January 2, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert (hand) was removed from the Week 18 injury report on Friday, but he will not play in the regular-season finale against the division-rival Denver Broncos on Sunday, according to Eric Smith of Chargers.com. Herbert was limited in practice on Wednesday before being held out on Thursday and Friday. The Chargers announced early in the week that they would be resting Herbert with a playoff spot already locked up. Backup
Trey Lance will make his first start of the year in a bad matchup against a team trying to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye. Despite a suspect offensive line protecting him, Herbert enters Week 18 action as the QB7 in overall fantasy points. In 16 regular-season games, he threw for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Herbert added 498 rushing yards and two TDs on the ground.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chargers.com - Eric Smith
January 2, 2026
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver
Luther Burden III (quadriceps) has been cleared to suit up for Sunday's Week 18 matchup versus the Detroit Lions. Burden was limited in practice to begin the week, but he has been cleared to play after getting through two full practice sessions to end the week. The rookie wideout is seeing a larger workload with
Rome Odunze (foot) being sidelined since Week 13. Odunze carries a questionable tag heading into Week 18, but he's not expected to play. During that span, Burden has seen six or more targets in each of those games. He's coming off his best performance of the season, where he hauled in eight receptions for 138 yards and one touchdown in the loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17. Fantasy managers should consider Burden a high-end WR2 for this weekend, assuming Odunze remains out.
--Andy WebbSource: Chicago Bears PR
January 2, 2026
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's Week 18 matchup versus the Detroit Lions. Odunze has been sidelined since Week 13, but he has a chance at playing in the regular-season finale. He missed the first two days of practice, but he was able to get through a limited session on Friday. He still seems like a long shot to suit up, given the Bears have little incentive to play Odunze at less than 100 percent health, and Chris Emma even mentions it seems more likely that he won't return until the playoffs next week. The Bears have already locked up the NFC North, so they're only playing for seeding right now. The absence of Odunze would mean increased looks for
DJ Moore,
Luther Burden III, and
Olamide Zaccheaus.
--Andy WebbSource: Chris Emma
January 2, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Kareem Hunt (illness) was under the weather this week and missed the first two practices. He returned to a full session on Friday, though, and has been removed from the Week 18 injury report. The Chiefs could opt to rest
Isiah Pacheco in the regular-season finale against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, which would put Hunt in line for lead-back duties to close things out. Hunt should only realistically be considered for starting fantasy lineups this weekend if Pacheco is ruled out on Sunday. The 30-year-old has taken on more of a secondary role in the Chiefs' backfield of late, having not seen double-digit carries in any of the last three games. He was the team's preferred option in the backfield for most of the season, though. Hunt has 158 carries for 597 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in 16 games, adding 15 receptions for 122 more yards and a TD through the air.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chiefs.com
January 2, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Xavier Worthy (illness) missed practice all week and is considered doubtful to play in Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Worthy likely would have been ready to play had this game meant something, but with the Chiefs out of playoff contention, they are expected to rest the speedy Worthy. KC's offense is limping to the finish line this year, with quarterback
Patrick Mahomes (knee) and receivers
Rashee Rice (concussion) and
Tyquan Thornton (concussion) unavailable due to injuries.
Marquise Brown,
JuJu Smith-Schuster, and rookie
Jalen Royals should operate in three-wide sets on Sunday for starting quarterback
Chris Oladokun. Worthy, who missed time early in the year with a shoulder injury, took a step back in Year 2 and finished with a disappointing 42-532-1 line in 14 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chiefs.com
January 2, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco (rest) is officially listed as questionable for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders after being limited in practice all week. Meanwhile, fellow RB
Kareem Hunt (illness) practiced in full on Friday and was removed from the final injury report. Hunt missed the first two practices of the week. The Chiefs have nothing left to play for, so they could opt to rest Pacheco in the final game of the season. Pacheco began to see more work than Hunt in recent weeks, but with him potentially being rested in Week 18, fantasy managers would be smart to stay away. If Pacheco doesn't play this weekend, he'll finish his fourth year in the NFL with 118 carries for 462 yards and one touchdown on the ground in 13 games, adding 19 receptions for 101 yards and one more TD on 16 targets.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chiefs.com
January 2, 2026
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown is listed as questionable for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Chicago Bears, but he's trending in the right direction to play after being limited in practice on Thursday and Friday. The 26-year-old has been battling through knee irritation in recent weeks, but he hasn't missed any time, and he should be active to close out the regular season. St. Brown caught eight of 13 targets for 68 yards while playing over 80% of the offensive snaps in the Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Vikings that eliminated the Lions from the postseason. Even though Detroit isn't playing for anything themselves this weekend, St. Brown should have a normal role against the Bears and should be started in all fantasy lineups. He's the WR3 in half-PPR points this year with 106 catches, 1,262 yards, and 11 touchdowns in 16 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Lions
January 2, 2026
Miami Dolphins running back
De'Von Achane (shoulder) is listed as doubtful to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New England Patriots on Sunday, according to David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Head coach Mike McDaniel left the door open slightly for Achane to play this weekend, but fantasy managers shouldn't be holding out hope. Miami is likely to play it safe in a game that doesn't mean anything for them.
Jaylen Wright should be in line to lead the team's backfield in touches on Sunday, with Achane unlikely to play, and rookie
Ollie Gordon II should also have an elevated role. Achane was easily Miami's most consistent offensive weapon in 2025. He'll finish the 2025 campaign as a top-10 fantasy RB with 1,350 rushing yards, eight touchdowns, and a league-leading 5.7 yards per carry on 238 rushing attempts. He added 67 catches for 488 yards and another four TDs on 85 targets in the passing game.
--Keith HernandezSource: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - David Furones
January 2, 2026
Minnesota Vikings tight end
T.J. Hockenson (shoulder) will not play in Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Green Bay Packers, according to Dane Mizutani of the Pioneer Press. Hockenson was unable to practice at all this week and will miss a second straight game to close out the 2025 season. The 28-year-old was highly inconsistent this year for fantasy managers as a starting tight end option, primarily because of the inconsistent play that the Vikings got out of quarterback
J.J. McCarthy. Going into Week 18, Hockenson ranks as the TE23 overall in half-PPR scoring with 51 catches on 65 targets for 438 yards and only three touchdowns in 15 games played. With Hockenson out again this weekend,
Josh Oliver will be the team's TE1, but he'll be a risky, touchdown-dependent TE2 streaming option for fantasy managers with McCarthy returning in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pioneer Press - Dane Mizutani
January 2, 2026
Minnesota Vikings running back
Aaron Jones Sr. (hip) has officially been ruled out for Week 18's regular-season finale against the Green Bay Packers, according to Dane Mizutani of the Pioneer Press. Jones was a non-participant every day in practice this week and will end up missing his fifth game of the season after spending time on Injured Reserve earlier in the year with a hamstring injury. The 31-year-old recorded 132 carries for 548 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 28 catches (41 targets) for 199 yards and one score as a receiver in 12 games. Backfield mate
Jordan Mason (ankle) was upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday after missing last week's game against the Lions. Mason figures to handle the bulk of the carries for Minnesota's final regular-season game against the Packers, profiling as a borderline RB1.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Dane Mizutani
January 2, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back
Omarion Hampton (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 18's regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Hampton missed all three days of practice this week and is set to miss the eighth game of his rookie campaign. The 2025 first-round pick spent time on Injured Reserve earlier in the year with a fractured ankle, and it seems that the Chargers are just being cautious with a playoff spot already locked up. Hampton finishes the season with 124 carries for 545 yards and four touchdowns to go with 32 receptions (35 targets) for 192 yards and one touchdown as a receiver. Second-year back
Kimani Vidal (neck) was a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday, so he should be expected to lead the backfield in Week 18 versus the Broncos if he's active. Both Vidal and
Hassan Haskins (concussion) are considered questionable to play.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Adam Schefter
January 2, 2026
Dallas Cowboys running back
Malik Davis (calf, eye) has been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants, according to The Athletic's Jon Machota.
Javonte Williams (neck, shoulder) has also been ruled out, so rookie
Jaydon Blue will see by far the most playing time he's had all season long to close things out. The 27-year-old Davis will finish his 2025 campaign on a high note after carrying the ball 20 times for 103 yards in the Christmas Day win over the Washington Commanders in Week 17. He took over around midseason as the No. 2 back behind Williams and never let go. Davis could be in line for an even bigger role in 2026 if the Cowboys don't re-sign Williams. Davis finishes his third NFL season with 250 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 52 rushing attempts, adding two receptions for 16 yards in 10 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jon Machota
January 2, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles tight end
Dallas Goedert (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Washington Commanders, according to the team. The Eagles are resting key starters in this one, including Goedert and quarterback
Jalen Hurts. Other big names will probably be on the sidelines, too, so fantasy managers still playing for something shouldn't be looking to the Eagles for production on Sunday. The Eagles will hope that the 30-year-old Goedert will be closer to 100 percent for the wild-card round of the playoffs next week. With Goedert out against Washington,
Grant Calcaterra and
Kylen Granson will step into larger roles with
Tanner McKee running the offense. Through 15 games in 2025, Goedert had one of the best seasons of his career, catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns.
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Eagles
January 2, 2026
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) will not play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Houston Texans, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Gardner returned from a calf injury to play in the Week 17 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he aggravated the injury and will now miss the final game of the year. The 25-year-old was acquired from the New York Jets for two first-round picks and receiver
Adonai Mitchell at the trade deadline. In 11 total games with the Jets and Colts this year, Gardner had 36 total tackles and nine pass breakups. It was a lot to give up for Gardner, and the Colts didn't even end up making the postseason after quarterback
Daniel Jones' season-ending torn Achilles. With Gardner out in Week 18, the Colts' secondary will be more vulnerable against
C.J. Stroud and the Texans' offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - James Boyd
January 2, 2026
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (hand) will start in Week 18's regular-season finale against the division-rival Green Bay Packers, according to Dane Mizutani of the Pioneer Press. McCarthy was a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday and will return to action after missing Week 17's matchup against the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day due to a hairline fracture in his right hand. The second-year quarterback has had an up-and-down season after missing his entire rookie year with a torn meniscus. In nine games this season, the Michigan product has completed 57.3% of his passes for 1,450 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while adding 35 carries for 174 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He'll look to finish out the season strong and profiles as a low-end QB2 option in superflex leagues in Week 18 in his return.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Dane Mizutani
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