December 31, 2025
San Francisco 49ers fourth-year player out of California,
Jake Tonges, stepped in for the injured
George Kittle (ankle) on Sunday Night Football in Week 17 and made the most of it. He earned himself an impressive nine targets, hauled in seven of them for 60 yards, and scored a touchdown. When given the opportunity in 2025, considering Kittle has now missed seven games this season, Tonges has made the most of it, and Tonges should remain in the low-end TE1 conversation for Week 18 if Kittle does, in fact, miss the game. Week 18 is a pivotal matchup for the 49ers, as they take on the Seattle Seahawks for the division and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Important to note: Kittle practiced on Tuesday, which Tonges' fantasy managers should keep an eye on. Regardless, Tonges has proved this season that he belongs in the NFL and is worth a look in dynasty formats, as he is soon to be a Restricted Free Agent. He's hauled in 34 of his 46 targets for 293 yards and five touchdowns in six games started.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 31, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Parker Washington posted another fantastic performance in Week 17, notching his second straight 10-target, 100-plus-yard game as the Jaguars defeated the Indianapolis Colts 23-17. Over the past two games, Washington has hauled in 14 of his 20 targets for 260 yards and a touchdown, and over this span, he has emerged as the go-to target for quarterback
Trevor Lawrence and is a must-add for fantasy managers still competing in Week 18. Washington has proved throughout the season that he can provide fantasy value with other receivers injured or not playing. Still, even with everyone healthy and a lot of mouths to feed, such as
Brian Thomas Jr.,
Jakobi Meyers,
Brenton Strange, and Washington, it appears Washington has moved ahead in the pecking order of late. The biggest beneficiary of all these weapons is Lawrence, who has been playing the best football of his career of late. Week 18 should also present a good matchup against the struggling Tennessee Titans.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 31, 2025
Dallas Cowboys' fourth-year running back out of Florida,
Malik Davis (eye), led the backfield in running back touches in the Cowboys' Week 17 30-23 win on Christmas Day over the Washington Commanders. He stepped in for the injured
Javonte Williams (shoulder) and ended the game with 20 rush attempts (5.15 YPC) for 103 yards. Since Week 15, Davis has emerged as the Cowboys' clear No. 2 running back and has been playing 45.6 percent of the snaps, which is a massive increase from his season-long snap share, which was well below 20 percent before Week 15. If Williams is unable to go in Week 18, Davis should be in line to see the majority of the team's running back touches and would be a plug-and-play RB2 for fantasy managers still competing in Week 18. Important to note: Davis did sustain an eye injury in that matchup, but he played through it and is likely to play in Week 18; however, it's something to monitor as the week progresses.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 31, 2025
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Malik Willis (shoulder) has been spectacular stepping in for
Jordan Love (concussion), who missed most of the Week 16 contest due to injury, and was ruled out for the Week 17 matchup. In the Week 17 matchup, where Willis played the whole game against the Baltimore Ravens, he completed 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 60 yards and scoring twice on the ground, good for 31.52 fantasy points. He was the overall QB3 on the week, and put a lot of great film on tape, and potentially played himself into a nice contract during the offseason, considering he is an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this upcoming spring. Regardless, Willis' value is on the rise, and for those still competing for a Week 18 championship, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur made it clear that Love is the team's starting quarterback when healthy, so Willis' starting will be contingent on Love's availability for Week 18. Willis himself also injured his shoulder in Week 17 and is listed as questionable, so something else to monitor as the Week 18 games approach. If neither quarterback can go,
Clayton Tune would likely be in line to start Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 31, 2025
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (back) has returned to practice, and there is some optimism that he will play in Week 18. He is currently listed as questionable, and head coach John Harbaugh said that when he is healthy, he will play and start in the pivotal Week 18 AFC North matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where the winner will take the division and lock in a playoff spot, while the loser goes home. Jackson injured his back in the first half of the Ravens' Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots and did not play in Week 17 at Green Bay last week, and has now missed a total of five games on the season.
Tyler Huntley stepped in and finished the Week 16 contest and started in the Ravens' Week 17 win at Green Bay, and would be in line for another start if Jackson misses again.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: Ian Rapoport
December 30, 2025
Seattle Seahawks rookie tight end
Elijah Arroyo (knee) remains on Injured Reserve with a knee injury and will miss at least one more week for a game this Saturday night against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers that will decide the No. 1 seed for the NFC playoffs. The 22-year-old second-rounder out of Miami suffered a knee injury back in Week 14 and won't be eligible to play until the postseason. If the Seahawks beat the Niners in Week 18, Arroyo will have an extra week to heal up before the team's first playoff game in the Divisional Round. As long as
AJ Barner remains healthy the rest of the way, it's unlikely that Arroyo will return from his knee injury to be a key contributor in Seattle's offense as they look to make a lengthy playoff run. Arroyo has only had over two catches once in 2025 and has not gone over 44 yards in his 13 games. He has just 15 catches for 179 yards and a TD to begin his NFL career.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
December 30, 2025
Denver Broncos running back
Jaleel McLaughlin has been more involved in Denver's offense since
J.K. Dobbins suffered a season-ending foot injury, but it hasn't exactly given him legitimate standalone value in fantasy football. The 25-year-old had a season-high seven rushing attempts for a season-high 40 yards (5.7 yards per carry) in the Christmas Day win over the Kansas City Chiefs while playing a season-high 22% of the snaps. It was a bigger workload for McLaughlin, but rookie
RJ Harvey still had double the carries for 43 yards and caught five of six targets for 33 yards and a touchdown in Week 17. Head coach Sean Payton is going to keep McLaughlin involved as the Broncos look to spark their ground game, but he's going to remain in a complementary role behind Harvey, who is the better all-around athlete. He'll be hard to trust as a flex option in Week 18 against the Chargers, even in deeper leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
December 30, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver/kick returner
Rashid Shaheed (concussion) was listed as limited in Tuesday's practice session, according to Josh Dubow of The Associated Press. Shaheed is in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a concussion in the first quarter of Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers. It's good news that the 27-year-old wideout was on the field on Tuesday, but he has some boxes to check before he can get cleared before Saturday night's big divisional matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. If Shaheed doesn't get cleared to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale, it would open up
Cooper Kupp,
Jake Bobo,
Dareke Young, and
AJ Barner for more targets in the passing game. When healthy, Shaheed is a boom/bust deep threat for Seattle, who has been hard to trust as a WR4/flex in fantasy. In his eight games with Seattle, he has 14 receptions on 25 targets for 186 yards and no touchdowns.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Associated Press - Josh Dubow
December 30, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver
Jaylin Lane (ankle) was placed on Injured Reserve ahead of his team's Week 17 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, ending his 2025 season. A fourth-round pick out of Virginia Tech, Lane flashed upside for brief stretches of his first NFL season but was ultimately unable to carve out a consistent role in the Washington offense when the team had top wideouts
Terry McLaurin and
Deebo Samuel Sr. healthy. Lane will finish the year with 16 catches for 225 yards on 32 targets across 15 games played. He did not record a reception over his final four games of 2025 and was targeted just four times across his final seven outings. Projecting forward to 2026, Lane profiles as a downfield threat whose ability to provide consistent fantasy production in Washington remains unclear.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Across 14 games in 2025, Denver Broncos wide receiver
Marvin Mims Jr. has recorded 35 receptions for 312 yards and a touchdown on 48 targets. Mims Jr. has struggled to carve out a consistent role in the Denver offense for most of the season to this point. However, the 23-year-old played 47% of the Broncos' offensive snaps in Week 17, his highest snap share in any game since Week 1. He's also earned 13 targets over the last three weeks after seeing just four targets across four games played from Week 8 to Week 14. With Denver wideout
Pat Bryant (concussion) battling a concussion, Mims Jr. could see his increased usage continue in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mims Jr. is also one of the NFL's most explosive big-play threats in the open field, so he's a threat to turn even a small number of touches into big production. His stock could be on the rise heading into Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Matthew Golden has had an underwhelming rookie season, recording 28 catches for 353 yards on 41 targets across 13 games. The 22-year-old is still searching for his first NFL touchdown heading into the team's regular season finale in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings. Golden has also been impacted by injury in the second half of the season, missing multiple games in November due to a wrist injury. On a more positive note, Golden played 53% of Green Bay's offensive snaps in Week 17, his largest snap share in any game since Week 8. Packers wide receiver
Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) suffered a concussion early in Week 17, allowing a pathway to playing time for Golden. Green Bay enters Week 18 locked into the number seven seed in the NFC playoffs, so the team has little incentive to rush Wicks back to the field. The Packers could also choose to be cautious with top wideouts
Christian Watson,
Romeo Doubs, and
Jayden Reed. Golden could be in line for a significant uptick in playing time in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Across 16 games this season, San Francisco 49ers running back
Brian Robinson Jr. has recorded 90 carries for 391 yards and two touchdowns. The 26-year-old has spent the entirety of 2025 in a secondary role behind star 49ers running back
Christian McCaffrey, who leads the NFL with 399 touches heading into the team's Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Robinson Jr. has been fairly efficient when given the opportunity so far this season, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. He's also proven to be a productive lead back at certain points in his career, recording 2,720 rushing yards and 22 total touchdowns across 57 career NFL games. However, his production upside in San Francisco is firmly capped as long as McCaffrey remains healthy. Robinson Jr. should not be on fantasy radars heading into Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Across a seven-game stretch from Week 5 to Week 12, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Tez Johnson recorded 22 receptions for 274 yards and five touchdowns on 34 targets. However, Tampa Bay has welcomed wide receivers
Mike Evans,
Chris Godwin Jr., and
Jalen McMillan back from injury in recent weeks, burying Johnson on the depth chart. Over his last five games, Johnson has hauled in just four catches for 18 yards. The 23-year-old has also played 16 or fewer offensive snaps in three consecutive outings. Heading into the team's Week 18 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, there is little indication that Johnson is ticketed for a significant role in the Tampa Bay offense. Johnson has shown enough in his rookie season to carry some upside in dynasty formats, but he should likely be off the radar of redraft fantasy managers in Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Across 15 games this season, Minnesota Vikings running back
Zavier Scott has recorded just 195 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 42 touches. The 26-year-old did not record a single touch in Minnesota's Week 17 win over the Detroit Lions. However, the Vikings are dealing with injuries to both of their top two running backs,
Jordan Mason (ankle) and
Aaron Jones Sr. (leg). While both Minnesota veterans have a chance to play in the team's Week 18 finale against the Green Bay Packers, the team is out of playoff contention and does not have much reason to push players onto the field. Scott has shown he can produce as a receiving back when given the chance, recording six catches for 43 yards and a touchdown on eight targets with Jones Sr. inactive in Week 4. In deep fantasy leagues, Scott may be worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 30, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end
Sal Cannella made his NFL debut in last week's upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Cannella only played 35% of the offensive snaps and caught two of his four targets for 11 receiving yards. The 29-year-old was pressed into action in Cleveland's offense with
David Njoku (knee) missing another game, but it wasn't until rookie
Harold Fanning Jr. left with a groin injury that Cannella started becoming involved. Cannella ended up leading all of Cleveland's TEs with four targets, and that could be the case again in the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals if both Njoku and Fannin aren't cleared to play in a meaningless game. Cannella will be a pretty big reach for fantasy managers in the final week of the season, but he's worth a look in TE-premium leagues with both Njoku and Fannin hurt.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
RADIO
