December 30, 2025
Across 14 games in 2025, Denver Broncos wide receiver
Marvin Mims Jr. has recorded 35 receptions for 312 yards and a touchdown on 48 targets. Mims Jr. has struggled to carve out a consistent role in the Denver offense for most of the season to this point. However, the 23-year-old played 47% of the Broncos' offensive snaps in Week 17, his highest snap share in any game since Week 1. He's also earned 13 targets over the last three weeks after seeing just four targets across four games played from Week 8 to Week 14. With Denver wideout
Pat Bryant (concussion) battling a concussion, Mims Jr. could see his increased usage continue in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mims Jr. is also one of the NFL's most explosive big-play threats in the open field, so he's a threat to turn even a small number of touches into big production. His stock could be on the rise heading into Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Matthew Golden has had an underwhelming rookie season, recording 28 catches for 353 yards on 41 targets across 13 games. The 22-year-old is still searching for his first NFL touchdown heading into the team's regular season finale in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings. Golden has also been impacted by injury in the second half of the season, missing multiple games in November due to a wrist injury. On a more positive note, Golden played 53% of Green Bay's offensive snaps in Week 17, his largest snap share in any game since Week 8. Packers wide receiver
Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) suffered a concussion early in Week 17, allowing a pathway to playing time for Golden. Green Bay enters Week 18 locked into the number seven seed in the NFC playoffs, so the team has little incentive to rush Wicks back to the field. The Packers could also choose to be cautious with top wideouts
Christian Watson,
Romeo Doubs, and
Jayden Reed. Golden could be in line for a significant uptick in playing time in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Across 16 games this season, San Francisco 49ers running back
Brian Robinson Jr. has recorded 90 carries for 391 yards and two touchdowns. The 26-year-old has spent the entirety of 2025 in a secondary role behind star 49ers running back
Christian McCaffrey, who leads the NFL with 399 touches heading into the team's Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Robinson Jr. has been fairly efficient when given the opportunity so far this season, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. He's also proven to be a productive lead back at certain points in his career, recording 2,720 rushing yards and 22 total touchdowns across 57 career NFL games. However, his production upside in San Francisco is firmly capped as long as McCaffrey remains healthy. Robinson Jr. should not be on fantasy radars heading into Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Across a seven-game stretch from Week 5 to Week 12, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Tez Johnson recorded 22 receptions for 274 yards and five touchdowns on 34 targets. However, Tampa Bay has welcomed wide receivers
Mike Evans,
Chris Godwin Jr., and
Jalen McMillan back from injury in recent weeks, burying Johnson on the depth chart. Over his last five games, Johnson has hauled in just four catches for 18 yards. The 23-year-old has also played 16 or fewer offensive snaps in three consecutive outings. Heading into the team's Week 18 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, there is little indication that Johnson is ticketed for a significant role in the Tampa Bay offense. Johnson has shown enough in his rookie season to carry some upside in dynasty formats, but he should likely be off the radar of redraft fantasy managers in Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Across 15 games this season, Minnesota Vikings running back
Zavier Scott has recorded just 195 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 42 touches. The 26-year-old did not record a single touch in Minnesota's Week 17 win over the Detroit Lions. However, the Vikings are dealing with injuries to both of their top two running backs,
Jordan Mason (ankle) and
Aaron Jones Sr. (leg). While both Minnesota veterans have a chance to play in the team's Week 18 finale against the Green Bay Packers, the team is out of playoff contention and does not have much reason to push players onto the field. Scott has shown he can produce as a receiving back when given the chance, recording six catches for 43 yards and a touchdown on eight targets with Jones Sr. inactive in Week 4. In deep fantasy leagues, Scott may be worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end
Sal Cannella made his NFL debut in last week's upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Cannella only played 35% of the offensive snaps and caught two of his four targets for 11 receiving yards. The 29-year-old was pressed into action in Cleveland's offense with
David Njoku (knee) missing another game, but it wasn't until rookie
Harold Fanning Jr. left with a groin injury that Cannella started becoming involved. Cannella ended up leading all of Cleveland's TEs with four targets, and that could be the case again in the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals if both Njoku and Fannin aren't cleared to play in a meaningless game. Cannella will be a pretty big reach for fantasy managers in the final week of the season, but he's worth a look in TE-premium leagues with both Njoku and Fannin hurt.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
December 30, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Calvin Austin III (hamstring) was inactive for the team's Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Steelers were also missing
DK Metcalf due to a suspension that will continue into the Week 18 regular-season finale this weekend against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. Tight end Pat Freirmuth led the Steelers in receiving with three catches for 63 yards against Cleveland. The 26-year-old Austin is trending in the right direction to return to the division-deciding battle against Baltimore this weekend, and with Metcalf out for another game, Austin could be heavily targeted by quarterback
Aaron Rodgers. Austin still won't exactly inspire confidence from fantasy managers with something still on the line in Week 18, as he has gone over 50 receiving yards just twice in 13 games, and not since Nov. 2. Austin has only found the end zone twice in 2025, too, with the last one coming back on Sept. 21.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Brooke Pryor
December 30, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
Jonnu Smith will be set up as a more attractive TE2 streamer in fantasy football for the final week of the regular season this Sunday night against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, with
Darnell Washington done for the year after breaking his forearm in Sunday's Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns. With Washington getting hurt, Smith ended up leading the Steelers with five receptions (five targets), although it amounted to only 18 receiving yards on a day in which Pittsburgh's offense couldn't get into the end zone. After a career year in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, the 30-year-old Smith has predictably struggled in Arthur Smith's offense, posting a 37-220-2 line in 16 games. Smith's five targets in Week 17 were his most since Week 9, though, and he's now topped 20 scrimmage yards in three straight games. In deeper fantasy leagues, Smith will be slightly more attractive as a TE2 streamer in Week 18 versus the Ravens.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
December 30, 2025
Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback
Quinn Ewers threw his first two touchdown passes in a Week 17 upset win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, going 14-for-22 passing for 172 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in his second NFL start. The 22-year-old seventh-rounder from Texas added four rushing attempts for five yards. Ewers threw for 260 yards in his first start last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he threw no TDs and two picks. He wasn't exceptional on Sunday against Tampa, but he managed to avoid turning the ball over, with his touchdown passes going to receiver Theo Wease and tight end
Greg Dulcich. To close out the year, he'll get the division-rival New England Patriots on the road as the Dolphins look to spoil New England's chances of earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Ewers should be considered as nothing more than a low-end QB2 option in his first meeting with the Pats.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
December 30, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) was listed as a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows. Pearsall aggravated a knee injury dating back to earlier this year and missed the Week 16 contest, but he returned for Sunday night's tilt against the Chicago Bears to play 81% of the offensive snaps. The 25-year-old former first-rounder looked good, too, leading the team in receiving with 85 yards on five catches (eight targets). Injuries have become an issue for Pearsall in just his second year in the NFL, but as long as he doesn't suffer a setback, he should be active in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Saturday evening versus the division-rival Seattle Seahawks in a game that will decide the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Tight end
George Kittle's (ankle) potential return this weekend could take valuable targets away from Pearsall.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
December 30, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle (ankle) was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. It's early in the week, but it's a good sign that Kittle is back on the practice field after missing all three practices last week and being ruled out for the Sunday night win over the Chicago Bears. The 32-year-old veteran might need to upgrade to a full practice before Thursday to avoid taking a questionable tag into Saturday night's divisional clash against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18, though. If Kittle returns for the contest that will decide the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture, he'll be a must-start TE1 in fantasy football lineups. In Kittle's absence in Week 17,
Jake Tonges stepped up in a big way, securing seven catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on nine targets as one of quarterback
Brock Purdy's favorite weapons.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
December 30, 2025
San Francisco 49ers running back
Christian McCaffrey (back) did not practice on Tuesday due to a back injury, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. McCaffrey dealt with back stiffness earlier this month, too, but he didn't miss any time. The 29-year-old's back injury isn't very serious this time around, either, and it shouldn't keep him from playing a big role in a crucial divisional battle this Saturday night against the Seattle Seahawks that will determine the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture. CMC was unstoppable in Sunday night's win over the Chicago Bears, going for a season-high 140 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 rushing attempts. He also caught four of six targets for 41 yards as a receiver. McCaffrey won't find running room as easily to come by against Seattle, but he should still be considered a high-end RB1 option for fantasy managers still playing for something in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
December 30, 2025
Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Kirk Cousins led the team to another upset victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football to close out Week 17 action. Most of the heavy lifting was done by star running back
Bijan Robinson, though, who finished just shy of 200 rushing yards with a touchdown on 22 carries. Robinson also caught five passes for 34 yards and a second touchdown. Cousins, meanwhile, continued to play a game-manager role at QB, going 13-for-20 passing for 126 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. The 37-year-old veteran signal-caller shouldn't attract a ton of fantasy interest as a streamer going into the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. Cousins has gone over 200 passing yards just twice in the last five games. In the first game against the Saints, he threw for 199 yards, two TDs, and a pick on Nov. 23.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
December 30, 2025
Out of nowhere, Buffalo Bills veteran wide receiver
Brandin Cooks led the team in receiving yards (101) while catching four of his six targets in the Week 17 loss to the visiting Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The Bills needed someone to step up in the passing attack with tight end
Dalton Kincaid (knee) out due to injury and receiver
Keon Coleman being a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Cooks hooked up with quarterback
Josh Allen a few times deep down the field and averaged a healthy 25.3 yards per reception in his fifth game with the team. In the first four games with Buffalo, Cooks had only one catch on five targets for one yard. Although Cooks may be more of a long shot to replicate his production from Week 17 going forward, he might have done enough to secure a bigger role going into the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Jets and into the postseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
December 30, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Marquez Valdes-Scantling figures to be heavily targeted again in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday night against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, with
DK Metcalf suspended one more game. In Sunday's upset loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 17, Valdes-Scantling drew a season-high nine targets, hauling in three of them for a mediocre 21 receiving yards. The 31-year-old veteran pass-catcher has only five catches on 14 targets for 46 yards and one touchdown in his four games since joining Pittsburgh. MVS hasn't really been on the same page as quarterback
Aaron Rodgers, and his target share could be affected if
Calvin Austin III (hamstring) returns in a must-win Week 18 contest that will decide the winner of the AFC North. At best, Valdes-Scantling will be a deep-league dart throw as a WR5/flex versus Baltimore this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
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