January 4, 2026

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright will likely move into the lead-back role for the upcoming Week 18 matchup versus the New England Patriots. The Dolphins have decided to play it safe and ruled out De'Von Achane (shoulder) for the regular-season finale. His absence should mean an extended look for Wright and Ollie Gordon II during Sunday's game. Wright has shown he's capable of making plays when he's given increased touches in the backfield. The 22-year-old rushed for 107 yards on 24 carries with a touchdown against the New York Jets in Week 14. The Pats have a much better defense, but Wright should still get a ton of chances. Fantasy managers with championship games in Week 18 needing a FLEX spot, or looking for a cheaper option in DFS contests, might want to consider Wright with an increased workload.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

January 4, 2026

Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud (knee) will be available for Sunday's game against Milwaukee after an MRI showed no structural damage to his left knee. Raynaud briefly exited Friday's loss to Phoenix but avoided a serious issue and is expected to remain in the starting lineup with Domantas Sabonis (knee) sidelined for multiple weeks. In his last 13 starts, Raynaud has averaged 13.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 56.1 percent from the field in 30.4 minutes per game. He profiles as a steady standard-league hold with continued double-double upside.--Brian Dailisan
Source: James Ham

January 4, 2026

Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) will miss a fourth straight game Sunday against Phoenix and continues to be ruled out in advance, with his next chance to play Monday versus Charlotte. His absence keeps Chet Holmgren anchored in the middle, where he posted 15 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks in 26 minutes Friday. Jalen Williams should continue to chip in on the glass, while Branden Carlson logged 22 minutes off the bench and delivered 15 points and 11 rebounds, making him a deep-league streaming consideration if frontcourt absences persist.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA Injury Report

January 4, 2026

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon reclaimed the NHL scoring lead from Edmonton's Connor McDavid on Saturday night, notching four points in a 5-3 road win over the Carolina Hurricanes. He lit the lamp in a fourth consecutive outing and delivered three assists, picking up two points on the power play. After the Utah Mammoth held MacKinnon off the score sheet on Dec. 23, the Avalanche superstar has amassed 13 points (five goals, eight assists) over four games. For the second time this season, MacKinnon has posted four points in back-to-back games. The recent scoring surge has put MacKinnon on track for a monster 152-point year. He has collected 74 points (35 goals, 39 assists) in 40 outings.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

January 4, 2026

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (ankle) has been ruled out for a seventh straight game Sunday against Miami due to a right ankle sprain. With Jones and Saddiq Bey (hip) both sidelined, New Orleans continues to test its wing depth, though fantasy results have been underwhelming. Over the last six games, Bryce McGowens has averaged 5.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 20.0 minutes, while Jordan Hawkins has posted 2.8 points in 11.4 minutes. Micah Peavy has chipped in 2.7 points in 12.2 minutes. All three remain risky, deep-league-only options. Jones' next chance to return comes Tuesday against the Lakers.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA Injury Report

January 4, 2026

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. is expected to have an expanded role in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints will be without Chris Olave (illness) and Mason Tipton (groin) for the regular-season finale. The absence of those players should push Austin into the No. 1 wideout role in this offense. With all the injuries to the Saints' wideouts, Dante Pettis should also see an increase in target share on Sunday. Austin made himself known to the league when he hauled in four receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown in Week 17's win over the Tennessee Titans. Austin was able to do that with Olave healthy for that game, which means he should be able to produce more without him this weekend. Fantasy managers with something on the line this week can use Austin as a FLEX play, or in DFS contests, might want to target Austin as he's priced at only $3,400 on DraftKings.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

January 4, 2026

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov was sensational in Saturday's 7-2 win over the San Jose Sharks, finishing the contest with one goal and four assists. Three of Kucherov's points came on the power play, including his goal. There have now been 23 five-point games in Lightning history, and Kucherov has been responsible for eight of those. The back-to-back Art Ross Trophy winner has been in video-game mode recently, posting a five-game goal streak and a seven-game point streak. During the hot streak, he has totaled seven goals and 10 assists. Next up, Kucherov will look to outperform the NHL's leading scorer, Nathan MacKinnon, heading into Tuesday's clash with the Colorado Avalanche on 59 points (20 goals, 39 assists) through 37 outings.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

January 4, 2026

New Orleans Pelicans forward Saddiq Bey (hip) will miss a second straight game Sunday against Miami due to a right hip strain. Bey's absence has opened wing minutes, though the fantasy results have been uneven. Bryce McGowens has started each of the last four games but is averaging just 6.3 points on volatile shooting across 25.3 minutes, making him a risky streaming option. Micah Peavy's playing time has fluctuated sharply, limiting his usefulness even in deeper formats. Bey's next chance to return comes Tuesday against the Lakers.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA Injury Report

January 4, 2026

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh tallied three goals in Saturday's 7-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks, becoming the third blue-liner in franchise history to score a hat trick. Raddysh registered an even-strength goal in the first period and had two power-play markers in the second. It has been a fairytale of a season for Raddysh, who has joined elite company like Cale Makar, Evan Bouchard, and Zach Werenski as one of the NHL's top-scoring defensemen. The 29-year-old has posted three straight multi-point outings, bringing his total to 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) in 35 games.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

January 4, 2026

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee will start under center for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Washington Commanders. The Eagles have opted to rest starter Jalen Hurts with the team already locked into the second or third seed in the postseason. The assumption is that the Eagles will rest most of their starters, given their little incentive to win. On paper, this is a plus-matchup for McKee against a struggling Commanders secondary, which ranks at the bottom of the league against the pass. With Philly likely pulling their starters, it's going to be tough for McKee to have much success. Outside Superflex or 2QB leagues, fantasy managers should look elsewhere for help as McKee is unlikely to light up the box score in Week 18.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

January 4, 2026

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington pushed aside 25 pucks for his first shutout of the season in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens. After Joel Hofer beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 on Friday, Binnington got the nod for the second leg of a back-to-back and registered a much-needed shutout victory. In December, Binnington lost all but one start, producing a horrible .835 save percentage. The 32-year-old has been off form all season, allowing 3.40 goals with a .874 save percentage, while going 8-10-6 with 23 starts. Binnington has yet to win consecutive starts this season, a goal he will look to achieve in his next appearance. --Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

January 4, 2026

Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton (personal) will miss a second straight game Sunday against Denver, with his next chance to return Wednesday versus Orlando. Claxton's absence once again elevates Day'Ron Sharpe into a high-utility fantasy role. Sharpe started Friday's loss to Washington and delivered 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks in 30 minutes, continuing his trend as a strong per-minute producer whenever Claxton sits. Sharpe profiles as an automatic short-term stream and viable standard-league option, while Noah Clowney and Danny Wolf see modest frontcourt minutes without consistent fantasy floors.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA Injury Report

January 4, 2026

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (thumb) will not play Sunday against Orlando due to a right thumb sprain, leaving Indiana short-handed on the wing. With Mathurin sidelined, Aaron Nesmith profiles as the most reliable fantasy beneficiary after drawing a start last game and logging 29 minutes. Over his last four since returning from injury, Nesmith has averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 three-pointers, and 1.3 blocks in 25.9 minutes, offering low-end standard-league value. Johnny Furphy and Ben Sheppard should see extra run, but their fantasy appeal remains limited to deeper formats.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA Injury Report

January 4, 2026

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews became the team's all-time top goal scorer with two markers in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders. He reached 421 career goals, moving past Mats Sundin, who was the record holder since 2007. While the 2025-26 season has been a struggle at times for Matthews, he has become only the fifth active player with 20-plus goals in their first 10 seasons. Six of his markers have come across the past four games as Matthews approaches a point-per-game scoring pace for the season. He is up to 33 points (20 goals, 13 assists) in 35 games, with nearly a third of his points (10) coming since last Saturday.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

January 4, 2026

Washington Wizards guard/forward Kyshawn George (hip) will miss a fifth straight game Sunday against Minnesota and remains without a timetable to return, keeping Washington's wing rotation thin. George's absence has opened steady fantasy lanes for Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, and Justin Champagnie. Over the last four games, Johnson has averaged 16.0 points and 3.3 three-pointers in 26.8 minutes, while Carrington has produced 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 25.9 minutes with elevated turnover risk. Champagnie has delivered 13.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 three-pointers, and 1.3 steals in 27.3 minutes, making him the most stable roster play in standard formats.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA Injury Report

January 4, 2026

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer should continue to operate in a high-volume role during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders recently placed Brock Bowers (knee) on injured reserve, ending his season and putting Mayer into the starting role for the final two games of the year. Last weekend, he exploded as the top target in Geno Smith's offense, catching nine of 10 targets for 89 yards. In total, throughout the three games that Bowers has missed and Mayer has played this year, the latter tight end has 15 catches, 149 yards, and one touchdown. A quarterback change is expected in Week 18, though, as Kenny Pickett steps in for the injured Smith (ankle). Pickett struggled to the tune of 64 yards and one turnover in his lone start this year, but he should still be able to support a fantasy-relevant role for Mayer on Sunday. At worst, Mayer will operate as a security blanket in case Pickett struggles to throw the ball deep or needs to get the ball out quickly. As it stands, he ranks as the overall TE8 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 18.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

January 4, 2026

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe (undisclosed) left Saturday's 4-3 overtime defeat to the New York Islanders with 8:58 remaining in regulation. He was unable to continue after blocking a shot. McCabe leads Toronto with 104 blocks in 41 games and has contributed three goals and 13 assists offensively. He is also the team leader with a fantastic plus-26 rating. Losing McCabe from the backline for an extended period would be a bad blow for the Maple Leafs, especially with fellow blue-liners Chris Tanev (groin) and Brandon Carlo (foot) already out of commission.--Taavi Pailk
Source: NHL.com

January 4, 2026

Retired quarterback Philip Rivers is expected to field interest as a head coaching candidate during the upcoming NFL hiring cycle, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. While Rivers retired from playing in the NFL for a second time last week, it appears he could return to the league very soon in a coaching capacity. Rapoport writes that "the current belief is Rivers gets at least one opportunity to interview, possibly more." As it stands, only the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants have head coaching vacancies. However, teams like the Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons could all have openings after the regular season wraps up. Rivers, who went 58-for-92 passing with 544 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions from Week 15 through Week 17, already has experience in coaching. He spent time coaching at the high school level between his two NFL stints. Of course, there's a big difference between taking interviews and actually being offered a head coaching job, so it's far from guaranteed that we see Rivers back on NFL sidelines next season. Nevertheless, it sounds like there's real interest from pro teams.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Ian Rapoport

January 4, 2026

Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (lower body) appears to have escaped a serious injury on Saturday versus the Chicago Blackhawks. The power forward left the contest in the first period due to a lower-body injury. He took an awkward fall following a hit from Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy. After the game, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery noted Wilson's injury "doesn't look too bad." Wilson, who was named to Team Canada for the 2026 Olympics this week, is in the midst of a career year. He has averaged more than a point per game, posting 22 goals and 20 assists in 41 outings.--Taavi Pailk
Source: TSN

January 4, 2026

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy suffered a stinger on the team's final offensive play during Saturday's Week 18 loss against the Seattle Seahawks, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan (via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). Purdy took a hit while throwing an incomplete pass late in the fourth quarter. He remained down on the field and received medical attention for a brief period of time, but he was able to stand up and walk off the field under his own power. After the loss, Shanahan said that Purdy was okay and could have gone back into the game if San Francisco got the ball back. This bodes well for Purdy's status heading into Wild Card Weekend. Barring a setback, we expect him to suit up. The 49ers' first-round opponent will be decided when games go final on Sunday in Week 18. San Francisco will be either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Ian Rapoport

January 4, 2026

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ribs) is not expected to play in Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New England Patriots, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Waddle had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. His absence will worsen the chances of the Dolphins, who are incredibly short-staffed, pulling off an upset against the AFC East-leading Patriots. Not only is Waddle sidelined, but Miami also remains without De'Von Achane (shoulder), Tua Tagovailoa (coach's decision), Darren Waller (groin, IR), and Tyreek Hill (knee, IR). This offense might limp to the finish line during the final week of the season. Look for Malik Washington to step up as Quinn Ewers' top target against a Patriots defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest yards to opposing wide receivers in 2025.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Adam Schefter

January 4, 2026

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (shoulder) is not expected to play in Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New England Patriots, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. This is hardly a surprise, given that Achane had been listed as doubtful entering this weekend. Assuming he is confirmed as inactive on Sunday afternoon, Achane finishes his third NFL season with a career-high 1,350 rushing yards. He also logged 67 catches, 488 receiving yards, and 12 total touchdowns while ranking as the overall RB5 in full-PPR scoring to this point. His absence this weekend should create more opportunities for Jaylen Wright, the second-year back who has flashed real upside this season. On a 52% snap share in Week 14 against the Jets, Wright had 24 carries, 107 rushing yards, and one touchdown. Additionally, over his last two games, he has 14 carries, 91 yards, and a trip to the end zone. Wright ranks as a solid RB2 despite playing against New England's top-tier run defense.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Adam Schefter

January 4, 2026

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers turned his season around following a mid-year trade from the Las Vegas Raiders. He posted double-digit fantasy points (full-PPR) in five of his first six games with the Jaguars, and he has at least eight points in each of his last seven contests. Since joining the Jaguars, he ranks as the overall WR16 in fantasy football. Meyers has clearly benefited from a high-volume role in Jacksonville's strong offense. This is a unit that is capable of moving the ball down the field, and Trevor Lawrence has distributed the ball well enough to support many different fantasy-relevant performances. For example, while Meyers has been the Jaguars' most consistent receiver since his trade, Parker Washington has been explosive in the last two weeks, and Brian Thomas Jr. and Brenton Strange have both played well. Meyers should feast in Week 18 against the Tennessee Titans, whose pass defense has been very disappointing this season. Tennessee has allowed the fourth-most receiving yards and fifth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2025. In his last game against the Titans, Meyers caught six passes for 90 yards and a touchdown. We wouldn't be surprised to see the 29-year-old enjoy similar success on Sunday, and we expect him to handle a heavy workload because Jacksonville is still fighting for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. As it stands, Meyers ranks as the overall WR21 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 18.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

January 4, 2026

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill delivered an impressive fantasy performance just two weeks ago, but he's unlikely to replicate that success during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Hill had 18.32 full-PPR points in that Week 16 victory, taking on an increased role passing, running, and catching the football. In the aftermath of his big game, it was reported that New Orleans made a concerted effort to get him more involved because the 35-year-old could retire, so that was potentially his final home game in New Orleans. Indeed, his productivity took a massive step back just one week later, when he was held without a touch and played just 13% of the snaps. We expect a similar story in Week 18, with both Audric Estime and Evan Hull getting more involved out of the backfield than Hill. The veteran playmaker should be avoided in all fantasy leagues ahead of what could be the final game of his career.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

January 4, 2026

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will look to finish out the season on a high note in a Week 18 matchup against a middle-of-the-road Las Vegas Raiders' defense. While Kelce hasn't been the fantasy superstar we've grown accustomed to for quite some time now, even at 36 years old, he's enjoying a productive season. Chris Oladokun's inexperience undoubtedly caps some of Kelce's ceiling, although the former didn't look totally overmatched in Week 17's loss to Denver. Moreover, Kelce led the team in yards (36), targets (six), and receptions (five) in that contest. This Sunday, he'll face a Raiders' defense that's been roughly league average. They'll also be without star defensive end Maxx Crosby (knee). With the veteran still a focal point, fantasy managers can rely on Kelce as a back-end TE1 for the matchup. He'll officially land as RotoBaller's PPR TE12 for his meeting with Las Vegas.--Alex Ciulla
Source: ESPN

January 4, 2026

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren presents as a low-upside option for Week 18's road clash with their division-rival Houston Texans. For all intents and purposes, Warren has had an excellent rookie campaign, hauling in 71 passes for 791 yards and four touchdowns on 104 targets -- all second-best on the team. That said, the Penn State alum's production has slowed following the team's Week 11 bye, as he's surpassed 30 receiving yards just twice on six occasions. It's a stark contrast to the first ten weeks of the year, when he failed to do so just once. Favorably, Warren has remained a featured part of the offense with veteran signal-caller Philip Rivers at the helm. Still, he'll carry a less-enticing ceiling than usual when they face off with the best defense in the league on a yards-per-game basis (274.4). Warren ranks as RotoBaller's PPR TE14 ahead of this weekend's games.--Alex Ciulla
Source: ESPN

January 4, 2026

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown will be difficult to recommend for fantasy in his final outing of the regular season against the visiting Washington Commanders. Brown has had a weird year. After an ice-cold start, he's rebounded nicely over the back half of 2025. Across his last seven games, the 28-year-old has notched double-digit targets in five of them, compiling 595 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, head coach Nick Sirianni is on record stating he'd be resting many of the team's key starters for Sunday's matchup with the Commanders. While Sirianni did not specify who would be sitting, it's worth noting that Brown didn't suit up for Week 18 of 2024. If the veteran does wind up playing, he'd be an excellent bet for fantasy. However, with uncertainty surrounding his playing time, it's best that owners look elsewhere for help in the season's final week.--Alex Ciulla
Source: ESPN

January 4, 2026

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee) carries excellent upside in Week 18 despite facing off with a solid New Orleans Saints defense at home. The fifth-year pro had been on a tear over the last month until his dud last weekend. In the four games prior, Pitts seemed unstoppable, averaging 23.6 PPR fantasy points per game. He was the TE1 across Weeks 13-16, and it wasn't really close. However, the former fourth-overall pick saw his production dip in Week 17 (2/16). While that may be due to a knee injury he picked up earlier in the week at practice, indeed, he doesn't carry the same upside with wide receiver Drake London (knee) back in the fold. If Pitts plays this weekend, fantasy managers will find it difficult to bench him, particularly with teammate Darnell Mooney (knee) also questionable for the contest. Whether Mooney is active or not, the 25-year-old's status should be monitored leading up to kickoff, considering his ranking as RotoBaller's PPR TE5.--Alex Ciulla
Source: ESPN

January 4, 2026

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs is a strong fantasy asset for this Sunday's home matchup with the Miami Dolphins. The 32-year-old veteran is coming off a second straight 100-yard outing and is having a nice season overall, despite eclipsing 60% of the team's snaps just twice in 16 appearances. In Week 18, he's positioned for another useful performance as the Pats vie for first place in the AFC. While Miami has, on paper, been one of the tougher units against fantasy wideouts, quarterback Drake Maye has been excellent in 2025 and carved up the Fins back in a 33-27 Week 2 win. Diggs' 4/32 line in that outing may not be encouraging, but his recent involvement is, notching at least six catches and 101 yards in three of his last six games. He'll rank as RotoBaller's PPR WR15 for the season's final week.--Alex Ciulla
Source: ESPN

January 3, 2026

Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins is coming off arguably his best performance of the season. Higgins hauled in two passes for 88 yards and a touchdown during last week's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He'll look to top that performance versus the Indianapolis Colts in the Week 18 regular-season finale. The Texans will play their starters with a chance to win the AFC South with a victory and a Jaguars' loss to the Titans. Higgins hasn't been a consistent fantasy option during his rookie season, which makes him difficult to trust in Week 18. He has big-play ability, but he can also give fantasy managers close to nothing. He hauled in five receptions for 65 yards during his last meeting with the Colts. Fantasy managers should consider Higgins a boom-or-bust WR4/flex option for Week 18.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference