January 18, 2026
Houston Texans running back
Woody Marks (shoulder) exited during the second quarter of Sunday's Divisional Round contest against the New England Patriots. He is officially listed as questionable to return. At the time of his departure, he had just seven rushing yards on eight carries, plus a six-yard reception. The rookie has dealt with a variety of minor injuries throughout the regular season and playoffs, and now, he's on the sideline again.
Nick Chubb has taken over as Houston's primary running back in his absence, leading a backfield that also features
Dare Ogunbowale and
British Brooks. The Texans will need more production from both their rushing attack and passing attack as they look to come back from an 11-point deficit late in the first half.
--Andersen PickardSource: Morgan Weaver
January 18, 2026
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz (calf) won't return in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round game against the New England Patriots after suffering a calf injury. Schultz exited the first quarter with a calf issue and has been ruled out for the rest of the game. The 29-year-old caught two passes for 47 yards before leaving.
Cade Stover and
Harrison Bryant will handle tight end duties and will see an uptick in targets with Schultz sidelined.
C.J. Stroud is already without top wideout
Nico Collins (concussion) and will now be without his starting tight end. If the Texans advance to the AFC Championship versus the Denver Broncos, Schultz will have a week to recover, but is considered day-to-day for now.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network
January 18, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is a finalist to be the next head coach for the Cleveland Browns. Minter is set for a second interview with the Browns next week. Rams passing game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase and former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel are also finalists for the position. Minter has been the Chargers' DC the past two seasons and has become a hot name in the head coaching circle after his defense has helped lead the Chargers to back-to-back playoff appearances. He will have some challenges at quarterback, but he would be taking over a Browns' stout defense led by superstar defensive lineman Myles Garrett. Minter would take over as the newly hired Atlanta Falcons head coach, Kevin Stefanski, after he was let go by the Browns after six seasons as Cleveland's head coach. Look for the Browns to make a decision soon as they go through their second round of interviews.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network
January 18, 2026
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz (calf) is questionable to return in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round game against the New England Patriots with a calf injury. Schultz headed to the locker room during the first quarter after being forced out of the game. He caught both of his targets for 47 yards before exiting early.
Cade Stover and
Harrison Bryant should see an uptick in targets and have an expanded role while Schultz is sidelined. Stay tuned for more updates.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Houston Texans
January 18, 2026
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton praised quarterback
Jarrett Stidham on Sunday. Stidham is "very accurate, and has a lot to his ball," said Payton. Stidham will start in the AFC Championship game vs. either the New England Patriots or the Houston Texans after
Bo Nix (ankle) was ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs due to a broken bone in his ankle. Stidham has been under Payton's offensive system for three years and has shown great strength and mental aptitude. The 29-year-old is a serviceable option for the Broncos with Nix out, but hasn't started a game since Week 18 of the 2023 season. Stidham would be a risky option in playoff leagues and a GPP play in DFS for Championship week, as he will face a brutal matchup against the Patriots or Texans, whichever team advances.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: James Palmer
January 18, 2026
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers are open to quarterback
Aaron Rodgers returning to the team in 2026. "The Steelers players are more than open to Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh; they want the four-time league MVP back and conveyed as much to various members of the Steelers organization during their exit meetings last week," per Schefter. Although it was reported on Saturday that a reunion was unlikely because Mike Tomlin was leaving the Steelers after 19 seasons as Pittsburgh's head coach. However, despite Tomlin's resignation, Pittsburgh hasn't shut the door on Rodgers returning. The veteran quarterback will be a free agent in March and will decide to either retire or return for another year in 2026. In his first year with the Steelers, Rodgers led them to the playoffs and threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while rushing for 61 yards and one score through 16 games. Rodgers likely won't make a decision anytime soon. If he does decide to hang up his cleats, Rodgers will finish with 66,274 passing yards and 527 touchdown passes across 21 NFL seasons. Stay tuned.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter of ESPN
January 18, 2026
Houston Texans running back
Jawhar Jordan is a healthy inactive for the Divisional Round contest on Sunday against the New England Patriots, according to the team's official website. Jordan suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Indianapolis Colts and didn't play in the Wild-Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. The 26-year-old returned to practice this week, though, and was eventually removed from Friday's final injury report. Jordan took over RB2 duties from veteran
Nick Chubb late in the year, but Chubb will handle backup duties behind rookie
Woody Marks in New England on Sunday. Chubb had double-digit carries (10) against the Steelers for the first time since Nov. 2, but a lot of his work came in garbage time in the second half in the 30-6 blowout win. Fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting Chubb to handle much volume against the Pats.
--Keith HernandezSource: HoustonTexans.com
January 18, 2026
The Cleveland Browns have requested a second head-coaching interview with Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. Udinski would become the youngest NFL head coach ever hired if he lands the Browns' job at just 30 years old. Cleveland is also scheduled to have second interviews with Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Despite his age, Udinski is very well respected around the league and is credited with quarterback
Sam Darnold's resurgence last year with the Minnesota Vikings. Jaguars QB
Trevor Lawrence also threw for a career high in touchdowns in 2025 under Udinski's watch. The Browns are looking to replace Kevin Stefanski, who was hired as the next head coach for the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 18, 2026
The Tennessee Titans have a second head-coaching interview scheduled with Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Titans also have a second interview scheduled with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, and former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy could also be a finalist. Hafley is considered the front-runner for the head-coaching job with the Miami Dolphins because of his relationship with new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, who was previously in Green Bay's front office. There seems to be a pretty good chance that Hafley will be a head coach in 2026 with either the Dolphins or Titans. If he were to be hired in Tennessee, Hafley would need to carefully select his offensive staff to help develop young quarterback
Cameron Ward, who was the first overall pick last April.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 18, 2026
The Tennessee Titans have a second interview scheduled with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy for their head-coaching job, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. In addition to the Titans, Nagy has interviewed for head-coaching jobs with the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, and Arizona Cardinals. He's a favorite in Tennessee because of his relationship with former Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi. Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is also a finalist for the Titans' job, and he will receive a second interview. Even if Nagy doesn't land a head-coaching job this cycle, he's expected to leave the Chiefs after his contract expired following the 2025 season. If Nagy were to be hired in Tennessee, he'd be working closely with young quarterback
Cameron Ward after his shaky first year in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 18, 2026
Former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is expected to interview for the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive-coordinator job, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Daboll has already interviewed for the Tennessee Titans' head-coaching job and is expected to have other interviews as well. Daboll was fired by the Giants during the 2025 season, but he could stay in the NFC East and take over as Philly's OC after they fired Kevin Patullo after just one season in the role. The Eagles have already interviewed Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka and Atlanta Falcons OC Zac Robinson for the position, and they are expected to speak with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as well. Daboll coached quarterback
Jalen Hurts at Alabama, and he's been credited with helping develop MVP QB
Josh Allen when he was the OC for the Buffalo Bills.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 18, 2026
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken will interview with the Cleveland Browns in person on Tuesday for their head-coaching job, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. It will be Monken's second interview with the team as they look to replace Kevin Stefanski. The Browns will also interview defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for a second time. Reports have suggested that Monken is a top candidate to follow former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh to the New York Giants to serve as their OC, but that might not happen if he's offered the head-coaching gig in Cleveland. Harbaugh was officially hired as the Giants' new head coach on Saturday. Monken worked as Harbaugh's OC the last three years in Baltimore. He has never held a head-coaching job at the NFL level, but he did go 13-25 in three years as the head coach in college at Southern Mississippi.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
January 18, 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to speak with former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy about their head-coaching job, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. McCarthy is from Pittsburgh and worked with Steelers general manager Omar Khan in New Orleans way back in 2000. McCarthy is also a candidate for the Tennessee Titans' head-coaching job, and the New York Giants had some interest in him before they officially hired John Harbaugh on Saturday. Future Hall of Fame quarterback
Aaron Rodgers is not expected to return to the Steelers after long-time head coach Mike Tomlin resigned this week, but Rodgers might have interest in re-signing with Pittsburgh if they hire McCarthy to replace Tomlin. Rodgers was the Packers' QB from 2008 through McCarthy's firing during the 2018 season, and the two won Super Bowl XLV together.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 18, 2026
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that the team will need to get running back
Zach Charbonnet's knee imaged, but they are "optimistic" that his knee is structurally intact, according to John Boyle of Seahawks.com. Charbonnet injured his knee in the first half of the Divisional Round blowout win over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night and never returned. The 25-year-old ended up with only five carries for 20 yards and wasn't involved at all in the passing game.
Kenneth Walker III saw an expanded backfield role in the 41-6 rout after Charbonnet's injury, and he finished with 19 carries for a season-high 116 yards and three touchdowns. He added three catches for 29 yards. Even though Charb's knee may be structurally sound, it doesn't mean he'll be available for the NFC Championship next weekend against either the Bears or Rams.
Velus Jones Jr. had the second-most carries (six) behind Walker after Charbonnet's injury on Saturday.
--Keith HernandezSource: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
January 18, 2026
New England Patriots running back
Rhamondre Stevenson has been playing some of the best football of his career lately, and he'll look to carry that momentum into Sunday's Divisional Round contest against the Houston Texans. Stevenson has scored double-digit fantasy points (full-PPR) in each of his last six games, re-establishing himself as the primary running back in New England. His last four games have been particularly dominant, as he has tallied 461 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns in that short window. His efficiency has been the most impressive part of his success, as Stevenson posted those absurd numbers while handling 13 or fewer touches in each of the four games. He should handle a similar workload on Sunday afternoon, but he'll admittedly face a tougher test in the form of the Houston Texans' elite defense. Houston's defense has allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards and eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025. We still believe that Stevenson's pure talent could allow him to overcome this difficult matchup, but managers should have lower expectations than they did in the last few weeks. As it stands, Stevenson ranks as the overall RB8 in RotoBaller's fantasy rankings for the Divisional Round, putting him one spot ahead of teammate
TreVeyon Henderson.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
RADIO
