January 2, 2026
The Cleveland Browns have high hopes for the long-term trajectory of rookie tight end
Harold Fannin Jr., according to Scott Petrak of Browns Zone. "I have all the belief in the world in him, can't wait to see what he does next year," tight ends coach Christian Jones said about Fannin. The 21-year-old third-rounder out of Bowling Green suffered a groin injury in last week's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and may not play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals this weekend, but he currently leads the team in catches (72), targets (107), receiving yards (731), and touchdowns (six) in his 16 games played.
David Njoku (knee) is also likely to miss the season finale, which would leave the Browns with
Blake Whiteheart and
Brenden Bates at TE in Week 18. Going into next season, Fannin is going to be a highly sought-after TE1 in fantasy football drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Browns Zone - Scott Petrak
January 2, 2026
New York Jets running back
Breece Hall (knee) will be limited in practice again on Friday and will be evaluated before Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Buffalo Bills, according to head coach Aaron Glenn. With
Isaiah Davis (concussion) not expected to play, the team's only other RBs are
Kene Nwangwu and
Khalil Herbert, with
Raheem Blackshear on the practice squad. It sounds as though Hall is very questionable to play in a meaningless game to close out the season for the Jets, so fantasy managers need to have a backup plan if they are still playing for a title this weekend. Despite playing in a poor offense all season long, Hall managed to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career while scoring five total touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving) in 16 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
January 2, 2026
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen (foot) will be limited for Friday's team practice, and is "good to go" for Sunday's home outing with their division-rival New York Jets, per Syracuse.com's Matt Parrino. The fantasy stalwart has battled a foot issue for a few weeks now, one he picked up in Buffalo's Week 16 win over Cleveland. Unfortunately, Allen would miss practice for the first time on Wednesday and Thursday because of it, although it's encouraging that he'll at least work in a limited capacity to close out the week. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, it appears the 29-year-old will suit up for the season's final game, even with the Bills slated for a meaningless clash with the visiting Jets. Fantasy managers still sticking around can rely on Allen as an elite QB1 if active, but should account for the possibility of the team benching him, particularly if they jump out to an early lead.
--Alex CiullaSource: Matt Parrino
January 2, 2026
New Orleans Saints running back
Evan Hull did not see an increase in touches during the team's 34-26 victory against the Titans, instead playing well behind teammate
Audric Estime in the backfield hierarchy. New Orleans hasn't had a healthy ground game in some time now, as they've dealt with injuries to
Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) and
Devin Neal (hamstring). With both inactive over the past two weeks, Estime and Hull were set to split work in the Saints' ground attack. That wasn't the case, though, as Hull combined for just six yards on seven carries over that span. Moreover, Estime and tight end
Taysom Hill alternated as the team's lead rushers over the games mentioned, adding more variability to the situation. Either way, it appears Hull is set for handcuff duties, making him a volatile fantasy option for the season's final week.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
January 2, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Sterling Shepard has been completely phased out of the team's game plan with their WR corps at full strength, putting him on the back burner for fantasy. The 32-year-old was a bigger part of Tampa Bay's offense earlier in the campaign, as the receiving room dealt with a myriad of injuries. However, as veterans
Mike Evans (rest) and
Chris Godwin Jr., and second-year pro
Jalen McMillan have returned to full health, Shepard has faded from the offense. In fact, Shepard has been a healthy scratch over the past few weeks, signaling the team's preference in the starting lineup. The Oklahoma product has been a fine secondary option over the course of his career, but he can be avoided for fantasy purposes in a loaded Bucs' pass-catching unit.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
January 2, 2026
Despite garnering a decent share of the team's targets weekly, New York Giants wide receiver
Darius Slayton's output hasn't been enough to warrant consistent fantasy consideration. When teammate
Malik Nabers (knee) suffered a season-ending knee injury, the seventh-year pro automatically slotted in as New York's WR2 behind
Wan'Dale Robinson (rib). However, Slayton hasn't turned his opportunity into steady fantasy production, instead taking a clear back seat to Robinson, who leads the team in each significant receiving category by a wide margin sans touchdowns. As it stands, Slayton could see a modest uptick in work when the Giants take on the Cowboys this Sunday, particularly if Robinson and tight end
Theo Johnson (illness) are forced to sit with their respective ailments. If they play, though, the veteran is a fade. Slayton has eclipsed 50 receiving yards in just four of 13 games in 2025.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
January 2, 2026
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Konata Mumpfield stepped up admirably in Week 16's loss to the Seahawks, while teammate
Davante Adams (hamstring) sat with an injury, leaving fantasy managers to believe he was next in line with the veteran shelved. However, he slid back down the pecking order in the following game, signaling instability in a loaded Rams' offense. Mumpfield saw a robust eight targets two weeks back, but that slipped down to five in their loss to the Falcons on Monday night, as he took a back seat to teammate
Xavier Smith (chest) (4/67) and tight end
Colby Parkinson (6/53). Moreover,
Puka Nacua still handled a hefty 10 targets. With Adams out, another asset in LA's passing game is sure to step up. That said, Mumpfield can't be relied upon for consistent fantasy production, considering quarterback
Matthew Stafford's propensity to spread the ball around when Adams isn't active.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
January 2, 2026
After being acquired by the New York Jets from the Philadelphia Eagles in late October, wide receiver
John Metchie III looked like a potential breakout candidate. Across his first three games with New York, the 25-year-old recorded 10 receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 11 targets. However, Metchie III has been unable to maintain his hot start. Over his last five games played, Metchie III has failed to eclipse four catches or 41 receiving yards in a game, nor has he found the end zone. Metchie III's playing time has dropped off slightly as well, as he's played 77% or fewer of the Jets' offensive snaps in two out of the last three weeks. Especially with undrafted rookie quarterback
Brady Cook in line to make his fourth straight start for the Jets in Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills, there's little reason to think Metchie III will reverse recent trends. He profiles as a wide receiver for fantasy managers to avoid in the final week of the 2025 regular season.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 2, 2026
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been a productive player across 12 games this season, recording 435 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 96 carries. However, the 25-year-old has been in-and-out of his team's lineup in recent weeks, missing Week 15 with a groin injury and Week 17 with an illness. In his absence, Rodriguez Jr. may have had his role in the Washington backfield usurped by rookie back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Over the last three weeks, Croskey-Merritt has racked up 224 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries. Rodriguez Jr. is expected to return for Washington's Week 18 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he'll likely still see some touches. However, the Commanders may opt to split touches between Rodriguez Jr. and Croskey-Merritt evenly, or ride the hot hand with the rookie.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 2, 2026
San Francisco 49ers tight end
Jake Tonges had a big game in Week 17, recording seven catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. Tonges benefited from the absence of star 49ers tight end
George Kittle (ankle), who was sidelined by an ankle injury. Across the six games Kittle has missed this season, Tonges has racked up 29 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns on 40 targets. However, recent reporting indicates that Kittle is trending towards returning for the 49ers' Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Tonges has been far less productive across the 10 games where Kittle has been active in 2025, hauling in five receptions for 24 yards and two scores on just six targets. If Kittle is indeed active for Week 18, Tonges should be avoided by fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 2, 2026
Cleveland Browns running back
Raheim Sanders has seen an increased role in recent weeks after Browns RB1
Quinshon Judkins (leg, ankle) suffered season-ending lower leg injuries in Week 16. After Judkins went down, Sanders recorded 11 carries for 42 yards and looked like the team's lead back for the remainder of Week 16. However, Browns running back
Dylan Sampson returned from calf and hand injuries in Week 17, cutting Sanders' usage. In Week 17, Sanders racked up just 21 yards rushing on eight carries. With Sampson functioning as Cleveland's primary receiving back and
Trayveon Williams soaking up backfield work as well, the Browns appear to be operating with a full-on backfield committee. Even in a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cleveland's regular-season finale on Sunday, Sanders carries limited upside. Fantasy managers are safe to avoid Sanders in Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 2, 2026
Across 16 games this season, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Ladd McConkey has recorded 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets. Over the second half of the season, the 24-year-old has seen his role in the Chargers' offense minimized. Across six games since Week 10, McConkey has not recorded more than six targets, four receptions, or 43 receiving yards in any contest. While McConkey remains one of his team's top wideouts, he's not an every-down player. Over his last nine games, McConkey has played more than 76% of the Chargers' offensive snaps just twice. In Week 18, Los Angeles will rest quarterback
Justin Herbert in preparation for the AFC playoffs, leaving McConkey to catch passes from backup signal-caller
Trey Lance. McConkey himself could see a reduced snap share, and he's facing a tough defense in the Denver Broncos. Fantasy managers can view McConkey as a low-end WR3/flex option in Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 2, 2026
Through 16 games, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Justin Jefferson has had the least productive season of his career. The 26-year-old has recorded 76 receptions for 947 yards and two touchdowns on 130 targets. Inconsistent quarterback play in Minnesota has been the biggest problem for Jefferson in 2025. The Vikings may get QB1
J.J. McCarthy (hand) back from the hand injury that sidelined him in Week 17 for their Week 18 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. However, Jefferson has recorded just 19 catches for 227 yards and zero touchdowns across McCarthy's last five starts. While Jefferson remains one of the most talented pass-catchers in the NFL, the offensive environment around him in Minnesota this season makes it difficult to trust him for consistent production. Jefferson profiles as a WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 2, 2026
Arizona Cardinals running back
Michael Carter disappointed fantasy managers in Week 17 with only seven carries for 29 yards (4.1 YPC) in Sunday's 37-14 blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Carter also added two catches for 14 yards on four targets. In a smash match-up, Carter and the Cardinals' offense came out flat. The Cardinals couldn't get anything going on the ground, as
Emari Demercado also only had five rushes for 11 yards (2.2 YPC). Since seeing 80 percent of the snaps in Week 15 against Houston, Carter has only played 48 percent of the snaps over the past two games, which is not what Carter's fantasy managers were hoping for when they picked him up off the waivers after
Bam Knight (ankle) got hurt. At this point, the Cardinals' running game is too hard to trust; they find themselves in pass-happy game scripts, and Carter is splitting work with Demercado. With a much tougher matchup in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams, Carter will be no better than a touchdown-dependent RB3.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
January 2, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver
Emeka Egbuka has fallen off the fantasy radar so quickly as soon as All-Pro
Mike Evans returned to the lineup, but also since the return of second-year wideout
Jalen McMillan out of Washington. Egbuka has seen his snap share cut almost in half, and over the past three weeks, he has only seen 14 targets and hauled in eight of them for 140 yards. What is most concerning is that he has not been on the field as often, as he has only played 59.3 percent of the snaps over this three-game stretch, and is clearly behind Evans and Chris Godwin in the pecking order, and he and McMillan appear to be splitting snaps as the WR3. Egbuka was off to a blazing start to the season with five touchdowns and 445 yards through the first five games, but he has quickly fallen off the radar and disappointed in the second half of the season with only 485 yards since. At this point, he is still worth a roster spot in most formats, but he can't be trusted to start as anything better than a WR3, and his value is plummeting.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
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