January 8, 2026
Carolina Panthers quarterback
Bryce Young had a decent showing in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, going 24-for-35 passing for 266 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. It was a nice bounce-back performance after he threw for just 54 yards in the Week 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 24-year-old's 266 passing yards were his third-highest total of the year. He'll get a rematch with the Los Angeles Rams on Wild-Card weekend, after upsetting them in Week 13. Young went 15-for-20 that day for 206 yards and a season-high three touchdowns. Can he repeat the feat this Saturday? It's going to be difficult against a Rams defense that allowed the 10th-fewest points per game, although they were around the middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed per game to QBs. Young averaged only 15.4 fantasy points per game in 2025, placing him as the QB27. His upside isn't great going into Saturday's Wild-Card matchup.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 8, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles running back
Tank Bigsby showcased his talents in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders with the team resting starter
Saquon Barkley. Bigsby played a season-high 59% of the offensive snaps and had 16 rushing attempts for 75 yards and a touchdown, also adding one catch for a 31-yard gain. Four of the 24-year-old's carries went for at least eight yards to finish with a 4.7 yard-per-carry average. It was a nice showing for the former third-rounder, but he'll go back to being Barkley's backup for Sunday's Wild-Card matchup versus the visiting San Franciscoso 49ers. In his 17 total games with Philly and the Jacksonville Jaguars during the regular season, Bigsby had 63 carries for 356 yards and two touchdowns while adding three catches for 32 yards. With a minor role likely coming against San Fran, Bigsby won't be a realistic starting option for playoff lineups.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 8, 2026
Houston Texans wide receiver
Christian Kirk won't be a very popular fantasy option for playoff leagues going into the team's Monday night Wild-Card matchup against the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers, even though the Steelers' defense was a top-10 matchup for opposing wideouts in 2025 in terms of half-PPR points per game. In the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Indianapolis Colts, Kirk caught just one of two targets for minus-three yards, even with top receiver
Nico Collins getting the day off. However, the Texans did bench starting quarterback
C.J. Stroud after halftime. Still, the 29-year-old Kirk had fewer snaps than both rookie
Jayden Higgins and
Xavier Hutchinson, and he has only 28 catches for 239 yards and one touchdown on 52 targets all year. Kirk has been on the field plenty for Houston, but he hasn't been targeted much and has basically been sharing slot duties with rookie
Jaylin Noel of late.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 8, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal only handled three rushing attempts for 12 yards and caught one pass for a two-yard loss in the Week 18 regular-season finale versus the Denver Broncos, despite the team resting rookie
Omarion Hampton (ankle). Hampton did not practice on Wednesday and might have aggravated an ankle injury that landed him on Injured Reserve earlier this season. With Hampton's status uncertain for the Wild-Card game on Sunday night against the New England Patriots, the 24-year-old Vidal could become more interesting for fantasy playoff lineups. However, the matchup isn't a great one, with New England allowing the fourth-fewest half-PPR points per game to opposing RBs in 2025. Still, a big volume increase for Vidal if Hampton is out would put him in the RB2 conversation. Vidal filled in nicely as the Bolts' lead back with Hampton hurt this year, and he posted three 100-yard games.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 8, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Keenan Allen was the team's leading receiver in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos and he caught seven passes, his most since a season-high 11 grabs back on Oct. 19. However, Allen had just 36 yards on Sunday with backup quarterback
Trey Lance getting the starting nod with the Bolts resting
Justin Herbert. The week prior, the 33-year-old Allen had just one catch for 17 yards in the loss to the Houston Texans. Allen has not scored since Week 7 and hasn't gone over 50 receiving yards in a contest since Week 11 against the Jaguars. He is a trustworthy security blanket for Herbert, the problem is that L.A.'s beat-up offensive line doesn't give Herbert much time to find his receivers. All of the Chargers' wideouts are shaky fantasy options going into the postseason against a Patriots defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest half-PPR points per game to WRs in the last five weeks.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 8, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles running back
Saquon Barkley finished the 2025 season with 1,413 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 317 total attempts. After totaling nearly 2,300 scrimmage yards in 2024, Barkley regressed, dropping from 5.8 yards per carry to 4.1 this season. Despite the Eagles' offensive struggles this season, they are in the playoffs and hosting the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card Round. The 49ers allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to running backs this season, and injuries to their defensive line and linebackers should open up lanes for Barkley. The defending champions relied heavily on their star running back in last year's Super Bowl run, and they are expected to do the same as they chase back-to-back Super Bowl titles.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
January 8, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Jalen Hurts hopes to lead the Eagles to back-to-back Super Bowl titles this season. Hurts was solid in the regular season, throwing for 3,224 yards, a career-high 25 passing touchdowns, and just six interceptions (the fewest among any full-time starting quarterback in the NFL). The Eagles' offense has regressed under offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, dropping from the seventh-ranked scoring offense in 2024 to 19th this season. While the offense has struggled this season, the Eagles are still hosting the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card round, a team that struggled against the pass toward the end of the season. In what could be a high-scoring affair, Hurts is among the top quarterbacks in fantasy this week and could be a great value against the injury-plagued 49ers' defense.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
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
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