The Atlanta Falcons are interviewing Pittsburgh Steelers secondary coach Grady Brown for their defensive-coordinator job on Friday, according to a source. After firing Jimmy Lake following the 2024 season, the Falcons have already interviewed Don "Wink" Martindale, Jeff Ulbrich, Lou Anarumo and Derrick Ansley for the position. Brown just wrapped up his fourth year working as an assistant defensive coach for the Steelers after joining the organization in 2021. Before joining the Steelers, Brown had worked for several collegiate programs as a defensive coordinator and secondary coach, including stops Houston, South Carolina and McNeese State. In his second season with the Steelers, Brown helped the defense finish tied for the league lead in interceptions. Given his lack of experience at the NFL level, he's considered more of a long shot to be hired by the Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Minnesota Vikings assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski will return for a second interview with the Seattle Seahawks for their offensive-coordinator position on Friday, according to sources. The 28-year-old has been a vital part of Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell's staff and has worked closely with QBs coach Josh McCown, who has generated head-coaching interest himself this cycle after the excellent work he did with Sam Darnold in 2024. Udinski began his coaching career working under Matt Rhule at Baylor in 2019 before following Rhule to the Carolina Panthers. He went to Minnesota when O'Connell was hired as the head coach in 2022. In addition to Udinski, New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will get a second interview for the OC job in Seattle.

From RotoBaller

The New York Jets will interview Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown for their head-coaching job on Friday, according to sources. After the Vikings were knocked out of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Rams on wild-card weekend, Flores will be a busy man this weekend, also interviewing for head-coaching positions with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday and with the Chicago Bears on Saturday. He's considered one of the favorites for the Jets' job. He went 24-25 over three seasons as the head coach for the Miami Dolphins, and there were plenty of questions about how he handled the development of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. McCown started 13 games as the Jets QB from 2017-18.

From RotoBaller

The New Orleans Saints are interviewing interim head coach Darren Rizzi for their head-coaching vacancy on Friday. It's the fourth interview the Saints have held, also talking with New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. In addition to Rizzi, the Saints will interview Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady on Friday. Rizzi took over the interim head-coach job midway through the 2024 season after the Saints fired Dennis Allen. He initially gave the Saints a spark but finished 3-5 down the stretch with the Saints finishing last in the NFC South division. Formerly the team's special teams coordinator, Rizzi is considered a long shot to be hired for the full-time position in the Big Easy.

From RotoBaller

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is saying that Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle), who is questionable to play in the Divisional Round playoff game on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs, has a real shot to play despite missing the final practice of the week on Thursday. Mixon popped up on the injury report on Wednesday and was limited and then was downgraded to a DNP on Thursday, putting his status for this weekend's game up in the air. Rapoport says that Mixon's injury is a minor one, so it sounds like he should be active and play through it on Saturday. The Texans need Mixon if they are to have any chance to pull off the upset of KC, as he rushed for over 1,000 yards with 12 total TDs during the regular season. Fantasy managers should leave him in their lineups, but there is now more risk involved going up against a Chiefs defense that has been stingy to RBs this season.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that rookie running back Ray Davis (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol on Friday. Davis suffered a scary concussion in the wild-card win over the Denver Broncos last Sunday and never returned to the game. While he remains in the concussion protocol, he's put in two limited practices this week. However, the 25-year-old backup will need to upgrade to a full practice on Friday and be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to get the green light to play this Sunday in the Divisional Round of the postseason versus the visiting Baltimore Ravens. The fact that he's still in the protocol on Friday means there's a good chance he'll be ruled out before Sunday's game. James Cook remains Buffalo's lead back, but a Davis absence would open up a much bigger workload for Ty Johnson against the Ravens.

From RotoBaller

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that it looks like Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee) is headed toward missing a second straight game in the playoffs in the Divisional Round on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Flowers suffered a knee sprain in the Week 18 win over the division-rival Cleveland Browns and has not practiced since. Flowers had an outside chance of playing earlier this week, but two straight DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday have made it less likely that we'll see him in Buffalo. That could change if Flowers is able to return to practice on Friday, but it's looking unlikely to happen. If the Ravens beat the Bills this weekend, Flowers' status for the AFC Championship would be up in the air. Obviously, fantasy managers should avoid him this weekend. Rashod Bateman, who scored in the wild-card win over the Steelers, will be in line to serve as the WR1 for the second straight game.

From RotoBaller

Updating previous reports, Houston Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) has a good chance of playing Saturday, Jan. 18, against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Fantasy Spin: Mixon suffered the ankle injury at some point this week, and Dameon Pierce could see a larger load than normal. Mixon would be an RB2 in playoff leagues if he's able to go, but Pierce looks to be a flex candidate.

From TheHuddle

The Kansas City Chiefs defense will take on the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this week. The Texans most recently scored 32 points in their Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. With C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, and Joe Mixon leading the offense, Houston has plenty of talent at their skill positions. That said, if the Kansas City defense can successfully erase Collins from the offensive game plan, Houston has a depth issue among their pass catchers. Losing Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell means the Texans offense will have to rely on Robert Woods and John Metchie III at wide receiver. If the Chiefs offense controls the game's pace, the defense could be a viable option in DFS and playoff leagues. The Kansas City defensive unit is risky, given the potency of the Texans offense, but they could be a sneaky good play.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face the Houston Texans on Saturday in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The 35-year-old finished the season as the team's leading receiver yet again, but his performances this season were far from what we've come to expect from the eventual Hall-of-Famer. Kelce appeared to regress as an offensive weapon, causing the team to shift toward feeding Xavier Worthy. The rookie receiver became the focal point of the Chiefs passing attack in the home stretch of the regular season, but Kelce has the edge with playoff experience. Patrick Mahomes still trusts Kelce's ability to make big plays for the team and will likely be heavily targeted against the Texans. The Houston defense put on a clinic against the Los Angeles Chargers in last week's Wild Card matchup, collecting four sacks, four interceptions, and a touchdown while only allowing 12 points. The Texans struggled to defend in the red zone this season, where Mahomes will be looking for Kelce. Kelce should be considered a safe play in DFS and playoff leagues since he is one of the most prolific playoff performers in NFL history.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy will take on the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round this weekend. The 21-year-old came on strong in the season's final weeks, collecting 21 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns from Weeks 15 through 17. Worthy stepped into the WR1 role and displayed why he was a first-round pick in 2024. With nearly three full weeks off to rest and prepare, the rookie will look to continue his dominant stretch against the Texans defense. Houston recorded four interceptions last week against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card round. The Chiefs were often scheming the young receiver open, and he capitalized on those opportunities. If Worthy is utilized like he was down the stretch, he should be a strong play in both DFS and playoff leagues this week.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will face the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this week. Hopkins rested in Week 18 with the rest of the starters, making it nearly three weeks since he last suited up. Hopkins played a consistent role in the offense following his acquisition at the trade deadline, but his involvement tapered off as the season went on. The emergence of rookie Xavier Worthy and the steady presence of Travis Kelce pushed Hopkins down in the pecking order. That said, Mahomes has still demonstrated trust in the sure-handed veteran receiver at key moments. Hopkins will also have to contend with a tough Texans defense that held the Los Angeles Chargers to 12 points and picked off Justin Herbert four times. The 32-year-old is a risky play in both DFS and playoff leagues, given his low floor, but there's still a chance he finds the endzone.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will face the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this Saturday. Butker missed his lone field goal attempt in the Week 18 shutout loss to the Denver Broncos. The veteran kicker will look to turn things around now that the playoffs have started. Since returning from knee surgery in Week 15, Butker has nailed three of his five field goal attempts and eight of nine extra-point attempts. The 29-year-old could be heavily involved if the Texans get rolling offensively, which is possible given they scored 32 points in their Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Given how the Chiefs perform in the playoffs, Butker should be good for at least two field goals and extra-point attempts. Butker should be considered a viable plug-in kicker in DFS and playoff leagues this week.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was listed on the injury report with an ankle injury but practiced fully all week and has no injury designation heading into this week's contest. Mahomes will benefit from two extra weeks off between games since the Chiefs clinched the top seed in the AFC. The additional rest and preparation should come in handy against the Houston Texans defense that racked up four sacks, four interceptions, and a touchdown in their Wild Card matchup. The 32-year-old should also benefit from a healthy receiving core outside of Mecole Hardman, who is listed as doubtful for this week. For those playing DFS or in playoff leagues, few quarterbacks can compete with Mahomes' career playoff stats. The Chiefs quarterback is among the surest bets to show up when the lights are the brightest. Start Mahomes with confidence anywhere you can.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco was listed on the injury report with a rib injury but practiced fully all week and does not have an injury designation for this game. The second-year back has had nearly three weeks to recover since the last time he suited up, so he should be back to full strength come Saturday. Pacheco has been competing with Kareem Hunt for touches out of the backfield, and Hunt appeared to be winning that battle when the duo last played in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pacheco handled six carries for 18 yards compared to nine carries for 20 yards and a touchdown for Hunt. It is possible that the Chiefs were limiting his touches after his return from injury, so it will be interesting to see how the split shakes out in the team's return to play against the Houston Texans. The Texans held the Los Angeles Chargers to 12 points while also collecting four sacks, four interceptions, and a touchdown. Given the uncertainty around his workload, the 25-year-old is risky to play in playoff leagues. Pacheco is a much better DFS play in case the team decides to lean on him in the run game. The Chiefs are touchdown home favorites, so whichever running back leads the backfield should have some value.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt has been the team's leader out of the backfield despite the return of Isiah Pacheco. The veteran running back has earned more opportunities in the last three games he played alongside Pacheco. Hunt was not listed on the injury report this week, while Pacheco appeared to be nursing a rib injury. The 29-year-old running back may be the healthier of the duo, which could impact the way the backfield is split against the Houston Texans. The Texans defense held the Los Angeles Chargers to 12 points in last week's Wild Card matchup. Much of Hunt's value this season has come from finding the endzone, and those opportunities should be available to him in this contest. Hunt should be viewed as the Chiefs lead running back until the team shows otherwise, which makes him a valuable asset in DFS and playoff leagues this week.

From RotoBaller

The Detroit Lions D/ST continues to be a top fantasy option as their 2024 playoff run gets underway. The Lions take on the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round, fresh off a bye week that allowed them to get healthy on both sides of the football. While Detroit's defense is still dealing with some key ailments, the unit is making progress. Alex Anzalone returned to the mix in Week 18, and Terrion Arnold (foot) is expected to play on Saturday after avoiding a serious injury. Plus, while the Commanders' offense is no joke, Washington is technically the weakest team left in the playoffs strictly based on seeding. The Lions' intimidating defense and relatively favorable matchup give them significant fantasy appeal for the Divisional Round. RotoBaller's latest fantasy rankings place the Lions second among D/ST units this week, only behind the Kansas City Chiefs.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is a big-play threat who remains a solid fantasy option for Saturday's playoff game against the Washington Commanders. Williams spent this season occupying the No. 2 receiver slot on the depth chart behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, but that didn't stop him from breaking out for 58 catches, 1,001 yards, and seven touchdowns through 15 games. He was the overall WR19 in half-PPR leagues during the 2024 season, though his low floor and high ceiling often meant that he was finishing inside the top 10 receivers or outside the top 25. This weekend, he'll get a chance to make his playoff presence felt against a Commanders defense that ranks near the middle of the league in terms of production allowed to opposing receivers. They've fared equally well against slot and perimeter receivers, so the fact that Williams is capable of playing both roles doesn't give him much of an edge this weekend. Instead, he'll simply have to use his game-changing speed and athleticism to dismantle a solid Washington secondary. He has shown that he can be matchup-proof at times in the past, so managers shouldn't be surprised if he finishes the Divisional Round as a top-six fantasy receiver. His upside makes him an intriguing option for fantasy managers and bettors.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick delivered a solid four-game stretch where he looked like one of the best No. 3 receivers in the NFL, but a subpar finish to the regular season has stripped him of some fantasy appeal as the Divisional Round gets underway. This week, Patrick gets ready for a matchup with the Washington Commanders, who have ranked near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers. They've also fared equally well against both slot and perimeter weapons, so Patrick's tendency to operate out wide doesn't give him much of an advantage. The veteran receiver caught two passes on three targets over his final three games during the regular season, consistently playing between 55 and 65 percent of the offensive snaps. His experience and veteran status do give him a slight boost in the playoffs, but he's still tough to trust given his reduced volume to end the regular season. Look for him to rank as a fringe top-24 fantasy receiver this week.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has never appeared in an NFL playoff game before, but he already ranks as the No. 1 overall kicker in RotoBaller's Divisional Round fantasy rankings. His highly anticipated performance against the Washington Commanders on Saturday is the result of an impressive regular season in which he scored the seventh-most fantasy points among kickers. He missed just three field-goal attempts, and the Lions' incredibly potent offense put him in position to make a whopping 64 extra points. Also working in his favor is a somewhat favorable matchup against the Commanders, who surrendered two field goals to Chase McLaughlin last week, including one from 50 yards out. All in all, Bates is this week's top fantasy kicker thanks to his accuracy, power, and role on a dominant Lions team.

From RotoBaller