December 31, 2025
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel would be a candidate for the Cleveland Browns head-coaching job if both teams make a change following the 2025 season. McDaniel would be returning to Cleveland after previously working for the Browns as a wide receivers coach. The Browns are having internal discussions about current head coach Kevin Stefanski's future. If Stefanski is let go by Cleveland, he could be the leading candidate to become the next head coach for the New York Giants. After a 1-6 start in Miami this year, the Dolphins have won six of their last nine games to go 7-9 heading into the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New England Patriots. In his four seasons with the Dolphins, McDaniel has gone 35-34, including 0-2 in the playoffs. The Browns have always admired McDaniel for his offensive mind and innovative play-calling.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
December 31, 2025
Veteran free-agent quarterback
Desmond Ridder is being signed to the Green Bay Packers practice squad on Wednesday, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Jordan Love (concussion) and
Malik Willis (shoulder) are both dealing with injuries, and the Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed going into the playoffs, so Ridder could be elevated for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Ridder, the former third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 out of Cincinnati, has bounced around the league the last couple of years. The 26-year-old has not appeared in an NFL game since 2024 with the Las Vegas Raiders. Ridder was with the Bengals during the summer and also spent two separate stints with the Vikings. If Ridder is elevated to the active roster this weekend, he'll likely serve in a backup role behind
Clayton Tune if both Love and Willis are inactive.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
December 31, 2025
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Wednesday that the team will not activate quarterback
Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) from Injured Reserve for the final week of the regular season, according to Jake Arthur of Sports Illustrated. Richardson is still dealing with vision limitations and will not play in the Week 18 regular-season finale this weekend against the division-rival Houston Texans. With the Colts officially eliminated from the playoffs, they will sit veteran
Philip Rivers in favor of rookie
Riley Leonard to close things out with an eye toward the future. A-Rich suffered a fractured orbital bone on Oct. 12 in a freak pre-game incident. The 23-year-old former first-rounder had returned to practice in recent weeks, but he didn't make enough progress to be a realistic starting option for Indy. Richardson appeared in just two games in 2025, and his future with the Colts is very much up in the air.
--Keith HernandezSource: SI.com - Jake Arthur
December 31, 2025
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen (foot) will not take part in the team's walkthrough practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Sean McDermott. When asked who will play in Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New York Jets, McDermott said, "We want to win the game. It will go from there." While Allen's foot injury isn't believed to be serious enough to keep him from playing this weekend, it wouldn't be a big surprise if Buffalo held him out so that he can rest up for the start of the playoffs next week. If the Bills ultimately decide to rest Allen this weekend,
Mitchell Trubisky would make his first start of the season against the Jets. Buffalo is currently in the No. 7 and final spot in the AFC playoff picture, but with a win on Sunday and some help, they could move all the way up to the No. 5 seed.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Buffalo News - Katherine Fitzgerald
December 31, 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to rest quarterback
Jalen Hurts and most of their starters in Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Washington Commanders, sources told Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Eagles can move up from the No. 3 seed to the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture with a win over Washington, coupled with a Chicago Bears loss to the Detroit Lions, but the Eagles are prioritizing rest for their starters as they head into the postseason. With Hurts set to be rested this weekend,
Tanner McKee will get the start under center for the Eagles against the Commanders. Fantasy managers will also need to stay away from running back
Saquon Barkley, wide receivers
A.J. Brown and
DeVonta Smith, and tight end
Dallas Goedert. Hurts didn't run as much in 2025, but he still goes into Week 18 action as the QB6 in overall fantasy points.
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
December 31, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle (ankle) remains on an excellent track to play on Saturday against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks in the Week 18 regular-season finale, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. General manager John Lynch said on KNBR Radio on Wednesday that he'd be "very surprised" if Kittle didn't play in a game that will decide the No. 1 seed going into the NFC postseason. The 32-year-old veteran didn't practice at all last week and was ruled out for the Sunday night win over the Chicago Bears. He returned to a limited practice on Tuesday, though, and should play this weekend, barring a setback over the next two days. It's great news for a Niners offense that looked unstoppable in Week 17 on its way to putting up 40-plus points against Chicago. Despite a tough matchup, Kittle will be a must-start TE1 in fantasy if he's active in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
December 31, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. (foot) has been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. Harrison suffered a new foot injury in the Week 17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and failed to catch his only target before leaving. It's a fitting way for the 23-year-old's disappointing second season in the NFL to end in 2025. Through his first two seasons in the league, Harrison has not lived up to his lofty billing as the fourth overall pick out of Ohio State. In 12 games this season, he caught 41 of his 73 targets for 608 yards and four touchdowns after posting a 62-885-8 line in 17 games in his rookie campaign. Harrison's long-term outlook is cloudy, too, with the Cardinals potentially moving on from quarterback
Kyler Murray this offseason. With Harrison missing another game this weekend,
Michael Wilson and tight end
Trey McBride should continue to be target hogs in Arizona's offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
December 31, 2025
San Francisco 49ers fourth-year player out of California,
Jake Tonges, stepped in for the injured
George Kittle (ankle) on Sunday Night Football in Week 17 and made the most of it. He earned himself an impressive nine targets, hauled in seven of them for 60 yards, and scored a touchdown. When given the opportunity in 2025, considering Kittle has now missed seven games this season, Tonges has made the most of it, and Tonges should remain in the low-end TE1 conversation for Week 18 if Kittle does, in fact, miss the game. Week 18 is a pivotal matchup for the 49ers, as they take on the Seattle Seahawks for the division and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Important to note: Kittle practiced on Tuesday, which Tonges' fantasy managers should keep an eye on. Regardless, Tonges has proved this season that he belongs in the NFL and is worth a look in dynasty formats, as he is soon to be a Restricted Free Agent. He's hauled in 34 of his 46 targets for 293 yards and five touchdowns in six games started.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 31, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Parker Washington posted another fantastic performance in Week 17, notching his second straight 10-target, 100-plus-yard game as the Jaguars defeated the Indianapolis Colts 23-17. Over the past two games, Washington has hauled in 14 of his 20 targets for 260 yards and a touchdown, and over this span, he has emerged as the go-to target for quarterback
Trevor Lawrence and is a must-add for fantasy managers still competing in Week 18. Washington has proved throughout the season that he can provide fantasy value with other receivers injured or not playing. Still, even with everyone healthy and a lot of mouths to feed, such as
Brian Thomas Jr.,
Jakobi Meyers,
Brenton Strange, and Washington, it appears Washington has moved ahead in the pecking order of late. The biggest beneficiary of all these weapons is Lawrence, who has been playing the best football of his career of late. Week 18 should also present a good matchup against the struggling Tennessee Titans.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 31, 2025
Dallas Cowboys' fourth-year running back out of Florida,
Malik Davis (eye), led the backfield in running back touches in the Cowboys' Week 17 30-23 win on Christmas Day over the Washington Commanders. He stepped in for the injured
Javonte Williams (shoulder) and ended the game with 20 rush attempts (5.15 YPC) for 103 yards. Since Week 15, Davis has emerged as the Cowboys' clear No. 2 running back and has been playing 45.6 percent of the snaps, which is a massive increase from his season-long snap share, which was well below 20 percent before Week 15. If Williams is unable to go in Week 18, Davis should be in line to see the majority of the team's running back touches and would be a plug-and-play RB2 for fantasy managers still competing in Week 18. Important to note: Davis did sustain an eye injury in that matchup, but he played through it and is likely to play in Week 18; however, it's something to monitor as the week progresses.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 31, 2025
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Malik Willis (shoulder) has been spectacular stepping in for
Jordan Love (concussion), who missed most of the Week 16 contest due to injury, and was ruled out for the Week 17 matchup. In the Week 17 matchup, where Willis played the whole game against the Baltimore Ravens, he completed 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 60 yards and scoring twice on the ground, good for 31.52 fantasy points. He was the overall QB3 on the week, and put a lot of great film on tape, and potentially played himself into a nice contract during the offseason, considering he is an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this upcoming spring. Regardless, Willis' value is on the rise, and for those still competing for a Week 18 championship, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur made it clear that Love is the team's starting quarterback when healthy, so Willis' starting will be contingent on Love's availability for Week 18. Willis himself also injured his shoulder in Week 17 and is listed as questionable, so something else to monitor as the Week 18 games approach. If neither quarterback can go,
Clayton Tune would likely be in line to start Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 31, 2025
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (back) has returned to practice, and there is some optimism that he will play in Week 18. He is currently listed as questionable, and head coach John Harbaugh said that when he is healthy, he will play and start in the pivotal Week 18 AFC North matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where the winner will take the division and lock in a playoff spot, while the loser goes home. Jackson injured his back in the first half of the Ravens' Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots and did not play in Week 17 at Green Bay last week, and has now missed a total of five games on the season.
Tyler Huntley stepped in and finished the Week 16 contest and started in the Ravens' Week 17 win at Green Bay, and would be in line for another start if Jackson misses again.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: Ian Rapoport
December 31, 2025
Carolina Panthers rookie running back
Trevor Etienne has had few opportunities to contribute as the team's RB3 behind
Rico Dowdle and
Chuba Hubbard. Etienne has recorded 20 carries for 94 yards to go along with three catches (three targets) for 13 yards as a receiver in 16 games. The rookie fourth-rounder has played mostly on special teams, returning 31 kicks for an average of 23.6 yards per return, roughly two yards below the league average of 25.9. Etienne saw a brief uptick in touches in Weeks 4-6 with Hubbard banged up. He was efficient in his limited opportunity, handling 14 carries for 72 yards while adding one catch (one target) for seven yards. The 21-year-old remains a worthwhile stash in dynasty leagues, but he likely won't be a big part of the Panthers' offense in Saturday's divisional matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to decide the NFC South.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 31, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals rookie running back
Tahj Brooks has totalled just 45 yards on 16 carries to go with one catch for nine yards on two targets in 15 games this season. Brooks has been firmly entrenched as the Bengals' RB3 behind
Chase Brown and
Samaje Perine for his entire rookie campaign, relegating him mostly to special teams duties. The rookie sixth-rounder has cracked a double-digit snap share in just four games this season. However, seven of his 16 carries have come in the past two games, with the Bengals eliminated from playoff contention. With Brown posting big numbers in recent weeks and Perine continuing to be a reliable veteran on passing downs, it will be tough for Brooks to see many more opportunities in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Cleveland Browns.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 31, 2025
After a career year in 2024, Kansas City Chiefs tight end
Noah Gray hasn't played a major role in the offense in 2025. Gray has totalled 18 catches (32 targets) for 148 yards in 15 games this season and has yet to find the end zone after scoring five times last year. The 26-year-old's lowest snap share in a game this season was 32.3% in Week 12, so the veteran was still a part of the Chiefs offense, but he has only been targeted on 13% of his routes, down from 16% last year. The Chiefs' pass-catching situation was much more dire in 2024 than in 2025, with
Rashee Rice back in the mix for most of the season, which in part led to the dip in production for Gray. However, with plenty of rumors surrounding the possibility of legendary tight end
Travis Kelce retiring at the end of the season, Gray could be stepping into a starting role in 2026, which would be a big boost to his fantasy value.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
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