Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard has been completely phased out of the team's game plan with their WR corps at full strength, putting him on the back burner for fantasy. The 32-year-old was a bigger part of Tampa Bay's offense earlier in the campaign, as the receiving room dealt with a myriad of injuries. However, as veterans Mike Evans (rest) and Chris Godwin Jr., and second-year pro Jalen McMillan have returned to full health, Shepard has faded from the offense. In fact, Shepard has been a healthy scratch over the past few weeks, signaling the team's preference in the starting lineup. The Oklahoma product has been a fine secondary option over the course of his career, but he can be avoided for fantasy purposes in a loaded Bucs' pass-catching unit.

From RotoBaller

Despite garnering a decent share of the team's targets weekly, New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton's output hasn't been enough to warrant consistent fantasy consideration. When teammate Malik Nabers (knee) suffered a season-ending knee injury, the seventh-year pro automatically slotted in as New York's WR2 behind Wan'Dale Robinson (rib). However, Slayton hasn't turned his opportunity into steady fantasy production, instead taking a clear back seat to Robinson, who leads the team in each significant receiving category by a wide margin sans touchdowns. As it stands, Slayton could see a modest uptick in work when the Giants take on the Cowboys this Sunday, particularly if Robinson and tight end Theo Johnson (illness) are forced to sit with their respective ailments. If they play, though, the veteran is a fade. Slayton has eclipsed 50 receiving yards in just four of 13 games in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Konata Mumpfield stepped up admirably in Week 16's loss to the Seahawks, while teammate Davante Adams (hamstring) sat with an injury, leaving fantasy managers to believe he was next in line with the veteran shelved. However, he slid back down the pecking order in the following game, signaling instability in a loaded Rams' offense. Mumpfield saw a robust eight targets two weeks back, but that slipped down to five in their loss to the Falcons on Monday night, as he took a back seat to teammate Xavier Smith (chest) (4/67) and tight end Colby Parkinson (6/53). Moreover, Puka Nacua still handled a hefty 10 targets. With Adams out, another asset in LA's passing game is sure to step up. That said, Mumpfield can't be relied upon for consistent fantasy production, considering quarterback Matthew Stafford's propensity to spread the ball around when Adams isn't active.

From RotoBaller

After being acquired by the New York Jets from the Philadelphia Eagles in late October, wide receiver John Metchie III looked like a potential breakout candidate. Across his first three games with New York, the 25-year-old recorded 10 receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 11 targets. However, Metchie III has been unable to maintain his hot start. Over his last five games played, Metchie III has failed to eclipse four catches or 41 receiving yards in a game, nor has he found the end zone. Metchie III's playing time has dropped off slightly as well, as he's played 77% or fewer of the Jets' offensive snaps in two out of the last three weeks. Especially with undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook in line to make his fourth straight start for the Jets in Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills, there's little reason to think Metchie III will reverse recent trends. He profiles as a wide receiver for fantasy managers to avoid in the final week of the 2025 regular season.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been a productive player across 12 games this season, recording 435 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 96 carries. However, the 25-year-old has been in-and-out of his team's lineup in recent weeks, missing Week 15 with a groin injury and Week 17 with an illness. In his absence, Rodriguez Jr. may have had his role in the Washington backfield usurped by rookie back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Over the last three weeks, Croskey-Merritt has racked up 224 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries. Rodriguez Jr. is expected to return for Washington's Week 18 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he'll likely still see some touches. However, the Commanders may opt to split touches between Rodriguez Jr. and Croskey-Merritt evenly, or ride the hot hand with the rookie.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges had a big game in Week 17, recording seven catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. Tonges benefited from the absence of star 49ers tight end George Kittle (ankle), who was sidelined by an ankle injury. Across the six games Kittle has missed this season, Tonges has racked up 29 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns on 40 targets. However, recent reporting indicates that Kittle is trending towards returning for the 49ers' Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Tonges has been far less productive across the 10 games where Kittle has been active in 2025, hauling in five receptions for 24 yards and two scores on just six targets. If Kittle is indeed active for Week 18, Tonges should be avoided by fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Browns running back Raheim Sanders has seen an increased role in recent weeks after Browns RB1 Quinshon Judkins (leg, ankle) suffered season-ending lower leg injuries in Week 16. After Judkins went down, Sanders recorded 11 carries for 42 yards and looked like the team's lead back for the remainder of Week 16. However, Browns running back Dylan Sampson returned from calf and hand injuries in Week 17, cutting Sanders' usage. In Week 17, Sanders racked up just 21 yards rushing on eight carries. With Sampson functioning as Cleveland's primary receiving back and Trayveon Williams soaking up backfield work as well, the Browns appear to be operating with a full-on backfield committee. Even in a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cleveland's regular-season finale on Sunday, Sanders carries limited upside. Fantasy managers are safe to avoid Sanders in Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Across 16 games this season, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey has recorded 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets. Over the second half of the season, the 24-year-old has seen his role in the Chargers' offense minimized. Across six games since Week 10, McConkey has not recorded more than six targets, four receptions, or 43 receiving yards in any contest. While McConkey remains one of his team's top wideouts, he's not an every-down player. Over his last nine games, McConkey has played more than 76% of the Chargers' offensive snaps just twice. In Week 18, Los Angeles will rest quarterback Justin Herbert in preparation for the AFC playoffs, leaving McConkey to catch passes from backup signal-caller Trey Lance. McConkey himself could see a reduced snap share, and he's facing a tough defense in the Denver Broncos. Fantasy managers can view McConkey as a low-end WR3/flex option in Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter disappointed fantasy managers in Week 17 with only seven carries for 29 yards (4.1 YPC) in Sunday's 37-14 blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Carter also added two catches for 14 yards on four targets. In a smash match-up, Carter and the Cardinals' offense came out flat. The Cardinals couldn't get anything going on the ground, as Emari Demercado also only had five rushes for 11 yards (2.2 YPC). Since seeing 80 percent of the snaps in Week 15 against Houston, Carter has only played 48 percent of the snaps over the past two games, which is not what Carter's fantasy managers were hoping for when they picked him up off the waivers after Bam Knight (ankle) got hurt. At this point, the Cardinals' running game is too hard to trust; they find themselves in pass-happy game scripts, and Carter is splitting work with Demercado. With a much tougher matchup in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams, Carter will be no better than a touchdown-dependent RB3.

From RotoBaller

Through 16 games, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has had the least productive season of his career. The 26-year-old has recorded 76 receptions for 947 yards and two touchdowns on 130 targets. Inconsistent quarterback play in Minnesota has been the biggest problem for Jefferson in 2025. The Vikings may get QB1 J.J. McCarthy (hand) back from the hand injury that sidelined him in Week 17 for their Week 18 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. However, Jefferson has recorded just 19 catches for 227 yards and zero touchdowns across McCarthy's last five starts. While Jefferson remains one of the most talented pass-catchers in the NFL, the offensive environment around him in Minnesota this season makes it difficult to trust him for consistent production. Jefferson profiles as a WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbukahas fallen off the fantasy radar so quickly as soon as All-ProMike Evans returned to the lineup, but also since the return of second-year wideout Jalen McMillan out of Washington.Egbuka has seen his snap share cut almost in half, and over the past three weeks, he has only seen 14 targets and hauled in eight of them for 140 yards. What is most concerning is that he has not been on the field as often, as he has only played 59.3 percent of the snaps over this three-game stretch, and is clearly behind Evans and Chris Godwin in the pecking order, and he and McMillan appear to be splitting snaps as the WR3. Egbuka was off to a blazing start to the season with five touchdowns and 445 yards through the first five games, but he has quickly fallen off the radar and disappointed in the second half of the season with only 485 yards since. At this point, he is still worth a roster spot in most formats, but he can't be trusted to start as anything better than a WR3, and his value is plummeting.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (groin) had a rough showing in Week 17 for fantasy managers as he saw only three targets and hauled in one of them for zero yards. On a day where rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers only threw 22 times (for 172 yards), and Jaylen Waddle (ribs) left the game, it was Greg Dulcich who saw the majority of the targets in Week 17 and led the team with six targets. No other pass-catcher saw more than three targets outside of Dulcich. Additionally, Waller is in danger of missing Week 18 as he was not seen at practice on Thursday due to his groin injury. In the two games since Tua Tagovailoa got benched, Waller has only been able to produce four receptions for 40 yards with Ewers, and that was in two solid fantasy matchups against teams that allow a lot of fantasy points to the tight end position (Bengals and Buccaneers). Although Ewers has played solidly in his first two starts, it's hard to trust Waller moving forward as anything better than a low-end touchdown-dependent TE2 in fantasy football, making him fall in the rankings as fantasy managers head into Week 18.

From RotoBaller

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill landed on the fantasy radar in Week 17 after he concluded Week 16 with six targets (four receptions) for 36 yards, and 12 carries on the ground to go along with throwing a touchdown pass. All of this was good for 13.32 fantasy points, and Hill became a must-add because of his versatile skill set, but mostly because he was that involved as a running back. The 16 overall touches by a tight end are a cheat code in fantasy football, which is why he was added in so many leagues heading into Week 17. As the week progressed, and Week 17 is in the books, it became clear that the Saints wanted to do right for the New Orleans fans and Hill (35 years old) and "send him off on a high note" considering it was their last home game of the season, because Audric Estime, who was expected to be in the lead back position in Week 16, rusehd 14 times for 94 yards (6.71 YPC) in Week 17. In comparison, Hill only rushed three times for zero yards and was not involved in the passing game at all (zero targets). Hill was always a high-risk, high-reward play at the tight end position for Week 17, but now that he is back in his regular role of uncertainty and not as involved as a runner, he can return to the waiver wire as fantasy managers enter Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (shoulder) missed a second straight practice on Thursday due to a shoulder injury, per the team's official website. Achane is firmly up in the air to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New England Patriots, unless he can return to the practice field on Friday. Not having the 24-year-old available this weekend would be a huge blow to fantasy managers still competing for a championship, as Achane is the RB6 in half-PPR scoring this year, with 1,350 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 238 carries in 16 games. He's added 67 receptions for another 488 yards and four touchdowns through the air. If Achane is not cleared, Jaylen Wright would be a plug-and-play RB2 in fantasy football, with rookie Ollie Gordon II also seeing an increased role in Miami's backfield as the backup.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Falcons CB Mike Hughes (ankle) was placed on the Reserve/Injured list Thursday, Jan. 1, and in a corresponding move, DE Khalid Kareem was signed to the 53-man roster.

From TheHuddle

Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert (hand, non-injury), RB Omarion Hampton (ankle), CB Nikko Reed (hamstring) and OG Jamaree Salyer (hamstring) did not practice Thursday, Jan. 1. S Derwin James (non-injury), LB Khalil Mack (non-injury), CB Elijah Molden (hamstring), C Bradley Bozeman (concussion), WR Derius Davis (ankle), RB Hassan Haskins (concussion), S R.J. Mickens (shoulder), CB Benjamin St-Juste (shoulder) and LB Tuli Tuipulotu (non-injury) were limited participants, and RB Kimani Vidal (neck) and WR Keenan Allen (non-injury) were full participants.

From TheHuddle

Los Angeles Chargers WR Keenan Allen (non-injury) was a full participant in practice Thursday, Jan. 1.

Fantasy Spin: Allen was back on the practice field after his usual day off to start the week, but it remains to be seen if he will see any action in the finale. The Chargers are opting to rest Justin Herbert, so Allen and other starters could also sit out Week 18.

From TheHuddle

Los Angeles Rams RB Blake Corum (ankle), OG Kevin Dotson (ankle) and CB Josh Wallace (ankle) did not participate in practice Thursday, Jan. 1. WR Davante Adams (hamstring), DE Braden Fiske (ankle), OT Alaric Jackson (knee), S Jaylen McCollough (hip), LB Omar Speights (ankle) and RB Kyren Williams (ankle) were limited during practice. WR Xavier Smith (chest), TE Tyler Higbee (ankle) and S Quentin Lake (elbow) fully participated in practice.

From TheHuddle

Kansas City Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt (illness), OG Trey Smith (ankle), WR Xavier Worthy (illness) and LS James Winchester (illness) did not practice Thursday, Jan. 1. DE George Karlaftis (non-injury), RB Isiah Pacheco (non-injury) and OT Jaylon Moore (knee) were limited participants, and TE Jake Briningstool (hamstring), CB Kristian Fulton (knee, wrist) and DT Derrick Nnadi (illness) practiced in full.

From TheHuddle

Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams (hamstring) was limited during practice Thursday, Jan. 1.

Fantasy Spin: Adams is making progress in his recovery but is still probably unlikely to play since the team will be playing next week in the Wild Card Round. Fantasy players can monitor the situation but will probably need other options to use in their lineups.

From TheHuddle