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
January 7, 2026
Chicago Bears quarterback
Caleb Williams finished the 2025 regular season as the QB5 for the year under first-year head coach Ben Johsnon. He completed 330 of 568 (58%) for 3,942 yards and a 27:7 TD: INT ratio. From a fantasy standpoint, he also contributed 383 rushing yards and three touchdowns, giving him a solid rushing floor. Although there were some lower moments on the season where he scored 12 or fewer fantasy points in three of his 17 contests, for the most part, Williams was a solid fantasy option, and should continue to be so in the playoffs. The Bears take on division opponent, the Green Bay Packers, in round one, who struggled to stay healthy down the stretch and have a very beatable defense after losing Micah Parsons (knee) for the season. This will be Williams' first career playoff start, and the Bears are currently underdogs(+1) to the Packers at home, so there is some risk for Fantasy managers in playoff leagues. However, if the Bears do make a run, it will likely be because the second-year signal-caller is performing at an elite level, making him a solid fantasy option for the playoffs.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders requested an interview with Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach
Davis Webb for their head-coaching job, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Webb is only 30 years old and spent six years as an NFL QB before going straight into coaching. Pelissero thinks Webb is a "fascinating candidate" who "has been on the fast track." After firing veteran head coach Pete Carroll on Black Monday, minority owner
Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek might be going the unconventional approach to hiring their next head coach, especially since they are expected to draft Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in April. Webb has worked with
Russell Wilson (one season) and
Bo Nix in his three years in Denver. This will be his first head-coaching interview. The Raiders are also expected to interview Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the position.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 6, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston took fantasy managers on a rollercoaster ride in 2025. After recording 28 receptions for 407 yards and five touchdowns over his first six games of the season, Johnston hauled in just 14 catches for 126 yards and two scores over his next six contests. However, Johnston re-emerged late in the year. Across his final two games played of the regular season, the 24-year-old recorded nine catches for 202 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets. Johnston was also among the players Los Angeles chose to rest in Week 18 in preparation for the playoffs, signifying his value in the eyes of Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. Los Angeles will face one of the league's better pass defenses in their Wild Card Weekend matchup against the New England Patriots. Still, Johnston has proven he can have success against challenging opponents, recording at least 14.9 PPR fantasy points in matchups during the regular season against the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and Kansas City Chiefs. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues should view Johnston as a high-upside wide receiver option entering the postseason.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Brandin Cooks has mostly played a minimal role since signing with the team in late November. However, Cooks had a breakout game in Week 17 against the Philadelphia Eagles, recording four catches for 101 yards on six targets. The Bills have been searching for a reliable wide receiver option to pair with wideout
Khalil Shakir for most of the season. Notably, Cooks was among the players Buffalo chose to rest during their Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets. While the Bills will likely continue to rotate wide receivers, Cooks' Week 18 status could indicate the team plans to heavily feature him in its Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 32-year-old has postseason experience, recording 35 receptions for 494 yards across seven career playoff games. Cooks had just five total catches across five games played for Buffalo this season, so expectations should remain limited. However, Cooks could be an under-the-radar wide receiver option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Across 16 games played in 2025, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers completed 65.7% of his pass attempts for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Rodgers delivered a bit of a vintage performance in Week 18 to help power Pittsburgh into the playoffs, completing 31 of 47 pass attempts for 294 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Baltimore Ravens. Entering Wild Card Weekend, Rodgers will get some much-needed pass-catching help in the form of wide receiver
D.K. Metcalf, who missed the final two games of the regular season due to a suspension. However, Rodgers will face one of the league's best defenses in the Houston Texans in the first round of the AFC playoffs. In the regular season, Houston ranked seventh among NFL defenses in both passing yards (3,486) and passing touchdowns (20) allowed. Rodgers has played some of his best football of the season in recent weeks, but fantasy managers in playoff leagues may want to be cautious given his matchup against Houston.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
After missing Week 17 due to a knee injury, Buffalo Bills tight end
Dalton Kincaid returned in Week 18 and recorded three catches for 48 yards on three targets in his team's blowout win over the New York Jets. Multiple injuries limited the 26-year-old to just 12 games played in 2025, and he finished the season with 39 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns on 49 targets. On a per-play basis, Kincaid is a highly efficient and productive tight end. However, playing time and target volume are issues for Kincaid's fantasy outlook. He has not played more than 38% of Buffalo's offensive snaps in any game since Week 5 and has not earned more than five targets in a game since Week 9. Heading into his Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kincaid profiles as a high-ceiling, low-floor tight end option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate is leaving school early and declaring for the 2026 NFL draft, per ESPN's Pete Thamel. Tate is expected to be one of the top wide receivers off the draft board and could be an early first-round selection in April. Across 11 games for the Buckeyes in 2025, Tate recorded 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns. He established himself as one of the premier downfield threats in college football, averaging over 17 yards per reception in 2025 and 15.5 yards per reception across 39 career college games. Speculatively speaking, Tate could be a good fit for a wide receiver-needy team with a top ten pick like the Cleveland Browns or the New Orleans Saints. Regardless of where he ends up, Tate is a name for fantasy managers in all league formats to monitor heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Pete Thamel
January 6, 2026
The Detroit Lions are kicking off their search for a new offensive coordinator with former Lions quarterback
David Blough, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Blough worked as the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Washington Commanders in 2025, but he served as the QBs coach after Tavita Pritchard left to become the head coach at Stanford. Detroit let go of Johnny Morton as their offensive coordinator after just one season in the role. Blough last played in the NFL in 2023 and began his coaching career with Washington in 2024. The 30-year-old former undrafted rookie out of Purdue played in just four seasons in the NFL with Detroit and Arizona and completed 57% of his passes for 1,435 yards, six touchdowns, and nine interceptions. The Lions have high expectations for their high-scoring offense after scoring 28.3 points per game in 2025, the fifth-most in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 6, 2026
The Cleveland Browns have requested permission to interview Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde for their vacant head-coaching job, a source told Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Browns have also requested permission to interview Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken for the position, among others. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has called the plays on defense, but Durde has done a fine job as the D coordinator in Seattle the last two seasons. The Browns are looking to replace Kevin Stefanski, who they fired from the head-coaching gig on Monday. Durde started his NFL coaching career as an intern with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014 and also coached with Atlanta and Dallas. He's probably a long shot to win the Browns' job.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
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