Congratulations on your amazing fantasy football season. Surely no one kept Brian Thomas Jr. in the rotation all season or sold the farm to trade for Daniel Jones in Week 8. The good news is that pain is behind you, and the hobby is just heating up.
The playoffs are a tricky time for collecting. For a majority of players, current prices might be the highest they ever reach. Even if a player’s team wins the Super Bowl, the best time to sell is often before the big game. Why? Risk avoidance, for one. But similar to the stock market adage “Buy the rumor, sell the news,” by the time the Super Bowl finally airs, a player’s card prices usually have a victory baked in.
So, how do you play it? Do your research, buy early in the playoffs, hope your player reaches the Super Bowl, and set your 7-day auctions to end 2–3 hours before or after the game finishes, depending on your risk tolerance. That way, you capitalize on the hype of a Super Bowl Sunday showing.
Another thing to be aware of: 2025 Prizm Football was released this week, which means a brand new set of Rookie Prizms is hitting eBay for the first time. You could do worse than picking up a few rookies’ Prizm Silvers in hopes they make the big stage.
Here is who I think is the best investment from each team in the 2025-26 NFL Playoffs based on this year’s fantasy football performance.
Texans
C.J. Stroud’s Prizm Silver Rookie PSA 10 was selling for ~$435 preseason and is trading for around ~$320 now. He hasn’t had the best season—he finished 21st out of all QBs—but he has been solid since returning in Week 13.
Here is my thought process: The Texans have a very difficult road to the Super Bowl. At a minimum, they have to play the luckiest team in the league (Steelers), then the Broncos, and potentially the Bills or Patriots. However, if the Texans’ defense does what it’s been doing the last eight weeks, it’s not impossible. If Stroud can make it past Josh Allen, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix—all three of whose cards sell for multiples of Stroud’s—his market will reignite.
Steelers
Considering Aaron Rodgers’ PSA 10 Topps Chrome Rookie Refractor sells for over $15,000, with the non-refractor also moving for around $1,100, I won’t be advocating for him. I also won’t be advocating for DK Metcalf; his altercation with a fan that resulted in a two-game suspension poisoned the well.
Of course, you could look at RBs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, but you’d be missing the obvious choice: T.J. Watt. He is the heart of the Steelers’ #5 ranked defense. His 2017 Prizm Silver Rookie PSA 10 sells for around $150 right now, up just $10 from preseason prices. A playoff run that includes a few forced fumbles, a couple of sacks, and an interception? His storyline will be talked about more than Rodgers’. He’s also a good long-term hold as one of the best to ever do it.
Bills
If you have Josh Allen rookies and he makes the Super Bowl? Sell them. But if you’re looking for a more reasonable purchase that won’t run you $10k before the playoffs start, look no further than James Cook.
Cook put up an absolutely dominant fantasy performance in the second half of the season, finishing with over 1,600 yards and 14 total touchdowns. His Prizm Silver Rookie PSA 10 was selling for $41 preseason and is now selling for over $100. If you can grab one quickly for under $100, it could be a great flip if the Bills make the Super Bowl.
Jaguars
Hopefully, you bought Trevor Lawrence cards for under $400 when I alerted you in Week 12 about the opportunity. If you had, you would have nearly doubled your money, as they are now selling for $750. Ironically, the price is right back where he started the season.
I hesitated to call him elite in Week 12, but after he put the team on his back and carried them to an AFC South championship, it would be hard not to. He’s set up to have another monster season next year, and when you consider his Prizm Silver Rookie PSA 10 was selling for over $2,000 in 2024, he would be a great playoff flip at this level or a smart long-term hold.
Sleeper pick: Pick up some Cam Little cards. If he hits another 65+ yard FG in the playoffs, he’ll go down as having one of the best kicking seasons in NFL history.
Chargers
If you believe the Chargers have the chance to make a playoff run, you should be picking up all the Omarion Hampton rookies you can.
After an incredible start to the season, he missed eight weeks with an injury only to come back in Week 14 and score a touchdown in three of his four games. He has some injury concerns going into the playoffs, but a great rookie performance raises his stock significantly. His cards are dirt cheap right now, making for an excellent low-risk flip opportunity.
Patriots
Drake Maye is the obvious choice here, but his cards are already priced as if he’s won the Super Bowl and MVP. There isn’t a ton of upside left. Stefon Diggs has had a great season, but his problematic off-field behavior should be reason enough to stay far away.
The play for the Patriots is rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson. He had multiple multi-score games this season and scored the third-most fantasy points for the Patriots. You can grab one of his Prizm Silver Rookies for under $60 on eBay right now.
Rams
Puka Nacua is one or two good playoff games away from becoming a household name. Obviously, fantasy football players know he’s legit—he finished the season as the number one ranked WR.
Preseason, his Prizm Silver Rookie PSA 10 was selling for a meager $86. Now? Around $160. If he can stay away from controversy this offseason, I believe he could be a great Super Bowl flip or a solid long-term hold.
Seahawks
Jaxon Smith-Njigba had an incredible fantasy season, second only to Puka Nacua. His preseason price was $62; it’s now $225. While that’s an option, I think the real move here is the journeyman, Sam Darnold.
Sam’s Prizm Silver Rookie PSA 10 is selling for around $500, up from $200 preseason (truly criminal after he threw for 35 touchdowns last year). The Seahawks are also the Vegas favorites to win the Super Bowl at this point. Seeing how he is most likely going to run it back with JSN next season, he’s a strong buy—especially when you realize he is literally one of the cheapest QBs in the playoffs.
Broncos
Bo Nix started the season with his Prizm Silver Rookie PSA 10 selling for $460. Then he did what no one expected: he led the Broncos to the number one AFC playoff spot for the first time in over a decade.
His Silver PSA 10 is now selling for $600. That feels incredibly cheap when standing next to Drake Maye (~$1,100), Caleb Williams (~$715), Justin Herbert (~$900), and Jayden Daniels (~$900)—also none of whom have won anything yet.
If you are looking for a cheaper option, Rookie WR Troy Franklin showed he could be a reliable target this season. His cards are currently as cheap as they come if you want a low risk, high upside option.
Panthers
The Panthers have been given a less than 1% chance of making it to the Super Bowl. That said, I don’t think anyone expected them to even make it this far, so hats off to them.
The most exciting play here is rookie Tetairoa McMillan. He had some great games and ended the season over the 1,000-yard mark. His rookie Prizm Silver cards started popping up on eBay just this week and are selling for ~$50. If you like this Panthers team, wait until they are knocked out and pick up a few of McMillan’s cards ahead of next season.
San Francisco
It felt great to see Christian McCaffrey have the season we all hoped he would in 2024. He had one of his best years ever, and there still seems to be gas in the tank.
His Prizm Silver Rookie PSA 10 started the season at $131 and is now selling for $170. That feels high for a running back until you realize Saquon Barkley’s PSA 10 Silver sold for $1,000 in October. CMC is someone people love to root for, and he has the potential to make the difference for the 49ers.
Eagles
I’ve been shouting this all season: Jalen Hurts is one of the best value buys in sports. You have a Super Bowl winner, looking to make his third Super Bowl appearance in four years, selling for hundreds of dollars less than Drake Maye, Bo Nix, and Jayden Daniels. I feel like I’m taking crazy pills.
His Prizm Silver Rookie PSA 10 is currently selling for $500—DOWN $43 from his preseason price. Another Super Bowl victory? Heck, another Super Bowl appearance and he solidifies himself as one of the greatest ever. Buy with confidence.
Packers
If you’re curious how much hype Jordan Love used to have, one of his Prizm Silver PSA 10 rookies sold for $4,100 on May 13, 2021, according to Alt. He’s sitting at a much more manageable $500 now, but a little playoff momentum could send him back to around $1,000 fairly easily.
However, if you want a more affordable pick, Christian Watson came back with a vengeance after missing the first half of the season with multiple two-touchdown games. Watson’s Prizm Silver Rookie PSA 10 sells for $75 currently. If Love gets going in the playoffs, Watson is going to be one of the top targets.
Bears
Caleb Williams at (~$715) isn’t the worst value for a QB in the playoffs, but it’s a bit high. I believe the move is rookie TE Colston Loveland.
He’s had multiple strong performances and has strong momentum heading into the playoffs with a score in his past two games. His Prizm Silver Rookie cards have been dropping on eBay all week and could be a sharp buy if you think the Bears have what it takes to make it all the way.
There you have it! The best player to invest in for each team in the playoffs. Love it? Hate it? Think I totally missed the mark? Let me know on Mantel.
