January 2, 2026
It will be a close call for whether Dallas Cowboys running back
Javonte Williams (neck, shoulder) plays in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants, according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Williams is battling a neck/shoulder injury that he originally injured back in Week 15, and the Cowboys may play it safe and hold him out this weekend in a meaningless game. Meanwhile, backfield mate
Malik Davis (calf, eye) is in the same boat, which could open up a big role for rookie
Jaydon Blue, who hasn't played since Week 8. The 25-year-old Williams has been Dallas' unquestioned lead back all year and has been a tremendous value pick in fantasy, but he has become a very shaky Week 18 asset. Even if Williams is active on Sunday, he figures to take on a much smaller role against the G-Men.
--Keith HernandezSource: DallasCowboys.com - Nicole Hutchison
January 2, 2026
Cleveland Browns tight end
David Njoku (knee) has officially been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, according to Browns Zone's Scott Petrak. Njoku has not practiced or played since injuring his knee on a touchdown reception back in Week 14. The 29-year-old will finish his ninth year in the NFL with a disappointing 33 receptions for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets. Njoku just was unable to become fantasy relevant in most leagues due to the presence of rookie
Harold Fannin Jr. (groin), who ended up being the team's leading receiver in 2025. Fannin will also sit out the season finale, leaving the Browns to mix and match at tight end this weekend with
Blake Whiteheart,
Brenden Bates, and
Sal Cannella.
--Keith HernandezSource: Browns Zone - Scott Petrak
January 2, 2026
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) has officially been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, according to Scott Petrak of Browns Zone. Fannin injured his groin on a touchdown reception in last week's upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 21-year-old was unable to practice all week and will miss the final game of what has been an exceptional first year in the NFL. Despite the presence of
David Njoku (knee), who will also miss Week 18, Fannin led the Browns in catches (72), targets (107), receiving yards (731), and touchdowns (six). Fannin has a bright future ahead of him as a pass-catching TE, and he'll be on the TE1 radar in fantasy drafts in the fall.
Blake Whiteheart,
Brenden Bates, and
Sal Cannella will form a TE committee for the Browns in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: Browns Zone - Scott Petrak
January 2, 2026
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Friday that running back
Isaiah Davis (concussion) will not play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival Buffalo Bills.
Breece Hall (knee) is trending towards being a game-time decision this weekend, so the Jets could be down to
Kene Nwangwu and
Khalil Herbert in their backfield against the Bills. The 23-year-old Davis took on a bigger role behind Hall this year with
Braelon Allen (knee) landing on Injured Reserve. He'll finish his second year in the NFL with 43 rushing attempts for 236 yards and a touchdown while adding 21 receptions on 28 targets for 186 yards through the air in 16 games played. Davis could have an even bigger role for the Jets in 2026, depending on where Hall ends up in free agency.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Jets
January 2, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals running back
Chase Brown (illness) returned to practice on Friday and will play on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Cleveland Browns, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Brown's availability for this weekend was in question after he missed the first two practices of the week due to illness. The 25-year-old will be ready to roll on Sunday, though, as he seeks the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career. He heads into the final weekend of the regular season with 219 carries for 947 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground, adding a career-high 65 catches on 82 targets for 419 yards and four more touchdowns. Brown has been money for fantasy managers down the stretch and needs to remain in all starting lineups against Cleveland. In the season opener against the Browns, Brown had 21 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
January 2, 2026
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn officially named
Josh Johnson as the team's starting quarterback for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. Veteran
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) will miss a second straight game to close out the year. Even though the Eagles will be resting key starters this weekend, Johnson will be hard-pressed to help fantasy managers without left tackle Laremy Tunsil (oblique) available. The 39-year-old signal-caller made his first start of the year in last week's Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys and went 15-for-23 passing for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Even in two-QB leagues this weekend, fantasy managers should have better options to choose from than Johnson.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Washington Post - Tashan Reed
January 2, 2026
Cleveland Browns tight end
David Njoku (knee) is not practicing on Friday and is unlikely to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, according to Browns Zone's Scott Petrak. Rookie
Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) also isn't expected to play this weekend, so the Browns will be down to
Blake Whiteheart,
Brenden Bates, and
Sal Cannella at the tight end position. The 29-year-old Njoku's 2025 season will end on a low note after not practicing or playing since injuring his knee in Week 14. He became a lower-floor TE2 streamer in fantasy football this year thanks to the quick emergence of Fannin in his first year in the NFL. Njoku took a back seat to Fannin and will end up finishing his ninth year in the NFL with 33 catches (48 targets) for 293 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: Browns Zone - Scott Petrak
January 2, 2026
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) is not practicing on Friday and is unlikely to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, according to Scott Petrak of Browns Zone.
David Njoku (knee, personal) is also not expected to play this weekend for the Browns, leaving
Blake Whiteheart, Brendan Bates, and
Sal Cannella to fight for targets at the tight end position. Surprisingly, Fannin has been a top-five fantasy TE in his first year in the NFL with the Browns despite sharing the field with Njoku for most of the season. The third-rounder out of Bowling Green has a bright future in the NFL and will finish his first year with 72 receptions on 107 targets for 731 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games. Fannin goes into Week 18 leading the Browns in all major receiving categories.
--Keith HernandezSource: Browns Zone - Scott Petrak
January 2, 2026
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Friday that rookie first-round wide receiver
Matthew Golden has a "very bright future" in Green Bay, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. The Packers' coaching staff was singing Golden's praises during training camp and the preseason, too, leading many to believe that a breakout was coming in Year 1 for the Texas alum. It has not happened in 2025, as Golden has been buried in Green Bay's crowded receiver room.
Jayden Reed and
Christian Watson have missed time with injuries this year, but Golden has just been unable to become a consistent part of the team's passing attack alongside the likes of
Romeo Doubs and
Dontayvion Wicks. Golden enters the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings with only 28 catches on the year for 353 yards and zero touchdowns. He has only one target in two of the team's last three games.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
January 2, 2026
Miami Dolphins tight end
Darren Waller (groin) will be placed on Injured Reserve on Friday, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. Waller will miss the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival New England Patriots. The 33-year-old veteran came out of retirement to play for the Dolphins in 2025 and will finish with 24 catches for 283 yards and six touchdowns in only nine games played. Waller got a late start to the season as he worked his way into playing shape and also missed time with a hamstring injury. He was not the same player he was earlier in his career with the Raiders, but Waller still had plenty of red-zone prowess in his return this year. It remains to be seen if he'll attempt to return in 2026 with Miami or another organization.
Greg Dulcich should be the Dolphins' top pass-catching TE in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Marcel Louis-Jacques
January 2, 2026
Miami Dolphins running back
De'Von Achane (shoulder) will not practice on Friday, and head coach Mike McDaniel said "typically guys who don't practice Friday don't play," but Achane's status for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New England Patriots on Sunday is still to be determined, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. The 24-year-old will be a game-time decision this weekend despite not practicing all week due to a shoulder injury. He will most likely receive a questionable tag on Miami's final injury report on Friday. Achane has been a top-10 fantasy RB all year long, but he's extremely volatile heading into Week 18 against the Patriots. If Achane does suit up, he'll be at risk of losing valuable snaps to both
Jaylen Wright and rookie
Ollie Gordon II. Wright will be a plug-and-play fantasy RB if Achane is ruled out.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Marcel Louis-Jacques
January 2, 2026
Miami Dolphins wide receiver
Jaylen Waddle (ribs) will be limited in Friday's practice and is questionable to play in Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New England Patriots, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. Waddle missed practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday and Friday. Tight end
Darren Waller (groin) won't play in the final game of the season, and both Waddle and running back
De'Von Achane (shoulder) could be held out. Waddle had five catches for 72 yards in rookie quarterback
Quinn Ewers' first NFL start, but he failed to haul in his only target in last week's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before injuring his ribs. The 27-year-old could be a game-time decision in Week 18, making him extremely risky for fantasy managers still trying to win a championship.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Marcel Louis-Jacques
January 2, 2026
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota (hand) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Mariota was a stretch to make it back to play in the final game of the year after injuring his hand in the Week 16 loss to the Eagles. The 32-year-old veteran was held out of the Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 and will now miss a second straight game to end the year. Journeyman QB
Josh Johnson will make a second straight start for the Commanders. Mariota ended up playing in 11 games (eight starts) this year while filling in for the injured
Jayden Daniels, and he held his own, throwing for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He added 297 yards on the ground and a TD.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
January 2, 2026
New York Jets rookie tight end
Mason Taylor (neck) has officially been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Buffalo Bills, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Taylor's rookie campaign will end with four straight missed games due to a neck injury. Head coach Aaron Glenn said that Taylor didn't have a setback with his injury. "Doctor's orders," Glenn said.
Jelani Woods (hamstring) will also be out for the Jets this weekend, so
Jeremy Ruckert and
Stone Smartt will compete for pass-catching duties at TE for the team in the final game of the season. The 21-year-old will wrap up his first year in the NFL with 44 receptions on 65 targets for 369 yards and one touchdown. Taylor wasn't really relevant in 12-team fantasy leagues, and his outlook moving forward will all depend on the Jets' plans at quarterback.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
January 2, 2026
The Cleveland Browns have high hopes for the long-term trajectory of rookie tight end
Harold Fannin Jr., according to Scott Petrak of Browns Zone. "I have all the belief in the world in him, can't wait to see what he does next year," tight ends coach Christian Jones said about Fannin. The 21-year-old third-rounder out of Bowling Green suffered a groin injury in last week's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and may not play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals this weekend, but he currently leads the team in catches (72), targets (107), receiving yards (731), and touchdowns (six) in his 16 games played.
David Njoku (knee) is also likely to miss the season finale, which would leave the Browns with
Blake Whiteheart and
Brenden Bates at TE in Week 18. Going into next season, Fannin is going to be a highly sought-after TE1 in fantasy football drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Browns Zone - Scott Petrak
RADIO
