

Fri Jan 16 12:05pm ET
Field Level Media
AFC Divisional Playoff Capsules
Buffalo Bills (13-5) at Denver Broncos (14-3)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Empower Field, Denver
FanDuel Odds: Broncos -1.5, Total 46.5
Postseason History: This is the third playoff meeting. Buffalo leads the Broncos 2-0 and defeated Denver in the 2024 wild-card round, 31-7.
The Broncos are the No. 1 seed in the AFC for the first time since 2015, the same season in which they last hosted a playoff game -- the 2015 AFC Championship Game -- when Denver beat the Patriots and went on to win Super Bowl 50 at the site of this year's game, Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The Bills advanced by winning their first road playoff game since 1992, outlasting Jacksonville last week, to set up a rematch of the 2024 Wild Card round last season in Buffalo. The Bills also beat the Broncos in the 1991 AFC Championship game to reach Super Bowl XXVI.
Broncos QB Bo Nix was limited to 144 passing yards at Buffalo last season and is making his second playoff start. This is No. 15 for Bills QB Josh Allen, who has 36 total touchdowns in the postseason.
Bills Pro Bowl RB James Cook had 1,912 yards from scrimmage and powers the Buffalo rushing attack.
Denver's defense presents another challenge for Allen, who was battered and bruised in Jacksonville last week. The Broncos led the NFL in sacks (68) and were No. 2 in total defense (278.2 yards per game allowed) and rushing defense (91.1 yards per game allowed) and ranked third in scoring defense (18.3 points per game against) and passes defensed (94).
The Bills are first in the NFL in rushing and Allen has the most rushing yards (701) and second-most rushing touchdowns (nine) by a quarterback in NFL postseason history. He averages 309.5 combined passing and rushing yards per playoff game, the highest in NFL history among quarterbacks with at least 10 playoff starts.
Houston Texans (13-5) at New England Patriots (15-3)
Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
FanDuel Odds: Patriots -3, Total 40.5
Postseason History: The Patriots are undefeated in their last eight divisional playoff games, the longest streak in NFL history. They defeated Houston in their only postseason meetings (2012 and 2016 divisional playoffs, both in New England).
New England advanced to the divisional playoff with its first victory in the postseason since Super Bowl LIII (Feb. 3, 2019) with a dominant performance against the Chargers last week. Houston earned a road playoff win for the first time in franchise history with a 30-6 win at Pittsburgh to reach the divisional playoff round for the third season in a row. Houston has never played in the AFC Championship game.
Patriots QB Drake Maye has come a long way since he made his first NFL start in a 41-21 loss to the Texans in Week 6 last season. Maye and counterpart C.J. Stroud both threw three touchdown passes in that meeting.
Maye led the NFL in passer rating and one of his primary targets is Stefon Diggs, who spent last season with the Texans before a season-ending knee injury.
Houston's pass rush gave the Steelers fits last week. Danielle Hunter was third in the NFL with 15 sacks and had a sack and forced fumble against Aaron Rodgers last week in the wild-card round. Sidekick Will Anderson is no slouch on the other side. He had 12 sacks in the regular season and forced a fumble last week. They fit together well with a big, intense secondary featuring the cornerback tandem of Kamari Lassiter (17 passes defensed in 2025) and Derek Stingley Jr. (15).
Stroud's showing against the Steelers was forgettable. He had two fumbles and an interception at Pittsburgh and No. 1 wide receiver Nico Collins (concussion) could miss Sunday's game. Christian Kirk stepped up last week with 144 yards and a touchdown.
The Patriots are optimistic their top cover man, Christian Gonzalez, will be able to play after returning from a concussion.
--NFC Divisional playoff capsules
San Francisco (13-5) at Seattle Seahawks (14-3)
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, FOX
Lumen Field, Seattle
FanDuel Odds: Seahawks -7, Total 44.5
Playoff History: Three of the four remaining NFC teams are from the West division. The Rams play at Chicago on Sunday night. The previous postseason game between the 49ers and Seahawks went to San Francisco, 41-23 in January 2023.
The Seahawks captured the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2014 and are on a mission to win their first playoff game since beating the Eagles in the wild-card round in 2019. The 49ers advanced by winning their first road playoff game in four years at Philadelphia, 23-19.
There is consternation in Seattle over the oblique strain suffered by QB Sam Darnold this week. He plans to play, and coach Mike Macdonald doesn't expect the injury to limit the offense. With the 49ers down several key defensive players, San Francisco has had to blitz to create pressure on the passer. When Darnold has time, he is making a living putting the ball in the hands of WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He led the NFL with a franchise-record 1,793 receiving yards.
Darnold has only one playoff start -- last season with the Vikings -- when he was sacked nine times by the Rams in a 27-9 loss.
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey remains the engine of the San Francisco offense. He has at least 100 yards from scrimmage in seven of his eight career postseason games. That includes 114 last week, when he had 66 yards receiving and caught two touchdown passes. He was second in the NFL in 2025 with 2,126 yards from scrimmage and scored 17 touchdowns.
QB Brock Purdy, 5-2 in his playoff career, has worked with a shuffled deck of receivers most of the season due to injuries. He won't have key outlet George Kittle, who suffered a torn Achilles at Philadelphia last week.
The 49ers already own a win on this field this season, Week 1 of the regular season, 17-13. The Seahawks returned the favor in Week 18 at San Francisco (13-3) to clinch the division title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Only the Chiefs have equaled the 49ers' run of success in this round. San Francisco has won seven consecutive divisional playoff games (2012-24) and would become the first NFL franchise to reach 20 Championship games with a win. It would be their fourth NFC Championship game in five seasons. Seattle has played in four previous conference championship games (one in the AFC).
Los Angeles Rams (13-5) at Chicago Bears (12-6)
Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
Soldier Field, Chicago
FanDuel Odds: Rams -3.5, Total 48.5
Playoff History: This is the 40th anniversary of the Bears last Super Bowl (XX) victory. They defeated the Rams in the NFC Championship, 24-0, that year to advance to that game. Los Angeles defeated Chicago, 24-14, in the 1950 Divisional playoffs (Dec. 17, 1950).
Pack the handwarmers, it's Bear weather this weekend in Chicago.
Rams head coach Sean McVay is downplaying the windchill factor reading at or below zero and the Los Angeles defense is more worried about the Iceman than the weatherman.
Caleb Williams, given the "Iceman" moniker for his fourth-quarter performances this season, helped the Bears overcame an 18-point deficit - the largest comeback in franchise postseason history - and Chicago scored 25 fourth-quarter points -- third-most ever in a playoff game - to defeat the Packers, 31-27, last week. It was the first postseason win since the 2010 NFC divisional round against Seattle.
The Rams handled the Panthers, 34-31, in Charlotte to set up the first playoff meeting with the Bears in 40 years.
While Williams has been clutch, the performance of Rams QB Matt Stafford has been constant. He led the NFL in passing yards and touchdown passes. Including the playoffs, he's over 5,000 passing yards and his next TD pass will be No. 50 on the year.
He has a cadre of capable weapons, and a trio of players with 13 or more touchdowns counting Puka Nacua's pair of scores last week (13 total this season). RB Kyren Williams (13) and WR Davante Adams (14) give the Chicago defense a number of threats atop the scouting report. Stafford threw eight interceptions in the regular season. The Bears led the NFL with 23 interceptions -- seven by S Kevin Byard III -- and 33 total takeaways.
Williams and rookie TE Colston Loveland have become a dynamic duo in the passing game. Loveland led the Bears in receptions, yards and tied D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze with six TD catches in the regular season. He had eight receptions for 137 yards against the Packers last week.
RTSports Super Bowl Preview
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney didn't live up to expectations during the 2025 season. Many fantasy managers viewed Mooney as one of the most intriguing No. 2 wide receivers in fantasy football coming into the year, but injuries and a lack of rapport with Atlanta's quarterbacks cost his fantasy managers in a big way. Mooney, who had 992 yards and five touchdowns in 2024, came back down to earth with just 32 catches, 443 yards, and one touchdown across 15 games this past season. The sixth-year receiver had the second-worst season of his career, letting down the managers who drafted him at his preseason ADP around 120. It will be interesting to see how the Falcons address their pass-catching unit this offseason. At the very least, we would expect them to bring in some competition for Mooney. However, the team also has a glaring hole at tight end with Kyle Pitts headed for free agency. Plus, the quarterback position remains in limbo with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) injured and Kirk Cousins' future uncertain. There are a lot of moving parts here, but one thing is for certain: Mooney will be ranked a lot lower in 2026 fantasy drafts than he was in 2025. Managers shouldn't be rushing to select Mooney or acquire him in dynasty leagues.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (knee) saw his 2025 season come to an abrupt end after he suffered an MCL sprain back in Week 4. New York left the door open for him to return, but that never came to fruition. He ultimately finished his second pro season with 18 carries, 76 rushing yards, two catches, 17 receiving yards, and one touchdown through parts of four games. It was a frustrating setback for a young ball-carrier who was projected to eat into Breece Hall's workload. While that didn't pan out in 2025, we could still see Allen step into a much larger role next season. Hall is headed for free agency, and if the Jets don't franchise tag him, he could quite possibly sign elsewhere. That would leave Allen and Isaiah Davis, who had 422 yards and one touchdown across 16 games last season, sharing a rung atop the depth chart. The fantasy surge of Allen and Davis hinges on New York letting Hall walk and failing to replace him, which is far from a guarantee. However, there's certainly a path to Allen being a top-36 fantasy running back next season. Managers should pay close attention to the Jets' free agency plans when evaluating the 22-year-old's fantasy future.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith had another solid campaign during the 2025 season, catching 77 passes for 1,008 yards and four touchdowns. This was the lowest touchdown total of his career, but it was encouraging to see him eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in the last four years. It's also worth noting that he had more yards and just one fewer catch than teammate A.J. Brown, indicating the gap between the two may not be as large as it seems. Of course, it's unclear if this duo will be together for long. There were rumors of drama between Brown and the Eagles throughout the year, and we wouldn't be surprised to see trade talks ramp up during the offseason. Trading Brown is far from a guarantee, but even the threat of a depth chart shakeup makes Smith a very intriguing "buy" in dynasty fantasy football leagues. If Smith were to become the top receiver in Philly, he'd have top-12 appeal among wide receivers in 2026 fantasy football drafts.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs caught all three of his targets for 37 yards during Sunday's Super Bowl LX loss against the Seattle Seahawks. Diggs produced every time the ball was thrown his way, but he didn't quite live up to his expectations as New England's No. 1 receiver. Although it was a tough game for the Patriots' wide receivers all around, Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas started to produce in the second half, and the two ultimately combined for nine catches, 123 yards, and a touchdown. Diggs had an up-and-down regular season, but it should be chalked up to a success given that he had 85 catches, 1,013 yards, and four touchdowns. The veteran's contract is designed to give the Patriots a potential out this offseason, but if New England chooses to bring him back, he'll remain a top-25 wide receiver in 2026 fantasy football drafts.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin took a major step forward during his second season in the NFL. He appeared in all 17 games throughout the 2025 regular season, catching 65 passes for 709 yards and six touchdowns. Despite competing for volume with Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims Jr., and Evan Engram, Franklin managed to finish the year as the overall WR30 in full-PPR leagues. The Broncos aren't losing any key receivers in free agency, so Franklin won't face any less competition heading into next year. However, having another full season and offseason under his belt should allow him to elevate his game and push for a 1,000-yard season. He'll also benefit from playing another year alongside quarterback Bo Nix (ankle), who should be healthy by Week 1. Franklin is a top-36 receiver heading into 2026 fantasy football drafts.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy had an underwhelming season despite operating as the No. 1 receiver on the depth chart. Jeudy ultimately caught passes from a mix of quarterbacks, including Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders. None of those signal-callers played particularly well, and as a result, he was held to just 50 catches, 602 yards, and two touchdowns. These were his lowest marks since 2021, when he only played 10 games. The 26-year-old is a talented receiver, and the fact that he's under contract for two more seasons indicates that he'll remain with Cleveland in 2026. However, he hasn't necessarily put last year's adversity behind him. The Browns' quarterback plans remain uninspiring, and Jeudy will continue to face competition from the likes of Cedric Tillman and Harold Fannin Jr. As a result, managers shouldn't count on Jeudy to be a top-36 receiver ahead of 2026 fantasy football drafts.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Cardinals are expected to move on from quarterback Kyler Murray. Dynasty Analysis: Murray has a fully guaranteed $36,800,000 this season. If he is on the Cardinals' roster at the beginning of the new league year (March 11), it will trigger a $20 million guarantee for the following season. It's a lot of money to invest in a player who has been inconsistent and the fact a journeyman player like Jacoby Brissett could outplay Murray as much as he did last season likely didn't help matters, either. It seems likely Murray is either traded or released this month. His dynasty value will be in flux until he finds a new home.
Dynasty | JJ McCarthy's job as the starting quarterback in Minnesota is in doubt going into next season. Dynasty Analysis: McCarthy's first season at the helm was a disaster as he threw for just 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, playing in just ten games due to various injuries. In short, he just wasn't very good this year, turning a player like Justin Jefferson into a fantasy non-factor in the process. McCarthy will likely be competing with a veteran player this off-season to try to keep his job. His dynasty value is cratering as a result.
Dynasty | Free agent quarterback Malik Willis has already been connected with the Dolphins and Cardinals. Dynasty Analysis: Both teams are likely searching for new answers as Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray both seem like locks to be moved this off-season. Willis showed some real flashes of brilliance for Green Bay this year and seems destined to land a starting job somewhere this off-season. With a weak class of free agent quarterbacks, he should be able to have his choice of a few destination. A fringe dynasty player for years, Willis squarely belongs on dynasty rosters at the moment.
Dynasty | Reports are surfacing indicating Saints quarterback Derek Carr could unretire if the right situation presents itself. Dynasty Analysis: Carr has reportedly been throwing without pain over the past few months and remains in good shape. It's possible he finds a team that wants him considering how barren the free agent market is for quarterbacks at the moment. However, the Saints still retain his rights and would need to trade him. It does seem clear they're riding with Tyler Shough, regardless of Carr's decision. He could be added in 2QB leagues if you have a deep roster and a spot for him but he's far from a priority add.
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Keion White (ankle) was shot in the ankle during an event in San Francisco on Monday morning, sources told Matt Barrows of The Athletic. White underwent surgery on Monday and is expected to be OK. The 49ers acquired White from the New England Patriots in late October. The 27-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 out of Georgia Tech tallied 12 tackles (five solo), 1.5 sacks, six QB hits, and a fumble recovery in nine regular-season games with the Niners in a rotational role. White might not be ready for the start of offseason workouts because of his ankle surgery, but he should be fully ready to play by training camp this summer. He's heading into the final year of his rookie contract in 2026 and should once again be a rotational defensive lineman for San Fran next season.
From RotoBaller
All signs are pointing toward Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. being the team's No. 1 pass-catching tight end again in 2026 after fellow TE David Njoku announced on Monday that he's not expecting to re-sign with the team in free agency this offseason. Fannin, 21, surprisingly led Cleveland in receiving in 2025 after the team selected him in the third round out of Bowling Green. The 6-foot-4, 241-pounder hauled in 72 of his 107 targets for 731 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games played, which made him the TE5 overall in half-PPR scoring. Fannin did it all despite a less-than-ideal situation at quarterback, too, which makes his rookie campaign even that much more impressive. The Browns' QB picture won't look all that much better going into next year, but Fannin should maintain TE1 value in fantasy as a key piece of the offense in his sophomore season.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns impending free-agent tight end David Njoku said on his Instagram account on Monday that "the time for me to find a new home has come," according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. Njoku is set to become a free agent on March 12, one day after the new league year begins. The 29-year-old has spent his entire nine-year career in Cleveland and made it known that he'd love to return to the Browns, but it's not in the cards. The former 29th overall pick by the Browns in 2017 out of Miami took a clear back seat to rookie Harold Fannin Jr. in 2025 and is now expendable. Njoku wasn't a reliable fantasy tight end with the reduced role last season, as he caught 33 passes on 48 targets for 293 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games played. It was one of the worst years of Njoku's career, but a bounce-back could be possibly, depending on where he lands in free agency.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler spoke to several people in the NFL who believe that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton will eventually relinquish offensive play-calling duties to new offensive coordinator Davis Webb. Webb, a former backup quarterback with the Buffalo Bills, has been a fast riser in the coaching ranks and had multiple head-coaching interviews this cycle. The decision will be up to Payton, but nothing has been decided for now. Payton has called plays at a high level for decades, but his decisions came under scrutiny in the AFC Championship game loss to the New England Patriots. Webb took over the OC job in Denver following the firing of Joe Lombardi. Handing over play-calling duties to Webb might be another way for the Broncos to hang onto the coveted coach beyond the 2026 campaign, and they could potentially be grooming him to take over head-coaching duties if Payton decides to retire down the road.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught four of his 10 targets for 27 yards during Sunday's Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots. Just a few days after being named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year, Smith-Njigba was held in check by a historic defensive performance from Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez. While the young receiver was smothered, this simply redirected more volume to Cooper Kupp and running back Kenneth Walker III, who both fueled the victory. Fantasy managers should expect that Smith-Njigba, who had 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns during the regular season, will continue to get plenty of attention from the NFL's top cornerbacks going forward. He was relatively quiet in a tough matchup on Sunday night, but he should overcome most of those challenging situations in 2026 -- very similar to how he performed during the 2025 regular season. He enters 2026 fantasy drafts as a top-three receiver in all leagues.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp caught six of his 12 targets for 61 yards during Sunday's Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots. Kupp led the Seahawks' receiving corps in all three of those categories, taking those responsibilities from Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba was smothered by Christian Gonzalez for most of the game, and he also missed a small portion of the game for a concussion check. Kupp has now won two Super Bowls in five years. He got his first ring with the Rams, and now, he gets his second ring at the culmination of his first campaign in Seattle. He finished the regular season with a modest 47 catches for 593 yards and two touchdowns, but he produced when it mattered most under the international spotlight on Sunday night. Kupp should remain in the No. 2 receiver role for next season, but he ranks outside the top 36 receivers ahead of 2026 fantasy football drafts.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 23 yards on seven carries during Sunday's Super Bowl LX loss against the Seattle Seahawks. He also caught all five of his targets for an additional 40 receiving yards. Stevenson struggled rushing the ball, but he remained involved and effective in the passing game as New England prioritized shorter pass attempts over deep shots downfield. This was a familiar trend for Stevenson, who essentially won back the primary ball-carrier role after returning from injury in late November. Even with second-round rookie Tre'Veyon Henderson in the mix, Stevenson tallied 603 rushing yards, 32 catches, 345 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns across 14 contests. He averaged 12.8 full-PPR points per game, finishing the year as the overall RB25. Henderson should get even more involved next season, but Stevenson will still have a sizable role. He enters 2026 fantasy drafts as a mid-to-low RB3/flex option.
From RotoBaller
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that it's "not impossible" that the Las Vegas Raiders trade All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby (knee) before the start of free agency in March. Crosby is around a month into his recovery from surgery on his meniscus, which typically carries a recovery time of three to four months. The 28-year-old has spent his entire seven-year career with the Raiders, but it remains to be seen if he wants to stick around for another rebuild with a new coaching staff under head coach Klint Kubiak. Crosby is ahead of schedule in his recovery from knee surgery, but he's unlikely to be medically cleared before free agency officially begins on March 11. It means that if Crosby is traded, it likely wouldn't be until later, perhaps at the 2026 NFL Draft or before the regular season. When healthy, he's been one of the league's best pass-rushers, earning five straight Pro Bowl nods and racking up 69.5 career sacks. Crosby would generate significant interest around the league if the Raiders are serious about trading him.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 27 of his 43 pass attempts for 295 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions during Sunday's Super Bowl loss against the Seattle Seahawks. He also rushed for 37 yards, took six sacks, and lost a fumble. Maye had a spectacular season, putting together an MVP-caliber campaign during just his second year in the NFL. He remained successful throughout most of the postseason, adapting to a mix of weather conditions while taking down three top defenses en route to a Super Bowl berth. However, the hot streak ended there, as Maye was stymied by an elite Seattle defense. His three turnovers were momentum-killers in a game that had 15 punts and five field goals. He struggled with ball placement when passing, too, and his passing yard total isn't exactly indicative of the game he had. In fact, 235 of Maye's 295 passing yards came in the fourth quarter, setting a new Super Bowl single-quarter record as he took advantage of the Seahawks playing a more relaxed style of defense in the final minutes. Arguably, the best part of Maye's game was his five rushing attempts, which often moved the chains and gave New England a glimmer of hope. Still, Maye's struggles when passing and inability to handle pressure in a collapsing pocket cost New England the game. He'll enter the offseason with his work cut out for him, especially as the Patriots prepare for a tougher schedule in 2026. Maye might not replicate his 2025 stats next year, but he's still a safe bet to rank among the top five quarterbacks in 2026 fantasy football drafts.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 135 yards on 27 carries during Sunday's Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots. He also caught two of four targets for an additional 26 receiving yards. Walker's spectacular postseason culminated in a terrific showing on the world's biggest stage. He averaged five yards per carry and broke off several big runs that helped the Seahawks clinch a Super Bowl title. For his efforts, he was also named Super Bowl MVP. Walker had a very impressive 2025 campaign, and it came during a contract year. For the first time in his career, he was healthy for all 17 regular-season games. He tallied 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns while splitting work with Zach Charbonnet during the regular season, and he put the rushing workload on his back after Charbonnet tore his ACL during Seattle's first playoff game. Walker will now enter free agency as arguably the top running back available, alongside players like Travis Etienne Jr. and Breece Hall. Walker's landing spot will paint a better picture of his fantasy value in 2026 drafts, but for now, he's a solid top-12 running back in all redraft formats, especially if he ends up back in Seattle.
From RotoBaller