January 10, 2026
Across 15 games in 2025, Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver
Luther Burden III recorded 47 receptions for 652 yards and two touchdowns on 60 targets. The 22-year-old played his best football of the year down the stretch, recording 21 catches for 324 yards and a touchdown on 26 targets over his final four contests. However, all four of those performances came with fellow Bears wideout
Rome Odunze sidelined by a foot injury. Odunze will return for the team's Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Green Bay Packers, which could lead to fewer opportunities for Burden III. The Packers were also one of the NFL's better pass defenses in the regular season, ranking sixth in the league in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.4). However, Burden III's explosive upside is difficult to overlook. Entering the postseason, Burden III profiles as the most attractive wide receiver option on the Bears roster for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 10, 2026
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze missed the final five games of the regular season due to a stress fracture in his foot. However, the 23-year-old is off the injury report and will play in his team's Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. Across 12 games before getting injured, Odunze recorded 44 receptions for 661 yards and six touchdowns on 90 targets. He recorded three or fewer catches in four out of his last five games played, although he still averaged 6.8 targets per game during that stretch. It's difficult to project how involved Odunze will be in the Chicago passing game coming off the long layoff, particularly with Bears rookie wideout
Luther Burden III emerging during Odunze's absence. The Packers also had one of the NFL's better pass defenses during the regular season, ranking sixth among all units in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.4). Given the injury uncertainty and the matchup, Odunze profiles as a difficult player for fantasy managers to trust in the Wild Card round.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 10, 2026
Chicago Bears rookie tight end
Colston Loveland finished his first NFL regular season with 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns on 82 targets across 16 games. The 21-year-old also closed the year on a tear, hauling in 16 catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns on 23 targets across his final two outings. Loveland may see a slightly reduced role in the Bears' first playoff matchup against the Green Bay Packers, as Chicago will get wideout
Rome Odunze back from the foot injury that caused him to miss the team's last five regular-season games. Still, Loveland has proven himself to be a consistent feature in the Bears' passing game, with upside. The Packers were a solid pass defense in the regular season, ranking sixth in the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.4) and tied for 12th in passing touchdowns allowed (24). However, Green Bay struggled a bit down the stretch after losing star edge rusher Micah Parsons (knee) to a season-ending knee injury in Week 15. Loveland profiles as a high-end tight end option in the Wild Card round for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 10, 2026
Across 16 games in 2025, Carolina Panthers quarterback
Bryce Young completed 63.6% of his pass attempts for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The 24-year-old proved himself to be an effective game manager, but he struggled to produce consistent fantasy production in Carolina's run-heavy offense. Young topped 200 passing yards in just four games during the regular season. The Panthers' offense will face a tough test in the first round of the NFC playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams. Los Angeles finished the regular season ranked 11th in the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.8) and tied for seventh in sacks (47). It's worth noting that Young was highly efficient in the Panthers' Week 13 win over the Rams, completing 15 of 20 pass attempts for 206 yards and three touchdowns without committing a turnover. However, Carolina leaned heavily into the run game in that matchup with 40 total rush attempts. That could be the game plan again in the playoffs, which would limit Young's opportunities for production. All in all, Young profiles as a difficult quarterback for fantasy managers in playoff leagues to trust against the Rams.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 10, 2026
The Green Bay Packers and current head coach Matt LaFleur plan to meet and discuss an extension following the end of the season, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Rapoport reports that there is a "mutual goal of extending (LaFleur's) contract," and that LaFleur is "not coaching for his job" in Saturday night's Wild Card round matchup against the Chicago Bears. LaFleur, who turned 46 in November, has won 65.4% of his regular-season games since taking over as the head coach in Green Bay in 2019. He's led the Packers to playoff appearances in six out of his seven seasons at the helm and reached the NFC championship game twice. If LaFleur were to somehow hit the open market, he'd undoubtedly be an extremely sought-after head coaching candidate. However, it appears as though both LaFleur and the Packers are motivated to make sure he remains in Green Bay long term.
--Will BradySource: NFL.com - Ian Rapoport
January 10, 2026
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Puka Nacua had a dominant 2025 season, recording a league-leading 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns on 166 targets across 16 games played. Nacua earned double-digit targets in five straight games to finish the regular season and recorded six touchdown grabs in that stretch. The Rams will get wide receiver
Davante Adams back for their Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Carolina Panthers after Adams missed the final three games of the regular season with a hamstring injury. Nacua's red zone usage may drop off with the return of Adams, who had 14 touchdown catches in the regular season. The Panthers were also a solid pass defense in the regular season, ranking 14th in the NFL in passing yards allowed (3,657) and tied for seventh in passing touchdowns allowed (20). Still, Nacua has proven to be one of the most consistent pass-catchers in football and profiles as a must-start wide receiver for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 10, 2026
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Davante Adams (hamstring) was cleared from the injury report and will play in Saturday's Wild Card game against the Carolina Panthers. Adams missed the final three games of the season after sustaining a hamstring injury in Week 15. Despite missing time, the 33-year-old wideout still led the league with 14 receiving touchdowns. Adams and QB
Matthew Stafford developed an elite connection in the red zone, and the two should pick up where they left off on Saturday in Carolina. The six-time Pro Bowler caught four of five targets for 58 yards and two scores in Week 13's matchup against the Panthers and projects again as a high-end receiver option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 10, 2026
Across 17 games this season, Carolina Panthers running back
Rico Dowdle finished with 236 carries for 1,079 yards and six touchdowns while adding 39 catches (50 targets) for 297 yards and another score as a receiver. Dowdle was producing like a top running back in the league early in the season after taking over lead back duties over
Chuba Hubbard, but his production had slid down the stretch as Hubbard became more involved. The 27-year-old's efficiency has also dipped significantly in the second half, handling 105 carries for 341 yards (3.2 YPC) since Week 10. He notched only nine touches in the regular season finale, his lowest since Week 8. Dowdle profiles as a borderline RB2/RB3 for Saturday's Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, who have allowed the ninth-fewest PPR points per game to running backs this season.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 10, 2026
Carolina Panthers wide receiver
Tetairoa McMillan put together an impressive rookie campaign, finishing with 70 catches for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns while playing all 17 games. McMillan is currently a heavy favorite to take home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award after serving as the engine of Carolina's passing attack. The 22-year-old wideout earned a team high 25.8% target share and recorded at least five receptions in seven games. He caught only one of his two targets in Carolina's Week 13 matchup against the Rams, but he thought it went for a 43-yard touchdown. McMillan is in a good position for a better statistical output in Saturday's rematch, as the Rams have allowed the third-most catches per game (5.4) and third-most yards per game (72.6) to opposing teams' WR1s this season.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 10, 2026
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Carolina Panthers are expected to pick up quarterback
Bryce Young's fifth-year option this offseason. All eight quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall since 2011 have had their fifth-year options exercised. Young has had an up-and-down third season in the league, completing 63.6% of his passes for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions to go with 54 carries for 216 yards and two scores on the ground in 16 games. The 24-year-old signal caller has reached extreme heights, throwing for the fifth-most yards in a game this season with his 448-yard performance in Week 11. However, Young has also thrown for under 200 yards in 12 games. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick will look for more consistency in the future as he aims to establish himself as the Panthers' franchise quarterback.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Adam Schefter
January 10, 2026
Los Angeles Rams running back
Kyren Williams delivered another highly productive season, compiling 259 carries for 1,252 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 36 catches (50 targets) for 281 yards and three more scores as a receiver in all 17 games. The 25-year-old split carries with second-year RB
Blake Corum for a good stretch of the season as the Rams reportedly aimed to manage Williams' workload to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Williams should be in line to handle an increased workload in Saturday's Wild Card game against the Carolina Panthers, who have been solid against the run down the stretch, ranking sixth in defensive rushing success rate (36%) over the final five games. Williams had a productive game in the Rams' first meeting versus Carolina in Week 13, rushing for 72 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. He profiles as a high-end RB1 for the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 10, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons are hiring former star quarterback
Matt Ryan to be their new president of football operations, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. Atlanta created the position specifically for Ryan, who will now have the final say as the Falcons' decision-maker. Falcons owner Arthur Blank spoke highly of the 2016 MVP, saying, "Throughout his remarkable 14-year career in Atlanta, Matt's leadership, attention to detail, knowledge of the game, and unrelenting drive to win made him the most successful player in our franchise's history. I am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role." The Falcons fired general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris after finishing 8-9 in 2025, and Ryan will look to bring the franchise back to the playoffs for the first time since his playing days in 2017.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Ian Rapoport
January 9, 2026
The Denver Broncos coaching staff talked up tight end
Evan Engram during training camp, but he didn't end up making a huge impact on offense in his first year in Denver. Engram finished the regular season with 50 catches on 76 targets for 461 yards and only one touchdown, although he did stay healthy and play in 16 games. His limited usage on offense in 2025 merely makes him a TE sleeper in fantasy football playoff leagues when the Broncos begin their playoff run in the Divisional Round. The 31-year-old veteran did see exactly four targets in the final three regular-season games, but it amounted to 102 total yards and no touchdowns. The Broncos are going to need Engram to step up and produce more in the passing attack if they are going to make a run to the Super Bowl. Engram was the TE29 in half-PPR points this year, averaging only 4.9 points per game.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 9, 2026
Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver
Pat Bryant suffered a scary concussion in the Week 16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and didn't play in Week 17. Bryant returned in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, though, to catch four of his five targets for 31 yards. Although the first-year player out of Illinois wasn't in the top 50 receivers in half-PPR points per game during the regular season, he did have a pretty solid first year in the NFL, with 31 catches, 378 yards, and one touchdown on 49 targets in 15 games (seven starts). Bryant was more involved in the second half, too, being targeted at least five times in four of his last five games. Still, he averaged 2.1 receptions and 25.2 yards per game in a Broncos offense that spread the ball around in the passing game in 2025. Without knowing who the Broncos will face yet in the Divisional Round, Bryant is setting up as a low-floor, low-ceiling WR3/flex in fantasy playoff leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 9, 2026
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Marvin Mims Jr. had a disappointing third year in the NFL, catching 37 of 51 targets for a career-low 322 yards and only one touchdown in 15 regular-season games. He added 12 rushing attempts for 78 yards and one touchdown. Last year, he caught only two more passes, but he went for 503 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 17 games. Mims, known as a big-play receiver, had just 8.7 yards per reception and 21.5 yards per game. He was a victim of quarterback
Bo Nix spreading the ball around in 2025, and the emergence of both
Troy Franklin and rookie
Pat Bryant as receiving threats behind WR1
Courtland Sutton. Mims' only receiving score of the year came way back on Sept. 14, and he eclipsed 50 receiving yards just two times all year. Regardless of who Denver faces in the Divisional Round of the postseason, Mims will be a low-upside WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
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