January 23, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
DeMario Douglas was one of the stars of his team's AFC Divisional Round victory over the Houston Texans, hauling in two receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown on two targets. Douglas remains largely limited to a part-time role in New England. He's played fewer than 33% of the Patriots' offensive snaps in each of the team's two postseason games and averaged just 2.7 targets per contest during the regular season. New England is now preparing to face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. Denver fields one of the NFL's most fearsome pass rushes, as they finished the regular season ranked first in the league in sacks (68). With Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye struggling to protect the football so far in the playoffs, New England could be looking for Maye to get the ball out of his hands quickly against the Broncos. Douglas is at his most effective as a short-area route runner, so he could be in position to have his second-straight productive outing in the AFC Championship Game.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 23, 2026
In snowy conditions in last week's Divisional Round win over the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Davante Adams was quiet, catching only two of his six targets for 24 yards. The week prior in the Wild-Card victory over the Carolina Panthers, the 33-year-old veteran caught five of a season-high 13 targets for 72 yards. Adams hasn't exactly been a beast for fantasy managers in two playoff games, but we must remember that he missed the final three regular-season games due to a balky hamstring. He was briefly examined in the medical tent against the Bears, but he returned to the game. The six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro wideout had a league-high 14 touchdown catches in 14 regular-season games, but he has only seen double-digit targets in three of 16 games this year. Adams will still be a top-five fantasy WR this weekend, but teammate
Puka Nacua definitely has more upside and a higher floor.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 23, 2026
The Seattle Seahawks activated rookie tight end
Elijah Arroyo (knee) from Injured Reserve ahead of Sunday's NFC Championship contest against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Arroyo missed the last five games due to a knee injury, but he now has a chance to return for this weekend's game against the Rams, where he'll most likely serve in a backup role to
AJ Barner. The 22-year-old second-rounder only caught 15 passes on 26 targets for 179 yards and one touchdown in his first 13 NFL games during the regular season, so fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting Arroyo to have a big role on Sunday if he suits up. Arroyo's lone touchdown of his rookie campaign came in the Nov. 2 win over the Washington Commanders, when he caught both of his targets for 29 yards. Arroyo's best game was a four-catch, 42-yard performance on Oct. 20 versus the Texans.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 23, 2026
The Seattle Seahawks activated running back
George Holani (hamstring) from Injured Reserve on Friday ahead of Sunday's NFC Championship game versus the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Holani originally landed on IR on Nov. 29, but after practicing in full on Wednesday and Thursday, he's trending in the right direction to be active for this weekend's big game. It's great timing for the 26-year-old, too, as he could operate as Seattle's RB2 behind starter
Kenneth Walker III if he's active after
Zach Charbonnet (knee) tore his ACL in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers. Even though Holani is trending up going into the NFC Championship, he won't be recommended for starting lineups in playoff leagues if he suits up. Holani last played on Nov 23, and he had 22 carries for 73 yards and one touchdown in his 11 regular-season games in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 23, 2026
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that the New York Giants' offensive-coordinator job is considered Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken's to lose. Monken is the "clear favorite at this point," as long as he's not named the next head coach for the Cleveland Browns. The veteran coach led the Ravens to a top-ranked offense under head coach John Harbaugh for the last three seasons. The Miami Dolphins also have interest in Monken as their offensive coordinator, but it would be a surprise if he doesn't follow Harbaugh to New York if he doesn't get the Browns' head-coaching job. Monken would have plenty to work with in the Big Apple if he joins Harbaugh, with a talented group of skill players that includes quarterback
Jaxson Dart, running back
Cam Skattebo, and receiver
Malik Nabers. In his first year in Baltimore, Monken helped QB
Lamar Jackson win his second MVP award.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
January 23, 2026
Chicago Bears defensive backs/passing-game coordinator Al Harris is scheduled to interview with the Tennessee Titans on Saturday for their defensive-coordinator job, a league source told NFL insider Josina Anderson. Before coaching the Bears in 2025, Harris, a former Pro Bowl cornerback, spent five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys in a similar role. He's a popular name floating around for opening defensive-coordinator roles in the NFL this cycle after coaching up a ball-hawking Bears defense this year. The Chicago defense led the NFL with 33 turnovers (23 interceptions) in 2025. Harris already met with the Washington Commanders about their DC job, and he has a close relationship with head coach Dan Quinn after working under him for four years in Dallas. If he were to land in Tennessee, Harris would have his work cut out for him with a Titans defense that allowed 28.1 points per game this year, the fifth-most in the league.
--Keith HernandezSource: Josina Anderson
January 23, 2026
The Tennessee Titans have spoken to Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith about their offensive-coordinator vacancy, sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Smith was on the Titans' coaching staff from 2011 to 2020 and was a candidate for the head-coaching job before the team hired Robert Saleh. After his long stint with the Titans, Smith departed to take the head-coaching job with the Atlanta Falcons before serving as Pittsburgh's OC the last couple of seasons under Mike Tomlin. Now that Tomlin is out in the Steel City after 19 years, Smith is looking for a new coaching gig. If he were to go back to Tennessee, he'd have a big challenge on his hands with a roster that doesn't have a ton of weapons for young quarterback
Cameron Ward. The tight end situation in Tennessee would be intriguing for Smith, though, with
Gunnar Helm and
Chig Okonkwo.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
January 23, 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers have requested to interview Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr for their vacant defensive-coordinator job, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Orr has been the Ravens' DC for the last two seasons and previously worked alongside former Chargers DC Jesse Minter, who became the new head coach of the Ravens on Thursday. The Ravens defense ranked ninth in points allowed in 2024, but they fell to 18th in that category under Orr in 2025 and also ranked 24th in yards allowed. Meanwhile, the Chargers' defense ranked ninth in points per game (20) and fifth in total yards allowed per game (285.2) under Minter. Orr still has a lot to prove as a defensive coordinator, but if he heads to L.A. to coach under another Harbaugh, he'll have a strong base to work with in what was one of the most underrated defenses in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 23, 2026
Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Philip Rivers and current St. Michael Catholic High School coach Philip Rivers is interviewing on Friday for the Buffalo Bills' head-coaching job, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Rivers surprisingly came out of retirement to play for the Colts again in 2025 after
Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tear. The 44-year-old eight-time Pro Bowler threw for 544 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions in his three starts, but he was unable to help the Colts get into the playoffs before retiring for the second time. Rivers is now interested in coaching at the NFL level, although he feels like more of a long shot to land the Bills' head-coaching job with zero prior coaching experience in the NFL. However, maybe there's a chance he wins over quarterback
Josh Allen, who is going to have significant say in who the next head coach in Buffalo is.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 23, 2026
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen will have "significant say" on the next head coach of the team, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The Bills are ensuring that Allen is a significant part of the hiring process, following the firing of Sean McDermott on Monday after nine years at the helm. Buffalo has already met with a few head-coaching candidates, and Allen has been sitting in on everything. The Bills are interviewing a wide range of coaches for the head-coaching vacancy, but reports have suggested that they will probably prefer an offensive-minded individual who can develop strong chemistry with Allen. Despite having one of the weaker receiver rooms in the league in 2025, Allen finished as the QB1 in overall fantasy points, although most of it came because of his rushing prowess. The Bills need to get him more help if they are going to get over the hump in the playoffs.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
January 23, 2026
Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza officially announced on Friday that he is declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. Mendoza is in position to be the first player picked, as a large contingent of Las Vegas Raiders front-office members watched him win the National title game over the University of Miami on Monday. The 22-year-old signal-caller is the overwhelming favorite to go first overall to the Raiders in this year's NFL Draft. In his first and only season at Indiana, Mendoza put himself miles ahead of any of the other college QB prospects, completing 72% of his pass attempts for 3,535 yards and 48 total touchdowns (41 passing). He led the nation in yards per attempt (9.3) and touchdown passes. Mendoza is known as a pocket passer, but he can pick up yards with his legs when needed. The Raiders are hoping he can quickly turn their struggling franchise around, but they have plenty of holes elsewhere on the roster, too.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Pete Thamel
January 23, 2026
The Buffalo Bills are interviewing new Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel for their head-coaching job on Friday, a source told Albert Breer of NBC Sports Boston. McDaniel recently agreed to become the new OC for the Chargers after they fired Greg Roman, but he's going to try one more time for another head-coaching gig. He spent the last four years in the AFC as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. If McDaniel doesn't land the job in Buffalo, he will return to his OC duties under Jim Harbaugh in L.A. Although McDaniel's offense petered out last season with the decline of quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa and the injury to receiver
Tyreek Hill (knee), he'd be an intriguing fit with quarterback
Josh Allen, one of the best QBs in the league. After the firing of Sean McDermott on Monday, the job in Buffalo is the most attractive head-coaching opening in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Boston - Albert Breer
January 23, 2026
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dawson Knox said that TE
Dalton Kincaid (knee) played this season with a torn PCL in his knee, according to Ryan Talbot of Syracuse.com. A source close to Kincaid confirmed what Knox said, saying that Kincaid played the entire 2025 campaign with a torn PCL. The 26-year-old did miss several games late in the season due to knee and hamstring injuries, and he played in a career-low 12 contests in 2025 in his third year in the league, catching a career-low 39 passes on 49 targets for 571 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in the regular season. The fact that he even played as many games as he did on a torn PCL is a minor miracle, and Kincaid had nine catches on 11 targets for 111 yards and two touchdowns in two playoff games. With better health in 2026, Kincaid will be a no-doubt TE1 in fantasy football.
--Keith HernandezSource: Syracuse.com - Ryan Talbot
January 22, 2026
Denver Broncos tight end
Evan Engram was a disappointment during the regular season in his first year with the Broncos, catching 50 of his 76 targets for 461 yards and only one touchdown in 16 games played. That continued in the Divisional Round overtime win over the Buffalo Bills last Saturday, as Engram caught just one of three targets for seven yards. The 31-year-old veteran just did not live up to the expectations that Denver's coaching staff placed on him during training camp. Perhaps Engram will be a favorite target for quarterback
Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots in place of the injured
Bo Nix (ankle), but it's probably unlikely. Engram went over 45 receiving yards just once during the regular season, and his lone TD on the year came way back on Oct. 5 in a win over the Eagles. Fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting a sudden breakout for Engram in the AFC Championship.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 22, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
DeMario Douglas caught both of his targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in the Divisional Round win versus the Houston Texans last weekend. The touchdown was just Douglas' fourth of the year, and his first since a win over the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 2. Fantasy managers might want to pump the brakes on thinking that the 25-year-old wideout will be able to find paydirt again in the AFC Championship tilt this weekend against the Denver Broncos. Denver's D allowed the fifth-fewest half-PPR points per game to opposing wideouts during the regular season and only six touchdowns, which tied for the fewest in the league. Douglas was fifth on the team last week with only 17 snaps on offense, making it unlikely that he'll have a major impact on Sunday's big game unless he finds the end zone again. He hasn't gone over 40 receiving yards since Nov. 2.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
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