

Mon Jan 5 12:13am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Stevenson scores three times
That was quite the finish to the regular season, capped off by an epic Sunday night game between the Ravens and Steelers. But this week showed why Week 18 can be so uncertain for fantasy owners. Several teams rested starters and others pulled players after opening the game in the starting lineup. It caused plenty of fantasy headaches. The good news is we still had some huge fantasy games this last week. Hopefully, you had some of those players on your roster if you were still playing this week.
Bucs 16, Panthers 14
Fantasy Stud: Cade Otton. Otton was the surprise leading receiver for the Bucs. He had seven receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown. His yardage total was a season high. Otton had a season-high 22.4 fantasy points in the game. It was the first time he hit double-digit fantasy points since Week 10.
Fantasy Dud: Rico Dowdle. There were a lot of fantasy duds in this one but we’ll give it to Dowdle, who most thought would get a heavy workload in this matchup. He ran seven times for just 10 yards and caught two passes for 20 yards. He also lost a fumble, finishing with four fantasy points. It was Dowdle’s worst game since Week 2 of the season.
Game Notes: With Ja’Tavion Sanders out, Tommy Tremble had a much bigger role in the game. He had three receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Seahawks 13, 49ers 3
Fantasy Stud: Zach Charbonnet. Charbonnet had 17 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown. He also had three receptions for 23 yards. He has found the end zone three straight games for the Seahawks. Charbonnet finishes the season with 12 rushing touchdowns.
Fantasy Dud: Brock Purdy. There were a lot of bad fantasy performances from the 49ers but Purdy might have been the most disappointing. He had been red hot but was just 19-of-27 for 127 yards with an interception. He scored just 7.45 fantasy points. Purdy had 30-plus points three straight games before this poor showing.
Game Notes: Kenneth Walker topped 100 total yards, finishing with 133 total yards. He ran 16 times for 97 yards and caught four passes for 36 yards.
Jaguars 41, Titans 7
Fantasy Stud: Parker Washington. Washington continued his red-hot ways, catching five passes for 87 yard and a touchdown. He scored 19.7 fantasy points, giving him three straight games with 19-plus points. Washington has been the go-to target for the Jaguars passing game down the stretch.
Fantasy Dud: Tony Pollard. Pollard had really picked up his play in recent weeks but struggled in this one. He ran 15 times for just 48 yards and caught two passes for 18 yards. Pollard failed to hit double-digit fantasy points for the first time since Week 13. He had four straight games with double-digit fantasy points before this showing.
Game Notes: Trevor Lawrence didn’t even play the full game but had his usual great numbers. He was 22-of-30 for 255 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover.
Vikings 16, Packers 3
Fantasy Stud: Justin Jefferson. Jefferson had his third 100-yard game of the season and first since Week 5. He had eight receptions for 101 yards on 11 targets. He went over 1,000 yards for the season with his big performance to end his season.
Fantasy Dud: Matthew Golden. Golden got the start and was expected to serve as the top receiver for the Packers this week with the team resting starters. This didn’t lead to a big game, though. He had just a catch for eight yards. It was almost a fitting finish to his disappointing rookie season.
Game Notes: J.J. McCarthy was unable to finish the game because of a hand injury. He was playing well before leaving, going 14-of-23 for 182 yards.
Browns 20, Bengals 18
Fantasy Stud: Ja’Marr Chase. Chase had another one of his big games. He caught eight passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. He found the end zone for the second straight game. He had a huge finish to his season, scoring 20-plus points three of his last four games. And he had 19.9 fantasy points in the game he failed to reach 20.
Fantasy Dud: Shedeur Sanders. Sanders struggled to do much in this one, which looked like a favorable matchup for him. He finished just 11-of-22 for 111 yards without a touchdown or an interception. Sanders scored just 7.15 fantasy points. He didn’t exactly cement himself as the franchise starter with his play this year. It will be interesting to see who is under center for the Browns in 2026.
Game Notes: Chase Brown scored a touchdown for the third straight game. He ran 13 times for 72 yards and caught four passes for 18 yards and a touchdown.
Giants 34, Cowboys 17
Fantasy Stud: Tyrone Tracy. Tracy had a huge dual-threat performance to end his season. He ran 18 times for 103 yards. Tracy also had eight receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. He finished with 159 total yards and a score. Tracy scored a season-high 28.9 fantasy points.
Fantasy Dud: Dak Prescott. He didn’t play the full game with the Cowboys playing for nothing, but you still expected Prescott to produce a little better. He failed to score a touchdown in this game, going 7-of-11 for just 70 yards. He still had a great year but his finish was a little disappointing for any fantasy team that used him in Week 18.
Game Notes: Jaydon Blue got his most work as a pro, getting a chance to start. He ran pretty well, rushing 16 times for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Falcons 19, Saints 17
Fantasy Stud: Drake London. London had four receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. It was good to see London get it going again since doing little the last several weeks. He had not reached double-digit fantasy points since Week 11. London had 17.8 points in this one. Injuries derailed what looked like a career-best season for London.
Fantasy Dud: Bijan Robinson. Robinson was really quiet in a game he got plenty of work. He ran 15 times for just 33 yards and caught three passes for 10 yards. It was an unexpected showing, especially after his huge game the previous week. Robinson still had a monster season and is likely to be the top overall pick for many fantasy owners next season.
Game Notes: Tyler Shough was 23-of-35 for 259 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He also ran in a score, finishing with 25.35 fantasy points.
Texans 38, Colts 30
Fantasy Stud: Alec Pierce. Pierce had a huge game, catching four passes for 132 yards. And he missed much of the second half after getting ejected for making contact with an official. He could have posted even better numbers. Pierce scored 29.2 fantasy points, which was a season best for him. He had 24-plus points two of his last three games.
Fantasy Dud: Michael Pittman. Pittman played his usual snaps and his team had plenty of success throwing the ball, but Pittman didn’t do much. He had just two receptions for 20 yards. You expected better from the Colts No. 1 receiver with the team having so much success throwing the ball.
Game Notes: Riley Leonard got his first NFL start and played a solid game. He was 21-of-34 for 281 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
Bills 35, Jets 8
Fantasy Stud: Mitchell Trubisky. Trubsiky had a huge game, getting a chance to serve as the Bills starter. He was 22-of-29 for 259 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. It was an impressive performance from the backup quarterback. Maybe this gets him a chance to start again next season.
Fantasy Dud: Adonai Mitchell. There was some hope for Mitchell to have a decent game, getting a chance to serve as the top target for the Jets again against the backups for the Bills. Well, Mitchell didn’t catch a pass in this game. He was targeted three times but was unable to connect on any of them.
Game Notes: Ray Davis had a monster game, rushing 21 times for 151 yards. He also had two receptions for 23 yards and another touchdown.
Patriots 38, Dolphins 10
Fantasy Stud: Rhamondre Stevenson. Stevenson is red hot right now for the Patriots. He found the end zone three times in this game on just nine touches. He ran seven times for 131 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 22 yards and another score. Stevenson scored 35.3 fantasy points and has found the end zone three straight games.
Fantasy Dud: Drake Maye. Maye played his usual good game but didn’t help fantasy teams with his team scoring four rushing touchdowns. Maye was 14-of-18 for 191 yards and a touchdown without a turnover. Maye scored 17.65 fantasy points, his lowest total since Week 5.
Game Notes: TreVeyon Henderson scored multiple touchdowns for the fourth time this season. He ran 13 times for 53 yards and two touchdowns.
Rams 37, Cardinals 20
Fantasy Stud: Puka Nacua. Nacua had another one of his game-changing performances. He had 10 receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. Nacua scored 26 fantasy points. He has 26-plus points four of his last five games to end his season. Nacua had a monster season.
Fantasy Dud: Kyren Williams. Williams played fine but had a pretty quiet fantasy performance in a game that the Rams racked up the fantasy points. Williams ran 12 times for 60 yards and caught three passes for 21 yards. It was a ho-hum performance from the Rams top back.
Game Notes: Matthew Stafford was back to his MVP ways this week. He was 25-of-40 for 259 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover.
Lions 19, Bears 16
Fantasy Stud: Colston Loveland. Loveland had a monster game and was the clear top target for the Bears passing game. He had 10 receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown 13 targets. He has been targeted double-digit fantasy times each of his last two games. He has 21-plus fantasy points each of those two games.
Fantasy Dud: Luther Burden. There were some high expectations for Burden but he was not much of a factor. Burden had three receptions for 35 yards. It was his lowest catch total since Week 12. He just wasn’t a huge part of the passing game as the Bears struggled to get their receivers involved.
Game Notes: Amon-Ra St. Brown had double-digit receptions for the second game this season. He had 11 catches for 139 yards on 15 targets.
Commanders 24, Eagles 17
Fantasy Stud: Tank Bigsby. Bigsby looked good as the lead back for the Eagles. He ran 16 times for 75 yards and a touchdown. He also had a 31-yard reception, giving him 106 total yards. Bigsby scored a season-high 17.6 fantasy points.
Fantasy Dud: Jacory Croskey-Merritt. With the Eagles resting many of their starters, Croskey-Merritt was an intriguing fantasy option with his recent solid play. But he didn’t even lead the Commanders in carries in this game. He ran 13 times for just 29 yards and didn’t catch a pass. He had his ups and downs his rookie season but showed some promise at times, so he could be a part of their plans next year.
Game Notes: Tanner McKee got the start and played pretty well. He was 21-of-40 for 241 yards and a touchdown with an interception.
Raiders 14, Chiefs 12
Fantasy Stud: Daniel Carlson. There were few offensive bright spots in this game, so we’ll give the stud honors to Daniel Carlson. He made four field goals, including the 60-yarder to win the game. He put up 17.7 fantasy points in most fantasy formats. It was quite the showing for Carlson.
Fantasy Dud: Travis Kelce. We really thought the Chiefs might force-feed Kelce the ball in what might be his NFL game. That didn’t happen with the Chiefs passing game struggling much of the game. Kelce finished with just three receptions for seven yards. Kelce had another great season at tight end but you would have liked to see him end on a high note.
Game Notes: Ashton Jeanty ran the ball 26 times and had three receptions. He had 29 total touches for 94 yards.
Broncos 19, Chargers 3
Fantasy Stud: Broncos defense. The offenses were almost nonexistent in this game. Denver’s defense had a dominating performance, holding the Chargers to just three points and 217 yards of total offense. Denver also had four sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. It was a fitting finish for a defense that was very good much of the year.
Fantasy Dud: RJ Harvey. There were a ton of poor offensive showings for both teams but Harvey gets the nod for us. He ran 15 times for just 28 yards and caught a pass for five yards. Harvey had touchdowns five straight games before this showing. He also scored just 4.3 fantasy points, his lowest total since Week 10.
Game Notes: Trey Lance got the start of the Chargers and didn’t show a whole lot. He did lead the team in rushing, running nine times for 69 yards. But he threw for just 136 yards and failed to score a touchdown.
Steelers 26, Ravens 24
Fantasy Stud: Zay Flowers. Flowers made two huge plays, leading to a big fantasy performance. He had four receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Flowers scored a season-high 29.8 fantasy points. He finishes the season scoring touchdowns four straight games.
Fantasy Dud: Jonnu Smith. With Darnell Washington out for the season, there was some thought Smith would see an uptick in playing time and targets. Well, that didn’t happen this week. He had just a catch for two yards and ran once for two yards. It was more of the same for Smith in Week 18, posting inconsistent numbers.
Game Notes: Derrick Henry had his fourth straight 100-yard game. He ran 20 times for 126 yards and finished with 1,595-rushing yards.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
RTSports Super Bowl Preview
The Seattle Seahawks have elevated running back Cam Akers from the practice squad ahead of their Super Bowl LX matchup with the Patriots. Seattle signed the six-year veteran before a Week 13 matchup with the Vikings, and he was made active for Seattle's regular-season finale against the 49ers, seeing the field for only one snap. With Zach Charbonnet (knee) tearing his ACL in the Seahawks' Divisional Round rubber match with San Francisco, Akers was made active for the NFC Championship, again seeing the field for only one snap. Along with Akers, Seattle has activated Velus Jones Jr., though neither is expected to have any impact on the game. George Holani, who carried the ball three times for four yards against the Rams, will continue to serve as the primary backup to Kenneth Walker III.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to be released before the start of the new league year in March. Coming off a torn Achilles tendon that ended his six-year tenure in Minnesota, Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta before the 2024 season, only to see the team select Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick in that year's draft. Across his 22 starts with the Falcons, Cousins has thrown 28 touchdowns to 21 interceptions, while going 12-10. By releasing him before the new league year, he will have the opportunity to sign with any team of his choosing in 2026, with some speculating that a reunion with the Vikings could be in the cards.
From RotoBaller
For much of the season, New England wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has been one of the Patriots' most reliable big-play threats, even while topping five targets only once all season. The Patriots' offense has struggled of late, and they come into what many are projecting to be a low-scoring Super Bowl LX. Given the circumstances, Boutte is unlikely to volume his way to fantasy relevance, but he has repeatedly shown up at opportune moments, pulling in over 70% of his regular-season targets despite seeing them at an average depth of 17.5 yards. In a game where nobody benefits from leaving potentially explosive plays uncalled, Boutte has a strong chance of making a game-breaking downfield play, keeping him squarely in the DFS conversation.
From RotoBaller
Seahawks veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp has played some of his best ball of the season in Seattle's playoff wins over the 49ers and Rams, and he could be in line for another high-volume performance in Super Bowl LX. After seeing five targets or more in only five regular-season games, he's hit that mark in back-to-back games. New England has the defensive personnel to at least make things difficult for Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and if they are able to limit him on Sunday, Kupp suddenly becomes an integral part of a Seahawks offense that very well could struggle to run the ball. Since his mid-season trade from the Saints, Rashid Shaheed has seen only 28 targets and 16 receptions across 11 games, making a secondary option like Kupp all the more important if New England can succeed at slowing down Smith-Njigba.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson averaged 25 opportunities per game against the Texans and Broncos, but against yet another top-five defense in the Seattle Seahawks, he may see those numbers drop. New England's last two games were each played in inclement weather, with the Patriots rarely trailing, but they enter Super Bowl LX as underdogs for the first time this postseason. While Stevenson, as the superior pass protector, is still likely to see the field more than rookie TreVeyon Henderson, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels approaches his tenth Super Bowl knowing that this game can't be won by playing things safely. Through either game script or a concerted effort to get more explosive players on the field, Stevenson, who topped eight carries only once over the final six games of the regular season, is unlikely to see the type of volume that he has in recent weeks, making him a low-floor DFS play.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has had an excellent postseason so far, recording 256 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 45 touches across two games played. The 25-year-old spent most of the 2025 regular season splitting work with fellow Seahawks back Zach Charbonnet (knee). However, Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in Seattle's Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, ending his postseason early and leading to an increased workload for Walker III. Walker III didn't fully dominate backfield time in the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, as Seahawks RB2 George Holani played 34% of the team's offensive snaps. However, Holani earned just six touches, compared to 23 for Walker III. In Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots, Walker III should remain a heavy feature of the Seahawks' offensive game plan. Walker III is one of the NFL's most explosive running backs, which makes him a high-upside DFS play on Sunday even at an elevated price.
From RotoBaller
Across 17 games in the 2025 regular season, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs recorded 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns on 102 targets. However, the 32-year-old has not been quite as productive across three postseason contests, hauling in 11 catches for 73 yards and a score on 17 targets. In Super Bowl LX, Diggs is now facing a tough matchup against the Seattle Seahawks defense. Seattle finished the regular season ranked first among NFL defenses in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.0) and tied for seventh in passing touchdowns allowed (20). Diggs also faces playing time questions. New England has been judicious with his snap count throughout his first season with the team, and Diggs played just 47% of the Patriots' offensive snaps in the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos. Between the matchup and his relatively limited production ceiling, Diggs may be a tough wide receiver for DFS fantasy managers to trust on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was named the 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday, cementing his case as the league's best pass-catcher this season. Across 17 games in the regular season, the 23-year-old hauled in 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns on 163 targets. After a quiet performance in Seattle's blowout Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, Smith-Njigba returned to his usual dominant form in the NFC Championship Game, recording 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. Smith-Njigba figures to be the focal point of the Seattle pass game once again in Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots. Across 19 total games this season, Smith-Njigba has recorded fewer than 18.3 PPR fantasy points just five times. While he will be a popular DFS option on Sunday, Smith-Njigba's consistency makes him a safe player to build lineups around.
From RotoBaller
The San Francisco 49ers are not looking to trade backup quarterback Mac Jones this offseason, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Russini reports that while "things and offers could change," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan "loves what he has" in Jones. With San Francisco starter Brock Purdy missing eight games in 2025 due to injury, Jones played a critical role in keeping the 49ers' season afloat. Across his eight starts, the 27-year-old threw for 2,147 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Jones averaged 7.4 yards per pass attempt in 2025, his first time clearing 6.8 yards per attempt since his 2021 rookie season with the New England Patriots. San Francisco signed Jones to a two-year contract last offseason, so the team could easily decide to keep him until he reaches free agency after the 2026 season. However, if a quarterback-needy team views Jones as a potential long-term solution, it might make the 49ers an offer that is too good to pass up.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has yet to decide whether he will return to the NFL in 2026, but that "many close to him believe he could return" and a "14th season is looking more real than ever." Kelce will turn 37 years old in October. While he's not the same player he was at his peak, the veteran tight end remained productive in 2025. Across 17 games, Kelce hauled in 76 receptions for 851 yards and five touchdowns on 108 targets. If Kelce does indeed decide to suit up in 2026, he will likely still be one of the top pass-catchers in Kansas City, particularly given the potential of a suspension for Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice. However, Kelce may be without Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) for the early part of the year as Mahomes recovers from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby (knee) said on Friday that he's ahead of schedule in his rehab from left knee surgery that he had around a month ago, according to ESPN. "I'm ahead of schedule, and it's business as usual," Crosby said. "It's my eighth surgery in seven years. It's something that I've gotten used to. It's all about perspective, about how you approach what you want to accomplish. I'm willing to run that marathon." The Raiders put the 28-year-old on Injured Reserve with two games left in the 2025 season, which started speculation about Crosby's future in Sin City. Crosby was not happy with the move and left the team's facilities. It's unclear exactly how Crosby feels, but there have been plenty of rumors that he doesn't want to go through another rebuild after the team finished 3-14 last year. Regardless of where he's playing in 2026, Crosby will remain a high-end DE in fantasy IDP leagues after posting double-digit sacks in three of the last four years.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reiterated the team's desire to reach a long-term contract extension with impending free-agent wide receiver George Pickens, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "He's better than, as far as what he contributed to our team, showing the potential that he could contribute. I'm looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time," Jones said. In his first year with Dallas in 2025, Pickens led the Cowboys in receiving and earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors with a career-best 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on a career-high 93 receptions over 17 games. Jones and the Cowboys have a history of dragging out extensions for their star players, though, so nothing is guaranteed for Pickens. However, in Pickens' case, the team seems likely to use the franchise tag to keep him around in 2026 if an extension cannot be reached. If Pickens is in Dallas next season, he'll be a clear WR1 target in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle) was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday this week and is officially questionable to play on Sunday in Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks, per the NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe. Linebacker Harold Landry (ankle) is also questionable. The 30-year-old Spillane injured his ankle in the AFC Championship game victory over the Denver Broncos. If Spillane is limited or unable to play at all on Sunday, it would be a pretty notable loss for the Patriots' defense. Spillane finished his first regular season with the Pats with 97 tackles (48 solo), one sack, two interceptions, five pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 13 starts. Jack Gibbens would make the start at inside linebacker against the Seahawks if Spillane is inactive.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (shoulder) practiced in full all week and has been cleared to play in Super Bowl LX on Sunday versus the Seattle Seahawks. Maye was listed as questionable at the end of last week after suffering a minor right-shoulder injury in the AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos, but the Patriots were never concerned that it would affect him going into the Super Bowl. The 23-year-old second-year signal-caller out of North Carolina led the NFL with a 72% completion percentage in 17 regular-season games and finished as the QB3 in fantasy scoring, but he's completed only 55.8% of his passes for 533 yards, four touchdowns, and two picks in his first three playoff games. Maye has also fumbled six times (three lost) in the postseason. He'll need to be much better on Sunday against a Seattle defense that allowed the seventh-fewest passing TDs (20) during the regular season.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks rookie safety Nick Emmanwori (ankle) was a full participant in Friday's practice and was removed from the final injury report for Super Bowl LX on Sunday against the New England Patriots, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson. Emmanwori suffered a low-ankle sprain in practice on Wednesday and was held out of Thursday's practice, but he's now ready to go this weekend. It's great news for a Seahawks defense that has been among the best units in the NFL all year. The 21-year-old Emmanwori was in contention for Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 81 tackles (56 solo), 2.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, four QB hits, an interception, and 11 pass breakups in 14 regular-season games. He had a strong NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams, too, with five tackles (four solo) and three pass breakups. Emmanwori will hope to make life difficult for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the Super Bowl.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (oblique) practiced in full for a second straight day on Friday and was removed from the final injury report ahead of Super Bowl LX on Sunday versus the New England Patriots. Darnold suffered a left-oblique injury in practice just days before the team's Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, but it hasn't affected him in two playoff victories on the road to the Super Bowl. The 28-year-old signal-caller has gone 37-for-53 for 470 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions in wins over the 49ers and Los Angeles Rams in the postseason, and his oblique injury should not be an issue at all this weekend. He'll be facing off against a Patriots defense on Sunday that allowed the ninth-fewest passing yards during the regular season, although their schedule was extremely soft. His counterpart, Drake Maye, will be the more popular DFS play in the Super Bowl because he finished as the QB3 in fantasy during the regular season, but Darnold has looked much sharper than Maye in the playoffs.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce had arguably the best season of his young career in 2025, recording 47 receptions for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns across 15 games played. Pierce remains one of the NFL's most dangerous downfield threats, as he averaged 21.3 yards per reception in 2025 and has led the league in that stat for two years running. However, the 25-year-old also showed signs of becoming a more consistent feature of the Colts' offense this past year. After averaging 4.3 targets per game over the first three seasons of his career, Pierce averaged 5.6 targets per contest in 2025. Pierce is now set to hit unrestricted free agency this spring, but it appears Indianapolis will be looking to bring him back after trading away 2024 second-round wide receiver Adonai Mitchell in the middle of the 2025 season. With the Colts, Pierce profiles as the team's WR2, a role he has proven he can produce in. He may never be an ultra-high volume target earner, but Pierce's fantasy value in dynasty formats should be on the rise after 2025, particularly in leagues that use half and non-PPR scoring.
From RotoBaller
A fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten flashed high-end upside at points throughout his rookie season. The 22-year-old's overall stat line does not jump off the page, as he finished the year with 386 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 93 touches across 15 games played. However, Tuten spent the year behind Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. on the depth chart. While Jacksonville may choose to re-sign him, Etienne Jr. is now set to hit unrestricted free agency and might command a pricy contract on the open market after producing nearly 1,400 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025. If the Jaguars let Etienne Jr. walk, Tuten may be in line to take on the team's RB1 role in 2026. Between Etienne Jr. 2025 and Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving in 2024, Jacksonville head coach and play-caller Liam Coen has proven the ability to manufacture high-value seasons for his running backs. Given the potential opportunity for him in Jacksonville, Tuten should be a player whose value is on the rise in dynasty fantasy formats.
From RotoBaller
In his first season with the team in 2024, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. recorded over 1,500 yards from scrimmage and played 17 games, earning himself a second contract. However, Jones Sr. struggled through injuries and a production decline in 2025, logging just 747 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on 160 touches across 12 games played. Even when Jones Sr. was healthy, Minnesota split backfield work between him and Jordan Mason, limiting the production upside for both players. If Jones Sr. is back with the Vikings in 2026, he figures to work in a timeshare with Mason once again. Minnesota could also save $8 million against the cap by releasing Jones Sr., so the veteran running back may find himself in a new home come September. Regardless of where Jones Sr. is playing in 2026, his days as a true lead back for an NFL team may be coming to an end as he hits his age-32 season.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton posted another rock-solid season in 2025, recording 74 receptions for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns on 124 targets across 17 games played. His 2025 line is nearly identical to his 2024 production, when he hauled in 81 grabs for 1,081 yards and eight scores on 135 targets. While Sutton may not carry elite fantasy upside, he's established himself as the number one pass-catcher in an above-average Broncos' offense and has proven he can provide a consistent production floor. However, Sutton's long-term fantasy outlook may be dimming heading into 2026. For one, Sutton will be entering his age-31 season. Additionally, Denver has multiple wide receivers on rookie contracts in Pat Bryant, Troy Franklin, and Marvin Mims Jr., who are all candidates to take a step forward next year. Sutton will likely remain a safe wide receiver option for redraft leagues in 2026, but dynasty managers may be wise to anticipate the start of his decline phase.
From RotoBaller