Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) missed the team's Week 18 loss to the Broncos that secured a trip to New England to open the playoffs. Hampton spent time on Injured Reserve earlier this season with a fractured ankle, and he did not practice at all leading up to the regular season finale. However, with multiple starters held out of the game, the sense is that his absence was precautionary. In traveling to New England for a Sunday Night primetime affair, the Chargers will face a Patriots defense that is returning to health at the right time. After opening the season as one of the stingiest run defenses in the league, the Patriots have struggled of late to contain the running game but seem to be trending in the right direction. With Milton Williams back in the fold in Week 18, New England held Miami to 2.5 yards per carry. They are also expected to have leading tackler Robert Spillane back for the playoffs, while the status of run-stuffer Khyiris Tonga is still up in the air.

From RotoBaller

Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson carried the ball 13 times for 53 yards in Sunday's blowout win over the Dolphins, finding the end zone twice in a game that saw most of New England's starters sidelined early in the fourth quarter. Henderson finishes his rookie campaign with 911 rushing yards, 221 receiving yards, and 10 total touchdowns. The Patriots face a stingy Chargers defense in Wild Card Weekend, but Henderson's homerun ability and steadily increasing usage near the goal line make him a strong opening play in playoff fantasy leagues of all formats. New England has averaged 35 rush attempts over their last two games and will likely look to stick to that formula in a game in which they open as 3.5-point favorites at home.

From RotoBaller

The Cleveland Browns liked what they saw from rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders in his first year in the NFL, but they also acknowledged that he has plenty to work on going into 2026, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. "He's still very much a work in progress, like many people," general manager Andrew Berry said. The 23-year-old fifth-rounder didn't make his NFL debut until Week 11 after fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion. Sanders took over as the starter, though, and started the final seven games for Cleveland. He had his ups and downs, completing 59.2% of his passes for 1,353 yards, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions while running for 153 yards and another score. Sanders showed enough athleticism and arm strength to at least put himself in the competition for the starting gig going into next season, where he's expected to compete with Deshaun Watson (Achilles) and Gabriel.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (ribs) said he fractured his ribs in the first half of the Week 17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, according to Evan Barnes of Newsday. Robinson finished playing in that game to get to 1,000 yards, but an MRI exam the following day revealed he played through fractured ribs. The 25-year-old was held out of the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. The impending free agent wideout said that he will take everything into account before deciding on whether to re-sign with the Giants or play elsewhere in 2026 and beyond. Robinson was a beast for fantasy managers in PPR leagues in 2025, catching 92 of his 140 targets for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. He should be fully healthy way ahead of training camp and the preseason, but his fantasy value could change drastically next year if he leaves the Giants.

From RotoBaller

The Cleveland Browns currently expect quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) to be on the team next year, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. "I can never predict the future, but right now we do anticipate him being on the 2026 team," general manager Andrew Berry said about Watson's status. Watson tore his right Achilles tendon in October of 2024 and re-ruptured the tendon and required a second surgery on Jan. 9 of 2025. The 30-year-old veteran stayed on the Physically Unable to Perform list all season, but if he can return to full health this year, he's expected to compete for the starting QB job this summer with Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Watson will be entering the final year of his five-year, $230 million deal in 2026. He'll be a huge question mark going into next season, but despite the investment the Browns still have in him, he's not guaranteed to win the starting job.

From RotoBaller

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco isn't considering retirement, but he hopes to be "selective" in what comes next in his career, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. It's clear that Flacco wants to continue playing, and he's even open to coming back to Cincinnati, even if that would mean serving as Joe Burrow's backup. He's also open to fielding calls from a team that needs a signal-caller for next season. The 40-year-old began the 2025 season as the Cleveland Browns' starting QB before a midseason trade to the Bengals to help out while Burrow recovered from turf-toe surgery. The former Super Bowl champion proved that he still has something left in the tank, although he went just 2-8 in his 10 starts with the Browns and Bengals. Flacco completed 60.3% of his passes for 2,479 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 picks. At best, Flacco will be in play as a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues if he ends up playing a 19th NFL season and making more starts in 2026.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (ankle) said he is hoping to be back healthy by training camp as the long-term goal, according to Evan Barnes of Newsday. There is no rush for Skattebo to be back for organized team activities in the spring. "I'm juiced to see what this franchise can be within the next five years," Skattebo said. The 23-year-old from Arizona State took over the Giants' backfield by midseason, but his rookie campaign came to an end when he dislocated his right ankle in Week 8. The bruising back ran for 410 yards and five touchdowns on 101 carries while also catching 24 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver in eight games. Long term, Skattebo figures to be New York's lead back, but his fantasy value in 2026 will depend on how his recovery goes and whether he'll be ready for the start of the regular season in the fall.

From RotoBaller

Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cameron Ward (shoulder) suffered an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder in Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Week 18 regular-season finale, but he will not require surgery, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. It's the best-case scenario for the young QB heading into the offseason. Ward suffered the injury while diving for a touchdown in the first quarter of Sunday's game, and he never returned. The 23-year-old former first overall pick will be rehabbing for a few months, but barring a setback, he should be recovered well before the start of training camp and the preseason. The Miami product started for the Titans all season in his first year in the NFL and predictably struggled, completing 59.8% of his pass attempts for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He added 39 rushing attempts for 159 yards and two TDs. Ward could be up and down again in Year 2 as he continues to develop, especially since he'll be learning a new offense under a new head coach.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. said that he lost the majority of the weight he had put on this past offseason (10 pounds) while dealing with appendicitis late in the season, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. Harrison said he basically had two weeks of doing nothing before "jumping back into the fire." The 23-year-old former first-rounder missed Weeks 11 and 12 following an appendectomy. Harrison returned in Week 13 to catch six of seven targets for 69 yards, but he suffered a heel injury that sidelined him in Weeks 14 and 15. He wasn't the same receiver to close out the year, catching just one of four targets for 14 yards in his final two games before suffering a new foot injury in Week 17 that cost him the regular-season finale. Harrison will now focus on getting healthy in the offseason before trying to bounce back in 2026 in his third year in the league. His fantasy arrow is pointing down after two straight disappointing seasons, especially now that Arizona could be searching for a new quarterback this offseason.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said on Monday that the team expects to get wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) back for Saturday's Wild-Card playoff game against the hosting Carolina Panthers, according to Stu Jackson of TheRams.com. Adams has not played since aggravating his left hamstring injury in the Week 15 win over the Detroit Lions. However, he returned to practice last week and should be ready to roll against Carolina to begin the playoffs. Despite missing the final three games of the regular season, the 33-year-old veteran pass-catcher still finished with a league-high 14 touchdown receptions in his 14 games played in his first year with the Rams. Adams could be a step slower in his return for the postseason, but his chemistry with quarterback Matthew Stafford should be enough to make him a popular DFS play.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys running back Phil Mafah got his first taste of NFL action in Week 18 against the New York Giants and finished the game with 29 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on seven touches. A seventh-round pick out of Clemson in the 2025 NFL draft, Mafah spent most of his rookie season on Injured Reserve with a shoulder injury. He got his chance to make an impression in Week 18 due to injuries to Cowboys running backs Javonte Williams (shoulder, neck) and Malik Davis (calf, eye). Heading into 2026, the Cowboys' running back room is in flux. Williams was the team's clear RB1 throughout the 2025 season, but he will hit free agency and is uncertain to be retained. Davis is also a free agent, though Dallas holds his restricted free agent rights. Depending on how the Cowboys choose to address the running back position this offseason, Mafah could find himself battling with 2025 fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue for a role in the Dallas backfield.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins finished his rookie season by hauling in two catches for 23 yards and a touchdown on five targets in his team's 38-30 Week 18 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Higgins established himself as Houston's WR2 alongside star wideout Nico Collins over the course of the 2025 season, recording 41 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns on 68 targets across 17 games played. The 23-year-old recorded at least five targets in six out of his final nine games of the season and finished the year on a two-game touchdown-scoring streak. While Higgins has more work to do before he can be viewed as a consistent fantasy contributor, he flashed high upside at certain points throughout 2025, particularly as a big-bodied red zone target.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell continued to function as one of his team's most trusted offensive weapons in Week 18, recording 74 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 13 touches in a win over the Baltimore Ravens. While Gainwell scored his touchdown as a rusher, he did most of his work as a receiver, hauling in eight catches for 64 yards on nine targets. The 26-year-old finishes his 2025 season with 1,023 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns on 187 touches across 17 games played. He earned at least seven targets from Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in four out of the team's final five games. Gainwell will be a free agent once Pittsburgh's 2025 playoff run ends, so he's uncertain to be back with the Steelers next season. However, he could be a valuable PPR option for fantasy managers in 2026, particularly if he ends up playing alongside Rodgers in Pittsburgh for a second straight year.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) told reporters he is "not really sure" if he will be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season and that he had "a lot messed up" in his injured knee, per SNY's Connor Hughes. Nabers suffered a torn ACL and a torn meniscus in his right knee in late September, ending his 2025 season. However, swelling in the knee was severe enough that he did not undergo surgery until late October. Hughes reports that Nabers was spotted walking with the assistance of a cane on Sunday. When healthy, Nabers has been one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the NFL. Across 19 career games played, he's hauled in 127 receptions for 1,475 yards and nine touchdowns on 205 targets. It's not a great sign that the first few months of Nabers' recovery appear to be limited, but he still obviously has time to get healthy before 2026 training camp begins. Nabers' health will be a storyline for fantasy managers to closely monitor over the course of the offseason.

From RotoBaller

Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson said there is "no situation where he can't see himself playing football next year," per Connor Hughes of SNY. Wilson, who will turn 38 in November, is entering free agency after playing the 2025 season on a one-year contract with the New York Giants. He opened the season as the starter in New York but was benched for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart after three weeks of action. Across six games (three starts) overall in 2025, Wilson completed 58.0% of his pass attempts for 831 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. By the end of the year, Wilson was behind both Dart and Jameis Winston on the Giants' quarterback depth chart. Wilson may have a market as a veteran stopgap quarterback or a high-end backup, but it's difficult to envision him carrying fantasy value heading into 2026.

From RotoBaller

Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Parker Washington continues to dazzle of late, hauling in five of his nine targets in Week 18 for 87 yards and a touchdown. That now makes it three consecutive weeks that Washington has led the Jaguars in targets, and the second time he has scored in the past three weeks. Over the past three weeks, he has seen 29 targets, caught 19 of them, and has racked up 347 receiving yards. With Trevor Lawrence playing some of the best football of his career, Washington has stood out in a crowded, expansive receiver room that includes Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., and tight end Brenton Strange. The Jaguars just capped off a 2025 regular season, finishing 13-4 and winning the AFC South. Washington finished the regular season with 58 receptions, 847 yards, and five touchdowns, with a lot of his production coming in the past few weeks and when Thomas Jr. missed time earlier in the season.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue was a non-factor for the Cowboys during the 2026 season. Still, with them missing the playoffs and having nothing to play for in Week 17, they decided to rest a handful of starters, such as running back Javonte Williams, which allowed Blue to get the start. He made the most out of it, rushing 16 times for 64 yards (4.0 YPC) and scoring his first career touchdown. He out-touched rookie Phil Mafah 16 to five in this contest. Blue was not involved at all in the passing game and finished his rookie campaign with 38 rush attempts for 129 yards (3.39 YPC) and one touchdown. Cowboys lead running back, Williams, was on a one-year deal, meaning his return to the team will certainly impact Blue's 2026 outlook. The former fifth-round pick in 2025, Blue, remains a dynasty stash at best.

From RotoBaller

Mike Chappell, a long-time sports journalist who covers the Indianapolis Colts, reported that head coach Shane Steichen said there is a "Mutual Desire" for Daniel Jones (Achilles) to return to Indianapolis and resume as the starting quarterback for the Colts once healthy. Jones had himself a phenomenal 2025 season before injuring his Achilles in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He led the Colts to an 8-2 record before the team lost its last seven games, finishing the season 8-9. The Colts brought Jones in over the off-season on a one-year, $14M contract, and with him expected to be an unrestricted free agent in the off-season, there appears to be interest in having him return to quarterback the Colts in 2026. Latest reports suggest Jones will be ready for training camp in 2026. The 28-year-old threw for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, while rushing for 164 yards on 45 rushing attempts and five scores over 13 games in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers DL Cameron Heyward totaled a team-high seven tackles (five solo) in a Week 18 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

From TheHuddle

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Jonnu Smith had a two-yard reception and a two-yard run against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18.

Fantasy Spin: Smith broke open for a potential big gain, but Aaron Rodgers overshot him, and Smith's other two touches led to just four yards. He holds zero fantasy appeal right now.

From TheHuddle