January 15, 2026
Houston Texans wide receiver
Justin Watson (concussion) missed a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday, according to the team. Watson suffered a concussion in Monday night's Wild-Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and wasn't able to return. The 29-year-old is in the league's concussion protocol and is trending as unlikely to play this Sunday in the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the New England Patriots. Top wideout
Nico Collins (concussion) is in the same boat as Watson and hasn't practiced this week. It means the Texans' receiving corps will most likely be short-handed this weekend, with rookies
Jayden Higgins and
Jaylin Noel,
Christian Kirk, and
Xavier Hutchinson all seeing bigger roles. Tight end
Dalton Schultz will also have a higher fantasy ceiling with more targets available. Even when fully healthy, Watson is too far down the WR depth chart to matter for fantasy purposes.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Texans PR
January 15, 2026
Houston Texans running back
Jawhar Jordan (ankle) was limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday, according to the team. Jordan suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Indianapolis Colts and did not suit up for Monday night's Wild-Card blowout win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although Jordan has returned to practice this week, he's still very much up in the air to play on Sunday against the New England Patriots in an AFC Divisional Round game. Even if Jordan is active, he'll merely be the RB2 behind rookie starter
Woody Marks. With Jordan out on Monday night, veteran
Nick Chubb played 29% of the offensive snaps and carried the ball 10 times for 48 yards. Most of Chubb's work came late in the contest in garbage time. Neither Chubb nor Jordan is recommended fantasy plays behind Marks against New England.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Texans PR
January 15, 2026
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle (Achilles) underwent successful surgery to fix his torn right Achilles tendon on Wednesday, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Kittle was placed on Injured Reserve on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the playoffs. Because his injury occurred so late in the year, too, the 32-year-old veteran almost certainly won't be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign this fall. In fact, he could end up missing the majority of next regular season after tearing his Achilles in the Wild-Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. Going into this Saturday's NFC Divisional contest against the Seattle Seahawks,
Jake Tonges will take over as the Niners' top pass-catching tight end. Kittle, a seven-time Pro Bowler, still has high-end TE1 upside when healthy, but durability concerns will drastically affect his 2026 fantasy value.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Vic Tafur
January 15, 2026
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) will not be activated from Injured Reserve for Saturday's Divisional Round contest in Seattle against the division-rival Seahawks, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. The extremely banged-up 49ers' defense won't get Warner back, and they'll also be without safety Ji'Ayir Brown (hamstring). Meanwhile, linebackers Luke Gifford (quadriceps) and Dee Winters (ankle) are questionable. San Fran's defense did a very respectable job last weekend, slowing down the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild-Card round, considering how decimated they've been by injuries all year. If they can somehow pull off the upset against Seattle on Saturday night, Warner will be itching to return for the NFC Championship against either the Los Angeles Rams or the Chicago Bears. Warner has been out since dislocating and fracturing his ankle back in Week 6.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
January 15, 2026
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) will be questionable to play in the Divisional Round of the playoffs on Saturday evening on the road against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Pearsall missed a good chunk of his second NFL season due to a sprained PCL in his right knee, and he's also missed three of the last four games, including last week's Wild-Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles, after aggravating his knee. San Fran could really use the 25-year-old former first-rounder back against Seattle after losing tight end
George Kittle to a torn Achilles tendon last Sunday. Pearsall was limited in practice all week and is optimistic he'll be available on Saturday night. He did go over 100 receiving yards in two of his last three games, but Pearsall has been very hit or miss and injury-prone, making him extremely volatile as a fantasy option in playoff leagues in a bad matchup if he's active.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
January 15, 2026
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold (oblique) was added to the injury report on Thursday with an oblique injury and is questionable to play in the Divisional Round on Saturday night against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, according to Curtis Crabtree of FOX 13 Seattle. However, Darnold is fully expected to play through his questionable tag this week. The 28-year-old was listed as limited in Thursday's practice. "I feel good...in routes on air, I just felt a little something in my oblique. I just didn't want to push it. It wasn't the day to push it, so that was it. I came inside, got some rehab, and I feel like I'll be ready to go for Saturday," Darnold said. The former first-rounder should be fine to play against a Niners team that he has yet to throw a touchdown against in two games this year. In the Week 18 win over the 49ers, Darnold threw for 198 yards with no TDs or interceptions.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX 13 Seattle - Curtis Crabtree
January 15, 2026
In his first career playoff appearance, New England Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye led his team to a 16-3 win in the Wild Card round over the Los Angeles Chargers. The 23-year-old completed 17 of 29 pass attempts for 268 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while adding 66 rushing yards on 10 attempts. However, Maye also fumbled twice, one of which was recovered by the Chargers. Maye's production upside remains sky-high, but any potential ball security issues may only be exacerbated in the Divisional Round against the Houston Texans. Houston allowed the seventh-fewest passing yards (3,486) in the regular season while ranking tied for third in interceptions (19). The Texans' defense is also coming off a dominating performance in the Wild Card round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in which it forced two turnovers, recorded four sacks, and allowed just six points. Maye's rushing ability could carry him to success, but the difficult matchup makes him a low-end quarterback option for fantasy managers in the Divisional Round.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 15, 2026
Chicago Bears running back
D'Andre Swift was one of the stars of his team's Wild-Card win over the Green Bay Packers, recording 92 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 15 touches. Swift and Bears rookie back
Kyle Monangai split playing time nearly evenly, with Swift earning 39 snaps and Monangai 36. However, Swift was the more productive player of the two, as Monangai was held to 49 scrimmage yards on nine touches. Chicago is now set to host the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs. The Rams' run defense performed well during the regular season, but allowed three rushing touchdowns to the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round. Swift profiles as the priority player in the Bears' backfield for fantasy managers in the Divisional round against Los Angeles.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 15, 2026
New England Patriots tight end
Hunter Henry (knee) returned to full practice participation on Thursday after being listed as limited on Wednesday due to a knee injury. Barring a setback, it appears as though Henry is on track to play in New England's Divisional Round matchup against the Houston Texans. The 31-year-old was one of the stars of his team's Wild Card Weekend win over the Los Angeles Chargers, hauling in three catches for 64 yards and a touchdown on five targets. Dating back to the regular season, Henry has now recorded a touchdown grab in three out of his last four outings. Houston profiles as a difficult matchup, as it has allowed the seventh-fewest receiving yards to tight ends in the NFL so far this season. Still, Henry's touchdown upside makes him a solid tight end option for fantasy managers in the Divisional Round.
--Will BradySource: New England Patriots
January 15, 2026
Chicago Bears wide receiver
DJ Moore (knee) was a limited practice participant on Thursday as he battles a lingering knee issue, per Michal Dwojak of Bears Insider. Moore was also listed on Chicago's injury report in the lead-up to the team's Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Green Bay Packers. However, he was active for the game and recorded six receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. Barring a setback, it seems likely that Moore will be able to play in the Divisional round against the Los Angeles Rams. The 28-year-old had a rough close to the regular season, recording just two receptions for 18 yards on seven targets over his final two outings. Still, he led all Chicago wide receivers in snap share in his bounce-back performance against the Packers. Moore profiles as a low-end wide receiver option for fantasy managers in the Divisional round.
--Will BradySource: Bears Insider - Michal Dwojak
January 15, 2026
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) was a limited practice participant on Thursday, per Michal Dwojak of Bears Insider. Odunze missed the final five games of the regular season due to a stress fracture in his foot and is apparently still managing the injury. However, the 23-year-old was able to return to the field in Chicago's Wild Card Weekend win over the Green Bay Packers, recording two catches for 44 yards on six targets. Barring a major setback, it seems likely that Odunze will play through the injury once again in the Divisional round against the Los Angeles Rams. Still, Odunze was limited to just 69% of the Bears' offensive snaps against the Packers and could be facing a reduced workload for the remainder of Chicago's playoff run. Given his injury concerns and the recent emergence of Bears wide receiver
Luther Burden III and tight end
Colston Loveland, Odunze will be tough for fantasy managers to trust against the Rams.
--Will BradySource: Bears Insider - Michal Dwojak
January 15, 2026
Omar Ruiz of NFL Network reports that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Patrick Mahomes (knee) says his rehab from ACL and LCL tears in his knee is "going great." According to Ruiz, Mahomes stated that his goal is to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season, which doctors have said is possible, but there is still a long way to go. Mahomes underwent surgery in mid-December, so a Week 1 return would require less than nine months of recovery time. Across 14 games before getting injured, the 30-year-old completed 62.7% of his pass attempts for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Mahomes also rushed for 422 yards and five scores, making 2025 the most productive rushing season of his career. His recovery progress will be one of the key storylines for fantasy managers to track throughout the offseason.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Omar Ruiz
January 15, 2026
ESPN's Jeff Darlington reports that former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel could decide to wait to take another head-coaching job this cycle, especially since he very much likes the idea of a few of the open offensive-coordinator jobs around the league. The Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Los Angeles Chargers all have openings that McDaniel might really like. The Buccaneers' job, in particular, could be the most appealing to McDaniel because of the autonomy it would provide. The Eagles, Lions, and Chargers all have offensive-minded head coaches who could clash with McDaniels' scheme and preferences. Right now, the former Dolphins coach is doing his due diligence and interviewing with all the teams that are interested in him before he makes a final decision.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Darlington
January 15, 2026
Buffalo Bills kicker
Matt Prater (quadriceps, calf) has been cleared to kick in the Divisional Round this Saturday against his former team, the Denver Broncos. Prater was held out of Tuesday's practice, was a full-go on Wednesday, and was limited on Thursday. The 41-year-old veteran aggravated a quad injury in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets, but he was active last weekend and handled field goals and extra points in the Wild-Card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Prater made both of his field goals (one from 50-plus yards) and all three of his extra points against the Jags. He'll have the thin air in Denver to his advantage on Saturday, but at less than 100% in a tough matchup, Prater is on the lower end of kicking options this weekend. The Broncos allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to placekickers in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
January 15, 2026
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dalton Kincaid (knee, calf) was limited in practice all week with knee and calf injuries, but he was cleared from the final injury report on Thursday and will be active on Saturday against the hosting Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round. Kincaid might not be 100% healthy this weekend, but he'll be available and should be one of quarterback
Josh Allen's top targets, especially with receivers
Gabe Davis (knee) and
Tyrell Shavers (knee) out. The Broncos' defense was pretty stingy all year against opposing offenses, but they were around the middle of the pack in terms of half-PPR points allowed per game to the TE position. Given the lack of aerial weapons for Allen, he'll be forced to use both Kincaid and TE
Dawson Knox. Kincaid is coming off a touchdown in the Wild-Card win over the Jaguars and should be considered a top-three TE in fantasy lineups this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
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