January 14, 2026
Denver Broncos safety Brandon Jones (pectoral) has a chance to return if the Broncos advance to this year's Super Bowl, a source told Mike Klis of 9 News. The starting safety had surgery to fix a torn pectoral muscle that he suffered near the end of the first half against the Green Bay Packers in Week 15. With the 27-year-old sidelined, P.J. Locke has filled in admirably as the team's starting free safety. In his second season with the Broncos before his injury, Jones had 78 tackles (43 solo), half a sack, one interception, seven pass breakups, and a fumble recovery in 14 games played. Denver would love to get Jones back if they made it deep in the postseason, but there's no guarantee that Jones will be ready to contribute if they do get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2016.
--Keith HernandezSource: 9 News - Mike Klis
January 14, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver/cornerback
Bo Melton (ankle) said that he expects to need just one month to recover from the ankle injury that he suffered in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Barring a setback, Melton should be good to take part in the team's offseason workouts in the spring. The 26-year-old is unsure if he'll work more as a receiver or defensive back going into the 2026 season. Melton was mostly a backup wideout for the Packers this year, catching only four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets, transitioning more to a defensive role. He'll be a restricted free agent this offseason, which means he'll most likely return to Green Bay. We aren't expecting Melton to have any real fantasy football value in the fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Tom Silverstein
January 14, 2026
NFL teams were told that former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin "does not plan to coach next year," according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Teams around the league contacted Tomlin to express their interest in him in the hours after he told the Steelers that he was stepping down on Monday, according to sources. The Steelers still have Tomlin's rights, and draft compensation would be necessary if Tomlin were to go to another team. That could eventually still happen, but it looks like Tomlin's plan right now is to take next season off after 19 years as the head coach in Pittsburgh. While Tomlin's recent run with the Steelers was marred by early playoff exits, he amazingly didn't have a losing season in his entire 19-year run with the organization. If the future Hall of Fame coach doesn't coach in 2026, he could be hired as an analyst by one of the big TV networks.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 14, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said that wide receiver/cornerback
Travis Hunter's (knee) rehab from a torn LCL is going "as expected," and he will play on both offense and defense next season, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. Hunter played 67% of the offensive snaps and 36% of the defensive snaps in his first seven NFL games in 2025 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Wolfe says to expect Hunter to play much more on the defensive side in 2026, which will be a bigger need for the Jaguars. Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick in last April's draft, had surgery on his knee on Nov. 11. The 22-year-old caught 28 of his 45 targets for 298 yards and a touchdown before his injury, but he was starting to see a bigger role right before he got hurt. Hunter should be fully ready for the start of next season, but coming off injury and expected to see less time on offense means that his price tag on draft day will most certainly drop considerably from what it was going into his rookie season.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Cameron Wolfe
January 14, 2026
Former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh continues to gather information on potential destinations, and the expectation is that he will interview with the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, and Atlanta Falcons by the end of the week, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Other teams are interested, but Pelissero reports that the Giants, Titans, and Falcons appear to have the inside track. The Athletic's Ian O'Connor reports that Harbaugh is expected to meet with the Giants in New Jersey on Wednesday, barring a last-minute schedule change. New York and Tennessee have promising young quarterbacks in place for Harbaugh, and while the Falcons have a big question mark at the position, given
Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) injury situation, the former Ravens head coach could have some sway in picking the team's next general manager.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 13, 2026
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dalton Kincaid (knee, calf) was listed as a limited participant in the team's walkthrough practice on Tuesday. Kincaid has been battling a knee injury since Week 16, but he suffered a calf injury in Sunday's Wild-Card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars that had him in a walking boot after the game as a precaution. The 26-year-old should be ready to play this weekend in the Divisional Round on Saturday against the Denver Broncos, but we'll keep a close eye on his practice status the rest of the week. If active, Kincaid should be one of the top aerial targets for quarterback
Josh Allen, especially with both receivers
Gabe Davis (knee) and
Tyrell Shavers (knee) done for the year with torn ACLs. In fantasy football playoff leagues, Kincaid should be considered a top-three TE this week. In the win over the Jags, he had three grabs for 28 yards and his sixth touchdown of the year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
January 13, 2026
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) will be listed as a limited participant on the team's estimated injury report on Tuesday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Pearsall is back at practice for the first time since Dec. 31 after aggravating a PCL sprain in his right knee. The 25-year-old has a shot to return for the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks, but Pearsall should still be considered very questionable for the weekend. The Niners really could use the former first-rounder back after they lost tight end
George Kittle to a torn Achilles tendon last weekend. If Pearsall is limited or misses yet another game due to knee and ankle injuries,
Demarcus Robinson could be in line for heavy targets for the second straight week. Robinson broke out for six catches, 111 yards, and a touchdown on a season-high seven targets in the Wild-Card win over the Eagles with Pearsall out.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
January 13, 2026
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced on Tuesday that star tight end
George Kittle (Achilles) will have surgery to fix his torn Achilles tendon on Wednesday. Kittle tore his right Achilles tendon in Sunday's win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild-Card round, so the team will be without him for the rest of the postseason and most likely the start of next season. He also missed time with injuries in 2025, but when healthy, he was a top-five fantasy TE in terms of half-PPR points per game (12.1) with 57 catches on 69 targets for 628 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 regular-season contests. The rest of the way,
Jake Tonges will step in as San Fran's top pass-catching TE. In the win over the Chicago Bears on Dec. 28 without Kittle available, Tonges had seven catches for 60 yards and his fifth touchdown of the year.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Francisco 49ers
January 13, 2026
After finishing the regular season with an NFL-best 1,621 rushing yards, Buffalo Bills running back
James Cook had an underwhelming outing in his first game of the postseason. The 26-year-old was held to just 46 rushing yards on 15 carries and five receiving yards on two catches by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cook's regular-season track record should afford him the benefit of the doubt from fantasy managers. However, he will face another very difficult run defense in the Divisional round when Buffalo travels to Denver to take on the Broncos. The Broncos defense finished the regular season ranked third in the NFL in yards per carry allowed (3.9) and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns allowed (11). Additionally, Buffalo's already depleted pass-catching corps lost another two wide receivers in
Gabe Davis (knee) and
Tyrell Shavers (knee), who both suffered season-ending knee injuries in the Wild Card round. As a result, Denver could be even more geared up to stop Cook and take away the run. Cook remains a high-end running back option, but fantasy managers may want to downgrade expectations heading into the Divisional round.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 13, 2026
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen (foot, knee, finger) is dealing with three injuries and was limited in Tuesday's walkthrough practice. Allen has played through a nagging foot injury since Week 17, but the injuries to his knee and finger are new. None of the injuries are expected to keep him from playing in Saturday's Divisional Round contest against the hosting Denver Broncos. Even though the Broncos allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs during the regular season, Allen should be considered one of the two best fantasy football options at the position this week. The 29-year-old finished the regular season as the top QB in overall fantasy points with 39 total touchdowns (a league-high 14 rushing) in 17 contests. Allen threw for 273 yards and scored three times (two rushing) in the Wild-Card win over the Jaguars.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
January 13, 2026
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Khalil Shakir was one of the stars of his team's Wild Card Weekend win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, recording 12 receptions for 82 yards on 12 targets. On a day when no other Buffalo pass-catcher earned more than five targets, Shakir proved he has earned the trust of Bills quarterback
Josh Allen. Heading into the team's Divisional round matchup against the Denver Broncos, Allen may be forced to lean on Shakir even more heavily. Buffalo wide receivers
Gabe Davis (knee) and
Tyrell Shavers (knee) both suffered season-ending knee injuries during the game against Jacksonville, further depleting an already undermanned Bills' wide receiver corps. Outside of Shakir, Buffalo will likely be relying on wideouts
Keon Coleman and
Brandin Cooks, both of whom recorded fewer than 40 receptions during the regular season. Even in a tough matchup against Denver, Shakir profiles as a high-floor wide receiver option for fantasy managers given his high likelihood for significant target volume.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 13, 2026
University of Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq is leaving school early and entering the 2026 NFL Draft, per ESPN's Pete Thamel. Across 14 games for the Ducks in 2025, Sadiq recorded 51 receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. Sadiq, who will play the entirety of his rookie season in the NFL at just 21 years old, is widely considered the top tight end prospect in the draft and appears likely to be a first-round selection. Per Thamel, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has Sadiq ranked as the number 10 overall player in the 2026 draft class. Regardless of where he ends up being selected, Sadiq could have a chance to contribute at the NFL level immediately. For fantasy managers in both redraft and dynasty formats, Sadiq is a name to know heading into the 2026 season.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Pete Thamel
January 13, 2026
Houston Texans running back
Woody Marks posted a huge performance in his first career playoff game, recording 112 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Texans running back
Jawhar Jordan (ankle) sidelined by an ankle injury, Marks played 71% of Houston's offensive snaps and earned 19 out of the team's 29 carries by running backs. Jordan may be able to return for the Texans' Divisional round matchup against the New England Patriots, but he was unable to practice leading into the Wild Card round after suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 18. Even if Jordan is active, Marks figures to remain in a prominent role in the Houston backfield. Dating back to Week 11, the 25-year-old has earned at least 17 touches in six out of his last eight games played. Even in a difficult matchup against New England, Marks profiles as a viable running back option for fantasy managers heading into the Divisional round.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 13, 2026
After missing his team's final five games of the regular season due to a foot injury, Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze returned to the field for Chicago's Wild Card Weekend win over the Green Bay Packers. However, the 23-year-old recorded just two catches for 44 yards and played only 69% of Chicago's offensive snaps. On the bright side, Odunze was targeted six times by Bears quarterback
Caleb Williams. Still, Williams attempted 48 total passes, his most in any game this year. As a result, Odunze finished the game with fewer targets than fellow wideouts
DJ Moore and
Luther Burden III, as well as tight end
Colston Loveland. With another week to recover, Odunze could be a larger part of the Bears' game plan in the Divisional round against the Los Angeles Rams. However, his lingering injury uncertainty and Chicago's depth of quality pass-catchers make Odunze difficult for fantasy managers to trust.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 13, 2026
New England Patriots running back
TreVeyon Henderson was one of the standout offensive rookies of the 2025 season. However, the 23-year-old underwhelmed in his first postseason appearance by recording just 36 scrimmage yards on 10 touches against the Los Angeles Chargers. Veteran Patriots running back
Rhamondre Stevenson was the star of the team's backfield against the Chargers, racking up 128 scrimmage yards on 13 touches. Stevenson also out-snapped Henderson 40 to 25. In the divisional round, New England will face one of the NFL's best defenses in the Houston Texans. Houston completely dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round, allowing just 63 total rushing yards. Between the difficult matchup and the playing time question marks, Henderson's fantasy stock has taken a hit heading into the Divisional round. For fantasy managers in playoff leagues facing a choice between the two Patriots running backs, Stevenson may be the safer option.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
RADIO
