If You Ain't First You're Last Playoffs

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris handled six carries for 17 yards and came down with all three of his targets for 41 receiving yards in a Wild Card Round loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers had very little success on the ground throughout the contest and were forced to lean on the passing game after trailing 21-0 at halftime. Harris contributed in the third quarter as he turned short completions into nine, 21, and 11-yard gains. Although his play this season was not necessarily consistent for fantasy purposes, Harris turned in a fourth-straight campaign with at least 1,000 rushing yards. Because Pittsburgh declined to pick up his fifth-year option in 2024, the 26-year-old will search for a new deal and potentially a new home this offseason.

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren totaled just six rushing yards on two carries and posted four receptions for 19 receiving yards in a 28-14 playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Both Warren and backfield mate Najee Harris were completely shut down by the Ravens' run defense but managed to contribute in the passing game. While Harris out-gained Warren through the air, the latter's five targets tied wideout George Pickens for the team lead. Warren, a restricted free agent this offseason, is likely to be retained by Pittsburgh and could be given RB1 duties in the 2025-2026 campaign with Harris now entering unrestricted free agency.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson completed 20 of his 29 pass attempts for 270 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-14 playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Wilson and the Steelers could not get anything going early on and found themselves trailing by 21 points at halftime. When the offense finally started clicking in the third quarter, it was effectively too late as Pittsburgh's defense continued to struggle against Baltimore's rushing attack led by Derrick Henry. The veteran signal-caller did make a few impressive throws, notably to receivers Van Jefferson and George Pickens for 30-and-36-yard scores, respectively. Overall, it was an up-and-down campaign for Wilson, who will now enter unrestricted free agency and could find himself with a new organization next season.

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Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie (back) was activated from Injured Reserve on Saturday and is officially active for the wild-card game at Orchard Park in Buffalo against the Bills on Sunday. As a result, rookie Audric Estime will be a healthy scratch. It's a pretty big surprise for Denver's backfield as they get set to play their first postseason game since winning Super Bowl 50 back in early 2016. The 24-year-old Badie has been on IR since early October but will return to provide RB depth behind Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams. Given Badie's extended absence, it would be a surprise to see him on the field all that much, which will give both McLaughlin and Williams more fantasy upside on Sunday against a Buffalo defense that has been vulnerable on the ground this year. In three games before going on IR, Badie had only 11 carries for 86 yards while adding three catches for minus-two yards.

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The Buffalo Bills have declared QB Mike White, DT DeWayne Carter, CB Brandon Codrington, CB Kaiir Elam, S Kareem Jackson, OT Ryan Van Demark and WR Jalen Virgil inactive for Wild Card Weekend.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday night's wild-card game against the Washington Commanders, but he is expected to play, according to sources. Otton missed the final three games of the regular season due to his knee injury, but he got in some limited practice sessions this week and should be active this weekend for the first playoff game. The 25-year-old had an impressive three-game stretch from Weeks 7-9 in which he caught 25 of 31 targets for 258 yards and three touchdowns. However, all that production came with top wideout Mike Evans missing time with a hamstring injury. In five games after that stretch, Otton had a combined 15 catches for 179 yards and no TDs after Evans returned. If Otton returns Sunday night, he'll merely be a touchdown-dependent, low-end TE1 against Washington.

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Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews didn't make much noise in the 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. The veteran registered two catches for 27 yards on three targets while receiving a 61% snap share. He saw 14 fewer snaps than Isaiah Likely, who was a bit more involved in the passing game this time around. Andrews played a big part in blocking again as the ground game went for a ridiculous 299 yards. Andrews will probably be needed more in the divisional round against either the Houston Texans or Buffalo Bills.

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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman came into Saturday's Wild Card game as the number-one receiver with Zay Flowers (knee) inactive and got in on the scoring action to help beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his third career postseason game, Bateman finished with two catches for 24 yards and a touchdown on two targets. His 15-yard touchdown started off all of the scoring in the first quarter when Lamar Jackson found him going over the middle in the end zone. That was also Bateman's first postseason touchdown in his four-year career. He'll look to find the end zone again in the divisional round against either the Buffalo Bills or Houston Texans.

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Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill crossed the goal line in a 28-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round. The change-of-pace back caught a touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson as he improvised and escaped the pass rush at the end of the second quarter. Hill finished the game with six carries for 12 yards and four receptions for 13 yards and a touchdown on four targets. Derrick Henry was dominating the run game, so Hill didn't see as many opportunities with a 39% snap share. Hill will try to find the end zone again in the divisional round against either the Buffalo Bills or Houston Texans.

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Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry almost ran for two football fields against the Pittsburgh Steelers on the way to a 28-14 win. The superstar back finished with 186 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and didn't even participate in the passing game. Henry was able to break off big runs by simply outrunning the defense, and he flashed the devastating stiff arm when he slapped Minkah Fitzpatrick out of the picture. The Ravens' possible opponents in the next round are the Bills and Texans, who Henry has posted 199 and 147 yards against this season.

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson put together an incredibly efficient performance to easily dismantle the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card matchup on Saturday. The three-time All-Pro finished with 175 yards and two touchdowns on 16-for-21 throwing while adding 81 yards on 15 carries. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry and 10.9 yards per completion, finishing with a 132.0 passer rating. Jackson said he's not cheering for anyone specifically to play in the next round, but depending on the Bills and Broncos game, they will either host the Texans or travel to Buffalo next.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston did nothing right in a Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans. Johnston was targeted five times and made no catches, the second game this season where he saw that many targets but still couldn't do anything with them. The play that encapsulated the NFL career of "QJ" so far was a fourth down route where he did not even get himself into first down territory, and then also just dropped the pass for good measure. Johnston showed some flashes this year of what made him a first-round pick in 2023, but he also showed some of what has Chargers fans hoping he's cut before next season begins.

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Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made two field goals in a disappointing Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans. Dicker attempted two field goals and made them both, one from 35 yards and the other from 39 yards out. His one attempt at an extra point was blocked, scooped, and returned for a two-point conversion. Dicker ended up as the third-highest ranked fantasy kicker this season, and he should be right around that same level next season.

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Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey was the lone bright spot of the Chargers Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday. McConkey was targeted 14 times, making nine catches for 197 yards and a touchdown. The rookie's touchdown was an 86-yard play and the only one the Bolts would score in the game. While McConkey made his nine catches for 197 yards, the entire rest of the Chargers offense made five catches for 45 yards total. It was a rough performance by the LA offense, but McConkey shone through and truly established himself as an every week fantasy starter in his rookie year.

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Los Angeles Chargers tight end Will Dissly struggled his way through a rough loss in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs against the Houston Texans. Dissly was targeted five times, making two catches for 16 yards total. He dropped a pass while completely wide open and also was unable to catch a rather easy pass that he batted and turned into an interception instead. Dissly came on as a solid and reliable high-floor fantasy tight end in the second half of the season, but he was almost solely responsible for a 14-point swing in the most important game of the season for the Chargers. Dissly signed a three-year deal before the season, so he should be expected back with the Bolts, but they'll likely look for a more traditional pass-catching tight end either in free agency or in the draft.

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Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry rushed 26 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC wild-card game Saturday, Jan. 11. QB Lamar Jackson rushed 15 times for 81 yards and completed 16 of his 21 passes for 175 yards and two scores. TE Isaiah Likely caught three passes for a team-high 53 yards, TE Mark Andrews caught two passes for 27 yards, and WR Rashod Bateman caught two passes for 24 yards and a touchdown. DT Nnamdi Madubuike had four tackles and two sacks.

From TheHuddle

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson completed 20 of his 29 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC wild-card game Saturday, Jan. 11. RB Najee Harris rushed six times for 17 yards and caught three passes for 41 yards, and RB Jaylen Warren had two carries for six yards and four grabs for 19 yards. WR George Pickens caught five passes for 87 yards and a touchdown, WR Van Jefferson caught two passes for 37 yards and a score, and TE Pat Freiermuth finished with three receptions for 15 yards. LB Elandon Roberts logged a game-high 14 tackles, and DL Cameron Heyward had 10 stops, includling two tackles for loss.

From TheHuddle

Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards ran the ball seven times in a Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans. Edwards was not targeted in the passing game and turned his seven rushes into 22 yards. He looked out of gas most of the season, but was still solid enough as a backup to J.K. Dobbins when both backs were healthy. Edwards signed a two-year deal before the season, so he should be back with the Bolts next season along with rookie Kimani Vidal.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had the worst game of his career at a very inopportune time, losing 32-12 to the Texans in the first round of the playoffs. Herbert attempted 32 passes, completing just 14 for 242 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. He was also sacked four times, losing 31 yards. Herbert threw three interceptions all season. In 17 regular season games, he threw three interceptions. In one playoff game, he threw four. Herbert got no help from anyone besides Ladd McConkey, but it was still a rough performance from Herbert, who is still looking for his first playoff win.

From RotoBaller