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We are getting down to the wire in this second to last round of the 2011-2012 NFL Season. Unexpectedly, we lost some major powerhouses last week with the Packers and Saints both falling out of the running. We are left with the final four with the 49ers and Giants in the NFC and the Ravens and Patriots in the AFC. For those of you playing postseason games, we've ranked the remaining contenders for you. Good luck!

Quarterbacks

There really wasn't a lot of thought required in this one. Tom Brady is the last remaining QB from the Elite class. The Ravens may have ranked 2nd against the pass on the year, but we all know that those kind of statistics mean very little to the Patriots QB. Manning, in my book, is just outside that elite grouping, but still head and shoulders over Flacco and Smith. I give Smith the edge because of the way he stepped up last week against the Saints and because I haven't seen anything out of Flacco to inspire me.

1. Tom Brady
2. Eli Manning
3. Alex Smith
4. Joe Flacco

Running Backs

1. Ray Rice - McGahee averaged 4.5 yards per carry against the Pats last week, Rice should have a really big day
2. Frank Gore - Couldn't find the end zone last week, but looked good with over 100 total yards
3. Ahmad Bradshaw - Has his work cut out for him against the 49ers, but there isn't much depth left at RB
4. Stevan Ridley - Poor showing last week, but still has the highest upside in New England's backfield
5. Brandon Jacobs - You can't rank the Giants 2nd option too high against a team that allowed 1 rushing TD all season
6. BenJarvus Green-Ellis - Last 4 games, 33 carries, 77 yards - that's a 2.3 average
7. Kendall Hunter
8. Danny Woodhead


Wide Receivers

1. Hakeem Nicks - With 4 TDs in 2 playoff games, he's the hottest hand still playing
2. Wes Welker - The Ravens will be paying attention to the TE's and Welker will remind them what he does best
3. Victor Cruz - Nicks has dominated in the postseason, but Cruz is still more dangerous than anyone else left
4. Anquan Boldin - Made some big plays last week and the Pats were the worst fantasy pass defense in the league
5. Michael Crabtree - The Giants can be had through the air and Crabtree is Smith's only real receiving threat
6. Mario Manningham - Scored in both playoff games, no reason he can't sneak in a third
7. Torrey Smith
8. Deion Branch

Tight Ends

1. Rob Gronkowski - Just when you think he can't top himself, he does just that
2. Vernon Davis - If he can carry over any of his moves from last weeks contest he'll be dangerous again
3. Aaron Hernandez - He's still playing like a #1 TE for any team except his own
4. Jake Ballard - He has 33 total yards over the last 2 weeks, despite 11 targets - could he finally cash in here?
5. Dennis Pitta - Gets the edge over Dickson with significantly more targets lately
6. Ed Dickson


Kickers

1. David Akers
2. Stephen Gostkowski
3. Billy Cundiff
4. Lawrence Tynes

Defenses/Special Teams

1. SF Defense
2. NYG Defense
3. NE Defense
4. BAL Defense