Houston Texans cornerback Jaylin Smith (knee) had season-ending knee surgery, but he has made steady progress in his recovery and is on track to play next season, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Sports. Smith, who was a third-round pick by Houston last April, was placed on Injured Reserve in early November. The 22-year-old defensive back also missed four games in his first NFL season with a hamstring injury, so he finished with only six tackles (three solo) and a fumble recovery in his four games played. When he was on the field, though, Smith played well as the team's third cornerback behind Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. It's unclear yet if Smith will be ready for the Week 1 season opener, but he should be available at some point in 2026. The Texans will be hoping he'll be on the field more as he looks to develop in Year 2.

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The Green Bay Packers released cornerback Trevon Diggs on Tuesday, according to general manager Brian Gutekunst. Diggs was waived by the Dallas Cowboys during the 2025 season before the Packers scooped him up in late December. The 27-year-old former second-rounder played 33 defensive snaps in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings in his only regular-season game for the Packers. In the Wild-Card loss to the Chicago Bears, Diggs played just one snap. In nine total games in 2025, he had 27 tackles (20 solo) and no interceptions. There is a chance that the Packers restructure Diggs' contract and bring him back this offseason. After recording a career-high 11 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) with the Cowboys in his second season in 2021, Diggs has just six interceptions since and has struggled with injuries.

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According to The Athletic's Colton Pouncy, blending new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing's scheme with what the Detroit Lions already do on offense could make tight end Sam LaPorta an "even bigger priority in the passing game" in 2026. Former tight ends coach and current head coach Dan Campbell already clearly values the position. Before having season-ending back surgery, LaPorta was having a Pro Bowl season, catching 40 of his 49 targets for 489 yards and three touchdowns in nine starts. Petzing spent two seasons as the tight ends coach with the Cleveland Browns, and he prioritized the TE position in Arizona, with Trey McBride being one of the best players at his position in the NFL. Petzing isn't expected to run as much 12 personnel (two TEs) in Detroit, given the investments made at the position, but LaPorta could be in for a nice bounce-back year in 2026 if he's healthy.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs recorded his first touchdown of the postseason in his team's Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. However, the 32-year-old has posted underwhelming production overall so far this playoffs, hauling in six catches for 56 yards and a score on 11 targets across two games played. Diggs has also remained limited from a playing time perspective, playing 63% of New England's offensive snaps in the Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles Chargers and just 55% of the offensive snaps against Houston. While Diggs should get his chances in the AFC Championship Game, he may continue to struggle with efficiency. Denver finished the regular season ranked second among NFL defenses in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.1). The Broncos might also deploy All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II on Diggs, which could be problematic for the veteran wideout. Fantasy managers may want to be cautious with Diggs in the AFC Championship Game.

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New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson emerged as an electric playmaker during the 2025 regular season. However, the 23-year-old has struggled so far across his first two playoff appearances, recording just 39 scrimmage yards on 23 touches. Henderson has clearly been outplayed so far by fellow Patriots back Rhamondre Stevenson, who has racked up 209 scrimmage yards on 26 touches so far this postseason. New England has also moved away from Henderson from a playing time perspective, as he's played at least 14 fewer snaps than Stevenson in each of the team's last two contests. Both Patriots backs will face a tough matchup in the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos, who finished the regular season ranked second among NFL defenses in total rushing yards allowed (1,548) and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns allowed (11). Based on both the matchup and recent usage trends, Henderson profiles as a tough running back for fantasy managers to trust against Denver.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has been one of his team's key offensive weapons so far this postseason, recording seven receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown on nine targets across two games. The 23-year-old is leading New England in receiving yards to this point in the playoffs and has shown off his ability to make contested catches on downfield throws. After averaging a career-best 16.7 yards per reception in the regular season, Boutte is averaging over 20 yards per catch in the postseason. In the AFC Championship game, Boutte and the Patriots square off with the Denver Broncos. Denver fielded a strong pass defense during the regular season, ranking second in the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.1). However, the Broncos also allowed 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, which was tied for the fourth-most among NFL defenses. Boutte should have his chances to make plays down the field against Denver and could be in line for a third straight game with solid fantasy production.

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton posted a modest performance in his team's Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills, hauling in four receptions for 53 yards. Sutton functioned as Denver's WR1, earning a team-high nine targets. He could be in line for another sizable target share in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots, particularly with fellow Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant (concussion) questionable to play after suffering a concussion against the Bills. However, the Denver pass game will be without starting quarterback Bo Nix (ankle), who will miss the remainder of the postseason after breaking a bone in his ankle late in the game against Buffalo. As a result, Sutton will be catching passes from Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who has thrown for 1,422 yards, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions across 20 career NFL games (four starts). While Sutton should remain heavily featured against New England, he may struggle against the tough Patriots defense while working with a backup quarterback.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (knee) is likely to be released and designated a post-June 1 cut, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques, who writes it remains 'unclear' when he'll be able to return after dislocating his knee. Louis-Jacques adds that this would be the 'most fiscally reasonable solution.'

Fantasy Spin: Hill has been hugely productive in his NFL career, but he posted a modest 81-959-6 line in 2023 (his worst since an injury-shortened 2019 campaign), and will turn 32 in March. Hill, an undersized wideout whose game is built around his speed, will need to prove he hasn't lost a step coming off a devastating knee injury.

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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.

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