January 2, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals running back
Chase Brown (illness) returned to practice on Friday and will play on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Cleveland Browns, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Brown's availability for this weekend was in question after he missed the first two practices of the week due to illness. The 25-year-old will be ready to roll on Sunday, though, as he seeks the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career. He heads into the final weekend of the regular season with 219 carries for 947 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground, adding a career-high 65 catches on 82 targets for 419 yards and four more touchdowns. Brown has been money for fantasy managers down the stretch and needs to remain in all starting lineups against Cleveland. In the season opener against the Browns, Brown had 21 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
January 2, 2026
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn officially named
Josh Johnson as the team's starting quarterback for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. Veteran
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) will miss a second straight game to close out the year. Even though the Eagles will be resting key starters this weekend, Johnson will be hard-pressed to help fantasy managers without left tackle Laremy Tunsil (oblique) available. The 39-year-old signal-caller made his first start of the year in last week's Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys and went 15-for-23 passing for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Even in two-QB leagues this weekend, fantasy managers should have better options to choose from than Johnson.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Washington Post - Tashan Reed
January 2, 2026
Cleveland Browns tight end
David Njoku (knee) is not practicing on Friday and is unlikely to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, according to Browns Zone's Scott Petrak. Rookie
Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) also isn't expected to play this weekend, so the Browns will be down to
Blake Whiteheart,
Brenden Bates, and
Sal Cannella at the tight end position. The 29-year-old Njoku's 2025 season will end on a low note after not practicing or playing since injuring his knee in Week 14. He became a lower-floor TE2 streamer in fantasy football this year thanks to the quick emergence of Fannin in his first year in the NFL. Njoku took a back seat to Fannin and will end up finishing his ninth year in the NFL with 33 catches (48 targets) for 293 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: Browns Zone - Scott Petrak
January 2, 2026
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) is not practicing on Friday and is unlikely to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, according to Scott Petrak of Browns Zone.
David Njoku (knee, personal) is also not expected to play this weekend for the Browns, leaving
Blake Whiteheart, Brendan Bates, and
Sal Cannella to fight for targets at the tight end position. Surprisingly, Fannin has been a top-five fantasy TE in his first year in the NFL with the Browns despite sharing the field with Njoku for most of the season. The third-rounder out of Bowling Green has a bright future in the NFL and will finish his first year with 72 receptions on 107 targets for 731 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games. Fannin goes into Week 18 leading the Browns in all major receiving categories.
--Keith HernandezSource: Browns Zone - Scott Petrak
January 2, 2026
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Friday that rookie first-round wide receiver
Matthew Golden has a "very bright future" in Green Bay, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. The Packers' coaching staff was singing Golden's praises during training camp and the preseason, too, leading many to believe that a breakout was coming in Year 1 for the Texas alum. It has not happened in 2025, as Golden has been buried in Green Bay's crowded receiver room.
Jayden Reed and
Christian Watson have missed time with injuries this year, but Golden has just been unable to become a consistent part of the team's passing attack alongside the likes of
Romeo Doubs and
Dontayvion Wicks. Golden enters the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings with only 28 catches on the year for 353 yards and zero touchdowns. He has only one target in two of the team's last three games.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
January 2, 2026
Miami Dolphins tight end
Darren Waller (groin) will be placed on Injured Reserve on Friday, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. Waller will miss the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival New England Patriots. The 33-year-old veteran came out of retirement to play for the Dolphins in 2025 and will finish with 24 catches for 283 yards and six touchdowns in only nine games played. Waller got a late start to the season as he worked his way into playing shape and also missed time with a hamstring injury. He was not the same player he was earlier in his career with the Raiders, but Waller still had plenty of red-zone prowess in his return this year. It remains to be seen if he'll attempt to return in 2026 with Miami or another organization.
Greg Dulcich should be the Dolphins' top pass-catching TE in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Marcel Louis-Jacques
January 2, 2026
Miami Dolphins running back
De'Von Achane (shoulder) will not practice on Friday, and head coach Mike McDaniel said "typically guys who don't practice Friday don't play," but Achane's status for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New England Patriots on Sunday is still to be determined, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. The 24-year-old will be a game-time decision this weekend despite not practicing all week due to a shoulder injury. He will most likely receive a questionable tag on Miami's final injury report on Friday. Achane has been a top-10 fantasy RB all year long, but he's extremely volatile heading into Week 18 against the Patriots. If Achane does suit up, he'll be at risk of losing valuable snaps to both
Jaylen Wright and rookie
Ollie Gordon II. Wright will be a plug-and-play fantasy RB if Achane is ruled out.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Marcel Louis-Jacques
January 2, 2026
Miami Dolphins wide receiver
Jaylen Waddle (ribs) will be limited in Friday's practice and is questionable to play in Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New England Patriots, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. Waddle missed practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday and Friday. Tight end
Darren Waller (groin) won't play in the final game of the season, and both Waddle and running back
De'Von Achane (shoulder) could be held out. Waddle had five catches for 72 yards in rookie quarterback
Quinn Ewers' first NFL start, but he failed to haul in his only target in last week's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before injuring his ribs. The 27-year-old could be a game-time decision in Week 18, making him extremely risky for fantasy managers still trying to win a championship.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Marcel Louis-Jacques
January 2, 2026
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota (hand) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Mariota was a stretch to make it back to play in the final game of the year after injuring his hand in the Week 16 loss to the Eagles. The 32-year-old veteran was held out of the Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 and will now miss a second straight game to end the year. Journeyman QB
Josh Johnson will make a second straight start for the Commanders. Mariota ended up playing in 11 games (eight starts) this year while filling in for the injured
Jayden Daniels, and he held his own, throwing for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He added 297 yards on the ground and a TD.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
January 2, 2026
New York Jets rookie tight end
Mason Taylor (neck) has officially been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Buffalo Bills, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Taylor's rookie campaign will end with four straight missed games due to a neck injury. Head coach Aaron Glenn said that Taylor didn't have a setback with his injury. "Doctor's orders," Glenn said.
Jelani Woods (hamstring) will also be out for the Jets this weekend, so
Jeremy Ruckert and
Stone Smartt will compete for pass-catching duties at TE for the team in the final game of the season. The 21-year-old will wrap up his first year in the NFL with 44 receptions on 65 targets for 369 yards and one touchdown. Taylor wasn't really relevant in 12-team fantasy leagues, and his outlook moving forward will all depend on the Jets' plans at quarterback.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
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
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