January 12, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers returns to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season, and on Monday night, he faces a Texans defense that has given quarterbacks fits all year long. Houston has held opposing quarterbacks 4.1 fantasy points below their season-long average, topped only by the Minnesota Vikings. The 42-year-old Rodgers started the season strongly but has thrown multiple touchdowns in a game only once since Week 9. While it's unlikely he will see anything on Monday night that he isn't mentally prepared for, his physical shortcomings and lack of a supporting cast could leave the Steelers up against it early. In a Wild Card Weekend with 12 teams in action, Rodgers is RotoBaller's QB12 for fantasy playoff leagues.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 12, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
DK Metcalf returns from his two-game suspension, and on Monday night, he faces a Texans defense that finished the regular season as the fourth most difficult matchup for fantasy wide receivers. On average, the Texans held opposing wide receiver rooms 4.4 points below their season-long average in half-PPR formats. With Metcalf the only true outside threat on the Steelers' roster, he is likely to see a fair share of coverage from recently named First Team All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr. In a Wild Card matchup that sees them as three-point underdogs at home, Metcalf is RotoBaller's WR18 in fantasy playoff leagues and should be plugged into lineups on an emergency basis only.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 12, 2026
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz closed the year as a top-12 fantasy tight end in four of the last six weeks of the regular season, and in Monday night's Wild Card matchup in Pittsburgh, he faces a Steelers defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points above expectation to the position. With Schultz earning at least four targets in every game this season, while topping a 20% target share seven different times, he has established himself as a critical piece of the Texans' passing offense and one of
C.J. Stroud's most trusted weapons. Schultz entered the weekend as RotoBaller's TE6 in fantasy playoff leagues, but he could be in line for a high-ceiling game against an opponent that has struggled to defend the position all year long.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 12, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Jaylen Warren finished the regular season with 1,291 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns, but in Monday night's Wild Card finale, he faces a Texans defense that has been among the most punishing all season long. Houston has been the 8th most formidable fantasy defense in terms of limiting opposing running backs, holding lead backs 2.4 points below their season average. With Warren already working as part of a committee with
Kenneth Gainwell, neither player boasts a particularly high ceiling, though both are buoyed by their steady work in the passing game. Warren is RotoBaller's RB9 for Wild Card Weekend and will likely need to see a strong target share to make good on that projection.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 12, 2026
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green finished his collegiate career with 9,962 passing yards, 2,405 rushing yards, 94 total touchdowns, and 35 interceptions in 53 games with the Razorbacks and Boise State Broncos. Green is arguably the most physically gifted quarterback in the upcoming rookie class, but his turnover issues and lack of consistency as a passer will prevent him from being a top signal-caller prospect overall. That said, Green has a cannon of an arm and likely possesses 4.4 speed at 6'6", 215 pounds. He's rushed for at least eight touchdowns in all four seasons as a starter. While Green is highly unlikely to earn a starting job early, or at all, in his NFL career, he's an enticing stash in deep dynasty superflex leagues thanks to his physical tools. If he makes a few spot starts in the case of an injury to a starter, his rushing skills alone give him at least QB2 upside. Green is currently expected to be a Day 3 pick in April's 2026 NFL Draft.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 12, 2026
Baylor tight end Michael Trigg is coming off the most productive season of his career, setting career highs in receptions (50), receiving yards (694), and touchdowns (six) in 11 games. The 6'4" pass-catcher is an explosive athlete with contested catch ability, and he fights for extra yards after the reception. With many NFL teams moving back to using a lot of 12-personnel, Trigg could be an early contributor as a rookie if he lands inside the top four rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, as expected. The 23-year-old spent one season at USC, two seasons at Ole Miss, and two seasons at Baylor, totaling 108 catches for 1,419 yards and 14 touchdowns in 38 career games. The upcoming tight end class isn't as strong as years past, so a team in need of a big-bodied tight end could pull the trigger on him earlier than expected. Trigg is currently a third-round value in dynasty rookie drafts.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 12, 2026
Green Bay Packers right tackle Zach Tom (knee) had a partially torn patellar tendon and tried to come back with a platelet-rich plasma injection, but he ultimately didn't feel that he could pass block with it, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Tom will undergo surgery soon and will be facing a six-month recovery in the offseason. The 26-year-old was also dealing with a pectoral injury. Tom was unable to play in Saturday night's Wild-Card loss to the division-rival Chicago Bears, and now he'll get his knee injury taken care of. Before getting hurt, he started all 12 regular-season games that he appeared in. Tom signed a four-year, $88 million contract extension with Green Bay and is under contract through the 2029 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Tom Silverstein
January 12, 2026
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said he's "optimistic" that right guard Kevin Dotson (ankle) will be able to play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday in the Divisional Round of the postseason, according to Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. Dotson has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury against the Seattle Seahawks back in Week 16 on Thursday Night Football. The 29-year-old's availability for this weekend will ultimately depend on how he looks in practices this week, but Dotson's return would be good news for a Rams offense that is already one of the most potent in the league. Justin Dedich has been stepping up in a starting role on L.A.'s offensive line since Dotson's late-season ankle injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Daily News - Adam Grosbard
January 12, 2026
Green Bay Packers All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons (knee) said he knows a Week 1 return in 2026 is probably unrealistic, but he thinks he can return from a torn ACL within the first month of the season, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Parsons has an expected recovery time of nine months after having surgery to fix a torn ACL in his left knee at the end of December. The good news is that the 26-year-old defensive end suffered a clean tear of his ACL in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos, and he didn't sustain any further damage to other ligaments in his knee. Before his season-ending injury in his first year with the Packers, Parsons collected 41 tackles (19 solo), 12.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 14 games. Parsons' IDP stock will obviously be down in 2026 since he won't play a full season, but the three-time All-Pro will have the ability to be a game-changer once again as soon as he returns.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
January 12, 2026
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (shoulder) is going on Injured Reserve after aggravating and re-breaking his scapula injury from earlier this year, according to head coach Sean McVay. The Rams will not have Witherspoon in their secondary for the rest of the postseason after he was injured in Saturday's Wild-Card win over the hosting Carolina Panthers. It's a tough break for the 30-year-old defensive back, who will become a free agent when the new league year begins in March. Witherspoon finished his third year in L.A. with just eight tackles (six solo), one interception, and two pass breakups in his six regular-season games played due to his shoulder injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Associated Press - Greg Beacham
January 12, 2026
Houston Texans backup quarterback
Davis Mills (personal), whose wife recently gave birth, will travel to Pittsburgh and be available for the Wild-Card game on Monday night against the Steelers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Mills stayed an extra night at home to be with his family. The 27-year-old signal-caller will be active on Monday night as the backup to starter
C.J. Stroud against Pittsburgh. If Mills hadn't been available for this game,
Graham Mertz would have been in line to serve as Stroud's backup against Pittsburgh. Mills performed admirably for Houston this year when Stroud was unavailable due to a concussion. He appeared in six games (three starts), going 91-for-159 passing for 915 yards with five touchdowns and just one interception to go 3-0 for the Texans.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 12, 2026
This time last year, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was projected by many to be a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The signal-caller who took over for
Jayden Daniels in Baton Rouge had a prolific first year as a starter, passing for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. However, his redshirt senior season was a letdown, as the Tigers' offense crumbled, and Nussmeier was only able to rack up 1,927 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions in nine games. The 23-year-old worked with shaky offensive line play and a lack of a rushing attack in 2025, which can excuse some of the regression, but his draft stock has undoubtedly taken a hit. Once viewed as a first-round prospect, Nussmeier will likely be selected between rounds two and four in April's draft. This means he's unlikely to see a starting role right away, but he'll be an interesting later-round rookie pick and stash candidate in deep dynasty superflex leagues.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 12, 2026
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that cornerback Christian Gonzalez (head) is in the league's concussion protocol after getting injured in Sunday night's Wild-Card victory over the visiting Los Angeles Chargers, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live. "How long that lasts, I don't know," Vrabel said. Gonzalez's status for the Divisional Round is now up in the air, and he'll have to pass through the NFL's five-step protocol to be cleared to play on Sunday against either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Houston Texans. New England's defense was firing on all cylinders against a banged-up Bolts offensive line on Sunday night and held the Chargers to just one field goal. If the Patriots don't have Gonzalez in the fold this weekend, though, it will be a big downgrade for their secondary against either Pittsburgh or Houston.
--Keith HernandezSource: Mass Live - Mark Daniels
January 12, 2026
Los Angeles Rams quarterback
Matthew Stafford (finger) has "a little sprain on his index finger," according to head coach Sean McVay. "He's as tough as it gets, and he'll be good to go," McVay said. Stafford's finger got jammed into a Carolina Panthers defender during Saturday's Wild-Card win, but the 37-year-old MVP front-runner should be fine to play this Sunday in the Divisional Round on the road versus the Chicago Bears. Stafford went 24-for-42 passing against Carolina for 304 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He will be a very popular QB option for this week's playoff games in fantasy football, as the Bears' defense allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing QBs during 17 regular-season games, including 32 touchdown passes, the fourth-most in the NFL. Stafford will likely be on L.A.'s injury report this week, but he should be fine to play on Sunday.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Associated Press - Greg Beacham
January 12, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kenneth Gainwell emerged as a surprisingly critical piece of his team's offense over the course of the 2025 season, recording 1,023 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns on 187 touches. Gainwell and the Steelers will face one of the NFL's best defenses in the Wild Card round in the Houston Texans. Houston dominated opposing rushing attacks in the regular season, allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards (1,593) in the NFL. However, Gainwell does most of his work in the Steelers' passing game. The 26-year-old recorded 73 receptions for 486 yards and three touchdowns this season and earned at least seven targets in four out of Pittsburgh's final five games. Houston has been slightly more susceptible to running back production in the pass game this season, allowing an average of four receptions and 31 receiving yards per game to the position. Given his relatively safe receiving floor, Gainwell profiles as a solid fantasy RB2 option in PPR-scoring leagues in the Wild Card.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
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