January 8, 2026
The Miami Dolphins have decided to fire head coach Mike McDaniel, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. McDaniel was expected to lead the team's general manager search after they fired Chris Grier in the middle of the season. McDaniel became head coach in 2022, leading the Dolphins to back-to-back winning seasons and catapulting their offense to top-5 scoring in both seasons. With McDaniel gone, all signs point to former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. There were rumors that a team with a head coach was all over the idea of targeting Harbaugh, and it appears that team was the Dolphins. McDaniel is expected to have a market as an offensive coordinator, while the Dolphins are completely cleaning house.
--Nathan HarveySource: Adam Schefter - ESPN
January 8, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed was held without a catch in Week 18's loss to the Minnesota Vikings, playing on just 16% of snaps. Reed dealt with injuries all season, from a foot fracture in training camp to a broken collarbone in Week 2. Reed finished his third season, playing seven games and averaging career lows in every major statistical category. Reed has a chance to right his wrongs in the Wild Card round against the Chicago Bears, but it could be challenging with slot cornerback Kyler Gordon possibly being activated off injured reserve. If the Packers want to win this game against the NFC North champions, they will need to run the ball, which could limit Reed's opportunities in the passing game. The third-year receiver is a low-end WR2 this week and is very risky given his regular-season struggles.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
January 8, 2026
After letting go of long-time head coach John Harbaugh, the Baltimore Ravens are requesting an interview with Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores for their head-coaching opening. Flores coached the Miami Dolphins for three seasons, going 24-25 and helping the Dolphins reach just one playoff berth. After being fired after the 2021 season, Flores joined the Vikings as their defensive coordinator a year later. After ranking among the league's worst defensive units in 2022, Flores led them to 13th in 2023, followed by 5th and 7th in 2024 and 2025. With Flores expected to have a market for a head coaching vacancy, the Ravens are looking to swipe one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL.
--Nathan HarveySource: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
January 8, 2026
Following reports that the team would make changes to its coaching staff, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard after one season. After being promoted from pass-game coordinator to offensive coordinator last offseason, Grizzard is on the move, opening the door for a new coordinator in Tampa. The Buccaneers' offense regressed significantly last season, dropping from 4th in scoring under Liam Coen to 18th in 2025, and from 3rd in total yards in 2024 to 21st. With Grizzard gone, the Buccaneers will need a new coordinator, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Falcons OC Zac Robinson, former Ravens OC Todd Monken, and Rams pass game specialist Nathan Scheelhaase are among the names to watch for this position.
--Nathan HarveySource: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network
January 7, 2026
The Miami Dolphins are going into the second phase of their search for a new general manager and will be conducting in-person interviews this week, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The four candidates that will be interviewed are Los Angeles Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander, Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, San Francisco 49ers director of scouting and football operations
Josh Williams, and interim GM Champ Kelly. The Dolphins have been clear that they aren't firing head coach Mike McDaniel following a disappointing 2025 season, although things could be changing quickly on that front following the Baltimore Ravens' surprising firing of head coach John Harbaugh on Tuesday. Miami fired previous GM Chris Grier on Halloween. There are still a lot of moving parts to Miami's front office and coaching situation early this offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 7, 2026
ESPN's Peter Schrager writes that Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur's name keeps coming up, although he can't be requested for an interview yet, when offensive head-coaching candidates are being mentioned for this cycle. Schrager also mentions Rams assistant Nate Scheelhaase as a name with "legit buzz" around the league. The 35-year-old interviewed for offensive-coordinator jobs with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year. LaFleur has been L.A.'s offensive coordinator since 2023, and the Rams have had one of the best offenses in the league the last two seasons. They currently rank second in yards per play (6.2) and first with 46 passing touchdowns as they head into a Wild-Card matchup this Saturday against the Panthers. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula is also expected to get looks for head-coaching openings this offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Peter Schrager
January 7, 2026
Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is scheduled to interview for the Baltimore Ravens' head-coaching job on Thursday, a league source told NFL insider Josina Anderson. It will be a busy week for Joseph, whose Broncos are on a first-round bye in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs. He will also interview for head-coaching jobs with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday, and with the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday. The 53-year-old will interview with the Arizona Cardinals on Friday. Joseph is in high demand, and he has previous head-coaching experience in Denver from 2017-18. The Broncos have had one of the league's best defenses the last two years under Joseph, but in Baltimore, if he were to get the job, he'd have huge shoes to fill following John Harbaugh's 18-year run as the head coach. The primary objective for the Ravens is getting two-time MVP quarterback
Lamar Jackson right after a disappointing 2025 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Josina Anderson
January 7, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers tight end
Oronde Gadsden has been inconsistent down the stretch, but he still exceeded expectations as a fifth-round rookie. Gadsden brought in 49 catches (69 targets) for 664 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. The Syracuse product had a historic stretch early in the season once he earned a full-time role in Week 6, posting his most receiving yards ever by a rookie tight end over a four-game span. He also became the first rookie tight end with four straight games of 65 or more receiving yards. Gadsden's production faded down the stretch, as he averaged just two catches (3.3 targets) for 26.2 yards per game with one touchdown over the final six weeks. Gadsden is a risky option for Sunday night's Wild-Card game against the New England Patriots, with New England being a slightly favorable matchup for opposing tight ends, allowing the 11th-most catches per game (5.7) and the 12th-most yards (57.1).
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 7, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Kayshon Boutte finished his third season with 33 catches (46 targets) for 551 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games. The 23-year-old wideout was one of the most explosive receivers in the league and had a dynamic downfield connection with quarterback
Drake Maye, leading the league with 12.24 yards per target (minimum 40 targets). With how well-distributed New England's passing attack has been this season, Boutte's target volume hasn't been high enough for consistent fantasy production, with eight targets being his season high, which occurred back in Week 1. He projects as a boom-or-bust option in a tough matchup in Sunday's Wild-Card game against the Los Angeles Chargers, who allowed the ninth-fewest PPR points to receivers in the regular season.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 7, 2026
Across 16 games this season, Chicago Bears tight end
Cole Kmet hauled in 30 of his 48 targets for 347 yards and two touchdowns. Kmet has taken a back seat to rookie
Colston Loveland as the primary receiving tight end, posting his fewest catches and yards since his rookie season. Still, the 26-year-old remains a key piece of Chicago's dynamic offense this season, logging the third-highest snap share (70.4%) on the team. Kmet has recorded two receptions in five straight games to close the season, and he remains a low-ceiling option for Saturday's Wild-Card game against the Green Bay Packers. The impending return of receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) won't be good news for Kmet's potential target share on Saturday night.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 7, 2026
The Kansas City Chiefs have issued a statement regarding allegations posted on Instagram about wide receiver
Rashee Rice, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports. "The club is aware of the allegations on social media and is in communication with the National Football League. We have no further comment at this time." These allegations could result in a second significant off-field suspension for Rice, who served a six-game suspension to open the 2025 season following a hit-and-run incident in April of 2024. The 25-year-old was highly productive as the Chiefs' clear WR1 in eight games this season before being placed on Injured Reserve due to a concussion. Rice ranked 11th in the league in receiving yards per game (71.4) and finished with 53 catches (78 targets) for 571 yards and five touchdowns while adding five carries for 20 yards and another score on the ground.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Matt Derrick
January 7, 2026
The Cleveland Browns have requested permission to interview Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher for their head-coaching job, a source told Mark Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Browns have also requested to interview Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde as they look to replace Kevin Stefanski, who was fired on Black Monday. The soon-to-be 39-year-old Pitcher started his coaching career with the Colts from 2012-15, where he worked under Browns current general manager Andrew Berry. The former college quarterback at Colgate and Cortland, Pitcher became Cincy's offensive coordinator in 2024 after previously being an offensive assistant since 2016. In Cleveland, Pitcher's first order of business would be deciding the team's starting QB going into 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
January 7, 2026
Former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has generated interest from at least nine NFL teams after being fired by the Ravens on Tuesday, a well-placed league source told FOX Sports' Ralph Vacchiano. Harbaugh, who won a Super Bowl in his 18 seasons in Baltimore, has quickly emerged as the top name on the open market for a head-coaching opening. Only six teams are currently looking for a head coach, so there are at least three teams (and possibly more) that are now considering firing their current coach to replace him with Harbaugh. The Miami Dolphins are believed to be one of those teams despite standing by Mike McDaniel at the end of the season. At least one of the expected suitors is playing in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs this weekend. Reports suggested on Wednesday morning that the New York Giants are "all-in" on trying to make Harbaugh their next head coach.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Ralph Vacchiano
January 7, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that he will return to the team for a fifth season in 2026, according to Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times. Bowles won't be fired after the Bucs finished 8-9 in 2025 and outside of the playoff picture, but he did acknowledge that there will be some changes to the coaching staff going into next season. In his four seasons as the head coach in Tampa, Bowles has gone 35-33. He helped lead the team to three straight NFC South titles in his first three seasons at the helm. The Bucs started 6-2 this year before losing seven of their last nine games to miss out on the playoffs. Bowles' teams have finished under .500 twice, with his best season coming in 2024 with a 10-7 record. Team brass expressed frustration with Tampa's offense under offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, so he could be on his way out.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
January 7, 2026
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Jordan Whittington (knee) missed practice again on Wednesday due to a knee injury, per Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. Whittington was injured in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals and is looking unlikely to be available to play in the Wild-Card playoff matchup on Saturday on the road against the Carolina Panthers. The 25-year-old hasn't been a fantasy asset all year, though, catching only 18 passes for 171 yards and no touchdowns on 25 targets for the Rams. If Whittington is unable to play this weekend in Carolina, it could open up a few more snaps on offense for the likes of receivers
Xavier Smith, Konata Mumpford, and
Tutu Atwell behind top wideouts
Puka Nacua and
Davante Adams (hamstring).
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Daily News - Adam Grosbard
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