January 30, 2026
The Seattle Seahawks were a bit worried several weeks ago when quarterback
Sam Darnold (oblique) tweaked his left oblique in practice while preparing to take on the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, but general manager John Schneider said that Darnold "hasn't flinched" about his injury this postseason. He played through the injury for the second week in a row in the NFC Championship win over the Los Angeles Rams, throwing for a season-high 346 yards while also tossing three touchdown passes. "I think we were all more panicked in what was going on than he was," Schneider said. "He was kind of looking at us like we had three heads, like, 'What's everybody so worried about?' He's like, 'I'll be good.'" Darnold has been listed as limited in practice so far this week, and he'll have another week to heal up before the Super Bowl versus the Patriots on Feb. 8. Fantasy managers setting playoff lineups shouldn't be concerned about Darnold's oblique.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
January 30, 2026
New Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken told quarterback
Shedeur Sanders that he tried to draft him last year as a member of the Baltimore Ravens' coaching staff, according to Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. Baltimore was interested in taking Sanders out of the University of Colorado in last year's draft, but Sanders said he wasn't interested in sitting behind two-time MVP
Lamar Jackson. The Ravens ended up passing on Sanders, and he fell all the way to the fifth round when the Browns took him at No. 144 overall. The 23-year-old appeared in eight games (seven starts) in his rookie season in 2025, completing 56.6% of his pass attempts for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He added 21 carries for 169 yards and a TD on the ground. Sanders mostly struggled, but he also showed playmaking upside. The Browns are expected to bring in at least one QB this offseason, so Sanders won't be a lock to win the starting gig under center going into Week 1.
--Keith HernandezSource: Akron Beacon Journal - Chris Easterling
January 30, 2026
The Buffalo Bills are hiring Denver Broncos senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael as their offensive coordinator, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Carmichael had new Bills head coach Joe Brady on his coaching staff for two seasons in New Orleans with the Saints during a 15-year run as offensive coordinator. Carmichael will head to Buffalo to coach quarterback
Josh Allen after spending the last two years working with Broncos head coach Sean Payton. Although Carmichael won't be calling plays himself as the OC -- Brady will do that -- he'll bring a wealth of experience and knowledge as the Bills try to get over the hump and get to the Super Bowl with Allen at the helm. Carmichael becomes the fourth assistant coach to depart the Broncos' staff this offseason, as OC Joe Lombardi, receivers coach Keary Colbert, and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch were all fired this week.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 30, 2026
The New York Giants will interview Los Angeles Chargers quarterbacks coach Shane Day for their vacant offensive-coordinator position on Saturday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Day is regarded as one of the best QB coaches in the league and has been instrumental in
Justin Herbert's career in L.A. He was a serious candidate to be promoted to OC for the Chargers before they hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. Day has never been an offensive coordinator in the NFL, but he's held various offensive roles with the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, Chargers, and Houston Texans. The 51-year-old has been with the Chargers for the last two years under head coach Jim Harbaugh. Day would be coaching under Jim's brother, John, if he gets the job in New York. Day, who has ties to Kyle Shanahan, would be an intriguing hire for the development of first-round quarterback
Jaxson Dart.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
January 29, 2026
Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has verbally agreed to become the next Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive coordinator, a league source told Josina Anderson. Graham will replace former DC Teryl Austin, whose contract expired after the 2025 season. It's the first hire for new head coach Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh. The 47-year-old Graham was the Raiders' DC since 2022. Before coaching in Vegas, Graham had his first DC job with the Miami Dolphins in 2019. After that, he was the New York Giants' DC and assistant head coach in 2020. Pittsburgh's defense/special teams was better in the fantasy football realm than the real-life one, as they ranked third in overall fantasy points thanks to three defensive touchdowns, but they were in the middle of the pack in terms of points allowed per game. Graham will have plenty to work with in defensive stars T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and Jalen Ramsey.
--Keith HernandezSource: Josina Anderson
January 29, 2026
New Orleans Saints wide receiver
Chris Olave will be in WR1 territory in 2026 fantasy football drafts in what will be quarterback
Tyler Shough's first full year as the starter. In his fourth year in the NFL in 2025, Olave set career-highs across the board in targets (156), receptions (100), receiving yards (1,163), and touchdowns (nine) despite failing to play in a full season for the fourth time. The 25-year-old former first-rounder missed the Week 18 season finale due to a blood clot in his lung. Thankfully, the expectation is that Olave will be fully ready for the start of next season. If not for an injury last year, Olave most likely would have reached the 1,000-yard mark in all four of his campaigns. Injuries might be a deterrent for fantasy managers, but the chemistry that Olave showed with Shough is a great sign. Olave will come off the board in the early rounds of fantasy drafts later this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
In his first year with the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, wide receiver
George Pickens had a career year, catching 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games in his fourth year in the NFL. It earned the 24-year-old former second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 his first Pro Bowl nod. Only
Jaxon Smith-Njigba and
Puka Nacua had more receiving yards than Pickens, and his 93 receptions ranked sixth among all wideouts. Despite
CeeDee Lamb's presence, Pickens was Dallas' leading receiver and had the eighth-most targets among all WRs in the NFL. Because of the big year he had for the Cowboys, they will almost certainly keep him around in 2026, via either a long-term extension or franchise tag. Pickens always had high-end talent, but the move to Dallas with quarterback
Dak Prescott and a pass-happy offense was the perfect fit. Another big year could be in store in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons are hiring Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham on Thursday as their new general manager, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Cunningham will replace Terry Fontenot, who was fired after the 2025 season. In his first-ever NFL GM job, Cunningham will work closely with former quarterback and president of football
Matt Ryan moving forward. He got his start in the NFL in 2008 as a personnel assistant with the Baltimore Ravens and was promoted to area scout in 2013. Cunningham has also been the Philadelphia Eagles' director of scouting in 2017 before being promoted to director of player personnel in 2020. He has been with the Bears as the assistant GM since 2021. The Falcons went 37-48 in the five years that Fontenot was the GM. Cunningham will now try to help Atlanta get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 29, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Mack Hollins (abdomen) was listed as limited again on Thursday in practice, according to the team's official website. Hollins has been limited in practice so far this week after he was activated from Injured Reserve last week. The 32-year-old veteran made his return in the AFC Championship victory over the Denver Broncos and led the team with 51 receiving yards on two catches on a snowy day in Denver, in which quarterback
Drake Maye threw for under 100 yards. Hollins has some chemistry with Maye deep down the field, but he'll be a boom/bust fantasy asset in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8, against a nasty Seattle Seahawks defense. During the regular season, Hollins was merely a bye-week streamer in fantasy, catching 46 of his 65 targets for 550 yards and two touchdowns in his first year in New England.
--Keith HernandezSource: Patriots.com
January 29, 2026
Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach
Davis Webb plans to withdraw from the Las Vegas Raiders' head-coaching search and is considered a prime candidate to be promoted to offensive coordinator in Denver, a source told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Webb has also received several offensive-coordinator requests around the league, including with the Buffalo Bills. In addition to interviewing for the Raiders' head-coaching job, Webb interviewed with the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills before they hired Jesse Minter and Joe Brady, respectively. The Broncos fired OC Joe Lombardi earlier this week, likely with the intention of promoting Webb under head coach Sean Payton. A former backup QB, Webb has been a hot name in the coaching cycle this year. Given his experience working with quarterback
Bo Nix (ankle) the last two years, keeping Webb around in 2026 would be a big win for the Broncos.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 29, 2026
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold (oblique) was limited in the team's walkthrough practice on Thursday, according to John Boyle of Seahawks.com. Darnold suffered a left-oblique injury in practice several weeks ago while preparing for the Divisional Round game against the San Francisco 49ers. The 28-year-old played through the injury in the 41-6 win over the 49ers and then threw for a season-high 346 yards and three touchdowns in the NFC Championship game win over the Los Angeles Rams. He was a little sore after last Sunday's game, but Darnold should be completely fine to play in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8, against the New England Patriots. During the regular season, Darnold averaged 16 fantasy points per game, and the Patriots' defense allowed 16.1 fantasy points per game to the QB position.
--Keith HernandezSource: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
January 29, 2026
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin signed a three-year, $96 million contract just before the start of the 2025 season and then had the worst season of his career in his seventh year in the NFL. McLaurin missed valuable time with injuries and played in a career-low 10 games, catching 38 of his 60 targets for 582 yards and three touchdowns. It broke a string of five straight 1,000-yard seasons from McLaurin, who was a third-round pick by Washington in 2019 out of Ohio State. It was indeed a scary year for McLaurin's fantasy managers. The 30-year-old veteran never had a 100-yard performance. It didn't help that starting quarterback
Jayden Daniels only started seven games due to various injuries. With better health, McLaurin should be able to bounce back in 2026, but you shouldn't consider him a lock to return to 1,000 yards with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury no longer around.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed's third season in the NFL was marred by a broken collarbone and a foot injury that limited him to only seven games played. In his seven games, Reed caught 19 of his 22 targets for 207 yards and only one touchdown. The 25-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 out of Michigan State had 119 catches for 1,650 yards and 14 touchdowns on 169 targets in his first two seasons, adding 31 carries for 282 yards and another three TDs. Fantasy managers hoping for more of that production were sorely disappointed, but Reed should bounce back in 2026 with better health as a key piece of Green Bay's offense. The Packers' receiving corps is crowded with
Christian Watson and
Matthew Golden in the mix, but
Romeo Doubs could depart in free agency. Savvy fantasy managers will want to keep Reed's name in mind as a WR sleeper this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
Arizona Cardinals running back
Trey Benson (knee) very well could have had a Year 2 breakout season in 2025 had he not injured his knee early on. Benson ended up playing in only four games in his second year in the NFL, carrying the ball 29 times for 160 yards and no touchdowns while catching 13 of 16 targets for 64 yards. Primary RB
James Conner suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 3. Conner is under contract for one more season, so if the 23-year-old Benson is healthy in 2026, he'll likely operate as the RB2 in the desert. Benson never had a major role behind Conner in his rookie campaign, totaling 63 rushing attempts for 291 yards and only one touchdown in 13 games played. On top of Benson's injury concerns -- he also had a major knee injury in college -- the Cardinals will have an entirely new coaching staff next season, and it's unclear what direction they'll go in at quarterback.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
Cleveland Browns running back
Quinshon Judkins (ankle, leg) got a late start to his rookie season in the NFL due to a legal matter and ended the year on Injured Reserve due to a fractured right fibula and dislocated right ankle, but when he was healthy, he showed why he was so coveted in the 2025 NFL Draft. Judkins quickly took over RB1 duties in Cleveland and ran for 867 yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries over 14 starts. He was the RB26 overall in half-PPR scoring and added 26 catches for 171 yards as a pass-catcher. The 22-year-old Ohio State product has intriguing long-term upside because of his combination of power and speed, and all reports suggest he should make a full recovery from his injuries before the start of the 2026 campaign. Judkins might be a popular Year 2 breakout candidate, although Cleveland's quarterback situation could hold him back.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
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