Fantasy Football News

Kenneth Walker III • RB • Seahawks

Kenneth Walker III Set Up for Significant Workload in the NFC Championship Game

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III posted a monster performance in his team's 41-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round, recording 145 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 22 touches. Walker III spent most of the 2025 regular season splitting touches with fellow Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee). However, Charbonnet suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his knee against San Francisco and will miss the remainder of Seattle's playoff run. As a result, Walker III projects to dominate his team's backfield touches in the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams. The 25-year-old is coming off the most efficient regular season of his career to this point, averaging 5.2 yards per touch. The Rams' defense has also been susceptible to the run game so far this postseason, allowing 243 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns across two games. Walker III could be in line for another big game in the NFC Championship.

Jan 20

Jarrett Stidham • QB • Broncos

Jarrett Stidham Back on Fantasy Radars Heading into AFC Championship Game

Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham has not started an NFL game since the 2023 regular season. However, the 29-year-old is in line to start for Denver in the AFC Championship Game after Broncos QB1 Bo Nix (ankle) suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the Divisional Round. Across 20 career NFL games (four starts), Stidham has completed 59.4% of his pass attempts for 1,422 yards, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He's been with the Broncos since 2023, but he has made just two starts for Denver. In addition to the pressure of the moment, Stidham will face a difficult matchup against the New England Patriots. New England allowed the ninth-fewest passing yards (3,512) among NFL defenses in the regular season and forced five turnovers in their Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. Stidham's newfound playing time opportunity should have him on fantasy radars, but he may struggle in the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots.

Jan 20

Julian Blackmon • S • Saints

Saints Re-Sign Julian Blackmon to One-Year Deal

The New Orleans Saints announced on Tuesday that they re-signed safety Julian Blackmon (shoulder) to an undisclosed one-year deal, per Ross Jackson of Locked On Saints. Blackmon played in only one game for the Saints in 2025 in his first year with the team due to a shoulder injury. The 27-year-old defensive back from Utah had seven tackles (four solo) and a pass breakup in his only game played, but he had 80-plus total tackles the two previous seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. As long as Blackmon is fully recovered from his shoulder injury for the start of the 2026 season, he should be expected to start in the Saints' secondary in 2026 in what will be his seventh year in the league. Blackmon and strong safety Justin Reid have the potential to be one of the better safety duos in the NFL.

Jan 20

Malik Nabers • WR • Giants

Giants Hope Malik Nabers Will be Back for Start of Training Camp

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen said on Tuesday that the hope is for wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) to be ready for the start of training camp at the end of July, according to SNY. Nabers was less optimistic about his timeline to return from a torn ACL when he talked to the media after the Week 18 season finale, and Schoel also admitted that "things can change." The 22-year-old tore his right ACL back on Sept. 28 and didn't have surgery until late October. Nabers is one of the best and most dominant young receivers in the game, and his fantasy upside is buoyed by the fact that he has a young, rising quarterback to work with for years to come in Jaxson Dart. However, fantasy managers may be hesitant to use a high draft pick on a player coming off a torn ACL, especially if he's not a full-go for the start of the regular season this fall. We'll keep very close tabs on Nabers' recovery all offseason.

Jan 20

Cam Skattebo • RB • Giants

Cam Skattebo Should be Ready by OTAs

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen said on Tuesday that running back Cam Skattebo (ankle) should be ready for organized team activities in the spring, according to Evan Barnes of New York Newsday. Skattebo's first NFL season ended in late October when he suffered a gruesome dislocated right ankle. The 23-year-old is already out of his walking boot, though, and should be ready for the start of training camp in the summer and the Week 1 regular-season opener, barring a setback along the way. In his eight games played for the Giants in 2025, Skattebo had 101 carries for 410 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, adding 24 catches on 32 targets for 207 yards and three more touchdowns as a pass-catcher. The Arizona State product took over lead-back duties with the G-Men and should be their preferred option in the backfield again in 2026 if he's fully healthy.

Jan 20

Jordan Addison • WR • Vikings

Jordan Addison Won't Face Charges

Charges will not be filed against Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison, according to his agent. Addison's agent told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network that Addison will now prepare for the filing of a civil claim arising from the alleged wrongful arrest. The 23-year-old pass-catcher was facing a misdemeanor trespassing charge from his Jan. 12 arrest in Tampa. Addison, who had a speeding incident in 2023 and a DUI charge in 2024, most likely won't face any additional punishment from the league after charges were dropped. Still, his off-the-field incidents could play a factor in whether the Vikings decide to pick up his fifth-year option, which would guarantee him around $17.5 million for the 2027 season. The former 23rd overall pick in 2023 out of USC had his worst year in 2025, catching 42 passes for 610 yards and three touchdowns with quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggling with consistency and injuries. Addison's fantasy stock is down heading into his fourth NFL season.

Jan 20

Jaxson Dart • QB • Giants

John Harbaugh Excited About Working With Jaxson Dart

One of the primary reasons former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh agreed to become the New York Giants' next head coach was the presence of young quarterback Jaxson Dart, who was drafted late in the first round in 2025. "I'm excited about Jaxson Dart," Harbaugh said. The veteran head coach likes Dart's talent and skills, but more than that, he likes "what he is about," according to Dan Salomone of Giants.com. The 22-year-old took over the starting gig in his first NFL season by Week 4 and displayed elite athleticism and dual-threat ability despite the Giants going 4-10 in games he appeared in. Overall, Dart completed 63.7% of his passes for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five picks in 14 games (12 starts), adding 86 carries for 487 yards and nine more scores on the ground. With Harbaugh now in the mix to help develop him, Dart's fantasy football arrow is pointed straight up with high-end QB1 potential.

Jan 20

George Kittle • TE • 49ers

George Kittle Expects to Return "Well Before November"

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) said on Monday that he expects to return from his torn Achilles "well before November" while also saying he could play close to the 2026 regular-season opener, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Kittle tore his Achilles tendon in the Wild-Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11 and had successful surgery last week. Kittle's Achilles tear was a best-case scenario because he suffered a "clean tear." "They didn't have to drill into my heel," Kittle said. "And where the repair was, there's more blood flow. And so it takes some time off the recovery time." The 32-year-old only played in 11 regular-season games due to injuries in 2025, although he was the TE3 in half-PPR fantasy points per game (12.1), catching 57 passes for 628 yards and seven TDs. While Kittle is optimistic about his recovery, fantasy managers should expect him to miss potentially half the 2026 season.

Jan 20

Mykel Williams • DL • 49ers

Mykel Williams "Should" be Back for Training Camp

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Mykel Williams (knee), who tore his ACL and lateral meniscus in his right knee on Nov. 2, said on Monday that he "should" be back in time for the start of training camp at the end of July, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows. Williams, a first-rounder in 2025, said he's been leaning on advice from position mate Nick Bosa (knee), who tore his ACL six weeks before Williams did. The 21-year-old Williams missed the final 10 games of his first season in the NFL. Before his season-ending knee injury, Williams only had 20 tackles (11 solo), one sack, and a fumble recovery in nine games played. Getting both Williams and Bosa back healthy for the 2026 season will be big as the Niners look to bounce back from a health perspective on both sides of the football.

Jan 20

Fred Warner • LB • 49ers

Fred Warner Optimistic About his Recovery

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) is optimistic about his recovery from a fractured and dislocated ankle and was confident that he would have been able to play in Sunday's NFC Championship game had the 49ers beaten the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round last weekend, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. "Which gives me the ultimate confidence going forward into the offseason, to just attack things as hard as I can," Warner said. "Because there are no limitations." Warner didn't need any follow-up surgeries for the ankle he injured on Oct. 12, so barring any setbacks, he should be all systems go for the start of the 2026 campaign this fall. The 29-year-old had 51 total tackles, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles on 329 defensive snaps this year before his injury. Warner will be a high-end linebacker target in IDP fantasy leagues once he's fully recovered.

Jan 20

C.J. Stroud • QB • Texans

C.J. Stroud Says he's Still Learning the Offense

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions in the first half of the Divisional Round loss to the New England Patriots, becoming just the second QB since 1991 to throw four picks in a playoff half. The No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL draft has rapidly regressed since his impressive rookie season. The Texans are expected to pick up his fifth-year option, but so far, the Texans are non-committal on a long-term contract extension for Stroud. Under first-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley in 2025, Stroud completed 64.5% of his passes for 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns with eight interceptions. Despite having three playoff wins in his three seasons, Stroud has just five TDs with six interceptions and seven fumbles (two lost) in the postseason. Stroud said he was still "getting adjusted" to the new offense this year. Perhaps he'll be better in 2026 if Caley sticks around as the OC, but for fantasy purposes, Stroud has become a QB2 instead of a legitimate QB1 option.

Jan 20

Puka Nacua • WR • Rams

Puka Nacua Cools Off in Divisional Round

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua had some clutch catches to move the chains in Sunday's snowy Divisional Round win over the Chicago Bears, but he didn't exactly go off for fantasy managers in playoff leagues. Nacua caught five of his 10 targets for 56 yards while rushing the ball twice for six yards in the overtime victory. It was the 24-year-old's third-lowest yardage total of the year, and he failed to find the end zone for the first time since Dec. 14 against the Detroit Lions. Nacua had 10 receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown in last week's Wild-Card win over the Carolina Panthers. He's one of the best all-around players in the NFL and will take on the division-rival Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship this Sunday. The last time he faced Seattle in Week 16, Nacua went off for 12 catches, a season-high 225 yards, and two touchdowns. Nacua will most likely bounce back against Seattle.

Jan 20

Davis Webb • QB • Bills

Davis Webb a Head-Coaching Candidate for Bills?

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero mentions Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb as a potential head-coaching candidate for the Buffalo Bills to replace Sean McDermott, who was fired on Monday. Webb was a backup QB for several seasons in Buffalo and has a really close relationship with current QB Josh Allen. Pelissero mentioned that league sources are getting the sense that Buffalo will hire an offensive-minded head coach. Current head coach Joe Brady will be a candidate to be promoted, but Pelissero is unsure if he is "the" candidate for the job. It wouldn't be a surprise if former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel's name comes up as the Bills search for McDermott's replacement this offseason. Even though Baltimore's and Pittsburgh's head-coaching jobs have yet to be filled, the Bills' opening is now at the top of the list for most attractive head-coaching jobs in the NFL, primarily because of Allen.

Jan 20

Tank Dell • WR • Texans

Tank Dell to Return Next Season?

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that he's "excited" to see wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) back on the field for the 2026 season, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Sports. Dell missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL, MCL, and LCL in Week 16 of 2024. The 26-year-old spent all of 2025 rehabbing after having multiple surgeries to fix his knee. Dell's timeline to return to football activities is unknown, so we don't know exactly yet whether he'll be ready for training camp in the summer, preseason, or the start of the 2026 campaign in the fall. The former third-round pick is fortunate to even have the chance to play football again after his devastating knee injury, so expecting him to become fantasy relevant in his final year under contract might be a stretch, especially after the Texans added wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Jan 20

Joe Mixon • RB • Texans

Joe Mixon's Future With the Texans is Cloudy

When asked whether he expects a future with running back Joe Mixon (foot, ankle) on Monday, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said, "As of right now, I don't know that," according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Mixon didn't play at all during the 2025 season, yet the Texans managed to make the playoffs for the third straight year without him. The 29-year-old's future in Houston depends entirely on the health of his foot/ankle going into next season. From a contractual perspective, Mixon is with the team through the 2026 season. Veteran Nick Chubb opened the year as Houston's primary running back before rookie Woody Marks took over in the second half. Even if Mixon recovers this offseason and is ready to go for the season opener this fall, he won't be guaranteed to get the RB1 job back with Marks around.

Jan 20

George Holani • RB • Seahawks

George Holani Could Come Off Injured Reserve This Week

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that running back George Holani (hamstring) could come off Injured Reserve to join the team this week as they prepare to face the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game on Sunday, according to The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar. "George is an option, yeah. We'll see how it goes this week," Macdonald said. The Seahawks could use Holani the rest of the playoffs after it was announced on Monday that Zach Charbonnet (knee) tore his ACL in Saturday's Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers. Velus Jones Jr. saw six carries for 10 yards after Charbonnet was injured, but he was sent back to the practice squad on Monday. If Holani isn't available to play this weekend, the Seahawks will have the option of elevating either Jones or Cam Akers to serve as Kenneth Walker III's backup against the Rams.

Jan 20

Sam Darnold • QB • Seahawks

Sam Darnold to be Day-to-Day This Week

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said the plan with quarterback Sam Darnold (oblique) this week will be day-to-day to see how he's doing, according to Curtis Crabtree of FOX 13 Seattle. "Balancing making sure we get enough reps at the proper tempo, with the proper looks, you know, and getting Sam the reps that he needs," Macdonald said. Darnold played through a questionable tag in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers after injuring his left oblique in practice on Thursday. The 28-year-old wasn't needed all that much in the 41-6 blowout win, and he finished 12-for-17 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown. He will most likely be on the practice report this week and may not be full go, but it would be a surprise if he's not ready to play this Sunday in the NFC Championship versus the division-rival Rams. Darnold will most likely have to throw the ball much more in that one to keep up with L.A.'s potent offense.

Jan 20

C.J. Stroud • QB • Texans

Texans Don't Want to Talk About C.J. Stroud Extension

When asked about quarterback C.J. Stroud and a potential long-term contract extension, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said, "I'm not getting into that right now." Stroud will most likely have his fifth-year option picked up by Houston, but all bets are off as far as long-term extension talks go after a rough two-game performance in the playoffs this year. The 24-year-old former second overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State threw an interception and fumbled five times (two lost) in the Wild-Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers before going 20-for-47 for 212 yards, one touchdown, and a season-high four interceptions in the loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday in the Divisional Round. Stroud burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2023, but since then, he's had two disappointing campaigns that raise questions in Houston about whether he's actually the long-term answer under center.

Jan 19

J.K. Dobbins • RB • Broncos

Broncos Open J.K. Dobbins' Practice Window

The Denver Broncos are opening the 21-day practice window for running back J.K. Dobbins (foot), who suffered what was thought to be a season-ending Lisfranc foot injury in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Depending on how he looks and feels in practice this week, Dobbins has a chance to play in Sunday's AFC Championship game against the visiting New England Patriots. It would be great news for a Broncos team that received the devastating news shortly after Saturday's Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills that star quarterback Bo Nix is out for the rest of the playoffs with a broken ankle. Still, Dobbins might have a better chance to return if the Broncos pull off the upset over the Pats to reach the Super Bowl. If he does return this weekend, we'd expect a limited role for Dobbins alongside rookie RJ Harvey and Jaleel McLaughlin.

Jan 19

Rome Odunze • WR • Bears

Rome Odunze Doesn't Need Offseason Foot Surgery

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) reiterated that he will not need offseason surgery on his foot, according to Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times. Odunze had a stress fracture in his foot that caused him to miss the final five games of the regular season. He returned for Chicago's two playoff games to catch exactly two passes for 44 yards in both contests. The 23-year-old second-year wideout was a popular breakout candidate in fantasy going into the 2025 season, and he was well on his way to fulfilling that with five touchdown catches in the first four games. However, Odunze quickly cooled off and scored only one more time in his final 10 games. His foot injury likely had something to do with that. Odunze will look to bounce back in 2026 with better health, but his fantasy ceiling could be capped with the emergence of young receiver Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland.

Jan 19

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