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Draft Masters - FFL: Offseason | NFL: Offseason

Lineup Prep: Wild Card Weekend

Wed Jan 7 10:17am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Etienne could come up big


Just because the regular season is over doesn’t mean your fantasy season has to end. We have some unbelievable fantasy playoff contests here at RealTime Fantasy Sports. If you have never played in a playoff fantasy contest, I highly recommend giving one a try. There is so much strategy involved and it is a different way to play fantasy. Check out all our contests here: rtsports.com/playoffs. We have a variety of games and price points to fit all our fantasy needs. 

And you can start your own playoff league as well and come up with any rules you would like with our playoff commish product: rtsports.com/playoff-commissioner. There are just numerous ways to keep playing fantasy football during the playoffs.

Now for my random thoughts for the week. . . . .

I really feel like this playoff is the hardest to figure out in a long, long time. We just have so many new teams in the mix and some of the old favorites are out of the mix this year. I know I’m having a hard time coming up with all my fantasy playoff rosters because of this. For now, my prediction is a New England/Seattle Super Bowl. My confidence level is low with that pick, though. I like the path for the Patriots and feel they might be the most complete team on both sides of the ball for the AFC. Seattle is a wild card because of Sam Darnold but if can make some big plays in the playoffs, this team can make a run. The defense is so good and Seattle is pretty battle tested, beating most of the main competition to come out of the NFC already during the regular season. Plus, home-field advantage in Seattle is huge.

Like most, I was shocked with the Ravens parting ways with John Harbaugh. He was one of the last coaches I thought would get fired this offseason. He has been a mainstay with the Ravens for 18 seasons and guided them to a ton of success. He should have no trouble finding work again, though. I guess the Ravens just wanted a new voice at the helm. It does make some sense after some disappointing seasons in recent years. Maybe the message had become stale from Harbaugh. And I’m going to give the Ravens the benefit of the doubt here. Baltimore has a pretty top-notch organization from the top down, so I would expect them to find a good fit for the team going forward. But either way, this was some shocking news this week. Never a dull moment in the NFL.

There are going to be some tough players to rank next year. I have not started yet on my 2026 rankings like some but know I will struggle some with those initial rankings. Both Drake Maye and Trevor Lawrence were top five in quarterback scoring this year. Do you keep those guys near the top of the rankings next season? Tough call.

And where do you put Michael Wilson? He had an unbelievable season half to his season, moving him all the way to 11th overall in fantasy receiver scoring. Is he going to sustain that level of success with Marvin Harrison healthy and the Cardinals likely having a different quarterback or Kyler Murray back. I’m sure ranking Wilson will be polarizing for the fantasy community.

Lastly, Kyle Pitts finally moved back to fantasy relevance, ranking second overall in tight end scoring. Is this going to be the Kyle Pitts going forward or is he going to revert back to the inconsistent player from the past few years? Plus, Pitts could be with a new team next year, clouding things even more. These are just a handful of the tough ranking decisions for 2026. This is what makes it so much fun, though, right?

HOT PLAYS

Travis Etienne, RB, Jaguars. Etienne hasn’t produced quite as well down the stretch as he did earlier in the season but the Jaguars are relying more on the pass now, having so much success throwing the ball. Etienne still has 16-plus fantasy points three of his last five games. He is more than capable of the big game. And the Bills have struggled to stop the run all season long. Buffalo allowed the eighth most fantasy points to running backs this season. The Bills allowed more than 200-rushing yards four different times this season. Etienne could have some big-time success in this one.

Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans. Schultz had one of his best seasons as a pro this year, posting much more consistent numbers. He has been especially good of late, having 11-plus fantasy points three of four games. Schultz has 70-plus yards two of those games. Look for him to make some big plays this week against the Steelers, a team that struggles to stop the tight end. Pittsburgh allowed the third most fantasy points to tight ends this season.

Caleb Williams, QB, Bears. Williams had a breakout regular season and will look to carry that over to the playoffs. He gets a Packers team that he had multiple touchdowns against in each of the games he played them this year. Williams finished the season with 21-plus fantasy points three of his last four games. Look for more of the same this week against Green Bay, a team that was more leaky against the pass late in the year.

COLD PLAYS   

Omarion Hampton, RB, Chargers. Hampton was rested last week in the Chargers meaningless game but is expected back this week to serve as the lead back for the team. Hampton hasn’t had a ton of success running the ball since returning from injury in Week 14. He has less than 65-rushing yards three of four games. The only thing saving his fantasy value is he is finding the end zone on a pretty regular basis. We aren’t sure he scores this week against the Patriots, though. New England allowed the fifth fewest fantasy points to running backs.

Jakobi Meyers, WR, Jaguars. A move to Jacksonville was a great one for Meyers. He has emerged as the No. 1 receiver for Trevor Lawrence. He has cooled some lately, though, after a quick start to his Jacksonville career. He has less than 50 yards three straight games, failing to hit double-digit fantasy points in any of those games. It could be tough sledding again for him this week against the Bills, a team that allowed the fourth fewest fantasy points to receivers.

George Kittle, TE, 49ers. Kittle returned last week from his ankle injury but was pretty quiet, catching five passes for 29 yards. It was his lowest yardage total since Week 7. Kittle gets another tough defense this week, playing Philadelphia. The Eagles have been dominant against the tight end, allowing the second fewest fantasy points to tight ends. You might want to temper your expectations for Kittle in this one.

SLEEPERS    

C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans. Stroud has turned around his game the second half of the season, getting the Texans passing offense going. He has multiple touchdowns two straight games and three of four. With the Texans struggling to run the ball, look for Stroud to carry the offense this week against a bad Steelers secondary. Pittsburgh allowed some big plays to the Ravens passing attack last week and gave up the fourth most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.

Luther Burden, WR, Bears. Burden has become the go-to receiver for the Bears down the stretch. He has 11-plus fantasy points three of four games. He has 80-plus yards two of those games. He is making big plays on a weekly basis, showing his ability after the catch to make things happen. We like him to make a big play or two this week against the Packers. He had a solid four catches for 67 yards in his only game against the Packers in Week 14.

Blake Corum, RB, Rams. Corum has formed a nice one-two punch with Kyren Williams. He is getting consistent work in that role, having double-digit carries four of his last five games. He has 13-plus fantasy points four of six games. We like the Rams to run often this week against the Panthers, a team that is very good against the pass but can struggle to stop the run. Corum ran seven times for 81 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers in Week 13. Carolina has allowed at least 140-rushing yards three straight games and five of six.

High/Low Scoring Games

Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low-scoring games for the coming week. In high-scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low-scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.

High Scoring Games: Bills/Jaguars, Packers/Bears, Chargers/Patriots.

Low Scoring Games: Texans/Steelers.

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.

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Player Notes
Jake Bobo Feb 10 8:00pm ET
Jake Bobo

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (hand) played 35 offensive snaps in the Super Bowl LX win over the New England Patriots despite being less than two weeks removed from hand surgery, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. Bobo had a pin put in his right hand to fix a metacarpal fracture the day after the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams. "Got the stitches out yesterday and was ready to go," Bobo said on Sunday after the Super Bowl victory. The 27-year-old caught two passes on three targets for 33 yards and a touchdown in the first two playoff games, but he wasn't targeted at all in the Super Bowl. Bobo caught both of his targets for 20 yards in 11 regular-season games and will enter this offseason as a restricted free agent. Regardless of where Bobo is playing in 2026, he'll be off the fantasy football radar.

From RotoBaller

Dawson Knox Feb 10 7:50pm ET
Dawson Knox

The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia lists Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox as a cut candidate this offseason. The Bills can save $9.664 million if they were to cut Knox, who caught 36 of his 49 targets for 417 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in 2025. Buffalo already has Dalton Kincaid and Jackson Hawes, players with complementary skill sets, and the team has already committed to giving Kincaid his fifth-year option for 2027. Hawes is signed through 2028. Knox has a solid blend of both pass-catching and blocking skills, and he's also one of quarterback Josh Allen's best friends on the team, which makes a decision to cut him more difficult. Ultimately, saving over $9 million will probably trump everything else. Buffalo currently projects to be over the 2026 salary cap by just $7 million. The 29-year-old Knox might see a bump in fantasy value if he joins a new team.

From RotoBaller

Shedeur Sanders Feb 10 7:40pm ET
Shedeur Sanders

The Athletic's Zac Jackson predicts that the Cleveland Browns give quarterback Shedeur Sanders the "runway to be the No. 1 QB for the summer and early fall." Sanders, who fell to the fifth round in last year's NFL draft, held the starting gig for the final seven games of the 2025 season and was predictably inconsistent, completing 56.6% of his 212 pass attempts for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 picks. He added 21 rushing attempts for 169 yards and a touchdown. Along with Sanders, Deshaun Watson (Achilles) and Dillon Gabriel are the only other QBs on the roster. As of now, Sanders is probably first in line, but it's early in the offseason, and the depth chart remains fluid. New head coach Todd Monken was non-committal on the QB situation at his first press conference. The Browns could add to the QB competition by taking a signal-caller in this year's draft, giving Sanders more competition.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Feb 10 7:30pm ET
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was a disappointment for fantasy managers in 2025 while missing seven games because of shoulder and foot injuries. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson had good things to say about Irving, though, and the 23-year-old could be a popular bounce-back candidate this fall with Rachaad White likely to leave in free agency. "I see Bucky in a very similar light [to Bijan Robinson] there with what he can do in the passing game, and there's not a run concept that he can't run," Robinson said. "So I'm excited to work with Bucky and know that there is a ton of meat on the bone in the passing game." Irving, a fourth-rounder in 2024 out of Oregon, rushed for 588 yards and only one touchdown on 173 carries in 10 games in 2025, but he proved to be worthy of lead-back duties after carrying the ball 207 times for 1,122 yards and eight rushing TDs in 17 games as a rookie. Don't sleep on Irving going into next season.

From RotoBaller

Maxx Crosby Feb 10 7:20pm ET
Maxx Crosby

Las Vegas Raiders new head coach Klint Kubiak said on Tuesday that the team wants All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby (knee) back, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. "We want him to be a part of our success going forward, there's no doubt about that," Kubiak said. Trade speculation surrounding Crosby has been rampant since the end of the 2025 season, when the Raiders shut the 28-year-old down with two games remaining against his wishes. Surgery on his meniscus in the offseason further complicates a potential trade, although NFL Network's Ian Rapoport suggested on Monday that Crosby could be traded before the start of free agency in March. If the Raiders can get a return similar to what the Cowboys did for Micah Parsons -- two first-rounders and defensive tackle Kenny Clark -- it might be hard for the team to turn that down as they enter a rebuild. Regardless of where Crosby is playing in 2026, if he's fully healthy, he should be a must-start defensive lineman in IDP fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Feb 10 7:10pm ET
Drake London

The Athletic's Josh Kendall writes that if new Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham's proactive approach carries over from Chicago, wide receiver Drake London "could get a new deal this offseason." London signed a four-year, $21.53 million deal in May of 2022, and the Falcons exercised a $16.82 million team option for the 2026 season in April of last year. A long-term extension makes sense for the 24-year-old, who established himself as one of the league's top wideouts over the last two seasons by catching 168 of his 270 targets for 2,190 yards and 16 touchdowns in 29 games. Kendall believes that London likely sees himself as the type of player who should make at least $30 million annually. Atlanta might view him more in the $25 million-per-year range, but either way, he's key to the Falcons' future.

From RotoBaller

Rashid Shaheed Feb 10 7:10pm ET
Rashid Shaheed

ESPN's Ryan McFadden writes that the Las Vegas Raiders will need to add a top wide receiver who can take attention away from tight end Brock Bowers, and Indianapolis Colts WR Alec Pierce and Seattle Seahawks WR Rashid Shaheed could be targets in free agency. Shaheed is an obvious fit because of his familiarity with new head coach Klint Kubiak's system from their time in Seattle in 2025, and he can provide additional value as a kick returner on special teams. Tre Tucker and Tyler Lockett ended last season as the Raiders' top wideouts following the midseason trade of Jakobi Meyers. Pierce, 25, led the Colts with 47 catches, 1,003 yards, and six touchdowns in 15 games last year, although he could receive the franchise tag. Shaheed, 27, only caught 15 passes for 188 yards and no touchdowns in nine regular-season games with the Seahawks after being acquired from the Saints, and he'd be a questionable fit with a rookie quarterback.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Feb 10 7:00pm ET
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons impending free-agent tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. seems likely to remain in Atlanta in 2026, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. Kendall believes the franchise tag for Pitts makes the most sense, which would mean Pitts would make a little more than $16.3 million in 2026. Placing the franchise tag on the 25-year-old would give new head coach Kevin Stefanski a year to evaluate Pitts with his own eyes. Pitts teased fantasy managers for years after his 1,000-yard rookie season in 2021, only to fall flat. The former first-rounder finally played up to his abilities in 2025, catching a career-high 88 passes on 118 targets for 928 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in 17 games played. He had at least six catches and 57 yards in five of the final six games. Although Atlanta's quarterback situation is up in the air with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) injured, Pitts' fantasy stock as a TE1 is on the rise going into 2026 if he stays with the Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Mac Jones Feb 10 6:50pm ET
Mac Jones

The San Francisco 49ers continue to say that they plan to hold onto quarterback Mac Jones, who signed a two-year, $8.41 million contract in March of last year. The Athletic's Matt Barrows thinks the trade market for Jones this offseason "will be robust," and "there's a good chance they'll get an offer they can't refuse." Jones displayed excellent processing skills in 2025 and is well-liked in the Niners' locker room. The 27-year-old former first-round pick (15th overall) by the New England Patriots in 2021 out of Alabama kept San Fran's season afloat in 2025 when Brock Purdy was injured, going 5-3 as a starter and throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 11 games played (eight starts). With Sam Darnold as an example, some NFL teams looking for a QB could decide to take a chance on Jones instead of risk a draft pick on a young signal-caller.

From RotoBaller

Wan'Dale Robinson Feb 10 6:40pm ET
Wan'Dale Robinson

ESPN's Turron Davenport doesn't think it would be surprising if the Tennessee Titans kept veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley, given his previous success with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, and sign a free agent such as receiver Wan'Dale Robinson to man the slot. Daboll took advantage of Robinson's ability to create separation with the New York Giants while handling a high target volume. Robinson caught 93 passes under Daboll in 2024 and had 53 of his 92 receptions in 2025 before Daboll was fired after Week 10. The Titans have over $100 million in salary cap space for 2026, so they could focus on adding playmakers like Robinson to help quarterback Cameron Ward as he heads into his sophomore campaign. The 25-year-old Robinson had his first 1,000-yard season in 2025 and has 90-plus catches each of the last two years, but a move to the Titans may make it difficult for him to maintain his pace as a PPR darling.

From RotoBaller

Deshaun Watson Feb 10 6:30pm ET
Deshaun Watson

The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot reports that the last two civil suits against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson have been settled with the women accusing him of sexual misconduct weeks before they were set to go to trial in February and March, according to a league source. The suits were among the 27 that were filed against Watson since 2021 by women accusing him of sexual misconduct during massage appointments. Watson was fined $5 million and suspended for 11 games in 2022 because of his actions. The 30-year-old has been a massive bust for Cleveland since signing a five-year, $230 million contract in March of 2022, and he's played in just 20 games since the start of 2022. Watson suffered multiple Achilles tears in 2024 and will merely be competing for a starting gig this summer. There's still a pretty good chance he never takes another snap as the starter in Cleveland again.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Feb 10 5:20pm ET
Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers definitely want impending free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers to return for the 2026 season, but they are in no hurry for a resolution, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The Steelers don't think it will take quite as long as it did last year for the situation to resolve itself, and in the meantime, they are content to focus on the development of second-year QB Will Howard. With Rodgers away, Howard will have an opportunity to compete to become the QB1 over Mason Rudolph. But it remains to be seen if the former sixth-rounder can become a viable starter in the NFL, and it will be a moot point if Rodgers re-signs in the Steel City. Expect Rodgers to take his time to decide so he can miss the voluntary portion of the offseason program. If the future Hall of Famer does return to Pittsburgh for another year, he'll be a low-end QB2 option for fantasy after throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 16 regular-season games in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye Feb 10 5:00pm ET
Drake Maye

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (shoulder) acknowledged that the hit he took in the AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos was significant as it relates to his right throwing shoulder, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Maye was managing his shoulder injury in the two weeks leading into Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks, but both Maye and the Patriots downplayed the severity. Maye admitted that his shoulder was an issue in the 29-13 loss to Seattle in the Super Bowl, in which he went 27-for-43 passing for 295 yards and two touchdowns. The second-year QB threw picks and lost a fumble as well in what was a disappointing finish to an excellent second year for the North Carolina product. Maye doesn't expect to require surgery, though, and he should be fully healthy going into the 2026 campaign. The 23-year-old led the NFL with a 72% completion percentage during the regular season and finished as a top-five fantasy QB, although New England's regular-season schedule was extremely soft.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Feb 10 3:10pm ET
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London finished 2024 as the WR5 in Half-PPR formats, and at times in 2025, he looked primed for a repeat performance. However, a knee injury cost him four games down the stretch, leaving him looking like a shell of himself upon his return. While the quarterback situation in Atlanta remains unsettled heading into 2026, London has proven himself to be an elite talent in the league, finishing as a top-six graded receiver by PFF in back-to-back seasons. If the Falcons can find even league-average quarterback play for the foreseeable future, London should again be one of the best fantasy bets at the position in 2026 and could actually be undervalued in dynasty leagues, as the current consensus WR8.

From RotoBaller

Kyren Williams Feb 10 3:00pm ET
Kyren Williams

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams has finished as an RB1 in each of the past three seasons, often overcoming lower efficiency outings with sheer volume and touchdowns. In 2025, he saw his per-game touches dip to a three-year low, as second-year back Blake Corum handled a career high 145 carries, forming a true backfield committee down the stretch of the regular season and in two out of three playoff games. Both players looked to have fresh legs on a run that went as deep as the NFC championship game, and it would come as no surprise to see carries divvied up similarly in 2026. With Los Angeles' top-ranked offense expected to return the bulk of its starters, Williams will still be viewed as an RB1 in 2026 redraft leagues and likely just outside of that in dynasty startups, making the 25-year-old a potential early-season sell candidate.

From RotoBaller

Mason Taylor Feb 10 2:50pm ET
Mason Taylor

New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor finished his rookie campaign with 44 receptions for 369 yards and a single touchdown across 13 games, missing the final four weeks with a neck injury. While he saw his value peak after an early-season, two-game stretch that saw him targeted 17 times for 132 yards, his first season in New York never amounted to much of a fantasy impact, spending most of the year bouncing around the waiver wire in redraft leagues. In dynasty formats, his value is more difficult to peg down, as it's unclear just how the blame should be split between a routinely underperforming Jets offense and Taylor himself. While the Jets ranked dead last in both passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2025, Taylor did not do much to help his cause, finishing the year without a single missed tackle forced. He enters 2026 just outside the TE1 conversation, with the potential to plummet quickly if drastic changes don't take shape early in New York.

From RotoBaller

Austin Ekeler Feb 10 2:40pm ET
Austin Ekeler

Pending free agent running back Austin Ekeler signed a two-year deal with the Washington Commanders before the 2024 season, but has struggled with injuries since. The 30-year-old back managed fewer than 70 offensive snaps in 2025 before a devastating Achilles injury ended his season in Week 2. While his touchdown numbers have dropped precipitously from his fantasy glory days with the Chargers, he continued to prove himself a valuable part of the Commanders' passing game. With almost a full year of recovery before the start of the 2026 season and a work ethic second to none, it should come as no surprise if he signs a minimal short-term deal when free agency opens in March, potentially carving out a dedicated third-down role. While his RB1 days are clearly behind him, he could represent a next-to-nothing dynasty buy with the occasional spike week still in his future.

From RotoBaller

Puka Nacua Feb 10 2:30pm ET
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua finished as the WR1 in Half-PPR formats in 2025, and the 24-year-old wideout belongs in the conversation at the top of the position in dynasty startups. His 95.3 receiving yards per game since his record-breaking 2023 rookie campaign is the highest in NFL history, and with quarterback Matthew Stafford insinuating his return during NFL Honors, the Rams appear poised for another all-in title push in 2026. Nacua, Ja'Marr Chase, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba comprise the top tier at the position. While youth slightly favors Smith-Njigba, and long-term quarterback stability belongs to Chase, Nacua enters 2026 in the most favorable overall position and is the most likely to see his value rise throughout the season. While drafters can't go wrong with any of the three, Nacua makes sense at the top of the draft for those building both an instant contender or long-term juggernaut.

From RotoBaller

Ben Sinnott Feb 10 2:00pm ET
Ben Sinnott

Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott's role could change in 2026 with new offensive coordinator David Blough calling plays, according to JP Finlay of NBC Sports. "It seemed pretty clear that Kliff didn't see him as a long-term piece of the offense, just because he didn't get many looks," The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala said. Sinnott only had 11 catches on 13 targets for 114 yards and one touchdown in 16 games for the Commanders in 2025 in his second year in the NFL, even though Ertz missed four games after tearing his ACL. Ertz probably won't be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign and is also a free agent, so Sinnott's role could grow significantly in Washington's offense in his third year in the league. That could change, depending on who the team adds via the draft and free agency in the offseason, but as of right now, Sinnott could be a TE sleeper to monitor.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Feb 10 1:30pm ET
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans' agent, Deryk Gilmore, hinted that his client is leaning toward playing again in 2026, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. "Mike started the season in great shape. Most people in the organization said he probably had the best camp of everyone. He finished feeling better than he has in several seasons. I think his competitive nature leads to more football. That is my hope," Gilmore said. The 32-year-old future Hall of Famer fell under 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in his 12 NFL seasons in 2025 because of a broken collarbone that caused him to miss half the season. Evans finished with a 30-368-3 line on 62 targets in eight starts, but it sounds like he doesn't have any intention of hanging up his cleats just yet. If Evans plays in 2026, it will most likely be back in Tampa, although it might not be the most ideal spot for fantasy purposes, given their crowded WR corps.

From RotoBaller