Fantasy Football News

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass remains a strong fantasy option for Sunday's AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. While the kicker position is somewhat of a crapshoot with just four teams remaining in the playoffs, Bass has a good chance to finish near or at the top of the final rankings when this week's games are complete. The 27-year-old has fared well in the playoffs so far, going 5-for-5 on field goals and 5-for-5 on extra points. His matchup against the Chiefs isn't ideal Kansas City allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to kickers during the regular season but Bass did make one field goal and three extra points when he faced them back in Week 11. Conditions are expected to work in Bass' favor, too, with minimal winds and no precipitation expected in Kansas City on Sunday.

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid remains a risky option for fantasy managers and bettors ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 25-year-old has struggled to live up to his first-round price tag from the 2023 draft, but in his defense, he isn't the only Bills pass-catcher delivering subpar numbers lately. Amari Cooper hasn't met expectations since being acquired at the trade deadline, and rookie Keon Coleman remains an inconsistent option in the passing attack. In other words, it's been a subpar season for Buffalo pass-catchers not named Khalil Shakir. Unfortunately for Kincaid and his fantasy managers, the path doesn't get any easier. The Chiefs allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to tight ends during the regular season, holding the position to just 24.3 receiving yards per game.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins remains an unappealing fantasy option heading into Sunday's AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. While Hollins is actually the Bills' receiving touchdowns leader he had five during the regular season he hasn't carved out enough volume to justify deploying him in fantasy leagues or bet slips week in and week out. The 31-year-old has just one catch in each of the Bills' two playoff games, and he only had a pair of receptions when Buffalo hosted the Chiefs back in Week 11. If there's anything working in Hollins' favor, it's the fact that the Chiefs allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to slot receivers from Weeks 12 to Week 17. Hollins ranked 42nd among NFL receivers in slot snaps this year, which is impressive considering he ranked just 69th in total snaps. Extra slot opportunities could give him a slightly higher ceiling this week, but his low volume is still just too concerning, especially as Khalil Shakir handles most of the slot snaps.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper has been an unreliable fantasy option lately, and that's unlikely to change during Sunday's AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bills added Cooper midseason to bolster their receiving room, but he has yet to cement himself as a dependable receiving threat week in and week out. Khalil Shakir has remained the undisputed No. 1 receiver in Buffalo, and players like Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins, and Curtis Samuel have all out-produced Cooper at times, too. The 30-year-old was held without a catch last Sunday versus Baltimore, and he hasn't exceeded three targets in any of his last five games. This week's matchup against the Chiefs won't do him any favors, either. From Weeks 12 through 17, Kansas City allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to perimeter receivers like Cooper.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman continues to be an unreliable fantasy option ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. The rookie has progressed throughout his first season in the NFL, but he still remains an inferior option to Khalil Shakir in the Bills' passing attack. Coleman has just two catches over his last two games, totaling a mere 10 yards. He typically operates as a deeper perimeter threat within Buffalo's offense, which has added another layer of uncertainty to his profile. For example, he was targeted 57 times during the regular season but hauled in just 29 of those passes, giving him a concerning 50.9 percent catch rate. In fact, he had five catches on 17 targets between Weeks 17 and 18. His increased volume in those games was promising, but targets don't generate fantasy points. Until Coleman can start catching more passes on a consistent basis, he's tough to trust in fantasy football. That point is accentuated this week against the Chiefs, who have been incredibly stingy against players like Coleman. Kansas City allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to receivers operating out wide from Week 12 through Week 17.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir is a top fantasy option heading into Sunday's AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. Shakir has been quite productive through two playoff games, catching 12 of his 13 targets for 128 yards through the air. While his next opponent, the Chiefs, are dominant on defense, they have a glaring weakness when defending slot receivers like Shakir. In fact, Kansas City allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to slot receivers from Weeks 12 through 17. That bodes incredibly well for Shakir, who logged the eighth-most slot snaps among all NFL receivers during the 2024 regular season. The 24-year-old is no stranger to having his way against Kansas City, either. When the Bills hosted the Chiefs back in Week 11, he converted 12 targets (a season-high) into eight receptions for 70 yards. Even without being a major touchdown threat, the third-year receiver is a top fantasy option given his usage within the Bills' offense and a very favorable matchup coming up. Fantasy managers and bettors should be excited about this week's outlook for Shakir, who is a strong candidate to lead the Bills in scrimmage yards.

Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson remains an unreliable fantasy option ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. Johnson has consistently operated as the No. 2 running back behind James Cook, and he has also lost plenty of opportunities to rookie Ray Davis. Outside of an impressive Wild Card Weekend in which Johnson caught a touchdown pass and posted his season-high for rushing yards, the veteran running back has been tough to trust in fantasy football. This week won't be any different. In fact, Johnson's job could get even harder as he takes on a dominant Kansas City run defense. The Chiefs have been lethal against running backs this year, allowing the third-fewest rushing yards, fifth-fewest catches, and fourth-fewest receiving yards to the position during the 2024 regular season. Furthermore, they didn't surrender a single receiving touchdown to running backs. Johnson makes his biggest impact when he can capitalize on a defense's mistakes, such as two weeks ago against the Denver Broncos when he made a phenomenal touchdown catch in the back of the end zone. Against a stout, well-coached Chiefs defense, that won't be easy to do. Fantasy managers and bettors may want to look elsewhere for production at the running back position, though your options are certainly slim with just four teams left in the playoffs.

Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis is an unreliable fantasy option heading into Sunday's AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. Splitting the backup role with Ty Johnson has been hard enough for Davis this year. Now, he has to split the backup role while also facing off against one of the NFL's best run defenses. The Chiefs have been lethal against running backs this year, allowing the third-fewest rushing yards, fifth-fewest catches, and fourth-fewest receiving yards to the position during the 2024 regular season. Furthermore, they didn't surrender a single receiving touchdown to running backs. In Bills-Chiefs during Week 11, Davis was highly efficient, tallying just 11 rushing yards on five carries. With Cook in the lead-back role and Johnson serving as a key weapon for Josh Allen in the passing game, Davis needs to make the most of his limited opportunities in Buffalo's backfield. That won't be easy this week against the Chiefs. Cook remains the top Bills running back in fantasy football, and Johnson currently ranks ahead of Davis, too.

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is seeking revenge against the Kansas City Chiefs after they bottled him up during the regular season. When Cook faced the Chiefs back in Week 11, he rushed just nine times for 20 yards. He did catch five passes in that contest, but they amounted to just seven total receiving yards. That was Cook's worst game of the season, so he'll certainly be looking for revenge when the Bills head to Kansas City for the AFC Championship on Sunday. However, delivering a big game won't be easy. The Chiefs have been lethal against running backs this year, allowing the third-fewest rushing yards, fifth-fewest catches, and fourth-fewest receiving yards to the position during the 2024 regular season. Furthermore, they didn't surrender a single receiving touchdown to running backs. The Chiefs' run defense did falter a little last week, allowing 88 yards on 18 carries to Joe Mixon, but that may have been an outlier. Cook remains this week's No. 2 fantasy running back behind Saquon Barkley, but his matchup against Kansas City drastically reduces his floor.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen remains a high-upside play entering Sunday's AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. The MVP candidate didn't have to do much against the Baltimore Ravens last week, throwing for just 127 yards while rushing for 20 more. However, he did score twice, and more importantly, he helped the Bills punch their ticket to the AFC Championship. He'll likely be asked to do more this week against the Chiefs, who have taken down just about every opponent in their path this year. Of course, Allen is up to the task. When he faced the Chiefs back in Week 11, he totaled 262 passing yards, 55 rushing yards, and two total touchdowns. As well as Kansas City has played, their defense has been susceptible to big games from opposing quarterbacks. In fact, the Chiefs allowed the seventh-most rushing yards and 14th-most fantasy points to the position during the regular season. Given that Allen rushed for 531 yards through 16 regular-season games, he should remain a threat both on the ground and through the air this Sunday. Every Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes matchup has a flair for the dramatic, and this year's AFC Championship should be no different. Expect Buffalo's QB to put up major production, helping out his fantasy managers and bettors as the playoffs carry on.

Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott prepares for Sunday's NFC Championship game against the Washington Commanders with mixed results this postseason. Elliott has been perfect on field goals in the playoffs, going six for six, but has struggled with extra points, making just two of five attempts. Elliott's regular-season performance was below his usual standard, with a field goal percentage of 77.8%, including a concerning one of seven from 50+ yards. While he has drilled the most critical kicks when it mattered most, his extra-point struggles could loom large in what's expected to be a tightly contested game. As the Eagles aim for a Super Bowl berth, Elliott's ability to deliver under the brightest lights will be crucial for Philadelphia's success.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith heads into Sunday's NFC Championship game against the Washington Commanders as one of the team's most reliable weapons. Smith now leads the Eagles this season in receptions (76) and receiving touchdowns (8), proving to be a crucial target for Jalen Hurts in the passing game. While the Eagles have leaned heavily on Saquon Barkley's dominant ground game in the postseason, Smith remains a key option when the offense looks to the air. His ability to make big catches in critical moments will be pivotal if Philadelphia diversifies their attack to keep Washington's defense off balance. With his consistent production all season, Smith is poised to make a big impact in this high-stakes matchup.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley enters Sunday's NFC Championship matchup against the Washington Commanders with a history of dominance. In 11 career games against Washington, Barkley has averaged 137.5 scrimmage yards per game, the most by any player against any opponent in the Super Bowl Era (min. 10 games). This season, he torched the Commanders in two matchups, totaling 296 rushing yards, 63 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. The Commanders' defense has struggled mightily against the run, ranking 30th in rushing yards allowed per game (137.5) during the regular season. They've also given up 5.4 yards per carry and three rushing touchdowns in the playoffs. With Barkley logging 20+ touches in nine of his last ten games, expect the Eagles to lean heavily on their star running back once again.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Byron Young (hamstring) has again been ruled out for his team's Conference Championship tilt with the Washington Commanders. The 24-year-old practiced as a full participant this week -- a trend he's continued for a few weeks now -- but still isn't healthy enough to go since injuring his hamstring in late October. Fellow defensive linemen Moro Ojomo and Jordan Davis will continue to work in behind Milton Williams and Jalen Carter. As it stands, Young has yet to log a snap for the Eagles in 2024 while battling through knee and hamstring issues. He'll wait at least one more week before making his debut.

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Friday that they signed free-agent wide receiver Ajou Ajou to a Reserve/Futures deal. Ajou will head to the NFL after spending the 2024 season playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, where he caught 20 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. The 6-foot-3, 218-pounder was taken by the Roughriders in the seventh round of this year's CFL draft after playing collegiately at Garden City Community College, Clemson and South Florida. He had eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown in 22 games at Clemson and 17 catches for 186 yards and two scores in his seven games at community college. Ajou played in just one game at South Florida. He will now continue his development in the NFL with the Colts but will be a long shot to make the active roster out of training camp this summer.

The Houston Texans announced on Friday that they signed free-agent wide receiver Kearis Jackson and offensive guard Jerome Carvin to Reserve/Futures deals. Jackson, 25, was a former undrafted free agent out of Georgia who made his NFL debut in 2023 with the Tennessee Titans. He only appeared in two games and only appeared on special teams, returning six punts for 48 yards. Jackson was with the New York Giants' practice squad this year but wasn't active for any regular-season games. He will now join the Texans this offseason and hope to stick through training camp this summer as a return specialist. Carvin, 24, worked out for Houston back in October of 2023 but will now join the team. The Tennessee alumni has never appeared in an NFL game.

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead indicated that the team might be open to working out a long-term contract extension with running back Kyren Williams this offseason after he had another strong year in 2024. Williams accounted for almost 81% of the Rams' rushing attempts out of the backfield this year and ran the ball 316 times for a career-high 1,299 yards and a career-high 14 rushing touchdowns while adding a career-high 34 catches (40 targets) for another 182 yards and two scores through the air in 16 regular-season games. He'll be heading into the final year of his rookie deal in 2025, which makes him eligible for a contract extension this offseason. The 24-year-old has gone for 1,000 rushing yards in each of the last two years and is the first Rams RB since Todd Gurley to score 14 rushing TDs in a single season. Williams will be a strong RB1 choice for fantasy managers in 2025.

Washington Commanders tight ends John Bates (shoulder) and Ben Sinnott (shoulder) were both removed from Friday's final injury report and will be available on Sunday for the NFC Championship against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. Zach Ertz (rib) will also be active after practicing in full on Thursday and Friday, so neither Bates nor Sinnott are realistic DFS options for fantasy managers this weekend. The 27-year-old Bates has played through a shoulder injury in both postseason games but has only one catch on three targets for 20 yards to show for it. He had eight grabs on 13 targets for 84 yards and no scores in 17 regular-season games (six starts). Sinnott, meanwhile, has not even been targeted in two playoff games and caught all five of his targets for 28 yards and one touchdown in his first 17 NFL games during the regular season.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Britain Covey (neck) has been ruled out for the NFC Championship game on Sunday against the division-rival Washington Commanders, while center/guard Cam Jurgens (back) is listed as questionable. Covey was limited in practice all week but will not return from Injured Reserve. However, the 27-year-old could be ready to play in a few weeks if the Eagles are victorious this weekend and advance to the Super Bowl. Covey isn't fantasy relevant when active, as he caught only seven of eight targets for 34 yards and no touchdowns in five regular-season games in 2024 in his second year in the league. The 25-year-old Jurgens missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday but was limited on Friday, giving him a chance to play. If he's inactive on Sunday, expect Nick Gates to start under center for the Eagles.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee, illness, rest) practiced in full on Thursday and Friday and was removed from the final injury report. He will play on Sunday in the NFC Championship against the division-rival Washington Commanders and will be hoping to do some damage after barely being heard from in the first two postseason games. Even though the 27-year-old has just three catches on 10 targets for 24 yards and no touchdowns in playoff wins against the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams, Brown will have some of the most upside on Championship weekend at the receiver position. In the last meeting against the Commanders on Dec. 22, he had eight catches for 97 yards and a score on a season-high 15 targets. And in the first meeting on Nov. 14, he caught five of eight targets for 65 yards. Brown has high-end WR1 upside for DFS lineups.