Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said he wants a competitive situation at quarterback going into next season, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. O'Connell said McCarthy "is going to be a major emphasis," but "the competition in that room will only enhance the entire team." The Vikings want McCarthy to seize the starting job, but he's going to have to earn it and play better than he did in 2026, and the Vikings are fully expected to add to their QB room to push McCarthy this offseason. The 22-year-old former first-round signal-caller missed his entire rookie season in 2024 due to a knee injury that required surgery. McCarthy missed time with multiple injuries in 2025 and struggled with turnovers and efficiency when he was on the field, completing 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 10 starts. Fantasy managers will want to see improvement from the Michigan product before considering him as anything more than a low-end QB2 option with upside.

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison, who has a history of legal troubles since he entered the NFL, was arrested and booked into a Florida jail on Monday for probable-cause trespassing in an occupied structure, according to Joe Nelson of Sports Illustrated. Addison was released on Monday after posting a $500 cash bond. The 23-year-old pass-catcher was suspended for three games in 2025 for his 2024 DUI arrest in Los Angeles. In his third year in the NFL with the Vikings, Addison had his worst showing, catching 42 of 79 targets for a career-low 610 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 14 games played. Obviously, Addison's three-game suspension didn't help, but he was also more inconsistent every week with second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggling with efficiency, turnovers, and injuries. It remains to be seen if he'll be facing another suspension to begin the 2026 season.

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Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan was non-committal on Tuesday when asked if the team is considering a contract extension for quarterback Bryce Young, according to David Newton of ESPN. "We're still talking through the roster. It's up in the air, and we're still working through it," Morgan said. Young had the best season of his young career in 2025, setting career highs in completion percentage (63.6%), passing yards (3,011), and touchdown passes (23) while throwing 11 interceptions in 16 regular-season starts. The 24-year-old former first overall pick in 2023 led the Panthers to their first postseason appearance since 2018. The Panthers are expected to pick up Young's fifth-year option, but it wouldn't be a surprise if they hold off on a long-term extension until after the 2026 season.

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Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins caught three of his four targets for 39 yards in Monday night's Wild-Card win over the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers. Higgins finished second on the team in receiving yards behind Christian Kirk's 144. It was a bit of a disappointing showing for the 23-year-old rookie after top wideout Nico Collins suffered a concussion in the second half and never returned. Higgins also broke a streak of two straight games with a touchdown reception. He finished third on the team in receiving during the regular season, with 41 catches for 525 yards, and his six touchdowns were tied with Collins for the most on the team. If Collins cannot clear the league's concussion protocol in time for Sunday's Divisional Round contest at the New England Patriots, Higgins will have much more fantasy upside.

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell had 10 touches for 46 scrimmage yards in Monday night's 30-6 loss in the Wild-Card round to the visiting Houston Texans. He also added 100 yards on four kickoff returns. The 26-year-old carried the ball six times for 20 yards and caught four of his six targets for 26 yards. Gainwell's performance didn't stand out on offense, but it was a career year for him in 2025 in his first season in Pittsburgh, as he finished with a career-high 537 rushing yards and five touchdowns on a career-high 114 carries in 17 regular-season games. He added a career-best 73 receptions on 85 targets for 486 yards and three touchdowns. The Steelers will most likely be interested in re-signing Gainwell, who will be an unrestricted free agent in March. Gainwell's 2026 fantasy value could change drastically if he's not in Pittsburgh.

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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud wasn't at his best on Monday night, but the Texans were still able to pull it out and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 30-6 in the Wild-Card playoff matchup. Stroud finished the game 21-for-32 passing for 250 yards with one touchdown and an interception. The 24-year-old signal-caller also lost two fumbles. He was sacked three times for a loss of six yards and ran the ball once for no gain. Stroud fumbled the ball a third time in the second half, but thankfully, he was able to recover it. The Steelers couldn't take advantage of Stroud's miscues, as they only scored three points on his three turnovers. Stroud just didn't look comfortable in the pocket on Monday and missed a couple of easy throws that could have gone for big yardage. He'll need to play much better if Houston is going to go into New England and beat the Patriots on Sunday in the Divisional Round.

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Out of nowhere, Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk had a breakout game in the 30-6 blowout win over the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild-Card round on Monday night. Kirk, who disappointed with only 28 catches for 239 yards and one touchdown on 52 targets in 13 games during the regular season in his first year with the team, caught eight of his nine targets for a season-high 144 yards and one touchdown to help send the Texans to the Divisional Round this weekend against the New England Patriots. It helped the 29-year-old's cause when top wideout Nico Collins left with a concussion in the second half and never returned. Fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect a repeat performance for Kirk against New England, but he'll definitely see more targets this weekend if Collins is unable to clear the league's concussion protocol.

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The Houston Texans were able to run the ball effectively on Monday night against a stout Pittsburgh Steelers run defense in the Wild-Card playoff game, with rookie running back Woody Marks going for 112 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground on 19 carries. Marks was unable to reel in his only target in the passing game. The 25-year-old left the game briefly to be checked for a concussion in the first half, but he was able to get back on the field to produce the first 100-yard game of his career. Marks spent most of the first half of the 2025 season splitting backfield work with veteran Nick Chubb, but he took over lead-back duties around the halfway mark and hasn't looked back since. He'll have a tough time producing back-to-back 100-yard performances in the Divisional Round on the road against a New England Patriots team that allowed the fourth-fewest half-PPR fantasy points to RBs during the regular season.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Justin Watson has been diagnosed with a concussion and will not return to Monday's playoff contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He initially exited during the third quarter and was initially listed as questionable while being evaluated. However, the team later downgraded him to out. Watson, who returned from injured reserve prior to Week 18, had not been targeted before his departure on Monday night. He primarily operates on special teams and does not have much of a role within the Texans' offense. With that being said, his absence, coupled with the departure of Nico Collins (concussion), will test Houston's wide receiver depth going forward. Watson faces an uphill battle to clear the NFL's five-stage concussion protocol over the next six days before the Texans' Divisional Round clash with the New England Patriots.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins has been diagnosed with a concussion and will not return to Monday's playoff contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He exited after hitting his head on the turf on an incomplete pass during the third quarter. Collins was initially listed as questionable while being evaluated, but the team eventually downgraded him to out. He finishes the Wild Card game with seven targets, three catches, and 21 receiving yards. In addition to Collins, fellow wide receiver Justin Watson (concussion), who primarily plays on special teams, has also been ruled out. The Texans will play the final few minutes with Jaylin Noel, Jayden Higgins, Dalton Schultz, and Christian Kirk operating as C.J. Stroud's top targets. Collins is officially in concussion protocol and will have just six days to get healthy before the Texans' Divisional Round game against the Patriots, assuming Houston holds on to defeat Pittsburgh.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (head) exited after hitting his head on the turf on an incomplete pass during the third quarter of Monday's playoff contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was quickly listed as questionable, and medical personnel carted Collins to the locker room for a concussion evaluation. At the time of his departure, the 26-year-old receiver had caught three of seven targets for 21 yards. The Texans are leaving the door open for him to return, but he'll first have to clear the NFL's concussion check. In the meantime, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and Christian Kirk should command more targets from C.J. Stroud. If Collins is diagnosed with a concussion, he'd miss the remainder of today's game and would also be at risk of missing the Divisional Round in New England, should Houston advance.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Justin Watson (head) exited during the third quarter of Monday's playoff contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is being evaluated for a concussion and is officially listed as questionable to return. Watson returned from a calf injury prior to Week 18, but he didn't log a target in the regular season finale. Similarly, he hadn't been targeted before exiting the Wild Card game on Monday night. The 29-year-old is buried on the depth chart at wide receiver, and most of his contributions come on special teams. It's worth noting that Houston suddenly finds itself shorthanded at the position after Nico Collins (head) was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion, too.

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Houston Texans running back Woody Marks (head) exited during the second quarter of Monday's playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion. The Texans briefly listed him as questionable to return, but he checked back into the contest later in the quarter. Ultimately, he missed just one offensive play due to the injury. At the time of his departure (and his return), he had 51 rushing yards on nine carries, equating to an impressive average of 5.7 yards per attempt. The rookie ascended into a large role as a rookie this year, and by the end of the regular season, he was locked in as Houston's primary running back. While Nick Chubb and Jawhar Jordan are serviceable fill-ins, the Texans are excited to see Marks return to the contest. He should continue to lead the backfield for the remainder of Monday's contest, barring an injury.

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Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that the team is opening the 21-day practice window for defensive tackle Ed Oliver (biceps, knee) this week, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. In addition to a torn biceps, Oliver is also recovering from meniscus surgery on his knee. The 28-year-old interior defensive lineman will be eligible to come off Injured Reserve to play in the AFC Divisional Round this Saturday against the Denver Broncos. Whether Oliver is actually active this weekend will depend on how he looks in practice this week. Getting Oliver back would be a big boost for the Bills' defense against a Broncos offense that hasn't been great at running the football since the midseason injury to RB J.K. Dobbins (foot). In just three games played in 2025, Oliver had 12 tackles (10 solo), three sacks, seven tackles for loss, five QB hits, and a forced fumble.

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The Buffalo Bills are opening the 21-day practice window for wide receiver Curtis Samuel (elbow) this week, according to head coach Sean McDermott. Samuel has been on Injured Reserve due to an elbow injury since Nov. 28, but he'll be eligible to be activated to play this Saturday in Denver against the Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round game. It's good news for the Bills after Gabe Davis (knee) tore his ACL in the Wild-Card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, although Samuel isn't guaranteed to play against the Broncos. Wideout Tyrell Shavers is also dealing with a knee injury and could be questionable this week. If the 29-year-old Samuel returns in the Divisional Round, he'll likely be eased back into action and won't be much of a fantasy football option. In his six games played in 2025, Samuel had seven catches for 81 yards and one touchdown.

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Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring) is considered week-to-week and will not play on Saturday in the Divisional Round against the hosting Denver Broncos, according to Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News. Poyer won't be available this weekend after injuring his hamstring in Sunday's Wild-Card victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It remains to be seen if the 34-year-old veteran will be able to return for the AFC Championship next weekend if the Bills knock off the Broncos. It's a notable loss for the Bills' defense this weekend, as Poyer has 70 tackles (31 solo), half a sack, three pass breakups, and one interception this year. Jordan Hancock will step into a starting role for Buffalo's secondary against Denver with Poyer sidelined.

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Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that wide receiver Tyrell Shavers (knee) is still being evaluated after suffering a knee injury in Sunday's Wild-Card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News. Shavers briefly left the 27-24 win on Sunday before getting back on the field. The 26-year-old pass-catcher had just one catch on two targets for 14 yards. As of right now, Shavers should be considered questionable to play in the Divisional Round of the playoffs on Saturday against the Denver Broncos. Meanwhile, fellow wideout Gabe Davis (knee) suffered a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the year. Buffalo's receiving corps could be a little thinned out going into a tough matchup on the road against Denver. If Shavers can't play this weekend, Keon Coleman and Brandin Cooks will have elevated roles behind Khalil Shakir.

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Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that kicker Matt Prater (quadriceps) "is in a good spot" going into the Divisional Round of the playoffs this Saturday against the Denver Broncos, according to The Buffalo News' Katherine Fitzgerald. Prater will have a similar practice schedule to last week, but he might do more this week. The 41-year-old veteran placekicker kicked field goals and extra points in Sunday's Wild-Card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he was not available for kickoffs. Prater aggravated a right-quad injury in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets, but he was able to play on Sunday against the Jags and made both his field-goal attempts (one from 50-plus yards) and all three of his extra points. Prater will have the altitude on his side in Denver this weekend, making him slightly more attractive to fantasy managers.

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Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb will have an elevated role as the team's RB2 on Monday night against the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild-Card playoff game, with Jawhar Jordan (ankle) ruled out. Chubb was a healthy scratch in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Indianapolis Colts, with Jordan taking over RB2 duties behind rookie starter Woody Marks. The 30-year-old should be more involved against Pittsburgh, but he by no means should be considered a standalone starter in fantasy lineups on Monday night. Chubb saw one carry in two of his final three regular-season games. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry on his 122 rushing attempts for 506 yards in 15 regular-season contests. Dare Ogunbowale may see the field more than Chubb on Monday night. Chubb hasn't seen double-digit carries in a game since Nov. 2 against the Broncos.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III stepped up with DK Metcalf on suspension in the team's Week 18 win over the Baltimore Ravens, which helped them win the AFC North division. Austin caught three of his seven targets for 55 yards and the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was the 26-year-old's third touchdown of the year and his first since back on Sept. 21 in the win over the New England Patriots. The week prior, with Metcalf out due to suspension, Austin caught his only target for an eight-yard gain. His touchdown catch in Week 18 against the Ravens came with help from cornerback Chidobe Awuzie slipping to leave him wide open. Austin had just 31 catches for 372 yards and three touchdowns in 14 regular-season games, so he wasn't really on the radar in 12-team fantasy leagues. With Metcalf returning from his suspension in the Wild-Card game on Monday night against the Houston Texans, we aren't expecting much from Austin against the No. 1 defense in the NFL.

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