrap-up column on Mondays.