January 7, 2026
The Baltimore Ravens surprisingly fired long-time head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons at the helm on Tuesday, and they are looking for a new head coach who will "reach and "invigorate" quarterback
Lamar Jackson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Baltimore wants to find someone who can get the "absolute most" out of Jackson going forward. The two-time MVP QB seemed disinterested during the 2025 season, but he also missed a few games with a hamstring injury and was constantly listed on the injury report with nagging lower-body injuries. The 28-year-old dual-threat QB also missed a game late in the year with a back contusion. There were reports of a rift between Jackson and Harbaugh this year, and there were even rumors that Jackson could be traded in the offseason. With Harbaugh now out in Baltimore, it appears that the Ravens are moving forward with the plan to keep Jackson as the face of the franchise.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 7, 2026
The Buffalo Bills announced on Wednesday that they placed defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (ankle) on Injured Reserve. Phillips returned in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets on Sunday after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury. The 33-year-old veteran apparently aggravated his ankle injury and now won't be available at all for the Bills' defensive line during the postseason. It's a hit to Buffalo's interior defensive line depth the rest of the way. Phillips, a former second-round pick in 2015 out of Oklahoma, had just nine tackles (five solo) and one sack in his 11 games played for the Bills during the 2025 season. The Bills' defense/special teams unit will be a middle-of-the-pack option for those in fantasy playoff leagues while going up against a surging Jaguars offense in the Wild-Card round this Sunday.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills
January 7, 2026
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that cornerback/wide receiver
Bo Melton (knee) will be placed on Injured Reserve and won't be available in the playoffs, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Melton doesn't have a torn ACL, but it will take him too long to recover from the knee injury that he suffered in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. The 26-year-old was mostly a contributor on special teams for the Packers in 2025, as he caught just four passes on offense for 107 yards and one touchdown on 13 targets over 16 games (one start). In his three NFL seasons with the Packers, Melton has only 28 catches on 54 targets for 416 yards and two touchdowns in 38 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Tom Silverstein
January 7, 2026
When asked if
Tyler Shough is the team's starting quarterback going forward in 2026, New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore said, "Yeah, we feel great about Tyler." Shough continued to get better in his first NFL season and went 23-for-35 passing for 259 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons, adding 34 rushing yards and another score on the ground. The 26-year-old second-rounder out of Louisville completed 67.6% of his 327 pass attempts in 11 games played (nine starts) for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Shough added 45 carries for another 186 rushing yards and three touchdowns. At the very least, Shough cemented himself as New Orleans' starting QB going into the 2026 season, and he should profile as a solid QB2 in superflex leagues and a nice backup with upside in single-QB formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Erin Summers
January 7, 2026
Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch has officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. Branch began his career at USC before spending his third and final collegiate season in Athens. Overall, the dynamic playmaker tallied 159 receptions for 1,634 yards and nine receiving touchdowns in 37 career games. He also rushed 15 times for 94 yards and a touchdown and tallied over 1,300 yards and two touchdowns as a kick and punt returner. Branch didn't have the most productive career as a pure receiver, but he has elite speed and athleticism that NFL decision-makers should get excited about. His fantasy football ceiling could be limited if he's relegated to a gadget role in an offense, but in the right setting, he could produce boom weeks right away in his 2026 rookie campaign.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 7, 2026
Chicago Bears wide receiver
DJ Moore (knee) had an underwhelming season in 2025, recording 50 receptions for 682 yards and six touchdowns on 85 targets across 17 games. With Bears wideout
Rome Odunze (foot) missing the team's final five games of the regular season due to a foot injury, Moore seemingly had a chance to re-emerge as Chicago's WR1. However, Moore struggled down the stretch, recording just two receptions for 18 yards on seven targets over his final two outings. Heading into Chicago's Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Green Bay Packers, Moore was listed as a limited practice participant on Tuesday due to a knee issue. Additionally, Odunze was able to get back to practice in a limited capacity, which could signal his return for the first round of the playoffs. Between Moore's fading play and uncertain health, as well as Odunze's possible return, fantasy managers in playoff leagues may find Moore tough to trust entering the postseason.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 7, 2026
NFL insider Josina Anderson reports that Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken could follow his recently-fired head coach, John Harbaugh, to Harbaugh's next destination. The Ravens fired Harbaugh after 18 seasons at the helm in Baltimore on Tuesday. While Monken currently remains in place as the team's offensive coordinator, it appears that could be set to change with Harbaugh a premium head coaching candidate for multiple different teams. Monken took over as the play caller in Baltimore in 2023, leading the Ravens to top-five finishes in total yardage in each of his first two seasons. However, the Ravens regressed to 16th in total yardage and 27th in passing yardage in 2025. As the offseason progresses in Baltimore, it appears as though Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson will likely be working with a significantly different coaching infrastructure around him in 2026.
--Will BradySource: Josina Anderson
January 7, 2026
The Miami Dolphins have been in touch with former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, per NFL insider Josina Anderson. Harbaugh was fired by the Baltimore Ravens earlier this week after 18 seasons with the organization. The Dolphins have a head coach in place in Mike McDaniel, who has been at the helm in Miami since 2022. However, McDaniel is thought to be on shaky ground after missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, and Harbaugh's availability could spur Miami to make a change if they can land a commitment. Harbaugh may be the most sought-after head coaching candidate on this offseason's open market, and for good reason. In his time with the Ravens, Harbaugh won 61.4% of his regular-season games. He led Baltimore to the playoffs 12 times and won a Super Bowl in the 2012-13 season. Anderson also reports that Miami's quarterback situation "will be a big factor" in Harbaugh's decision-making process, so the Dolphins' willingness to move on from current quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa could be a precursor to landing Harbaugh.
--Will BradySource: Josina Anderson
January 7, 2026
The New York Giants are "all-in" on hiring former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh to fill their open head-coaching role, per Connor Hughes of SNY. The Ravens fired Harbaugh on Tuesday after 18 years at the helm in Baltimore. Harbaugh, who will turn 64 years old in September, has one of the most impressive resumes of any potential coach on the open market. He won 61.4% of his games during his time with the Ravens, leading the team to 11 double-digit win seasons and 12 playoff berths. He also coached Baltimore to a Super Bowl ring in the 2012-13 season. In New York, Harbaugh would have a chance to take over an organization that has struggled mightily in recent years, but could be on the rise behind promising quarterback
Jaxson Dart. Harbaugh is sure to have other suitors, but it appears the Giants could be the favorite to land his services.
--Will BradySource: SNY - Connor Hughes
January 7, 2026
Across 17 games in 2025, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
DeVonta Smith recorded 77 receptions for 1,008 yards and four touchdowns on 113 targets. While the 27-year-old's season-long numbers are solid, he ended the year on somewhat of a cold streak. Over his last six games played, Smith recorded more than 10 PPR points just once. However, Smith remains the clear second option in the Eagles' passing game alongside wideout
A.J. Brown. Philadelphia also has a relatively favorable matchup in the first round of the NFL playoffs against the San Francisco 49ers. In the regular season, San Francisco's defense ranked 23rd among all NFL units in passing yards allowed (4,110) and tied for 21st in passing touchdowns allowed (29). Smith should have a chance to make plays, particularly if the 49ers' high-powered offense forces Philadelphia into a shootout. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues can view Smith as a solid wide receiver option entering the postseason.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 7, 2026
University of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, per Pete Nakos of On3 Sports. Simpson has a chance to be selected in the first round as one of the first quarterbacks off the board. Across 15 games for the Crimson Tide in 2025, Simpson completed 64.5% of his pass attempts for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He spent four years at Alabama, but did not earn significant playing time until his redshirt Junior season. Simpson, who will turn 24 years old in December of his rookie year, should be on the radar of fantasy managers in both redraft and dynasty leagues. While he's not guaranteed to land a starting NFL job right away, there appears to be a solid chance that Simpson will have an opportunity to start games early in his NFL career.
--Will BradySource: On3 Sports - Pete Nakos
January 7, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
A.J. Brown really took fantasy managers for a roller coaster ride in the 2025 regular season. For the first 11 weeks of the season, including the Eagles' Week 10 bye, Brown scored three or fewer fantasy points in three of those 10 games played. However, from Week 11 on, which was seven games played for him, he had 595 receiving yards and four touchdowns. On the season as a whole, Brown eclipsed 1,000 yards with 1,003 and seven touchdowns, finishing as the WR14. Although frustrating given his second-round ADP coming into the season, he was much better in the second half than in the first, and the Eagles are hoping that carries into the playoffs to help them make a run. From a playoff fantasy perspective, the Eagles have the third-best odds, according to Novig (+465), to win the NFC, and are favorites (-4.5) against the San Francisco 49ers in Wild Card weekend. What this means is that fantasy managers drafting for these leagues may want to invest in Eagles players, such as Brown, as they have a better chance of continuing to score points as the team goes deeper into the playoffs. The 49ers' defense has been horrible against receivers of late, making Brown an excellent round one play.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
January 7, 2026
Chicago Bears running back
D'Andre Swift was one of fantasy football's best running back picks in the mid rounds, as he finished the 2025 season as the RB15, and rushed for 1,087 yards on 223 attempts (4.87 YPC) and added 34 receptions for 299 yards in the receiving game as well. As the season progressed, the Rutgers rookie running back,
Kyle Monangai, started to make an impact, and the Bears' backfield became more of a running-back-by-committee approach, leaving Swift managers frustrated. However, in his somewhat limited workload down the stretch, Swift still was averaging closer to 60 percent of the snaps to Monangai's 40, and is still the clear lead back averaging 14.4 fantasy points per game on the season, and with the Bears in their first playoff game with second-year quarterback
Caleb Williams, and first time head coach Ben Johnson, it's likely they will make an emphasis to try and run the ball effectively against a depleted Packers defense who last Micah Parson's (knee) for the season. The Bears are underdogs (+1) in this contest, but have shown all season that they can win close games. Although Swift is not one of the top running back options to own in fantasy payoff leagues, he is a solid option and would only become more valuable if the Bears can continue to advance in the playoffs.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
January 7, 2026
Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver
Tetairoa McMillan had a fantastic rookie NFL season, with 1,014 receiving yards and 70 receptions on 122 targets. He also scored seven touchdowns and finished as the WR15 on the season. McMillan clearly established himself as the alpha wide receiver for the Panthers over
Xavier Legette and
Jalen Coker. McMillan's inconsistencies in 2025 were largely due to third-year quarterback
Bryce Young, who was very inconsistent throughout the season. Additionally, for those playing in playoff fantasy leagues, according to Novig, the Panthers have the worst odds (+6150) to win the NFC and are viewed as a guaranteed one-and-done in the playoffs after winning the NFC South with a sub-.500 record at 8-9. Now, this is the NFL, and anything can happen, but it may be smart to stay away from any Panthers players, even McMillan, who is clearly the best fantasy asset to own on this team. That being said, the matchup for him in the Wild Card round against the Los Angeles Rams is a good one, as the Rams have been vulnerable to the wide receiver position in the second half of the season. McMillan should have a good game in the first round.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
January 7, 2026
Los Angeles Rams running back
Kyren Williams is gearing up to be a legit fantasy playoff running back option for fantasy managers playing in a playoff league. According to Novig, the Rams have the second-best odds to make the Super Bowl in the NFC, behind the Seattle Seahawks, who currently hold the No. 1 seed. For those playing in playoff fantasy leagues, you want to target guys like Williams, who is going to be on a team that has a better chance to make a deep run. The Rams open up as favorites (-10.5) against the Carolina Panthers in round one, and Williams should be viewed as one of the better running back options in this contest. Williams put together another nice 2025 season, rushing for 1,252 yards on 259 carries (4.83 YPC) and 10 touchdowns. He finished as the RB9 on the season, and the only risk you run with Williams is the running back by committee approach with
Blake Corum, who, since Week 7, has seen 11 carries or more seven times. That being said, Williams is the veteran running back and has been the lead back, even with Corum chipping away at his overall workload, and it's likely Sean McVay will want to lead with his veteran, given the important nature of these playoff games.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
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