January 6, 2026

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte has had his name in many trade discussions throughout the offseason. However, general manager Mike Hazen is expected to move on from the previous trade discussions and plan for Marte to remain on the roster for the 2026 season. According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, "nothing has changed" regarding a potential trade, and the Diamondbacks have always viewed the likelihood of a trade involving their second baseman as a "long shot." The 32-year-old switch-hitter turned in another impressive campaign in 2025 and was named to his second-straight All-Star Game. Through 126 games, he held a .283/.376/.517 line with 28 home runs and four stolen bases. Marte remains a high-end second baseman heading into 2026, as he should provide elite production in four of the standard categories while chipping in a handful of stolen bases.--Andy Smith
Source: Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon

January 6, 2026

Free agent outfielder Randal Grichuk has been linked to the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. Grichuk would serve as a platoon option in left field alongside Brandon Marsh. While reports suggest that they are still linked to the remaining top free agents like Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker, and Alex Bregman, the price tag would need to come down significantly for the Phillies to be a serious contender to acquire them. Grichuk spent the 2025 campaign with the Diamondbacks and Royals. Through 113 games, the 34-year-old held a .228/.273/.401 line but generated a .262 xBA with a 453 xSLG, which suggests he could be in store for a bounce-back campaign in 2026. If he were to sign a deal in Philadelphia, he would have appeal in deeper five-outfielder leagues, given that he would likely only be deployed on the weak side of a platoon.--Andy Smith
Source: Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon

January 6, 2026

According to Jason Mackey of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates have expressed interest in signing third baseman Eugenio Suarez. According to Mackey, the team was initially interested in signing third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, but he inked a contract with Toronto over the weekend. As a result, the Pirates will now shift their attention to the 34-year-old slugger. Last summer, Suarez enjoyed a massive bounce-back season, launching 49 long balls with a .228/.298/.526 slash line. He generated an elite 14.3% barrel rate but holds a high 33.3% whiff rate and 29.8% K rate, which lowers his value in points leagues. If Suarez were to agree to terms with the Pirates, he would join an improving Pittsburgh lineup that welcomed second baseman Brandon Lowe and designated hitter Ryan O'Hearn earlier this winter.--Andy Smith
Source: Jason Mackey

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

January 5, 2026

Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Tyler Smith (knee) said that he will have his knee examined by team doctors to see if he needs offseason surgery, according to Nick Harris of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Smith missed time in training camp with his knee injury and one game during the regular season while battling tendinitis. In addition to potentially going under the knife, Smith is looking to get clarity from the team on whether he will move forward as a left guard or a left tackle. "The biggest thing for me is what's best for the team, but also what's smart for me and my career," Smith said. The 24-year-old helped fill in at left tackle for the Cowboys in 2025 to replace Tyler Guyton (ankle), but he could be moved to guard next year. Smith signed a four-year, $96 million extension in September.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Nick Harris

January 5, 2026

Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson (knee) said he will be fine "in a couple weeks," and his knee injury won't impact his offseason training, according to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. Johnson suffered an MCL injury in the team's Week 14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and was put on Injured Reserve in late December. The 24-year-old third-year tackle finished the year on IR but was active for the first 12 games of the season before his injury. The former sixth overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State should be a full-go for the start of the 2026 season as a starter on the Cardinals' offensive line.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie

January 5, 2026

Across 12 games played in 2025, Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange hauled in 46 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns on 60 targets. The 25-year-old ended the regular season strong, recording 14 catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 18 targets over his last three contests. Strange may not offer tremendous production upside, but he has established himself as a low-risk tight end option for fantasy managers. Strange recorded at least 9.9 PPR fantasy points in seven out of the 12 games he was active for this season. The Jaguars will host the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the AFC playoffs on Sunday. Buffalo's pass defense has been one of the strongest in the NFL this season, allowing the fewest total passing yards (2,894) of any unit. Still, given his projectable role, Strange profiles as a solid TE1 option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

January 5, 2026

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. had a disappointing year relative to preseason expectations in 2025, recording 48 receptions for 707 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets across 14 games played. Down the stretch of the regular season, Thomas Jr. appeared to slide down the pass-catcher pecking order in Jacksonville. The 23-year-old recorded just nine catches for 106 yards and zero touchdowns on 15 targets over his final three contests. Thomas Jr. also played fewer than 80% of Jacksonville's offensive snaps in five out of his team's six final games. The Jaguars are now set to face the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the AFC playoffs. In the regular season, Buffalo allowed the fewest passing yards (2,894) of any defense in the NFL. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues may find Thomas Jr. tough to trust given his difficult matchup and diminished role in Jacksonville.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

January 5, 2026

New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams struggled to carve out a consistent role in his team's offense in 2025, recording 10 receptions for 209 yards and three touchdowns on 21 targets across 17 games. Williams saw more involvement over the second half of the season, with all but two of his receptions coming from Week 10 onward. However, he went without a target or a reception in New England's final game of the regular season in Week 18 against the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots will remain without veteran wideout Mack Hollins (abdomen) for their Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, which could mean continued playing time for Williams. The 23-year-old is averaging 20.9 yards per reception, so he offers clear big-play upside. Still, Williams' role as a downfield target will likely lead to some boom/bust variance for fantasy managers in playoff leagues to be aware of entering the postseason.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

January 5, 2026

Across 17 games this season, New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry recorded 60 receptions for 768 yards and seven touchdowns on 87 targets. While Henry may not offer explosive upside, he's proven to be a trusted security blanket for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. Henry also ended the regular season well, hauling in 14 catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 15 targets over his last three games played. New England's first playoff matchup will be against a tough defense in the Los Angeles Chargers. Still, Henry's role as a consistent target-earner and red zone threat provides a relatively stable production floor. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues should view Henry as a solid TE1 this weekend against Los Angeles.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

January 5, 2026

Across 17 games in 2025, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs recorded 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns on 102 targets. In his first season with the Patriots, the 32-year-old proved he can still be one of the most reliable possession receivers in the NFL. However, just a few days before Week 18, Diggs was charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery. Diggs played in Week 18 and is expected to be active for New England's Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Still, he's scheduled to be arraigned on January 23, so his outlook for later in the playoffs could be murkier. As long as Diggs is on the field, he profiles as one of the top wide receiver options for fantasy managers in PPR-scoring playoff leagues.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

January 5, 2026

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is in desperate need of a bounce-back performance. McConkey has struggled to put up any consistent numbers during the second half of the season. The 24-year-old has been held to under 40 receiving yards in six of his last seven games. It's not going to get easier for McConkey against the New England Patriots' defense on the road during the Wild-Card round on Sunday night. The Patriots' defense is in the top 10 in terms of limiting passing yards. They've also done an excellent job of holding the WR1 on opposing teams in check all season long. McConkey has been much harder to trust in Year 2 in fantasy, and that will continue to be the case this weekend.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

January 5, 2026

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert sat out of the regular-season finale versus the Denver Broncos. It was a smart idea for the Chargers to sit Herbert and give him another week to rest and recover, as he's been playing through a surgically repaired left (non-throwing) hand for the last couple of weeks. The 27-year-old will now head into a tough matchup against a New England Patriots defense that is in the top 10 in terms of passing yards allowed to QBs this season. Herbert hasn't exactly been elite during the second half of the season behind a thin and beat-up offensive line. He has only thrown for multiple scores once over his last four games. Herbert is still a quality QB, but he is looking more like a high-end QB2 for fantasy managers going into the playoffs.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

January 5, 2026

New England Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye has put together an MVP-type season in 2025. Maye threw for 4,394 passing yards with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions across 17 games in his sophomore campaign. The 23-year-old also rushed for an additional 450 yards with four scores on the ground. Maye has been excellent and will now play his first career postseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend. The Chargers' defense has allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards coming into this game. They've also allowed only 16 touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks, which is the third-lowest in the league. It's certainly a tough test for Maye, but he has been putting up MVP numbers all season long, so fantasy managers should continue to trust him.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

January 5, 2026

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has been a strong addition to their wideout group this season. Meyers got off to a slow start with the Las Vegas Raiders, but he turned it around quickly in Jacksonville. The 29-year-old finished with nearly 500 yards during his nine games with his new team. The Jags clearly view Meyers as part of the future, with the two sides already agreeing on a long-term deal. The job isn't done yet, though, as Meyers will head into a tough matchup against the Buffalo Bills' defense during the Wild-Card round this Sunday. The Bills' defense has been elite in terms of yards allowed to wideouts this season. Targets should be there, with Meyers seeing six or more targets in eight straight games. The Bills' defense will likely limit his upside to more of the WR3 range in fantasy football.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

January 5, 2026

Chicago Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (concussion) is in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a head injury during the Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. On a short week going into the Wild-Card round of the playoffs against the division-rival Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, Gardner-Johnson might be fighting an uphill battle to play. Cornerback Kyler Gordon (groin) will resume practicing this week, but he's not guaranteed to be activated from Injured Reserve to provide reinforcements for a banged-up Bears secondary this week. If the 28-year-old defensive back is not cleared to play against Green Bay, Tyrique Stevenson, Nick McCloud, and Jaylon Jones would be forced into bigger roles on defense.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Courtney Cronin

January 5, 2026

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth has seen an expanded role in the offense lately. The loss of Darnell Washington (forearm) has moved Freiermuth up the depth chart. Over the last four games, Freiermuth has hauled in 13 receptions for 179 yards, but he hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 12. The 27-year-old will head into a playoff matchup against a tough Houston Texans defense this week. The Texans' defense has been generally strong versus opposing tight ends, which isn't good news for Freiermuth. The increased target share will certainly help, but Freiermuth should be viewed as a lower-end option for this difficult Wild-Card matchup. The return of DK Metcalf from a two-game suspension is also bad news for Freirmuth.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

January 5, 2026

"The hope" is that Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (groin) can return to practice this week, according to head coach Ben Johnson. If Gordon's 21-day practice window is opened this week, he'll be eligible to come off Injured Reserve to play in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs on Saturday night against the division-rival Green Bay Packers. The 26-year-old missed the final four games of the regular season after landing on IR with a groin injury. How much Gordon can do in practice this week will determine his availability for Saturday evening. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a concussion in the Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday and must now clear the league's concussion protocol later this week. Chicago's defense has been a ball-hawking unit all year long, but they may be a little thin in the secondary for Wild-Card weekend.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Courtney Cronin

January 5, 2026

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. struggled to find much success on the ground during the regular-season finale. He rushed 14 times for 32 yards in the blowout win over the Tennessee Titans. It was an ugly performance, but it has been a strong season for Etienne so far. He rushed for 1,107 yards on 260 attempts with seven touchdowns in 17 games. The 26-year-old now heads into a plus matchup against the Buffalo Bills' defense for the Wild-Card round of the playoffs. He'll go against a Bills defense that is near the bottom of the league in terms of rushing yards allowed this season. The Bills' defensive unit has allowed an average of 5.1 yards per carry to running backs this season. Etienne is looking like a strong bounce-back candidate for this weekend.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

January 5, 2026

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (ankle) will be re-evaluated in one week after tweaking his ankle in Saturday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Unfortunately, head coach Ime Udoka estimated the 2021 No. 16 overall selection could be sidelined for 10-14 days. He's having another fantastic year, averaging a career-high 21.8 points, adding 9.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks. While Sengun is on the shelf, Steven Adams, averaging 6.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in seven starts throughout the 2025 campaign, should fill the void in the rotation, with Clint Capela coming in for relief.--Dennis Clausen
Source: Vanessa Richardson

January 5, 2026

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that there are no plans to open the practice window for any players on Injured Reserve this week, which includes defensive tackle Ed Oliver (biceps, knee), according to The Buffalo News' Jay Skurski. It means that Oliver won't be eligible to be activated to play in the Wild-Card playoff contest versus the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The 28-year-old defensive lineman was placed on IR back in late October with a torn biceps that he suffered in Week 8. Additionally, Oliver had surgery to fix the meniscus in his knee in late December. Even if the Bills make it past this weekend and go on a long run in the postseason, Oliver won't be guaranteed to be ready to return. Oliver only played in three regular-season games in 2025, recording 12 tackles (10 solo), three sacks, seven tackles for loss, and five QB hits.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Buffalo News - Jay Skurski

January 5, 2026

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that there are no plans to open the practice window for any of the players on Injured Reserve this week, including wide receiver Curtis Samuel (elbow), per Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News. Samuel was put on IR in late November, and he won't be eligible to be activated to play in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs this Sunday against the hosting Jacksonville Jaguars. Samuel has battled through injuries for most of the year and has appeared in only six games for Buffalo, catching seven passes for 81 yards and one touchdown. He also returned nine kickoffs for 223 yards on special teams. If the Bills advance and Samuel is activated from IR, he will be off the radar in fantasy playoff leagues as WR depth for the Bills.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Buffalo News - Jay Skurski

January 5, 2026

Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate (wrist) will play on Monday versus the Thunder after missing the last two games. With Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) out of commission, Diabate has been filling in admirably. In six starts this season, he's averaged 8.8 points and 11.8 rebounds, which is good enough to land him a spot in most fantasy lineups, even with a tough matchup on tap. Diabate's return will mean PJ Hall will head back to the bench.--Dennis Clausen
Source: NBA Injury Report

January 5, 2026

The San Francisco 49ers will open the 21-day practice window for wide receiver Jacob Cowing (hamstring) this week, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Cowing will practice with the team on Wednesday, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. The 24-year-old is getting closer to returning from Injured Reserve, but he could still be unlikely to be activated to play in the Wild-Card playoff game this Sunday against the hosting Philadelphia Eagles. If Cowing does end up playing against the Eagles, he will most likely only have a role on special teams after missing the entire 2025 regular season. The former fourth-round selection in 2024 out of Arizona caught four of his six targets for 80 yards in 15 games last year in his first season in the NFL. Cowing will be a long shot to surface as an option in playoff fantasy formats.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco

January 5, 2026

The Tennessee Titans will interview former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris for their vacant head-coaching job later this week, sources told Peter Schrager of ESPN. Morris, 49, was the head coach for the Falcons the last two seasons, going 8-9 each year. He also has head-coaching experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-11, when he went 17-31. The Titans are expected to cast a wide net as they search for their next head coach. General manager Mike Borgonzi will lead the search for a new head coach. Tennessee's top priority will be to bring someone in who they think will take quarterback Cameron Ward's development to the next level after he struggled mightily in his rookie season. The Titans have reportedly already reached out to the Kansas City Chiefs as they request to interview offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Peter Schrager