Alex Smith, Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs
Statistics: 30/46, 378 passing yards, eight attempts, 57 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions (34.82 points)
Kansas City's premature exit from the playoffs had very little to do with Smith's performance. Without the services of star running back Jamaal Charles and No. 2 wide receiver Donnie Avery for a vast majority of the game, Smith tore into a mediocre Indianapolis Colts defense for career highs and Chiefs' single-game postseason records in passing yards, total yards and touchdowns.
In the process, Smith put up the best single-game fantasy performance of a career that is obviously on the upswing. Unfortunately for Kansas City, it will now be watching the rest of the playoffs from home after blowing a 28-point lead. That's a crying shame, as Smith would have been a decent under-the-radar fantasy play in weekly leagues for the divisional round. As it is, Smith firmly entrenched himself in as bottom-tier QB1 option in 2014 fantasy drafts.
Next Up: Eliminated
T.Y. Hilton, Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts
Statistics: 13 receptions, 224 yards and two touchdowns (34.40 points)
With Reggie Wayne out of the lineup due to a torn ACL, Indianapolis had been relying on this second-year receiver a great deal during the regular season. This didn't change on Saturday. Hilton amassed a ridiculous 18 targets against an injury-ravaged Chiefs' secondary, going for career highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Hilton will now go up against a New England Patriots defense that has given up some big games in the passing game as of late. He could be a really solid under-the-radar top-five guy in the divisional round.
Next Up: AT- New England Patriots
Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts
Statistics: 29/45, 443 passing yards, seven attempts, 45 yards, four total touchdowns and three interceptions (32.22 points)
See a theme here? When a playoff game combines for 89 points and 11 touchdowns, there are going to be some great fantasy performances. As you scroll down in this article, you will see plenty of players from the Chiefs-Colts matchup. While Luck did throw three interceptions, he was able to rebound by putting up 315 passing yards and three touchdowns in the second half. Talk about putting up some numbers in the biggest of stages. Luck has a pretty decent fantasy matchup against a Patriots defense that ranked in the bottom 13 of the NFL against fantasy quarterbacks during the regular season.
Next Up: Eliminated
Dwayne Bowe, Wide Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs
Statistics: Eight receptions, 150 yards and one touchdown (21.0 points)
Bowe did have an important drop in this one, but that really doesn't impact the type of statistical day he put up. The former first-round pick had his best performance since Smith took over as Kansas City's starting quarterback, including a touchdown and a huge 63-yard reception in the first quarter. The interesting dynamic here is that Bowe and Smith seemed to have found a solid connection heading into the offseason. Don't buy high on him as a WR1, but he will definitely be available as a steal later in fantasy drafts.
Next Up: Eliminated
Colin Kaepernick, Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
Statistics: 16/30, 227 passing yards, seven attempts, 98 yards, one touchdown and one interception (20.88 points)
In a weekend that included Drew Brees, Nick Foles and Aaron Rodgers, this third-year quarterback put up the best fantasy performance for a quarterback not included in the Chiefs-Colts matchup. Despite misses here and there, Kaepernick put up his third game with 300-plus total yards in four postseason outings. In the process, he was able to lead the 49ers back from behind in the second half to win an instant classic against the Green Bay Packers as Lambeau Field. Kaepernick will not try his luck against a stingy Carolina Panthers defense in the divisional round, a defense that dominated him earlier in the season.
Next Up: AT- Carolina Panthers