

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

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.
RTSports Super Bowl Preview
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler suggests that the Indianapolis Colts could use the franchise tag on impending free-agent wide receiver Alec Pierce as a way to facilitate a long-term deal. The Colts' offseason priority is to sign quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) to a long-term extension, but Pierce is a 1B option, according to Fowler. The only problem with the franchise tag for Pierce is that it would be a steep price tag ($25 to $28 million) for receivers in 2026. The 25-year-old broke out in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL, leading the Colts with 1,003 receiving yards on 47 receptions. He also caught six touchdown passes on a career-high 84 targets over 15 games played. Pierce's fantasy stock will continue to rise if Jones re-signs, which is expected, and if the Colts cut fellow receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who has one year left on his current deal.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Free agent tight end David Njoku went to social media to announce he won't return to the Browns. Dynasty Analysis: Njoku was phased out of the offense this year in favor of Harold Fannin and struggled with injuries this season as well. He should have little trouble finding work but he's going to need to land in the right spot to have any chance at TE1 consideration moving forward. At this point, Njoku remains a pretty uninspiring hold in dynasty leagues.
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