January 6, 2026

USC wide receiver Makai Lemon had a breakout season as a true junior, collecting 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games. He has already declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, and many draft analysts project the 21-year-old to be a top-20 pick in April. The Trojans ranked fifth in passing yards per game (296.0) in 2025, and Lemon led the program in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He won the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's most outstanding wide receiver, and was named a Unanimous All-American. If Lemon fetches the high-end draft capital he's expected to, he'll be a sure-fire first-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts. His landing spot and quarterback situation will help shape his rookie season outlook in 2026.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: ESPN

January 6, 2026

Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel showed flashes at times this season, ending with 26 catches for 292 yards and two touchdowns while playing all 17 games. Noel's snap share never climbed above 50% in a game this season, though, and he only cleared 30% in six contests. The rookie third-rounder doesn't project to be a significant piece of Houston's passing game heading into Monday night's Wild-Card matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Noel's role in the offense not expanding, he doesn't profile as a reliable option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.--Kyle McCarthy
Source: RotoBaller

January 6, 2026

Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson declared for the 2026 NFL Draft in December, and the two-time All-Big-12 performer is projected to be a top 15 pick in April. Tyson is among the shortlist of wide receivers in contention to be the first player at the position off the board. Naturally, this will make him a top pick in upcoming dynasty fantasy football rookie drafts. Tyson enjoyed a breakout year in 2024, snagging 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was limited to nine games in 2025, but he still produced 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight scores. The 21-year-old is an excellent route runner for his size (6'2", 200), and he has strong body control and leaping ability for contested catches. WR-needy teams with young quarterbacks like the Titans and Saints are potential landing spots for the top-end wide receiver prospect.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: Sports Reference CFB

January 6, 2026

Across 16 games in his rookie campaign, Houston Texans running back Woody Marks has recorded 196 carries for 703 yards and two touchdowns while adding 24 catches for 208 yards and three scores on 36 targets. Marks has operated as Houston's lead back for most of the season, but he's been one of the least efficient runners in the league, averaging 3.59 yards per carry, which ranks 48th out of 49 RBs with at least 100 carries. The rookie fourth-rounder hasn't been very dynamic on his high volume of touches, and he will now face a stout Pittsburgh Steelers defense that allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (73.3) over the final four weeks of the season. Marks profiles as a risky RB3/flex for the Wild-Card round matchup on Monday night.--Kyle McCarthy
Source: RotoBaller

January 6, 2026

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has the Hoosiers still alive in the College Football Playoff and has not officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. However, he's the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 pick in April if he forgoes his final year of collegiate eligibility, and the expectation is that he will do so when Indiana's season comes to an end. The QB-needy Las Vegas Raiders officially have the No. 1 pick, so it's easy to connect the dots in the offseason. Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy Winner, has thrown for 3,172 yards, 36 touchdowns, and six interceptions through his first 14 games this year. He's added 256 yards and six scores as a runner. The Miami native isn't a high-end dual-threat quarterback, but he's a tactical scrambler with a touch of rushing upside. Mendoza isn't the most impressive athlete, but he's viewed as an NFL-ready prospect with a great command of the position. If he ends up in Las Vegas, his rookie-season ceiling likely won't excite fantasy managers, but he'd become a valuable piece for a rebuilding superflex dynasty manager. He's projected to be a better "real life" quarterback than fantasy quarterback, but a signal-caller with No. 1 overall pick draft capital has job security baked into his value through a dynasty lens.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: ESPN

January 6, 2026

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) has missed five consecutive games due to a stress fracture in his foot. The 23-year-old wideout was able to practice in a limited capacity on Friday ahead of Week 18's regular-season finale against the Lions, which signals some optimism for his status heading into the Wild-Card matchup versus the division-rival Green Bay Packers. Odunze has totalled 44 catches (90 targets) for 661 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games during his sophomore campaign. He was inconsistent after the team's Week 5 bye, however, recording three receptions or fewer in six of eight games with one touchdown. The emergence of rookies Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland muddy the outlook for Odunze heading into the playoffs if he can return. With the game being played on a short week on Saturday, more clarity should emerge regarding Odunze's status in the next few days.--Kyle McCarthy
Source: RotoBaller

January 6, 2026

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is the consensus top fantasy football rookie in 2026, and the 20-year-old is expected to be a first-round pick in April's NFL Draft. The Missouri native had a fantastic career in South Bend, particularly in his sophomore and junior seasons. In his last 28 collegiate games, Love rushed 362 times for 2,497 yards (6.9 YPC) and 35 touchdowns. He added 55 receptions for 517 yards and five scores through the air. He was named a Heisman Trophy finalist, the Doak Walker Award Winner, and a Unanimous All-American after his final season with the Irish. Love has game-breaking speed, high-end elusiveness, receiving chops, elite vision, and impressive athleticism at 215 pounds. He checks all the boxes of a future NFL workhorse, and if he fetches early-first-round draft capital as expected, he will likely carry an RB1 outlook immediately in his rookie campaign. He's the clear No. 1 pick in single-QB dynasty rookie drafts, and he'll be in play for the top pick in superflex drafts.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: ESPN

January 6, 2026

The Dallas Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus on Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Cowboys will now be on their fourth different defensive coordinator in four seasons. Eberflus gets the boot after the team finished last in the league in points per game (30.1) and 30th in yards allowed per game. It was the first time in team history that the Cowboys allowed more than 30 points per game, and they surrendered a team-record 511 points in 18 games. Dallas traded All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers just a week before the start of the season. They finished with 35 sacks, their fewest since 2020. The Cowboys allowed either a touchdown or a field goal on 91 of 177 drives this season. Additionally, their 12 takeaways were the fewest in a season since 2015. Dallas' run D improved slightly, but they still ranked 23rd.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter

January 6, 2026

The Carolina Panthers activated wide receiver David Moore (elbow) from Injured Reserve on Tuesday and waived wide receiver Hunter Renfrow in a corresponding move, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Moore played in only four games with Carolina to begin the year before suffering a serious elbow injury that landed him on IR in late September. The 30-year-old has been practicing in full for several weeks and now appears ready to contribute as WR depth for the Panthers going into the Wild-Card round of the playoffs this Saturday against the visiting Los Angeles Rams. Moore will take Renfrow's spot on the active 53-man roster. In his four games played early this season, Moore had just one catch for five yards on one target. If Moore is active this weekend, he'll be a long shot to return any fantasy value in playoff leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter

January 6, 2026

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz has had a strong season, catching a career-high 82 passes (106 targets) for 777 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games. Schultz posted 10 games with at least five receptions this season, tied with Jake Ferguson for the second-most among tight ends, trailing only Trey McBride, who had 16. The 29-year-old should be in line for another busy day as the No. 2 target behind receiver Nico Collins in the Wild-Card round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have allowed the fourth-most catches (6.3) and third-most receiving yards (66.8) to tight ends this season. Schultz has a projectable floor for receptions and will remain a solid TE1 option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.--Kyle McCarthy
Source: RotoBaller

January 6, 2026

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins scored in back-to-back weeks to close out his rookie campaign. The 34th overall pick in the 2025 draft has had an impressive season, recording 41 catches (68 targets) for 525 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games. Higgins should continue to operate as Houston's WR2 heading into the Wild-Card round versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have allowed the seventh-most touchdowns and eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this year. While Higgins has seen his role increase as the season has progressed, the rookie is still tough to trust as anything more than a touchdown-dependent option heading into the playoffs, as he has recorded two catches or fewer in four straight games.--Kyle McCarthy
Source: RotoBaller

January 6, 2026

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins has put together another excellent season as the team's top target, hauling in 71 of his 120 targets for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. The 26-year-old wideout rested in Week 18 with a playoff spot already locked up, and he should be ready to roll in the Wild-Card round against the Steelers. Collins has scored at least 14.2 PPR points in nine of 15 games this season and projects favorably against a Pittsburgh defense that has allowed the fourth-most catches per game (5.4) and the 12th-most receiving yards (63) to opposing WR1s this season. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues should fire up Collins with confidence on Monday night.--Kyle McCarthy
Source: RotoBaller

January 6, 2026

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud rested in the second half of the season finale versus the Colts after completing 14 of 23 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Once it was known that the Jaguars were up big in their game against the Titans, thus eliminating the Texans from winning the division, the team decided to give Stroud the rest of the day off with a playoff spot already locked up. Houston will travel on the road to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild-Card round. The 24-year-old signal-caller has had another solid season, completing a career-high 64.5% of his passes for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while adding 48 carries for 209 yards and another score on the ground in 14 games. The Ohio State product has posted 7.0 yards per attempt or higher in 10 of 14 games this season. The Steelers sit in the middle of the pack against the pass in most metrics, ranking 14th in net yards per pass attempt (6.3) and 16th in dropback EPA (0.060). Stroud and the Texans may need to air it out more often Monday night, with how dominant Pittsburgh has been against the run recently, allowing a league-low 73.3 rushing yards per game over the final four weeks. In one career game versus Pittsburgh in Week 4 of the 2023 season, Stroud threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns, posting the second-highest yards per attempt (10.2) in a game of his career. Stroud projects as a quality option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues and can be trusted as a borderline QB1/QB2.--Kyle McCarthy
Source: RotoBaller

January 6, 2026

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III has compiled 31 receptions (55 targets) for 372 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games this season. The 26-year-old came up huge in the regular-season finale win over the Baltimore Ravens, catching a 26-yard touchdown to give the Steelers the lead with less than a minute remaining. With D.K. Metcalf (suspension) set to return for the playoffs after missing the last two games, Austin offers minimal upside in a brutal matchup against the Houston Texans on Monday night. He's scored double-digit PPR points in only four of 14 games, and the Texans have allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards per game (183.5) and the seventh-fewest receiving touchdowns (20) this season. Austin is tough to trust for fantasy managers in playoff leagues, given the return of Metcalf and the challenging matchup.--Kyle McCarthy
Source: RotoBaller

January 5, 2026

Miami Dolphins offensive guard Liam Eichenberg (knee) said he's hoping to play again, but he's uncertain if he'll be able to continue his career, according to Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. Eichenberg was wearing a brace on his left knee in the locker room on Monday. The 27-year-old injured his knee last offseason and stayed on the Physically Unable to Perform list for the entire 2025 season. Miami drafted Eichenberg in the second round back in 2021 out of Notre Dame. He started 52 of 60 regular-season games in his first four years in the league before being sidelined by a career-threatening knee injury in 2025.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Palm Beach Post - Joe Schad