Stefon Diggs Rides Momentum Into Playoffs
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has momentum on his side ahead of Sunday's Wild Card Round contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. Diggs has been a main reason for the Patriots' success in 2025. He stepped up as the AFC East champions' No. 1 receiver, catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns while ranking as the overall WR17 in full-PPR leagues. Diggs was targeted just three times in the Patriots' Week 18 win, but he still has 18 catches, 282 yards, and one touchdown over his last three games combined. He has consistently operated as a dependable target for Drake Maye on both medium pass attempts over the middle and longer throws to the perimeter. He should continue to flash pure talent and versatility against the Chargers on Sunday. Los Angeles has allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025, but Diggs has shown that he can produce even in trickier matchups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ladd McConkey Looks to Bounce Back After Week Off
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey was an inconsistent contributor throughout the 2025 regular season, but he'll have an opportunity to get back on track by making a big impact against the New England Patriots in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs on Sunday evening. McConkey had 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns through 16 regular-season games, with his lone absence coming in Week 18 as Los Angeles rested key starters. New England ranked near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers in 2025, but they did allow the seventh-most touchdowns to the position. The best fantasy performance of McConkey's career came against the Patriots in Week 17 of the 2024 season, as he caught eight passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns. New England's defense has gotten much stronger since then, but nonetheless, the second-year wideout will look to use today's game as an opportunity to get back on track.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Gabe Davis Spotted on Crutches After Sunday's Win
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis (leg) was seen walking on crutches in the locker room following Sunday's Wild Card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com. He was also wearing a brace on his left leg. Davis exited the game after an incomplete pass during the fourth quarter, and he was ruled out shortly thereafter. The 26-year-old finished the playoff contest with two catches for 14 yards, occupying a modest role behind Khalil Shakir. As of now, it's too early to tell whether he'll be able to play in the Bills' next playoff game against the Broncos, Texans, or Steelers. If he can't suit up next weekend, Tyrell Shavers and Brandin Cooks would earn more snaps on offense.
Source: Alaina Getzenberg
Source: Alaina Getzenberg
Raiders Request Interview With Ejiro Evero
The Las Vegas Raiders have requested to interview Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero for their head-coaching vacancy, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Vegas continues to speak with candidates on both sides of the ball, and Evero is regarded as a talented, young defensive coordinator. With that being said, Carolina reportedly signed Evero to a contract extension on Sunday, and head coach Dave Canales said that Evero will "absolutely" be back next year. It's unclear whether Canales' comments came before the Raiders' interview request, but presumably, Carolina will allow him to interview for the position despite his new contract. Vegas, armed with the No. 1 pick and the rights to draft Fernando Mendoza, is looking to bounce back after an ugly 3-14 campaign under head coach Pete Carroll.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Mike LaFleur to Interview With Raiders and Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur has been asked to interview for head-coaching vacancies with the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. LaFleur will interview for both positions during the upcoming week. He had to wait until after Saturday's Rams win before he could begin interviewing for head coaching jobs. LaFleur is regarded highly in league circles thanks to Los Angeles' dominance on offense this year. With that said, LaFleur is not the team's offensive playcaller -- that title belongs to Sean McVay -- and players like Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and others deserve plenty of credit for the team's success. Nevertheless, LaFleur has played a major role in getting this offense near the top of the NFL leaderboards. Now, he'll get a chance to pitch himself for vacancies with a pair of three-win teams. It's worth noting that Las Vegas has the No. 1 draft pick and appears to be in the driver's seat for Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Justin Herbert Looks to Shake Interception Trend After Week of Rest
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is well-rested coming into Wild Card Weekend after he sat out Week 18 against the Denver Broncos. Now, the Chargers open their playoff run with a road game against the AFC East champion New England Patriots. When Herbert last played 15 days ago against the Texans, He tallied 236 passing yards, 37 rushing yards, and one touchdown. However, he also took five sacks and threw an interception in that four-point loss. The interceptions have become a worrisome trend for Herbert, who has been picked off in four of his last five games. He also has five total turnovers during that span. Herbert hasn't gone back-to-back weeks without an interception since Weeks 1 and 2. He'll be tasked with protecting the football on Sunday if the Chargers have any chance of pulling off a road upset. One potential route to success for Herbert is running the football. He has 145 rushing yards in his last four games.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Drake Maye Set for Tough Test Against Chargers
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye put together a phenomenal regular season, and he'll look to carry that momentum into Sunday's Wild Card contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. Maye was the overall QB2 in fantasy scoring this year, but he'll face a tough test in the form of this Chargers defense. Los Angeles surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points, third-fewest passing touchdowns, and fourth-fewest passing yards to opposing quarterbacks in 2025. The Bolts have also intercepted 19 passes, which is third-most in the NFL. Maye has excelled against tough defenses in the past, so he'll just need to play diligent, clean football with the season on the line Sunday. One possible route to success for Maye is running the football. Just last weekend, Bo Nix rushed for a season-high 49 yards against the Chargers, and we could see Maye follow a similar style of play. He has six passing touchdowns over his last two games and remains a high-upside option for Wild Card Weekend.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
A.J. Brown a High-End WR in Favorable Wild-Card Matchup
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown got off to a slow start to the 2025 season, recording just one game with double-digit PPR fantasy points through Week 5. However, the 28-year-old closed the season looking like his old self. From Week 12 onwards, Brown hauled in 40 receptions for 546 yards and four touchdowns on 56 targets across six games played. In the Wild Card round, Philadelphia is set to host the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers' defense struggled to defend the pass for much of the regular season, finishing the year ranked 23rd among NFL defenses in total passing yards allowed (4,110) and tied for 21st in passing touchdowns allowed (29). San Francisco also recorded the fewest sacks (20) of any team in the NFL, so Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts should have time to target Brown down the field. Between the matchup and his strong finish to the regular season, Brown profiles as a high-end wide receiver option for fantasy managers in the Wild Card round.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Gabe Davis Ruled Out for Remainder of Wild-Card Game With Knee Injury
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of his team's Wild Card round matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 26-year-old was carted off after taking a big hit going over the middle of the field. Before getting injured, Davis recorded two receptions for 14 yards on three targets. His absence further depletes a Bills wide receiver corps that was already quite thin. Without Davis, Buffalo will likely rely on wideouts Khalil Shakir, Tyrell Shavers, and Brandin Cooks for the remainder of Wild Card Weekend. Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid could see an uptick in targets as well.
Source: Buffalo Bills
Source: Buffalo Bills
Ikem Ekwonu Suffers Ruptured Patellar Tendon in Wild-Card Round
Carolina Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu (knee) was forced to exit early from his team's Wild Card Weekend loss to the Los Angeles Rams after suffering a knee injury. According to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Sunday that Ekwonu suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee and will require surgery. While Ekwonu's return timeline is not yet clear, he could be at risk of missing training camp and possibly even the start of the 2026 regular season. Pro Football Focus graded Ekwonu as the 37th-best tackle in the NFL out of 89 qualified players at the position for his work in 2025. With Ekwonu's health in question, the Panthers may need to prioritize acquiring depth at the tackle position over the offseason.
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Trent Williams Officially Active for Wild-Card Round
San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) is officially active for his team's Wild Card round matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Williams missed his team's regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks due to a hamstring injury and entered the weekend listed as questionable to play against Philadelphia. Pro Football Focus graded Williams as the third-best tackle in the NFL out of 89 qualified players at the position for his work in the regular season. His absence against Seattle was a big part of the reason why San Francisco scored just three points in Week 18 after averaging over 40 points per game from Weeks 15 through 17. With Williams back in the lineup, fantasy managers should feel comfortable upgrading the outlooks for 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Christian McCaffrey, and tight end George Kittle.
Source: San Francisco 49ers
Source: San Francisco 49ers
Ricky Pearsall Ruled Out for Wild-Card Round
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) will remain sidelined for his team's Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Pearsall re-aggravated an existing PCL injury in his knee in Week 17 and has not played since. The 25-year-old battled injuries throughout the regular season, recording 36 receptions for 528 yards on 53 targets across nine games played. Without him, San Francisco will likely turn to veteran wide receivers Demarcus Robinson and Kendrick Bourne for pass-catching snaps alongside WR1 Jauan Jennings. Robinson was the more heavily utilized wideout of the two in Week 18, playing 88% of the 49ers' offensive snaps and hauling in three receptions for 24 yards on four targets.
Source: San Francisco 49ers
Source: San Francisco 49ers
Lane Johnson Inactive for Wild-Card Round
Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson (foot) is inactive for his team's Wild Card Weekend matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Johnson has not played since suffering a Lisfranc injury in his foot in Week 11. The 35-year-old was able to return to practice in a limited capacity this week, but it appears Philadelphia will need to advance to the Divisional round at least before it gets Johnson back in the lineup. Johnson is a six-time Pro-Bowler and five-time All-Pro who is widely considered one of the best right tackles in football. Without him, Philadelphia will likely turn to reserve tackle Fred Johnson for the eighth straight game. Pro Football Focus graded Fred Johnson as the 69th-best tackle out of 89 qualified players at the position in 2025.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
George Kittle Remains a High-End TE Option Despite Difficult Matchup
Across 11 games played during the 2025 regular season, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle recorded 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns on 69 targets. After an injury-marred start to the year, Kittle closed the season strong. Across seven games from Week 10 onwards, Kittle recorded at least 13.8 PPR fantasy points five times. In the Wild Card round, Kittle and the 49ers will face a tough test against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles' defense finished the regular season ranked fifth in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.4) and allowed the fewest passing touchdowns (14) of any team in the NFL. However, Kittle has proven throughout his nine-year NFL career that he's capable of producing against any opponent. He profiles as the number one tight end option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues in the Wild Card round.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brock Purdy Facing Tough Matchup in Wild-Card Round
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had a performance to forget in his team's regular-season finale, throwing for 127 yards and an interception in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. However, the 26-year-old was playing excellent football before running into Seattle, throwing for 893 yards and 11 touchdowns across a three-game stretch between Week 15 and Week 17. In the Wild Card Round, San Francisco will take on a tough matchup in the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles' defense finished the regular season ranked fifth in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.4) and allowed the fewest passing touchdowns (14) of any team in the NFL. On the plus side for Purdy, 49ers superstar left tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) is expected to play against the Eagles after missing Week 18 with a hamstring injury. All in all, RotoBaller ranks Purdy as the QB7 for fantasy managers in playoff leagues heading into Wild Card Weekend.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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