January 27, 2026
After an excellent rookie season in 2024, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Ladd McConkey posted a relatively disappointing sophomore campaign in 2025. Across 16 games played, the 24-year-old recorded 66 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets. McConkey's production fell off sharply down the stretch of the season, as he recorded just one game with more than 40 receiving yards after Week 10. After losing in the AFC Wild Card Round to the New England Patriots, the Chargers decided to move on from offensive coordinator Greg Roman, replacing him with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. While McDaniel's tenure in Miami went downhill over the last couple of seasons, he coached the Dolphins to top-five offenses by measure of total passing yardage in both 2022 and 2023. By contrast, Roman-coached teams have never finished better than 13th in passing yardage in any of his 12 seasons as an NFL offensive coordinator. Given the change in offensive infrastructure around him, McConkey could be in line for a bounce-back season in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 27, 2026
Across 15 games in 2025, Chicago Bears wide receiver
Luther Burden III recorded 47 receptions for 652 yards and two touchdowns on 60 targets. While the 22-year-old's full-season numbers may not jump off the page, he closed his rookie season on a strong note. Across his final seven games, including postseason play, Burden III hauled in 31 catches for 423 yards and a touchdown on 46 targets. In that same seven-game stretch, Burden III earned at least six targets in every game but one. Heading into 2026, Burden III could be poised to hit the ground running as one of the featured pieces in the Chicago passing game. It's worth noting that the Bears have other talented pass-catchers in wide receivers
Rome Odunze and
DJ Moore, as well as tight end
Colston Loveland, who are also worthy target-earners. Still, Burden III's late-season breakout demonstrates his upside. He profiles as a wide receiver option on the rise for fantasy managers in both dynasty and redraft leagues.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 27, 2026
Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne is one of the top 10 ball carriers in the 2026 NFL Draft class after finishing his career in Winston-Salem with two seasons of at least 1,040 yards from scrimmage. Over the last two years, he tallied 458 total touchdowns for 2,350 yards and 23 touchdowns in 24 games as the engine of the Wake Forest offense. Claiborne has absurd lateral agility and homerun speed, making him a perfect pairing with a physical bruiser in a committee in an NFL backfield. The two-time All-ACC performer is currently projected to be a fifth-round pick, but an impressive predraft process could give him a shot at Round 3 or Round 4 in April.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 27, 2026
The Buffalo Bills are promoting offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Brady, who has spent the last four years on Buffalo's coaching staff, will be replacing Sean McDermott after his nine-year run as the Bills' head coach. Brady took over as the OC for Ken Dorsey and has been in the role the last two seasons, developing a close relationship with star quarterback
Josh Allen. All along, the Bills wanted their new head coach to be offensive-minded and someone who could develop a strong relationship with Allen. Brady already has a strong working relationship with Allen, so the move makes plenty of sense. He'll have big shoes to fill, as McDermott led the team to eight playoff victories in his nine years at the helm. Ultimately, the move to promote Brady to head coach is great news for Allen's fantasy outlook in the years to come.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 27, 2026
Indiana running back
Roman Hemby was likely considered an undrafted free agent NFL prospect following four years at Maryland, but his performance in his final season with the College Football Playoff National Champion Indiana Hoosiers could propel him into being a Day 3 pick in April's 2026 NFL Draft. After compiling 3,268 total yards and 27 touchdowns in 42 games with the Terps, Hemby led the Indiana running backs in attempts (230), rushing yards (1,120), receptions (17), and receiving yards (165). While Fernando Mendoza and the passing attack rightfully got a ton of shine, Hemby was an unsung hero of the offense and ran hard throughout the College Football Playoff. Hemby is an explosive runner with good vision, but his lack of size will likely keep him in a complementary back role in the NFL.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
January 27, 2026
ESPN's Rich Cimini writes that the New York Jets still believe in head coach Aaron Glenn and are optimistic that he can turn things around in 2026 after a miserable 3-14 season in his first year on the job. It won't be easy, as only four head coaches out of 23 since 2000 to win three or fewer games in their first season have rebounded to make the playoffs during their tenure, so Glenn could be fighting an uphill battle. A former general manager with four decades in personnel said he thinks Glenn's first-year decisions were very poor. "He did nothing with the culture," the former GM said. Jets players praised Glenn for being consistent and a good communicator, but that just didn't translate on game days. Owner Woody Johnson said Glenn is "the real deal." The Jets may believe in Glenn, but he'll have to turn things around quickly if he's going to last beyond Year 2. New York's defense was the first in league history to go the entire season without an interception, and the Jets also became the first team in NFL history to lose five straight games by 23 or more points.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
January 27, 2026
Kentucky running back Seth McGowan is expected to be a Day 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he could carve out a role as an early-down grinder with the right landing spot in April. McGowan had an eventful collegiate career, starting in 2021 at Oklahoma. He did not play in 2022 after being dismissed from the Sooners' program. He then spent one season at Butler Community College, one season at New Mexico State, and one season with the Wildcats. In 2025, he rushed 165 times for 725 yards and 12 touchdowns. At 6'1" and 215 pounds, McGowan is a violent downhill runner, but he lacks big-time ability to evade tackles and doesn't have high-end speed at the position. Either way, he could make his mark as a goal-line back and in short-yardage situations at the next level.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
January 27, 2026
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said after the Los Angeles Rams' loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship on Sunday that quarterback
Matthew Stafford plans to return for the 2026 season. But on Monday's new episode of the Let's Go podcast, Stafford made it sound like he's still contemplating retirement. "It'll be a lot that goes into it," Stafford told Jim Gray. "It's a physical, a mental, and emotional decision, a personal and a family decision as well. So, we'll figure all that kind of stuff out with some time." The 37-year-old is the front-runner to win the 2025 NFL MVP award after leading the league in passing yards (4,707), touchdown passes (46), touchdown percentage (7.7%), and yards per game (276.9) in 17 regular-season starts. It was arguably the best year of his 17-year career, so he'll most likely run it back in 2026, when he'll be a popular QB1 target as he looks for another Lombardi Trophy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Let's Go Podcast
January 26, 2026
The Seattle Seahawks have opened as 3.5-point favorites over the New England Patriots for Super Bowl LX, according to Doug Greenberg of ESPN. The Seahawks then quickly jumped up to 4.5-point favorites, according to DraftKings odds. If the Patriots close as underdogs for the big game in two weeks, it will break a streak of eight straight Super Bowls in which they've been favored. The last time New England was an underdog in a Super Bowl was in 2002, when they upset the St. Louis Rams for the franchise's first title. This year's Patriots and Seahawks both entered the year at +6000 to win the Super Bowl. The Patriots were as long as 120-1 to win it all in 2025 after Week 3, when they started 1-2. Underdogs have won the last three Super Bowls outright and have covered the spread in five straight. Against the spread in Super Bowls all time, underdogs are 30-27-2.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Doug Greenberg
January 26, 2026
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Davante Adams lost for the fifth time in his career in the NFC Championship game on Sunday to the division-rival Seattle Seahawks -- four of his losses in the NFC title game came as a member of the Green Bay Packers. In the back-and-forth 31-27 loss to Seattle, Adams played well, though, catching four of his six targets for 89 yards and his 15th touchdown of the year. The 33-year-old veteran has built a Hall of Fame resume in his 12 years in the NFL, earning six Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro nods, and producing 12,633 receiving yards and 117 touchdowns. Adams has led the league in receiving touchdowns, including in 2025, three times in his career. However, he has been unable to reach the promised land of the Super Bowl. Two of his five NFC title-game losses have come against Seattle.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL.com - Kevin Patra
January 26, 2026
Cleveland Browns quarterback
Shedeur Sanders has been added to this year's Pro Bowl Games as a replacement for New England Patriots QB
Drake Maye, a source told Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. Sanders, who slipped to the 144th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, ended up starting the final seven games for the Browns in his first year in the NFL. The 23-year-old completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. He added 169 rushing yards and one touchdown on 21 carries while going 3-4 as the starter. Sanders did enough in training camp and the preseason last summer to earn a roster spot going into 2025, and although he had his moments as the starter late in the year, he most definitely will need to show more improvement and will be involved in a QB competition during training camp in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
January 26, 2026
The Buffalo Bills have requested to interview Los Angeles Rams passing-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase for their head-coaching job, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Scheelhaase is also a finalist for the head-coaching job with the Cleveland Browns and is interviewing with them on Monday. In addition to the Bills and Browns, Scheelhaase had head-coaching interviews with the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens and Steelers have since hired new head coaches, but Scheelhaase, one of the fastest-rising young coaches in the NFL, is still in play with the Raiders, Browns, and now the Bills. The 35-year-old has only two years of coaching experience in the NFL, both with the Rams. Before joining the NFL, he coached at Illinois and Iowa State. The Bills are looking to replace former head coach Sean McDermott, who was with the franchise for nine years.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 26, 2026
When asked if he wants to re-sign with the Denver Broncos in 2026, running back
J.K. Dobbins said, "Yeah, I'm a Bronco... I wasn't drafted here, but I'm a Buckeye, and I'm a Bronco." Dobbins suffered a Lisfranc foot injury in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders that required surgery, and he never played again in 2025. The 27-year-old resumed practicing last week, though, and said he was "very close" to playing in the AFC Championship against the New England Patriots on Sunday. After the year Dobbins had before his foot injury, it wouldn't be a surprise if the two sides reached an agreement on a two- or three-year deal in free agency. He played for the Broncos on a one-year deal this season and was on his way to a career year before his injury, totaling 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 153 carries. Fantasy managers take on considerable injury risk with Dobbins, and if he stays in Denver, he'll be splitting the backfield with
RJ Harvey.
--Keith HernandezSource: Brandon Krisztal
January 26, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Kayshon Boutte, along with the rest of the offense, struggled to do much in poor conditions during a snowstorm in the 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday in the AFC Championship. Boutte was tied with receiver
Stefon Diggs for the team lead in targets (six), but he hauled in just one of them for six yards.
Mack Hollins, who came off Injured Reserve last week, led the Patriots with 51 receiving yards on only two catches. Quarterback
Drake Maye went 10-for-21 passing for only 86 yards, with neither team really able to move the ball much in the second half after snow started to fall heavily. In the first two playoff games, the 23-year-old Boutte caught seven of his nine targets for 141 yards and a touchdown in wins over the Chargers and Texans. He was a disappointment against Denver, but he should be able to bounce back nicely in the Super Bowl in two weeks versus the Seahawks.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
January 26, 2026
Offense was hard to come by in the AFC Championship game on Sunday in snowy Denver for the Broncos and New England Patriots, and tight end
Hunter Henry finished with just two catches on three targets for 12 yards in the 10-7 low-scoring win over the Broncos. Henry has been a huge disappointment for fantasy managers who have used him the last two weeks in the postseason, as the 31-year-old veteran had just one grab for five yards in the Divisional Round victory over the Houston Texans. In the Wild-Card win over the Los Angeles Chargers, his former team, Henry caught three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. Henry didn't have much of a chance to do anything against Denver's strong defense in adverse conditions, as quarterback
Drake Maye threw for only 86 total yards. Henry and the Pats will have another difficult matchup against the Seahawks' defense in the Super Bowl, but he'll still be the TE with the most upside in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
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