December 30, 2025
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that the team will play its starters for the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday versus the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The Rams lost to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night, and with another loss to Arizona in the final week of the regular season, they'd fall to the No. 6 seed in the NFC postseason picture and have to go on the road against either the Chicago Bears or the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round. A win for the Rams on Sunday, coupled with a Seahawks win over the 49ers on Saturday night, would give L.A. the No. 5 seed and a matchup on the road against either the Carolina Panthers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McVay said that playing his starters in Week 18 is more about wanting to play well going into the postseason.
Puka Nacua is also still in the running to be the leading WR in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
December 30, 2025
Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger (thigh) played through a thigh injury in his team's Week 17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. The rookie linebacker has started all 16 games for Cleveland so far this season, recording 67 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions. Pro Football Focus grades Schwesinger as the 21st-best linebacker out of 86 qualified players at the position in 2025, so his presence on the field is key for the Cleveland defense. If Schwesinger remains limited by the injury in practice this week, there may not be much incentive for the 4-12 Browns to push him to play in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Should Schwesinger be sidelined, Browns linebackers Jerome Baker and Easton Mascarenas-Arnold would both likely see more playing time against Cincinnati.
--Will BradySource: Akron Beacon Journal - Chris Easterling
December 30, 2025
New England Patriots wide receiver
Stefon Diggs has been charged with felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges stemming from an incident in early December, per Frank O'Laughlin of Boston 25 News. O'Laughlin reports that Diggs is scheduled to be arraigned on January 23, two days before the AFC Championship game is scheduled to take place. The 32-year-old wideout has recorded 82 catches for 970 yards and four touchdowns on 99 targets across 16 games in his first season in New England. It's unclear whether these charges will impact Diggs' availability for the postseason, but any absence would obviously be a major loss for the Patriots' offense. New England recently placed wide receiver
Mack Hollins (abdomen) on Injured Reserve, so the team's depth at the position may be tested going forward.
--Will BradySource: Boston 25 News - Frank O'Laughlin
December 30, 2025
Across 16 games in 2025, Kansas City Chiefs running back
Kareem Hunt has recorded 719 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on 173 touches. While the 30-year-old lacks explosive upside, he remains an effective short-area and goal-line rusher. Hunt's touchdown production has dried up in recent weeks, as he's failed to find the end zone in any of Kansas City's last three games. However, Hunt's playing time spiked in Week 17 against the Denver Broncos, as he earned more snaps (24) than fellow Chiefs running backs
Isiah Pacheco and
Brashard Smith combined (21). Additionally, the Chiefs will face a significantly easier matchup in Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Even with third-string quarterback
Chris Oladokun under center, Kansas City could have a chance to move the ball against Las Vegas. In fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams. Hunt could be worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Across 14 games this season, Los Angeles Rams tight end
Colby Parkinson has recorded 39 receptions for 372 yards and six touchdowns on 49 targets. The 26-year-old has seen his role in the Rams' offense grow in recent weeks. Over his last four games, Parkinson has hauled in 16 catches for 181 yards and three touchdowns on 23 targets. He's also played at least 78% of his team's offensive snaps in each of his last three outings. The Rams have been without star wide receiver
Davante Adams (hamstring) for two straight games, and there's a chance Adams remains sidelined for Los Angeles' Week 18 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals as well. Without Adams, Parkinson has a chance to function as one of the primary targets for Rams quarterback
Matthew Stafford in the red zone. Parkinson carries streamer appeal in Week 18 against Arizona and could be a player worth targeting on the waiver wire for fantasy managers in leagues with 12 or more teams.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed has now played in four games since returning from collarbone and foot injuries that sidelined him for nearly three months. The 25-year-old has provided modest production in that stretch, hauling in 16 receptions for 162 yards on 17 targets. From a playing time perspective, Reed has mostly functioned as Green Bay's WR3 behind
Christian Watson and
Romeo Doubs, which limits his production upside. However, the Packers are now locked into the number seven seed in the NFC playoffs heading into their Week 18 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Green Bay could choose to rest starters or limit their playing time in the season's final week, which might provide Reed with a pathway to more opportunities. In PPR fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams, Reed could be a player worth targeting on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
The Carolina Panthers have signed free-agent tight end
Ross Dwelley to their practice squad, per ESPN's David Newton. Newton reports that Dwelley has a chance to be elevated to the active roster for Carolina's Week 18 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in light of tight end
Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 17. Dwelley appeared in 11 games for the Detroit Lions this season, recording two receptions for seven yards on five targets. He's played in 112 career NFL games across eight seasons, hauling in 47 catches for 530 yards and five touchdowns. Carolina still has tight ends
Tommy Tremble,
Mitchell Evans, and
James Mitchell on the active roster, so Dwelley would likely fill a depth role. Tremble appears most likely to serve as the team's primary receiving tight end with Sanders sidelined.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - David Newton
December 30, 2025
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz has been a solid PPR contributor this season, and he can be a great plug-and-play option in Week 18 if he's available on the waiver wire. Schultz and the rest of the Texans' starters will be playing in their Week 18 game against the Colts, according to coach DeMeco Ryans, since the team still has a chance to win the division. Schultz has a team-high 78 catches on the season for 704 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He had three catches for 19 yards in the team's win over the Chargers, giving him at least three catches in 14 of his 16 games this season. Two of his touchdowns have come in the last three weeks as well, making him a strong option to play at tight end if you need a solution at the position for the season finale.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Chicago Bears running back
Kyle Monangai is still getting plenty of work in the backfield, and he's a strong grab if he's on the waiver wire as the Bears continue to push for the second seed in the NFC. Monangai had eight carries and three catches against the 49ers, totaling 38 rushing yards and nine receiving yards.
D'Andre Swift had nine carries and two catches but was more productive with two rushing touchdowns. Monangai could get a little more work if the Bears look to get Swift some rest before the playoffs, and the matchup against the Lions should be a solid one, since Detroit's defense has struggled down the stretch, giving up seven running back touchdowns in the last three weeks.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 30, 2025
Carolina Panthers quarterback
Bryce Young has a chance to get his team to the playoffs, as he looks to bounce back from a rough outing last week against the Seahawks. He only managed 54 passing yards and also threw an interception in tough weather conditions in his team's Week 17 home loss. The 8-8 Panthers can still win the division, though, if they knock off the Buccaneers in Tampa on Saturday afternoon. Carolina will also make the playoffs even with a loss if the Falcons beat the Saints on Sunday. Young and the Panthers just faced and beat the Bucs in Week 16, with the QB throwing for two touchdowns and 191 yards in the 23-20 victory. On the season, Young has 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while averaging 183 passing yards per game. If he can duplicate his Week 16 performance, he is a streaming option in two-QB leagues, although the tough matchup on the road keeps him from being a strong play in single-QB formats.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 30, 2025
Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Riley Leonard is expected to start in Week 18 against the Houston Texans after backing up
Philip Rivers for the last three games. Even though the Colts were officially eliminated from the playoff hunt with Houston's win over the Chargers last Saturday, the team gave Rivers the start in Week 16 against Jacksonville. This week, though, they'll turn to their sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame to see how Leonard can figure into their future. He got most of his NFL experience in relief of
Daniel Jones in Week 14, completing 18-of-29 passes for 145 yards and an interception while also rushing for a six-yard score in garbage time. Leonard gets a tough matchup against the Texans, who will still be playing for the division title. He has some flier upside for dual-QB leagues since he'll be out to prove himself, but he's still a long shot to be a fantasy factor this week.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Jeremy Fowler
December 30, 2025
New England Patriots wide receiver
Kyle Williams is stepping into a larger role for the Patriots, as his first season in the NFL comes to a close this week against the Dolphins. The rookie led all Patriots' receivers by playing 85% of snaps in Week 17, which was his highest mark of the season. He stepped up with
Kayshon Boutte (concussion) sidelined and
Mack Hollins (abdomen) on IR. He hauled in three of his five targets (both season highs) and finished with 20 yards against the Jets. The Patriots still have a shot at the No. 1 seed with a win on Sunday, so the starters should at least begin the game, giving Williams a great chance to work with
Drake Maye to put the finishing touches on his rookie year. As a big-play threat, Williams can be a flier flex play from the waiver wire for deep leagues in Week 18.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 30, 2025
Los Angeles Rams rookie tight end
Terrance Ferguson hauled in two of his four targets for 54 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Ferguson has now seen four targets and scored a touchdown in back-to-back games as his playing time has spiked over the last three contests. The rookie second-rounder finished second on the team in receiving yards on the night and continues to be an explosive playmaker in a potent Rams offense. He's recorded five catches of at least 25 yards this season, which is the most by a Rams rookie tight end in the last 35 years, according to the Los Angeles Rams PR. Ferguson is seeing a bump in routes and targets down the stretch, and looks like an exciting player to dream on in fantasy football in 2026. His usage is expected to continue expanding in the final week of the regular season against the Arizona Cardinals.
--Kyle McCarthySource: ESPN.com
December 30, 2025
Los Angeles Rams quarterback
Matthew Stafford may have sold his shot at winning MVP in Monday night's loss to the Atlanta Falcons, completing 22 of 38 passes for 269 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. The 37-year-old signal-caller entered the game with only five interceptions on 519 pass attempts this season, but he threw three costly ones Monday night, with one of them being returned for a pick-six. It was easily the veteran's lowest passer rating of the season at 64.5, with the next closest game being 85.9 in his two-interception game in Week 13's loss to the Carolina Panthers. Stafford still managed to throw two touchdown passes, extending his streak to 10 consecutive games, twice as long as the next closest quarterback. Los Angeles will close out their regular season at home against the Arizona Cardinals before having to play on the road in the playoffs.
--Kyle McCarthySource: ESPN.com
December 30, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) logged five receptions for 85 yards on eight targets in their 42-38 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. Pearsall led the team in receiving yards and was second to backup tight end
Jake Tonges in receptions and targets. After missing six weeks due to injury, Pearsall returned in Week 11 only to hit a three-game slump wherein he had a mere five catches for 20 yards. However, since the 49ers' bye in Week 14, Pearsall has been a worthwhile investment in fantasy. He missed last week due to injuries but had a six-catch, 96-yard game in Week 15. Pearsall has 36 catches for 528 yards and is still seeking his first touchdown of 2025 as the 49ers head into a Week 18 matchup against the Seahawks.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
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