January 4, 2026
New York Giants wide receiver
Jalin Hyatt (illness) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Dallas Cowboys. Hyatt was listed as questionable. He missed two consecutive practices before upgrading to a limited participant on Friday. The 24-year-old had been a healthy scratch in each of the last two weeks, and he played just four snaps over the last five games. As a result, it's unclear if Hyatt's absence is related to his illness or if he's merely a healthy scratch. Regardless, his absence is notable in a game where the Giants will also be without
Wan'Dale Robinson (rib),
Ryan Miller (coach's decision), and
Theo Johnson (illness).
Darius Slayton will operate as the Giants' No. 1 receiver while
Gunner Olszewski,
Isaiah Hodgins, and
Xavier Gipson also get more involved.
--Andersen PickardSource: Dan Salomone
January 4, 2026
Dallas Cowboys running back
Phil Mafah (shoulder) is officially active for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New York Giants. He had been listed as questionable but was widely expected to play after being activated from injured reserve on Saturday. The 23-year-old will make his NFL debut at the perfect time, as Dallas will be without running backs
Javonte Williams (shoulder, neck) and
Malik Davis (calf, eye).
Jaydon Blue is projected to operate as the Cowboys' No. 1 running back on Sunday, but he has just 23 touches in his rookie season, so we wouldn't be surprised to see Mafah get involved, too. Mafah is also a rookie and should play a key role against a Giants defense that has allowed the second-most rushing yards and fifth-most fantasy points to running backs in 2025.
--Andersen PickardSource: Dan Salomone
January 4, 2026
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that signs are pointing to another reset for the Las Vegas Raiders, with head coach Pete Carroll unlikely to return for the 2026 season. Owner Mark Davis has not communicated any decision yet, but Carroll's status is believed to be very much in doubt going into the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. Pelissero says it would be a "major surprise" if Carroll is afforded a second season in the desert after a disastrous 2025 campaign with the team. The Raiders have lost 14 of their last 15 games, have fired two of their coordinators, and have worn out the patience of star defensive end Maxx Crosby. Carroll has been fighting to get another year to turn things around, but this is trending towards him being fired on Black Monday. If Vegas loses to KC on Sunday, they will clinch the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft and go into a full rebuild.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 4, 2026
New Orleans Saints quarterback
Spencer Rattler (right finger) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the wrong direction after missing all three practices this past week. The 25-year-old has been operating as the backup quarterback behind
Tyler Shough ever since Week 9. As a result, Shough remains the starter for Sunday's regular-season finale while
Jake Haener steps into the backup role. Haener hasn't played an offensive snap this year, but he did complete 18 of 39 pass attempts for 226 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in 2024. Haener and
Taysom Hill would be candidates to earn quarterback snaps if Shough leaves the game for any reason.
--Andersen PickardSource: Tina Howell
January 4, 2026
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Darnell Mooney (knee) is officially active for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New Orleans Saints. He had been listed as questionable after logging back-to-back limited practices. The 28-year-old has failed to meet expectations while occupying the No. 2 wide receiver role for most of this season. He has played 81.8% of the offensive snaps when healthy but has a modest stat line of 29 catches, 423 yards, and one touchdown. Mooney finds himself buried in the pecking order behind
Drake London and
Kyle Pitts Sr. As a result, we expect him to remain off the fantasy radar against the Saints on Sunday. He can be benched in most leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: Atlanta Falcons
January 4, 2026
The New York Jets have had another miserable season, already fired their defensive coordinator, and are 3-13 heading into the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Buffalo Bills, but NFL Network's Judy Battista reports that owner Woody Johnson remains committed to head coach Aaron Glenn, and Glenn is not expected to be fired on Monday. The Jets made it clear that they were focusing their attention on 2026 when they traded both cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline. Battista adds that there is optimism that the Jets can execute a pretty big overhaul this offseason, as they are flush with salary cap space and will have two first-round picks in 2026 and three in 2027. The Jets must first and foremost figure out their QB situation after swinging and missing on
Justin Fields in free agency last offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Judy Battista
January 4, 2026
Atlanta Falcons tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee) is officially active for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New Orleans Saints. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity this week. Pitts has frequently appeared on the injury report this year, but he never ended up missing a game. He has officially been active for all 17 games for the third season in a row. Pitts has been playing at an elite level ever since
Kirk Cousins took over at quarterback, and it has allowed him to rank as the overall TE2 in full-PPR leagues to this point. He'll look to cap off his strong second half of the season in a competitive game against the Saints on Sunday. As it stands, he ranks as a top-five fantasy tight end.
--Andersen PickardSource: Atlanta Falcons
January 4, 2026
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Drake London (knee) is officially active for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New Orleans Saints. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity this past week. London is still working his way back after a knee injury sidelined him from Weeks 12 through 15. In two games since then, he has just four catches. Last week was particularly frustrating as he caught one pass for four yards despite handling a 98% snap share. The increased snap share indicates that London is capable of playing a full game, so now, he just needs the targets. Managers should look for him to bounce back as a fringe top-12 fantasy receiver in a competitive battle against the Saints on Sunday.
--Andersen PickardSource: Atlanta Falcons
January 4, 2026
Houston Texans running back
Nick Chubb is a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts in the Week 18 regular-season finale. Chubb played only five offensive snaps and handled one carry for one yard in rookie
Woody Marks' return in the Week 17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers last Saturday. Even rookie
Jawhar Jordan had more snaps than Chubb, and now the veteran back will be inactive in a game in which the Texans must win to have a chance at winning the AFC South division. In the previous three games, the 30-year-old Chubb has just eight rushing attempts and one catch for 46 scrimmage yards. He is falling out of favor in Houston's backfield as the playoffs approach next week. Chubb has lacked explosiveness in his first year with the Texans and is averaging 4.1 yards per carry with only three rushing TDs on 122 rush attempts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Texans
January 4, 2026
Green Bay Packers running back
Josh Jacobs (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. Jacobs recently recovered from knee and ankle injuries. While he didn't carry an injury designation into this weekend's contest, the Packers will opt to rest him. Green Bay, which has already locked up the No. 7 seed in the NFC, aims to keep Jacobs healthy ahead of the playoffs. He should return to the lead-back role when Green Bay takes the field in the Wild Card Round. In the meantime,
Emanuel Wilson should lead the Packers' backfield against the Vikings on Sunday.
Chris Brooks will back up Wilson. Interesting, the Packers chose not to elevate
Damien Martinez from the practice squad, so Wilson and Brooks will be their only active running backs in Week 18.
--Andersen PickardSource: Green Bay Packers
January 4, 2026
Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Philip Rivers is officially a healthy scratch for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Houston Texans. Rookie
Riley Leonard will make the start to close out the year, with
Seth Henigan set to work as the backup. The Colts brought the 44-year-old Rivers out of retirement after
Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles. Rivers was unable to save Indy's season, losing all three of his starts against the Seahawks, 49ers, and Jaguars. He completed 63% of his 92 pass attempts for 544 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions in his three games played. Rivers predictably struggled with his arm strength, but he wasn't terrible. The eight-time Pro Bowler already announced that he'll be retiring for a second time following this weekend's game.
--Keith HernandezSource: Indianapolis Colts
January 4, 2026
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Malik Willis (shoulder, hamstring) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. In addition to Willis being inactive,
Jordan Love will ride the bench as Green Bay rests key starters. The Packers have nothing left to play for, as they already locked up the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff picture. As a result,
Clayton Tune will start at quarterback on Sunday afternoon. Willis will likely return to his backup quarterback role in the Wild Card Round, and he could earn a chance to compete for a starting job during free agency in March.
--Andersen PickardSource: Green Bay Packers
January 4, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. He had been listed as doubtful after missing all three practices this past week. The 24-year-old has occupied an inconsistent role this season, and his usage has been dwindling with just four catches over his last four games. Wicks is the only wide receiver inactive for Green Bay, but we wouldn't be surprised if
Christian Watson,
Jayden Reed, and
Romeo Doubs handle a reduced workload now that the Packers have locked up the No. 7 seed.
Matthew Golden could earn more targets in the Packers' offense, led by quarterback
Clayton Tune.
--Andersen PickardSource: Green Bay Packers
January 4, 2026
Houston Texans rookie wide receivers
Jayden Higgins and
Jaylin Noel are expected to handle increased volume during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. The Iowa State products will occupy larger roles with
Nico Collins (coach's decision) not playing on Sunday. Collins is being sidelined to preserve his health ahead of the playoff stretch. Higgins and Noel have both seen their roles increase throughout this season, leading up to this big opportunity in Week 18. Both receivers scored a touchdown in last week's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. They also combined for nine catches, 97 yards, and a touchdown in the last game that Collins missed. Higgins and Noel both rank as solid WR3/flex options against a Colts defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025.
--Andersen PickardSource: Aaron Wilson
January 4, 2026
The Green Bay Packers will rest key players during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Minnesota Vikings, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. It was previously reported that Green Bay would likely rest some of its starters, but Fowler's latest update now confirms this. While the X post doesn't say which players will be affected, Fowler reports that "a significant number" of key players will sit out. This decision comes after Green Bay clinched the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff picture. We already know that
Jordan Love will not start despite clearing concussion protocol, and we could see key offensive players like
Josh Jacobs and
Christian Watson rest.
Emanuel Wilson and
Matthew Golden could see additional opportunities in the
Clayton Tune-led offense. On defense, Fowler notes that recently-acquired cornerback Tre'Von Diggs will play.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeremy Fowler
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