Fantasy Football News

Kenneth Gainwell • RB • Steelers

Kenneth Gainwell Remains a Viable PPR Running Back Option in Wild-Card Round

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell emerged as a surprisingly critical piece of his team's offense over the course of the 2025 season, recording 1,023 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns on 187 touches. Gainwell and the Steelers will face one of the NFL's best defenses in the Wild Card round in the Houston Texans. Houston dominated opposing rushing attacks in the regular season, allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards (1,593) in the NFL. However, Gainwell does most of his work in the Steelers' passing game. The 26-year-old recorded 73 receptions for 486 yards and three touchdowns this season and earned at least seven targets in four out of Pittsburgh's final five games. Houston has been slightly more susceptible to running back production in the pass game this season, allowing an average of four receptions and 31 receiving yards per game to the position. Given his relatively safe receiving floor, Gainwell profiles as a solid fantasy RB2 option in PPR-scoring leagues in the Wild Card.

Jan 12

Nico Collins • WR • Texans

Nico Collins Carries Big-Play Potential in Favorable Wild-Card Round Matchup

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins sat out the final week of the regular season for rest purposes, but he's back and ready to go for his team's Wild Card round matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 26-year-old had his second-straight Pro Bowl campaign in 2025, recording 71 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns on 120 targets across 15 games played. Collins is the clear WR1 in Houston and should heavily feature in the Texans' offensive game plan against the Steelers. Additionally, he will face a Pittsburgh defense that had its struggles defending the pass in the regular season. Pittsburgh finished 2025 ranked 30th in the NFL in passing yards allowed (4,437) and tied for 23rd in passing touchdowns allowed (30). The Steelers also allowed 53 receptions of 20 or more yards, so Collins should have a chance to make plays down the field. Collins averaged 15.7 yards per reception in the regular season and has a career average of 15.0 yards per reception across 66 NFL games. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues should view Collins as a WR1 option in the Wild Card round.

Jan 12

Woody Marks • RB • Texans

Woody Marks Could See Heavy Workload on Monday Night

Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks finished his first season in the NFL with 911 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 220 touches across 16 games. Marks finished the year as the clear RB1 in Houston, earning double-digit touches in 10 out of his last 11 contests. He may see an even larger workload in Houston's Wild Card round matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Texans backup running back Jawhar Jordan (ankle) has been ruled out with an ankle injury. The Pittsburgh rush defense finished a solid-but-unspectacular 13th in the NFL in total rushing yards allowed (1,922) in the regular season. However, the Steelers proved difficult to score on on the ground, allowing the third-fewest rushing touchdowns (10) in the league. Marks is a good bet to see a heavy workload against Pittsburgh, but he may have to rely on volume alone for fantasy production. RotoBaller projects Marks as the overall RB10 in full PPR scoring for his matchup against the Steelers.

Jan 12

Gabe Davis • WR • Bills

Gabe Davis Set to Undergo MRI on Monday, Playoff Return "Does Not Look Good"

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) is set to undergo an MRI on his injured knee on Monday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Davis was carted off from Buffalo's Wild Card round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars after taking a big hit going over the middle of the field. Rapoport reports that Davis' knee was so swollen initially that diagnosing the injury has been difficult, and that Davis' status "does not look good" for the remainder of the postseason. The 26-year-old recorded two receptions for 14 yards on three targets against Jacksonville before getting injured and hauled in 12 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown across six regular-season games with the Bills. If Davis is unable to play in the AFC Divisional round against the Denver Broncos, the Bills will likely rely more heavily on wide receivers Brandin Cooks, Keon Coleman, and Tyrell Shavers.

Jan 12

Caleb Williams • QB • Bears

Caleb Williams Throws for Season-High 361 Yards in Playoff Win Over Packers

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams led his team to yet another comeback win in impressive fashion in the 31-27 victory over the division-rival Green Bay Packers on Saturday night in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs. Williams finished 24-for-48 passing for a season-high 361 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He added four carries for 20 yards and also took one sack for a loss of nine yards. The 24-year-old second-year signal-caller also fumbled, but it was recovered by the Bears. It was the Bears' single-game playoff passing-yardage record. It wasn't pretty, but Williams continues to display his elite athleticism by extending the play outside the pocket to find his receivers deep down the field. The USC alum could get into a shootout with the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round, giving him plenty of fantasy upside. Williams has now gone over 300 passing yards in two of his last three games, with six touchdowns and three interceptions combined in his last three contests.

Jan 12

Colston Loveland • TE • Bears

Colston Loveland Peppered With Targets in Bears Win

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland caught eight of his 15 targets for 137 yards during Saturday's Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers. Loveland's impressive rookie campaign continued as he set new personal-best marks in targets and yards. He now has 24 catches, 322 yards, and two touchdowns over his last three games. According to Jacob Gibbs of CBS Sports, the 21-year-old's big game made him just the second tight end in NFL history to record at least 10 targets and at least 130 yards in a playoff game at age 22 or younger. He joins just Rob Gronkowski in that select group. Loveland will look to remain hot as the Bears advance to face either the Eagles or Rams in the Divisional Round next weekend.

Jan 12

Christian Gonzalez • CB • Patriots

Christian Gonzalez Questionable to Return vs. Chargers

New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (head) exited during the fourth quarter of Sunday's playoff contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. He is officially listed as questionable to return. Gonzalez left the game after breaking up a pass attempt on second down. At the time of his departure, he had defended two passes. The 23-year-old didn't record an interception during the regular season, but he was named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster and is consistently relied upon to cover opponents' No. 1 receivers. His absence will be something to monitor as the Patriots look to defend a three-pronged wide receiver room featuring Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Quentin Johnston. Charles Woods should earn more cornerback snaps behind Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones.

Jan 12

Chuba Hubbard • RB • Panthers

Chuba Hubbard Scores a Pair of Touchdowns in Season-Ending Loss

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard tallied 13 carries, 46 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns during Saturday's Wild Card loss against the Los Angeles Rams. He also caught two of four targets for an additional 13 receiving yards. Hubbard lost his lead-back role to Rico Dowdle during the middle of the season, but he seemed to reclaim his top spot over the final few weeks. As the Panthers were eliminated on Saturday, Hubbard registered 15 touches while Dowdle had just six. Dowdle is an impending free agent, so Hubbard should be a fringe top-24 fantasy running back heading into 2026 fantasy football drafts. It's unclear whether Jonathan Brooks (knee) or Trevor Etienne will be able to carve out a role next year.

Jan 12

Matthew Golden • WR • Packers

Matthew Golden Scores First Career Touchdown in Playoff Loss

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden caught four of his five targets for 84 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's Wild Card loss against the Chicago Bears. Golden was disappointing during the regular season, amassing just 29 catches and 361 yards during his rookie season, but he showed up when it mattered most, scoring the first touchdown of his pro career. However, his effort came up short as Green Bay blew a three-score lead and lost to the Bears for the second time in one month. Golden will look to shake off this year's inconsistencies and carry momentum into his second pro season in 2026. Green Bay has a crowded receiver room, but he could be headed for increased opportunities if Romeo Doubs departs in free agency.

Jan 12

Romeo Doubs • WR • Packers

Romeo Doubs Paces Receiver Room in Busy Wild-Card Loss

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs caught eight of his 11 targets for 124 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's Wild Card loss against the Chicago Bears. Doubs was relatively inconsistent this season, but he feasted during his final two games against the Bears, totaling 13 catches, 208 yards, and two touchdowns during that span. The 25-year-old was one of several receivers who benefited from Jordan Love's busy passing game on Saturday. He and three other wide receivers all scored touchdowns, but he paced the team in targets, catches, and yards. Doubs is an impending free agent, and it seems likely that he'll test the market with an opportunity to escape from Green Bay's very crowded wide receiver room.

Jan 12

Jordan Love • QB • Packers

Jordan Love Throws for Four Touchdowns in Season-Ending Loss

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 24 of his 46 pass attempts for 323 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Saturday's Wild Card loss against the Chicago Bears. He also rushed for 11 yards and took one sack. Love played great football for most of Saturday's game, but as the gap between Chicago and Green Bay closed, the young quarterback wasn't able to preserve his team's lead. Love found himself trying to lead a game-winning drive as the Packers trailed by four points in the final minute, but he went just 5-for-11 passing on the final drive and Green Bay lost. Love still had a great showing for bettors and DFS players, and he also spread the ball around with one touchdown pass to four different receivers. He'll now head into the offseason and should rank as a top-10 quarterback in 2026 fantasy drafts.

Jan 12

Fred Warner • LB • 49ers

Fred Warner Not Expected to Practice This Week

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) is unlikely to have his practice window opened this week, head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Sunday. Warner is working his way back from a dislocated and fractured ankle that he suffered back in Week 6. The injury was initially expected to sideline him for the entire season, but he is ahead of schedule and now has a chance to return during the playoffs. With that being said, it sounds like he won't be ready for the Divisional Round. Warner is on injured reserve, so the Niners would have an opportunity to open his practice window before activating him. Once his window is opened, he has 21 days to practice without being activated. The 49ers have made it this far without Warner on defense, and now, it looks like they'll have to survive at least one more week. Instead, his next chance to play will likely be the NFC Championship, should San Francisco advance that far.

Jan 12

George Kittle • TE • 49ers

George Kittle Suffers Torn Achilles on Sunday

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle was officially diagnosed with a torn Achilles following Sunday's Wild Card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed. The superstar tight end suffered a non-contact injury while catching a pass during the second quarter. Video from the FOX broadcast appeared to show a pop in the back of Kittle's leg, and he was carted to the locker room in visible pain. The 49ers quickly ruled him out with an Achilles injury, and it was later confirmed to be a tear. The 32-year-old will now embark on a lengthy recovery process. Not only is he done for the 2025 playoffs, but he could miss the start of the 2026 regular season. If so, he'll likely drop several spots in the 2026 fantasy football draft tight end rankings. Jake Tonges should step up as the 49ers' top tight end for the rest of the playoffs before he becomes a restricted free agent in March. In the six games that Kittle missed during the regular season, Tonges totaled 29 catches, 269 yards, and three touchdowns. He caught just one pass for 14 yards in Kittle's absence this Sunday.

Jan 12

Jalen Coker • WR • Panthers

Jalen Coker Explodes for 134 Yards as Panthers Fall Short

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker caught nine of his 12 targets for 134 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's Wild Card loss against the Los Angeles Rams. Coker stepped up as Bryce Young's favorite target as the former No. 1 pick attempted 40 passes in the Panthers' comeback effort. The Panthers' effort, fueled by a career-best game from Coker, was admirable, but it came up short against a Rams team that dropped 14 points early. Coker has a chance to enter the 2026 season as Carolina's No. 2 wide receiver behind Tetairoa McMillan and ahead of Xavier Legette. We can't rule out the possibility of Carolina adding another quality pass-catcher during the offseason, though.

Jan 12

DJ Moore • WR • Bears

DJ Moore Scores Clutch Touchdown Catch in Playoff Win

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore caught six of seven targets for 64 yards and a touchdown during Saturday's Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers. He also lost five yards rushing. The highlight of Moore's game was a 25-yard touchdown catch with just 1:48 left in the fourth quarter. The score put Chicago ahead 31-27, and that score would hold for the final 108 seconds as the Bears completed an improbable comeback and punched their ticket to the Divisional Round. Moore was relatively underwhelming as just the WR35 in full-PPR leagues this year, but there's no denying that he has a flair for the dramatic. He has scored game-winning touchdowns in each of the Bears' last two games against the Packers, and he has scored at least 17.9 full-PPR fantasy points in three of his last five games. The 28-year-old will look to stay hot as the Bears advance to face the Rams in the Divisional Round next weekend.

Jan 12

Puka Nacua • WR • Rams

Puka Nacua Scores Twice in Narrow Wild-Card Win

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua caught 10 of 18 targets for 111 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's Wild Card win over the Carolina Panthers. He also had three carries, 14 rushing yards, and an additional rushing touchdown. Nacua's historic year continues; he has 139 catches, 1,826 receiving yards, 119 rushing yards, and 13 total touchdowns through 16 regular-season games and one playoff game. The BYU product is in the midst of the best season of his young career, and he has a very strong chance to win the 2025 Offensive Player of the Year award. He has developed a terrific rapport with MVP candidate Matthew Stafford while showing that he has no trouble co-existing with dependable veteran Davante Adams. He'll head into 2025 fantasy drafts as a consensus top-two receiver and top-four draft pick.

Jan 12

Omarion Hampton • RB • Chargers

Omarion Hampton Active for Wild-Card Round Against Patriots

Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) is officially active for Sunday's playoff contest against the New England Patriots. He had been listed as questionable and missed a pair of practices before being upgraded to a limited participant on Friday. Hampton sat out Week 18 with an ankle injury, but his absence was more of a precaution as Los Angeles rested many starters, and the rookie running back was just four weeks removed from a seven-game absence. He took a little while to get back to 100 percent after the injury, but his 81% snap share and 22 touches from Week 17 should indicate that he's back to a starter's workload. We wouldn't be surprised to see him handle another 20-plus touches against the Patriots, whose run defense started to falter down the stretch but still finished with the third-fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs in 2025.

Jan 12

Kayshon Boutte • WR • Patriots

Kayshon Boutte Active for Wild-Card Round

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) is officially active for Sunday's playoff contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. Boutte was a solid contributor in his role as the No. 2 receiver behind Stefon Diggs throughout the regular season. Over 14 games, he caught 33 passes for 551 yards and a career-high six touchdowns. He'll have a tougher test on Sunday night as he faces a Chargers defense that allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers during the regular season. DFS players and bettors may choose to stay away from Boutte, as Diggs is the only Patriots receiver who can really be trusted ahead of this tougher matchup.

Jan 12

Oronde Gadsden • TE • Chargers

Oronde Gadsden has Favorable Matchup in First Career NFL Playoff Game

Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden displayed his versatility and developed a strong connection with Justin Herbert during the 2025 NFL season. The 22-year-old had 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns on 69 targets. Gadsden was a pleasant surprise for fantasy managers who were able to snipe him off waivers in his rookie season. Entering Wild Card Weekend, Gadsden will face a solid New England Patriots defense. The Patriots' defense allowed the fourth-fewest rushing touchdowns and the sixth-fewest rushing yards, while having one of the NFL's mild passing defenses. This could favor the Gadsden and the Chargers' passing attack. If the Chargers have a slow start running the football, they could turn Herbert's arm loose early. Gadsden could see a good number of targets against an average NFL passing defense in his first playoff game.

Jan 12

Hunter Henry • TE • Patriots

Hunter Henry Looks to Continue His Terrific Season in the NFL Playoffs

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry finished the 2025 season on fire with three straight TE1 performances to end the year. The 31-year-old had 60 catches for 768 yards and seven touchdowns, while on his way to a TE9 overall finish in PPR leagues. Entering Wild Card Weekend, Henry and the Patriots will face a solid Los Angeles Chargers defense. The Chargers have allowed the third-fewest receiving touchdowns and the fourth-fewest receiving yards this season. In a tough round one match-up, Henry will have to continue to perform at a high level to keep the Patriots' offense moving on schedule. Henry will look to add on to his new career highs in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns that he set in the regular season during the postseason.

Jan 11

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