January 6, 2026
The Buffalo Bills announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent kicker
Matthew Wright to their practice squad. Veteran kicker
Matt Prater (quadriceps) aggravated his quad injury in the Week 18 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, which means that Wright will most likely be promoted to the active 53-man roster for this weekend's Wild-Card matchup at the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 29-year-old Wright kicked for three teams in 2025 -- the Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders, and Houston Texans -- making all five of his field-goal tries and all four of his extra-point attempts in only four games played. Wright has kicked for eight teams in his six NFL seasons, making 88.2% of his 68 field-goal attempts. He's gone 45-for-47 on extra points. Given Prater's uncertain status for the weekend, fantasy managers would be wise to avoid Buffalo's kicking situation entering the playoffs.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
January 6, 2026
The Los Angeles Rams announced on Tuesday that they activated safety Quentin Lake (elbow) from Injured Reserve. In a corresponding move, inside linebacker Shaun Dolac (knee) was sent to IR. Lake has been out for the Rams since he was hurt in Week 11, but he got in several full practices last week and is expected to play in the Wild-Card game this Saturday on the road versus the Carolina Panthers. The 26-year-old defensive back is a big addition to a strong Rams' defense for what they hope will be a deep playoff run. In 10 starts in his fourth NFL season before going on IR, Lake had 61 tackles (37 solo), one sack, one interception, 10 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. L.A.'s defense/special teams unit will be one of the most popular plays at the position in fantasy playoff leagues this week while taking on an inconsistent Panthers offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Rams
January 6, 2026
The Green Bay Packers released quarterback
Clayton Tune on Tuesday and signed QB
Desmond Ridder to the active 53-man roster in a corresponding move, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Tune made the start in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday and went 6-for-11 for 34 yards with no touchdowns and an interception, adding 23 rushing yards on four carries. The 26-year-old won't join the team going into the playoffs this Saturday night against the division-rival Chicago Bears.
Jordan Love (concussion) will return as the starter, but Ridder could serve as his backup in the Wild-Card round if
Malik Willis (shoulder, hamstring) isn't ready to return from a right-shoulder injury that he suffered in the Week 17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Tune's start on Sunday for Green Bay was just the second of his career.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
January 6, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals have requested to interview San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh for their head-coaching job, a source told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. The Cardinals have also requested an interview for the same position with Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, and they plan to interview Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph this week. Saleh was the head coach for the New York Jets for three seasons, but he was fired after going 20-36 in his time at the helm. Saleh returned to San Francisco to coach the defense this year. Given all of the injuries for the 49ers on that side of the ball, Saleh did a pretty remarkable job in 2025 with the team in contention for the No. 1 seed in the AFC going into the Week 18 regular-season finale. It appears that Arizona might be leaning towards a defensive-minded head coach to replace Jonathan Gannon.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer
January 6, 2026
The Cleveland Browns have requested to interview Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken for their vacant head-coaching job, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Monken received multiple head-coaching requests last cycle, and his name is back in circulation this offseason after the Ravens were eliminated from postseason contention in Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cleveland is looking for a new head coach after firing Kevin Stefanski on Black Monday. The 59-year-old Monken has run the Ravens' offense for the last three years, but he previously worked as the offensive coordinator for the Browns under head coach Freddie Kitchens in 2019. The Ravens have finished sixth, first, and 16th in yards, and fourth, third, and 11th in points in three seasons under Monken. He'd have a considerably bigger challenge in Cleveland, a team that will be going into next year with a QB competition among
Deshaun Watson (Achilles),
Shedeur Sanders, and
Dillon Gabriel.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 6, 2026
The New York Giants have requested permission to interview Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo for their head-coaching job, a source told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Anarumo is a Staten Island native and a former Giants assistant. He is also expected to interview for the opening at head coach for the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday. Anarumo was the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive coordinator for six seasons before joining the Colts in 2025. He was the Giants' defensive-backs coach in 2018 when Pat Shurmur was the head coach. In addition to Anarumo, New York is expected to interview former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph for the head-coaching job. The Giants' head-coaching opening is one of the most attractive jobs around the league, given the intriguing building blocks on offense in quarterback
Jaxson Dart, receiver
Malik Nabers (knee), and running back
Cam Skattebo (ankle).
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
January 6, 2026
Arizona Cardinals rookie cornerback Will Johnson's (knee) MRI results came back clean on Monday, a source told Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. Johnson is good to go after his injury scare in the Week 18 regular-season finale versus the Los Angeles Rams, and he'll have a full offseason of training. The 22-year-old second-rounder out of Michigan ended up playing in 12 games (10 starts) in his first year in the NFL, recording 37 tackles (27 solo), two tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, and a forced fumble for the Cardinals. Johnson got plenty of playing time in 2025 due to injuries to Sean Murphy-Bunting (knee) and Starling Thomas (knee). Assuming he's fully healthy going into 2026, Johnson should be in line for a starting role in Arizona's secondary.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
January 6, 2026
The Chicago Bears announced on Tuesday that they designated cornerback Kyler Gordon (groin) and offensive tackle Braxton Jones (knee) to return from Injured Reserve. Gordon and Jones will have their 21-day practice window opened, which means they will practice this week and will be eligible to come off IR to play on Saturday evening against the division-rival Green Bay Packers on Wild-Card weekend. Gordon, 26, played in only three regular-season games in 2025 due to groin and hamstring ailments. If Gordon is active for the first round of the playoffs, the Bears will likely ease him back in the secondary. Jones, 26, injured his knee in the Week 7 win over the New Orleans Saints and has missed the last 11 games. If Jones is activated from IR and is active this weekend, he'll serve as a backup tackle for Chicago's offensive line.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chicago Bears
January 6, 2026
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Jordan Love (concussion) will start on Saturday in the Wild-Card playoff game against the division-rival Chicago Bears after missing more than two and a half games due to a concussion, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. "There's nobody else I'd rather have than Jordan," head coach Matt LaFleur said. Love has not played since suffering a concussion in the second half of the Week 16 loss to the Bears. The 27-year-old mostly had a normal week of practice last week before being held out of the Week 18 regular-season loss to the Minnesota Vikings, so he shouldn't have any limitations this weekend on the road. In the first meeting with Chicago on Dec. 7, Love threw for 234 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick. Chicago's defense allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to QBs in 18 weeks, so Love, coming off injury, will be in play as a QB sleeper play in the first round in fantasy playoff leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
January 6, 2026
Buffalo wide receiver
Joshua Palmer took 84% of his team's offensive snaps in a Week 18 win over the Jets that saw most of the Bills' starters rested for the playoffs. He caught his only target for one yard, closing out his first season in Buffalo with 303 receiving yards and no touchdowns. In fantasy playoff leagues, he belongs far down the list of wide receivers worth starting. The obvious counterpoint is that a
Josh Allen-led offense with no obvious go-to weapons outside of running back
James Cook could potentially make an unexpected playoff hero out of anyone on the roster. Still, with so many other sure things in a wide-open playoff field, Palmer can be left off of fantasy rosters.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dawson Knox caught his fourth touchdown of the season in a Week 18 win over the Jets, which saw most of the team's starters relegated to the sidelines. He now has three touchdowns in his last four games after a two-score performance against the Patriots in Week 15. Heading into the postseason, he should be viewed as nothing more than a touchdown-dependent dart throw for fantasy playoff leagues. Outside of a Week 14 win over the Bengals that saw him explode for 93 yards, Knox hasn't topped 37 receiving yards in any other game. With
Dalton Kincaid able to fight through a knee injury to suit up for the regular season finale, Knox's role also becomes more difficult to predict with both tight ends presumably set to play in a road game against Jacksonville.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Bills wide receiver
Khalil Shakir was rested for Buffalo's Week 18 win over the Jets, along with most of the team's starters, officially closing the regular season with 719 receiving yards and four touchdowns. After cracking double-digit fantasy points in four of his first 11 games of the year, he has not hit that mark since a Week 12 loss to the Texans, and he heads into the playoffs having topped 35 receiving yards only once in his final five games. With only one touchdown since Week 9, Shakir is a low-floor, low-ceiling play in fantasy playoff leagues and does not need to be heavily rostered. He is RotoBaller's WR13 in a week with 12 teams in action.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Buffalo Bills running back
James Cook took two carries for 15 yards in an abbreviated appearance in the team's Week 18 win over the Jets. It was enough to keep distance between him and a surging
Derrick Henry, with Cook ultimately securing his first regular-season rushing crown with 1,621 yards. Heading into the postseason, he should be viewed as one of the highest upside running backs in fantasy playoff leagues. Buffalo currently holds the fourth-highest Super Bowl odds in a wide-open AFC and is a slight road favorite over a 13-4 Jacksonville team that has been a headache for fantasy running backs throughout most of the season. Despite the tough matchup, Cook is RotoBaller's RB2 for the week, and he could be in line for a massive postseason if Buffalo can advance.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen followed up his 2024 MVP campaign with another strong showing, finishing 2025 with 3,668 passing yards, 25 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, and an additional 579 yards and 14 scores on the ground. In a wide-open AFC playoff bracket, he heads into Wild Card Weekend as one of the highest upside plays in fantasy playoff leagues. The Jaguars have been a plus-matchup for fantasy quarterbacks, and surrounded by one of the weaker supporting casts of his career, Allen will be tasked with putting the team on his shoulders if he hopes to take advantage of a field missing
Patrick Mahomes,
Lamar Jackson, and
Joe Burrow. Allen is RotoBaller's QB1 for the week in what will be his first playoff-opening road game since the 2019 season.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Penn State running back Kaytron Allen is viewed as a fringe top-five running back prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft class despite overtaking Nicholas Singleton as the top Nittany Lions running back in 2025. After a 1,100-yard, eight-touchdown season as a junior in 16 games, Allen rushed for 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior in 12 games. Allen finished his collegiate career with 4,670 scrimmage yards and 43 touchdowns in 54 contests. He's been a big-time producer throughout his career, so his performance at the 2026 NFL Combine could determine whether he's a Day 2 or Day 3 pick. His 70 career receptions demonstrate his ability to play on all three downs at the next level, and in a running back class that is not as deep as last year's, so there is a wide range of outcomes in April's draft at the RB spot.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
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