The 2021/22 NFL season is now under way and this will be the 102nd time the competition plays out. All fans of the game will be relieved that the action has kicked off again and that their favorite team is back. Of course, fantasy football fans will also be buzzing to see the NFL in full swing again – this is because it gives them a chance to exercise their own coaching knowhow and see how their picks perform.
The early stages of any NFL campaign is a great time to run the rule over sides and see which might be serious playoff contenders, and with a tumultuous off-season under their belts, this is not only interesting but helpful from a fantasy football point of view. Looking at which teams could make it past regular season means you can pick players from these sides in your fantasy team and bring home more points each week.
A quick way to find out which sides might be on for a playoff run is by looking at the latest odds. Most bookmakers will offer odds on events such as this for NFL sides, and these odds will give you a good idea of what is likely to happen. The same is also true if you like to follow other sports or need to find out which players, who could do well for fantasy basketball, hockey, soccer or baseball sides, are on the respective teams. A quick look on this site, for example, shows the latest NCAAB odds for those who follow college basketball.
But which sides are looking like playoff contenders for the 2021 NFL season?
Green Bay Packers
Many NFL followers are picking the Packers to win the whole thing in 2021 – and they seem almost certain to make the playoffs, at least. Much of this confidence rests on elite QB Aaron Rodgers still being in the side and hoping to have another stellar year. If he can stay fit and on form, the playoffs are within reach. With many believing this is his last season at Green Bay, there will be extra motivation for him to do it.
Head coach Matt LaFleur is another reason to think they will make it in 2021. He is a talented leader and has now firmly established his ideas within the side. With their recent history of making it past regular season and pretty much all of the players who did so well last year back in the team, then you have to think they will make it.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are no stranger to playoff runs and they also seem fairly nailed on to make it in 2021 again. With the iconic trio of Mahomes, Hill and Kelce still in place, they should have enough firepower to knock over most teams in regular season. As with Green Bay, their locker room is very well stacked and this makes playoffs almost a certainty. Kansas also made some smart moves in off-season to fix holes in their squad (Orlando Brown Jr came in at offensive tackle, for example) and this leaves them looking pretty impressive in AFC West.
Buffalo Bills
Another side that features heavily in most people’s picks for the NFL playoffs in 2021 is the Bills. They certainly look the strongest side in AFC East and only the Patriots might give them any serious trouble. Much will rest on star player Josh Allen but if he can fire over the whole season, it could be another great year for Buffalo.
There have also been some smart draft additions in the form of Carlos Basham Jr and Gregory Rousseau to help with pass rushing. If the Bills can get their rushing attack going and see Stefon Diggs repeat his 2020 form, then they should be playoff certs.
Playoff teams for NFL in 2021/22
Those mentioned above are a few of the sides that many expect to see in the playoffs come the end of this season. Of course, you could also make a case for a resurgent Tampa with Tom Brady at the helm, and a Matthew Stafford-inspired Rams. With the Super Bowl game being in Inglewood come February 2022, the side from LA will have extra reason to make it. Whoever does make the playoffs, you can bet we will see some awesome action along the way, which will impact on fantasy football teams across the US. As fantasy football continues to grow in popularity, the interest in which players are on teams that are doing well and which teams could make the playoffs will remain.
