January 24, 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers are working towards a deal to make Mike McCarthy their fourth head coach since 1969. A former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, the 62-year-old McCarthy is a Pittsburgh native who will now take over for Mike Tomlin after a year away from coaching. His ties to quarterback
Aaron Rodgers, whom he coached for 13 years in Green Bay, including a Super Bowl-winning season in 2010, will likely become a major talking point as Rodgers mulls over his options following his 21st season in the NFL. Including the postseason, McCarthy has a career record of 185-123-2, though none of his teams have made it past the Divisional Round of the Playoffs since 2016.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Tom Pelissero
January 24, 2026
After missing the final three games of the regular season with a hamstring injury, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Davante Adams returned for the start of his team's postseason run. However, the 33-year-old has been largely held in check through the Rams' first two playoff games, hauling in a combined seven receptions for 96 yards on 19 targets. Things may not get any easier for Adams in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle finished the regular season ranked first among NFL defenses in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.0) and held the San Francisco 49ers to just 128 passing yards in the NFC Divisional Round. In the lone regular-season matchup between the Rams and Seahawks that he was healthy for, Adams recorded one catch for one yard and a touchdown on eight targets. While the veteran wideout should have his chances for production in the NFC Championship Game, he may not yet be 100% healthy and faces a difficult matchup. Adams remains a high-upside wide receiver option, but fellow Rams wideout
Puka Nacua is a much safer choice at the position for fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
Los Angeles Rams running back
Kyren Williams has been one of his team's offensive stars so far this postseason, recording 192 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 40 touches across two games. The Rams split backfield work fairly evenly between Williams and second-year back
Blake Corum down the stretch of the regular season. However, the team has leaned more heavily on Williams in the playoffs, with Corum earning just six touches to Williams' 25 in the NFC Divisional Round. On paper, Williams has an extremely difficult matchup in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle finished the regular season ranked first among NFL defenses in yards per carry allowed (3.7) and second in rushing touchdowns allowed (nine). On the bright side, Williams had some success against the Seahawks in the regular season, totaling 181 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 39 touches across two matchups. He may not have his most efficient game in a tough matchup, but Williams should see a heavy workload in the NFC Championship Game.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
By his own lofty standards, Los Angeles Rams quarterback
Matthew Stafford struggled in his team's NFC Divisional Round win over the Chicago Bears. The 37-year-old completed just 20 of 42 pass attempts for 258 yards and zero touchdowns while taking a season-high four sacks. However, Stafford was playing through a sprained right index finger, which may have been impacting his performance. While the veteran quarterback may still be feeling the lingering effects of the finger injury, he was not listed on the team's injury report leading into its NFC Championship Game matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. On paper, the Rams face a difficult test against the vaunted Seahawks defense. Seattle finished the regular season ranked first among NFL defenses in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.0) and held the San Francisco 49ers to just six points in the Divisional Round. At the same time, Stafford and the Rams were one of the few teams to have success against the Seahawks in the regular season. Across two matchups, Stafford threw for 587 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He remains a high-end quarterback option for fantasy managers in the NFC Championship Game.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Courtland Sutton recorded four catches for 53 yards on a team-high nine targets in Denver's AFC Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills. Sutton played 85% of the Broncos' offensive snaps against Buffalo, and he should play a lead pass-catching role once again in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. However, Denver's offense will be led by backup quarterback
Jarrett Stidham, who is filling in for the injured
Bo Nix (ankle). The Broncos are also facing an uphill battle against a Patriots defense that has held each of its first two postseason opponents under 200 passing yards. In Stidham's most recent start for Denver, which came at the end of the 2023 regular season, Sutton recorded one catch for two yards on four targets. While much has changed for the Broncos' offense overall since that game, Sutton may struggle against a tough opponent in the AFC Championship Game, given the less-than-ideal circumstances around him.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
Denver Broncos running back
RJ Harvey provided underwhelming production in his team's AFC Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills, recording 66 scrimmage yards on 11 touches. On the bright side, Harvey helped fantasy managers in PPR scoring formats by doing most of his damage as a receiver, hauling in five catches for 46 yards on six targets. However, Harvey will now be working with Broncos backup quarterback
Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. The Patriots' defense has been dominant so far this postseason, allowing just 19 total points and forcing six turnovers through two games. Harvey should at least maintain RB1 status in Denver, as veteran back
J.K. Dobbins (foot) will remain sidelined by a foot injury. Harvey could also see plenty of work as a short-area target for Stidham, particularly if Denver falls behind early in the game. Still, Harvey is facing an uphill battle with a backup quarterback against a tough defense and may struggle in the AFC Championship Game.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel pulled out of his scheduled meeting with the Buffalo Bills for their head-coaching job. Per Russini, McDaniel remains a candidate in the Las Vegas Raiders' head coaching search. However, if he takes an offensive coordinator job, the expectation remains that it will be with the Los Angeles Chargers. McDaniel, who turns 43 years old in March, spent the last four seasons as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He led Miami to top-six offenses in total yardage and playoff appearances in each of his first two seasons at the helm, but the team regressed to 26th in offense and a 7-10 record in 2025. If McDaniel eventually lands in Los Angeles, he will have a chance to work with arguably the most talented quarterback of his coaching career in
Justin Herbert.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
January 23, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
DeMario Douglas scored in the Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans last weekend, but he had only two catches and 36 yards otherwise. Douglas never had more than four catches in a single game during the regular season, and he hasn't caught more than two passes in a contest since the Dec. 1 win over the New York Giants. The 25-year-old had a total of 31 receptions (46 targets) for 447 yards and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. Douglas finished fifth on the team among receivers in last Sunday's win with just 17 snaps on offense. He has played over 34% of the snaps in a game just once, and that was all the way back in Week 1. With Douglas not seeing the field much and quarterback
Drake Maye spreading targets around, it seems unlikely that Douglas will have breakout potential in the AFC Championship against a Denver Broncos team that allowed the fifth-fewest half-PPR points per game to WRs. During the regular season, Douglas averaged just 5.0 half-PPR points per game.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 23, 2026
Seattle Seahawks tight end
AJ Barner put up a donut in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers despite the team scoring 41 points. Barner was the TE14 overall in half-PPR points during the regular season, catching 52 of his 68 targets for 519 yards and six touchdowns as Seattle's primary tight end. Seattle didn't really need to throw the ball much last weekend, though, with quarterback
Sam Darnold attempting only 17 passes. The 23-year-old second-year TE will most likely need to get involved on Sunday in the NFC Championship if they are going to keep up with the high-scoring Los Angeles Rams. Barner is poised to bounce back, but he'll also become more volatile with rookie tight end
Elijah Arroyo (knee) returning from Injured Reserve. It's worth noting that Barner looked good in both previous games against the Rams, combining for 14 receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown on a healthy 17 targets.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 23, 2026
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Cooper Kupp will have a revenge game in the NFC Championship on Sunday against his former team, the Los Angeles Rams. Kupp is coming off one of his better games of the year in the Divisional Round blowout win over the San Francisco 49ers, catching all five of his targets for 60 yards. The 32-year-old took a clear back seat to star wideout
Jaxon Smith-Njigba in his first year in Seattle, and he wasn't even among the top 50 WRs in half-PPR points per game. Kupp caught 47 of 70 targets during 16 regular-season games for 593 yards and only two touchdowns. He didn't stand out in either of the two previous games against L.A. this year, catching a combined six passes for 62 yards on 11 targets. The Rams have allowed the most half-PPR points per game to WRs in the last five weeks, but Kupp will continue to be a low-upside, touchdown-dependent receiver for fantasy purposes.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 23, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Kayshon Boutte has had two of his better performances of the season in two postseason games this year, combining for seven catches, 141 yards, and a touchdown on nine targets in wins over the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans. Can Boutte keep it going heading into Sunday's AFC Championship tilt in Denver against the Broncos? The 23-year-old former sixth-rounder wasn't even in the top-50 wideouts during the regular season in terms of half-PPR points per game, but he's peaking at the right time. In 14 regular-season games, Boutte had 33 catches for 551 yards and a career-high six touchdowns. It's going to be tough for Boutte to maintain his recent output, considering the Broncos' defense allowed the fifth-fewest half-PPR points per game (21.2) to wideouts, including a league-low six touchdown receptions.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 23, 2026
Despite just one catch for five yards in the Divisional Round victory over the Houston Texans last weekend, New England Patriots tight end
Hunter Henry has the most upside at the position going into the AFC Championship on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Of the remaining tight ends playing this weekend, Henry was by far the most productive for fantasy managers during the 2025 regular season, catching 60 of his 87 targets for 768 yards and seven touchdowns. Through two postseason games, he has four grabs on seven targets for 69 yards and one touchdown. The 31-year-old veteran is a good bet to bounce back from his stinker last weekend, and he'll be facing off against a Broncos defense that was middle of the pack in terms of half-PPR points allowed per game to tight ends. Henry should be a strong safety blanket for quarterback
Drake Maye in hostile territory.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 23, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Stefon Diggs will be faced with a challenging matchup against the hosting Denver Broncos and star cornerback Patrick Surtain II in the AFC Championship this Sunday. Diggs has had modest production in two playoff games this year, catching six of 11 targets for 56 yards, but he did manage to find the end zone in last weekend's Divisional Round victory over a tough Houston Texans defense. During 17 regular-season games, Diggs ranked 26th among WRs with 102 targets and 29th in half-PPR points per game (9.9). The 32-year-old relied on efficiency (11.9 yards per catch and 68.7% catch rate) over volume in his first year in New England. Diggs scored just four times during the regular season, and he'll be facing a lockdown Denver defense that allowed a season-low four TD catches to receivers in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 23, 2026
Coming off a season-low 19 receiving yards in the Divisional Round victory over the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba feels like a lock for big production in Sunday's NFC Championship game against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Not only has the Rams' defense allowed the most half-PPR points per game (30.8) to opposing wideouts over the last five weeks, but JSN tormented L.A. in their previous two meetings in 2025. In two contests against the Rams in the regular season, Smith-Njigba caught 17 of his 25 targets for 201 yards and one touchdown. He was second to only
Puka Nacua in overall half-PPR points during 17 regular-season games and led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards on 119 receptions. In what could very well be another shootout between these two teams in Seattle on Sunday, Smith-Njigba has arguably the most fantasy upside of any WR this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 23, 2026
New England Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye is on the doorstep of his first Super Bowl appearance in just his second year in the league, but he will need to limit turnovers if he's going to lead his team to a victory on Sunday in the AFC Championship against the Denver Broncos. In his first two playoff games, Maye threw for 447 yards on 56 pass attempts for four touchdowns and two interceptions, but he also fumbled four times (lost two) in the Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. The 23-year-old put himself in the MVP discussion during the regular season by leading the league in completion percentage (72%), yards per attempt (8.9), and QBR (77.1). Maye also finished as the QB3 in overall fantasy points in his sophomore campaign. He'll have his work cut out for him this Sunday in Denver, though, with the Broncos' defense allowing the seventh-fewest passing yards per game (187.2) and sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing QBs during the regular season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
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