January 12, 2026
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green finished his collegiate career with 9,962 passing yards, 2,405 rushing yards, 94 total touchdowns, and 35 interceptions in 53 games with the Razorbacks and Boise State Broncos. Green is arguably the most physically gifted quarterback in the upcoming rookie class, but his turnover issues and lack of consistency as a passer will prevent him from being a top signal-caller prospect overall. That said, Green has a cannon of an arm and likely possesses 4.4 speed at 6'6", 215 pounds. He's rushed for at least eight touchdowns in all four seasons as a starter. While Green is highly unlikely to earn a starting job early, or at all, in his NFL career, he's an enticing stash in deep dynasty superflex leagues thanks to his physical tools. If he makes a few spot starts in the case of an injury to a starter, his rushing skills alone give him at least QB2 upside. Green is currently expected to be a Day 3 pick in April's 2026 NFL Draft.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 12, 2026
Baylor tight end Michael Trigg is coming off the most productive season of his career, setting career highs in receptions (50), receiving yards (694), and touchdowns (six) in 11 games. The 6'4" pass-catcher is an explosive athlete with contested catch ability, and he fights for extra yards after the reception. With many NFL teams moving back to using a lot of 12-personnel, Trigg could be an early contributor as a rookie if he lands inside the top four rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, as expected. The 23-year-old spent one season at USC, two seasons at Ole Miss, and two seasons at Baylor, totaling 108 catches for 1,419 yards and 14 touchdowns in 38 career games. The upcoming tight end class isn't as strong as years past, so a team in need of a big-bodied tight end could pull the trigger on him earlier than expected. Trigg is currently a third-round value in dynasty rookie drafts.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 12, 2026
Green Bay Packers right tackle Zach Tom (knee) had a partially torn patellar tendon and tried to come back with a platelet-rich plasma injection, but he ultimately didn't feel that he could pass block with it, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Tom will undergo surgery soon and will be facing a six-month recovery in the offseason. The 26-year-old was also dealing with a pectoral injury. Tom was unable to play in Saturday night's Wild-Card loss to the division-rival Chicago Bears, and now he'll get his knee injury taken care of. Before getting hurt, he started all 12 regular-season games that he appeared in. Tom signed a four-year, $88 million contract extension with Green Bay and is under contract through the 2029 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Tom Silverstein
January 12, 2026
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said he's "optimistic" that right guard Kevin Dotson (ankle) will be able to play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday in the Divisional Round of the postseason, according to Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. Dotson has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury against the Seattle Seahawks back in Week 16 on Thursday Night Football. The 29-year-old's availability for this weekend will ultimately depend on how he looks in practices this week, but Dotson's return would be good news for a Rams offense that is already one of the most potent in the league. Justin Dedich has been stepping up in a starting role on L.A.'s offensive line since Dotson's late-season ankle injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Daily News - Adam Grosbard
January 12, 2026
Green Bay Packers All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons (knee) said he knows a Week 1 return in 2026 is probably unrealistic, but he thinks he can return from a torn ACL within the first month of the season, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Parsons has an expected recovery time of nine months after having surgery to fix a torn ACL in his left knee at the end of December. The good news is that the 26-year-old defensive end suffered a clean tear of his ACL in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos, and he didn't sustain any further damage to other ligaments in his knee. Before his season-ending injury in his first year with the Packers, Parsons collected 41 tackles (19 solo), 12.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 14 games. Parsons' IDP stock will obviously be down in 2026 since he won't play a full season, but the three-time All-Pro will have the ability to be a game-changer once again as soon as he returns.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
January 12, 2026
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (shoulder) is going on Injured Reserve after aggravating and re-breaking his scapula injury from earlier this year, according to head coach Sean McVay. The Rams will not have Witherspoon in their secondary for the rest of the postseason after he was injured in Saturday's Wild-Card win over the hosting Carolina Panthers. It's a tough break for the 30-year-old defensive back, who will become a free agent when the new league year begins in March. Witherspoon finished his third year in L.A. with just eight tackles (six solo), one interception, and two pass breakups in his six regular-season games played due to his shoulder injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Associated Press - Greg Beacham
January 12, 2026
Houston Texans backup quarterback
Davis Mills (personal), whose wife recently gave birth, will travel to Pittsburgh and be available for the Wild-Card game on Monday night against the Steelers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Mills stayed an extra night at home to be with his family. The 27-year-old signal-caller will be active on Monday night as the backup to starter
C.J. Stroud against Pittsburgh. If Mills hadn't been available for this game,
Graham Mertz would have been in line to serve as Stroud's backup against Pittsburgh. Mills performed admirably for Houston this year when Stroud was unavailable due to a concussion. He appeared in six games (three starts), going 91-for-159 passing for 915 yards with five touchdowns and just one interception to go 3-0 for the Texans.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 12, 2026
This time last year, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was projected by many to be a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The signal-caller who took over for
Jayden Daniels in Baton Rouge had a prolific first year as a starter, passing for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. However, his redshirt senior season was a letdown, as the Tigers' offense crumbled, and Nussmeier was only able to rack up 1,927 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions in nine games. The 23-year-old worked with shaky offensive line play and a lack of a rushing attack in 2025, which can excuse some of the regression, but his draft stock has undoubtedly taken a hit. Once viewed as a first-round prospect, Nussmeier will likely be selected between rounds two and four in April's draft. This means he's unlikely to see a starting role right away, but he'll be an interesting later-round rookie pick and stash candidate in deep dynasty superflex leagues.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 12, 2026
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that cornerback Christian Gonzalez (head) is in the league's concussion protocol after getting injured in Sunday night's Wild-Card victory over the visiting Los Angeles Chargers, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live. "How long that lasts, I don't know," Vrabel said. Gonzalez's status for the Divisional Round is now up in the air, and he'll have to pass through the NFL's five-step protocol to be cleared to play on Sunday against either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Houston Texans. New England's defense was firing on all cylinders against a banged-up Bolts offensive line on Sunday night and held the Chargers to just one field goal. If the Patriots don't have Gonzalez in the fold this weekend, though, it will be a big downgrade for their secondary against either Pittsburgh or Houston.
--Keith HernandezSource: Mass Live - Mark Daniels
January 12, 2026
Los Angeles Rams quarterback
Matthew Stafford (finger) has "a little sprain on his index finger," according to head coach Sean McVay. "He's as tough as it gets, and he'll be good to go," McVay said. Stafford's finger got jammed into a Carolina Panthers defender during Saturday's Wild-Card win, but the 37-year-old MVP front-runner should be fine to play this Sunday in the Divisional Round on the road versus the Chicago Bears. Stafford went 24-for-42 passing against Carolina for 304 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He will be a very popular QB option for this week's playoff games in fantasy football, as the Bears' defense allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing QBs during 17 regular-season games, including 32 touchdown passes, the fourth-most in the NFL. Stafford will likely be on L.A.'s injury report this week, but he should be fine to play on Sunday.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Associated Press - Greg Beacham
January 12, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kenneth Gainwell emerged as a surprisingly critical piece of his team's offense over the course of the 2025 season, recording 1,023 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns on 187 touches. Gainwell and the Steelers will face one of the NFL's best defenses in the Wild Card round in the Houston Texans. Houston dominated opposing rushing attacks in the regular season, allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards (1,593) in the NFL. However, Gainwell does most of his work in the Steelers' passing game. The 26-year-old recorded 73 receptions for 486 yards and three touchdowns this season and earned at least seven targets in four out of Pittsburgh's final five games. Houston has been slightly more susceptible to running back production in the pass game this season, allowing an average of four receptions and 31 receiving yards per game to the position. Given his relatively safe receiving floor, Gainwell profiles as a solid fantasy RB2 option in PPR-scoring leagues in the Wild Card.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 12, 2026
Houston Texans wide receiver
Nico Collins sat out the final week of the regular season for rest purposes, but he's back and ready to go for his team's Wild Card round matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 26-year-old had his second-straight Pro Bowl campaign in 2025, recording 71 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns on 120 targets across 15 games played. Collins is the clear WR1 in Houston and should heavily feature in the Texans' offensive game plan against the Steelers. Additionally, he will face a Pittsburgh defense that had its struggles defending the pass in the regular season. Pittsburgh finished 2025 ranked 30th in the NFL in passing yards allowed (4,437) and tied for 23rd in passing touchdowns allowed (30). The Steelers also allowed 53 receptions of 20 or more yards, so Collins should have a chance to make plays down the field. Collins averaged 15.7 yards per reception in the regular season and has a career average of 15.0 yards per reception across 66 NFL games. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues should view Collins as a WR1 option in the Wild Card round.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 12, 2026
Houston Texans rookie running back
Woody Marks finished his first season in the NFL with 911 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 220 touches across 16 games. Marks finished the year as the clear RB1 in Houston, earning double-digit touches in 10 out of his last 11 contests. He may see an even larger workload in Houston's Wild Card round matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Texans backup running back
Jawhar Jordan (ankle) has been ruled out with an ankle injury. The Pittsburgh rush defense finished a solid-but-unspectacular 13th in the NFL in total rushing yards allowed (1,922) in the regular season. However, the Steelers proved difficult to score on on the ground, allowing the third-fewest rushing touchdowns (10) in the league. Marks is a good bet to see a heavy workload against Pittsburgh, but he may have to rely on volume alone for fantasy production. RotoBaller projects Marks as the overall RB10 in full PPR scoring for his matchup against the Steelers.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 12, 2026
The Green Bay Packers are expected to work out a new contract with head coach Matt LaFleur "in the coming days," per ESPN's Adam Schefter. LaFleur has just one season remaining on his current agreement, and Schefter reports that "both sides want clarity moving forward." LaFleur, who will turn 47 in November, has gone 76-40-1 in the regular season across seven seasons at the helm in Green Bay. He's led the Packers to six postseason appearances and won 13 games in each of his first three years with the organization. However, the team has gone out in the first round in back-to-back years, most recently blowing a sizable second-half lead to the division rival Chicago Bears, ending their 2025 campaign. Regardless, it appears as though Green Bay wants to commit to LaFleur long-term and end speculation about his job security going forward.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 12, 2026
The Cleveland Browns are interviewing former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel for their open head-coaching role on Monday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Miami fired McDaniel on Thursday after four seasons at the helm. McDaniel went 35-33 in the regular season with the Dolphins, but posted losing records and missed the playoffs in each of the last two years. He led the Dolphins to playoff berths in both 2022 and 2023, but finished his tenure with the Dolphins a career playoff record of 0-2. McDaniel has a reputation as an offensive guru, and Miami was the number one offense in the NFL in terms of yardage in McDaniel's second season. However, the Dolphins regressed in 2025, finishing 26th in total yards and 25th in points scored. The Browns have finished 28th or worse in points scored in each of the last two seasons, so the organization is no doubt eyeing McDaniel as a potential fix for its ailing offense.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
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