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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Per team owner Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys are hiring offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as their head coach. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the news. Schottenheimer took over as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator in 2023 after Kellen Moore left for the Los Angeles Chargers. The former found success in his first season, leading the Cowboys to a league-leading 30.1 points per game in 2023. However, his luck was not as fair in 2024 -- with injuries to star wideout CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) and quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) sapping much of the juice from Dallas' offense. Still, they finished with over 20 points per game and will be better off with the aforementioned players healthier in 2025. With Mike McCarthy out, we'll see who is calling plays for the Cowboys next season.

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According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Chicago Bears are signing former Detroit Lions coach Antwaan Randle El as their new assistant head coach and wide receiver coach. Wow. Head coach Ben Johnson is wasting no time filling out his staff, snagging former colleagues from his old squad in Randle El and J.T. Barrett and former defensive back Al Harris from the Dallas Cowboys. The former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout started coaching with the Buccaneers in 2019 but began working as the Lions' wide receiver coach in 2021 -- notably being part of the development of WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Now, he'll work with D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze in a new-look Chicago offense in 2025, setting up for an intriguing season.

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Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears have signed former Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach Al Harris as their defensive passing game coordinator/DBs coach. Harris, a former Green Bay Packers DB himself, was hired to coach Dallas' secondary in 2020 -- reuniting him with his former coach Mike McCarthy. In that time, his teams have ranked in the top eleven regarding pass yards per game allowed in four of five seasons, notching fifth-place finishes in the last two years. The Bears have been on a hiring spree -- nabbing three coaches from their division-rival Detroit Lions', including brilliant offensive-minded head coach Ben Johnson. Chicago is gearing up for a big season in 2025 and is looking to improve upon a unit that allowed 219.9 pass yards per game.

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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.

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Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka officially declared for the 2025 NFL draft on Friday on social media. The announcement comes after Egbuka helped the Buckeyes win the national championship on Monday over Notre Dame. The 22-year-old set Ohio State's all-time receptions and receiving yards record in his time at the school, which is really saying something given all the talented pass-catchers that have been in the program over the years. He stands at 6-foot-1, which isn't overly impressive, but he was able to record 81 catches for 1,011 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2024 season. In his four-year collegiate career, Egbuka totaled 205 receptions, 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns. Given his production in college, he figures to be a first-round selection in April's NFL draft.

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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.

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The Houston Texans will conduct full searches for their vacant offensive-coordinator role after firing Bobby Slowik on Friday, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that their top internal candidate is quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson. Meanwhile, Cole Popovich is Houston's top internal candidate to be elevated to offensive-line coach for the 2025 season. The Texans fired O-line coach Chris Strausser on Friday as well. Houston finished with a top-12 offense in quarterback C.J. Stroud's rookie season in 2023, but the team's offensive line was inconsistent for all of 2024, leading to Stroud taking the second-most sacks (52). The Texans' downfall on offense in Slowik's second season wasn't helped by the fact that the team lost both receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell to season-ending knee injuries. Johnson was a top OC candidate last year but chose to stay in Houston.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Washington Commanders defense is an intriguing value play in DFS competitions this weekend while facing the Philadelphia Eagles. Last weekend, in their upset victory over the Detroit Lions, they allowed 31 points but were quite opportunistic. They forced three interceptions, one of which was returned for a score, and added two sacks. However, they have another tall task ahead of them in the Philadelphia Eagles. In the two games they faced the Eagles this season, Saquon Barkley has had his way, tallying 148.0 rushing yards per game with four touchdowns. While Barkley will be difficult to contain, quarterback Jalen Hurts has been sacked nine times during the postseason and is entering this game battling a minor knee injury. Even though starting defensive tackle Daron Payne (finger) is questionable, if you want to save salary in your DFS lineup, target the Commanders, as they have a path to another solid showing.

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