January 24, 2026
Denver Broncos running back
Jaleel McLaughlin should continue to be the primary change-of-pace back behind rookie
RJ Harvey, with
J.K. Dobbins remaining on Injured Reserve after a week of limited practices. In Denver's Divisional Round win over a Bills team that came into the playoffs with one of the worst run defenses in the league, McLaughlin was able to turn four carries into 21 yards. In the Conference Championship, he'll face a Patriots defense that has been dominant against the run since Milton Williams' return from an ankle injury that cost him five games. Through two playoff games, New England has allowed a total of 74 yards on designed runs, so if McLaughlin is to find any success on Sunday, it may need to come through screens and checkdowns, though that is a role that's been owned by Harvey for most of the year. McLaughlin is RotoBaller's RB7 for the week, but there is a world where he is entirely phased out of the game script.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Marvin Mims Jr. is coming off his best performance of the season, after leading the team with eight receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown in last Sunday's overtime win over the Bills. If the Broncos and backup quarterback
Jarrett Stidham are to have any success moving the ball against an attacking Patriots defense, Mims may once again be tasked with carrying a heavy workload. Patriots cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III match up well on paper against the bigger bodies of
Courtland Sutton and
Pat Bryant, so it could fall on the smaller, quicker Mims to provide an intermediate outlet for Stidham if New England continues to send extra bodies in the pass rush. Mims is RotoBaller's WR8 for the Conference Championship Round of playoff fantasy leagues, but he could be more valuable in Full-PPR formats.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
Los Angeles Rams veteran tight end
Tyler Higbee has seen his usage and productivity decline in each of his three games since returning from an ankle injury in Week 18. In his first game back after missing nearly two months of action, he led the team in receiving yards and scored his third touchdown of the season, but in the team's two playoff games since, he's seen a total of four targets, and he was on the field for only eight offensive snaps in the Rams' Divisional Round win over Chicago. With rookie
Terrance Ferguson returning for that game after missing two weeks of his own with a hamstring injury, Higbee was relegated to the third tight end in passing sets, behind Ferguson and
Colby Parkinson, and was taken off the field for
Davis Allen in more obvious running situations. Higbee is RotoBaller's TE3 for the week, but it should come as no surprise if he continues to run behind Parkinson and Ferguson on Sunday.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
Los Angeles Rams rookie tight end
Terrance Ferguson recorded a touchdown in each of his final two regular-season games. After missing two weeks with a hamstring injury, he returned for last week's Divisional Round win over the Bears and was targeted five times. Unfortunately, he was able to collect only one of those looks, finishing his first career playoff game with a single catch for 19 yards. With Los Angeles using a heavy deployment of jumbo packages down the stretch, Ferguson should see the field plenty against a Seahawks defense that has excelled against fantasy running backs and wide receivers while finishing in the middle of the pack against tight ends.
Colby Parkinson is likely the safest bet out of the Rams' crowded tight end room, given his steady usage near the goal line, but Ferguson may be the most talented of the bunch, and he is RotoBaller's TE5 for Conference Championship Weekend.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
The New York Jets were scheduled for an in-person interview with Wink Martindale for their defensive-coordinator job, sources told Connor Hughes of SNY. Although the Jets have interviewed seven other candidates for the job, Martindale is considered a favorite for the position. He has previously served as the DC in the NFL with the New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, and Denver Broncos, and at the collegiate level at the University of Michigan. Martindale's defenses typically are aggressive at getting after the quarterback, which aligns with head coach Aaron Glenn's philosophy on that side of the ball. The Jets need all kinds of help on the defensive ball after they became the first team in NFL history to go an entire season without recording a single interception in 2025. Hiring Martindale would at least give the Jets some experience and an aggressive mentality as they look to bounce back in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: SNY - Connor Hughes
January 24, 2026
The Seattle Seahawks elevated running backs
Cam Akers and
Velus Jones Jr. from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster ahead of Sunday's NFC Championship contest against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, according to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic.
Zach Charbonnet (knee) suffered a season-ending torn ACL in last weekend's Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, so both Akers and Jones will give Seattle more RB depth this weekend behind starter
Kenneth Walker III. The Seahawks also activated
George Holani from Injured Reserve this week, and he will be active as more backfield depth against the Rams. Akers, 26, previously played for L.A. and has more experience than both Jones and Holani. However, he's appeared in only six games this year with the Rams and Vikings and has only five carries for 19 yards. Walker is likely to see the lion's share of touches for the Seahawks on Sunday, leaving few opportunities for Akers, Jones, and Holani.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
January 24, 2026
The New England Patriots activated wide receiver
Mack Hollins (abdomen) from Injured Reserve on Saturday ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Despite the fact that Hollins was activated, he's still questionable to play against the Broncos. The 32-year-old veteran was put on IR in late December and he hasn't played since Dec. 21. If Hollins returns this weekend, it would give quarterback
Drake Maye another deep threat on the outside, although his snap count would most likely be limited. During the regular season, Hollins had 46 receptions on 65 targets for 550 yards and only two touchdowns. Fantasy managers should probably look elsewhere for a WR sleeper for Sunday's games against a Broncos defense that allowed a league-low six touchdowns to receivers in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 24, 2026
Los Angeles Rams running back
Blake Corum handled only six touches in the team's Divisional Round win over the Bears, and in Sunday's Conference Championship, he faces a Seahawks defense that ranked as the most formidable against fantasy running backs in the regular season. In their Divisional Round thrashing of the 49ers, Seattle held MVP finalist
Christian McCaffrey to 35 rushing yards and 39 receiving yards on 17 total opportunities. Should Corum find himself drastically out-touched by
Kyren Williams as he was against Chicago, he'll need elite efficiency to see any relevance in playoff fantasy leagues -- a tall order, given Seattle's track record. Corum is RotoBaller's RB6 for the week.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
Throughout his NFL career, Denver Broncos quarterback
Jarrett Stidham has played at a respectable level from a clean pocket while struggling mightily under pressure, with his completion rate dropping roughly 30% in such situations. Against a mostly healthy Patriots defense that has allowed 74 total yards to running backs through their first two playoff games, Denver may be forced into enough third-and-long looks to keep their offense out of rhythm. New England has employed an aggressive, blitz-heavy approach to great success against
Justin Herbert and
C.J. Stroud. With Denver's running game struggling as a whole since losing
J.K. Dobbins in Week 10, Stidham may find himself battling against the chains for much of Sunday. He is RotoBaller's QB4 for Conference Championship Weekend.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
Los Angeles Rams tight end
Colby Parkinson has seen the team's third-highest target share through two playoff games, trailing only All-Pro receivers
Puka Nacua and
Davante Adams. His 90 receiving yards through those two contests also rank third, but with rookie
Terrance Ferguson returning for the Rams' Divisional Round victory over the Bears, and Los Angeles regularly employing two or even three tight end sets, Parkinson's fantasy ceiling is capped and largely touchdown-dependent. Given his season-long usage in the red zone, he still profiles as the safest option in a crowded tight end room, and with few elite options remaining in the playoffs, he is RotoBaller's TE2 in fantasy playoff leagues. That said, he should not be relied on for a week-winning performance against a stingy Seattle defense.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers are working towards a deal to make former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach 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
RADIO
