Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn will face a difficult matchup in round one of the NFL playoffs when his team plays host to the Los Angeles Chargers on Wild Card Weekend. L.A. is one of the stronger teams against fantasy kickers, ranking seventh, but the bigger concern has been the offense to which Fairbairn is attached. The Houston offense has averaged a paltry 15.6 points across its past five games prior to the playoffs, which included the offense failing to score on Christmas Day against Baltimore. The Texans' recent performances and a Chargers defense that ranks fourth in scoring percentage allowed do not bode well for the veteran kicker. Managers in playoff formats should look for a stronger matchup elsewhere.

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Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz is a low-end option for managers in playoff formats with his team set to play host to the Los Angeles Chargers in a Wild Card game. The 28-year-old finished as TE20 in PPR formats, his worst finish in five years, while attached to a Houston offense that didn't live up to preseason expectations. Now comes a playoff matchup with a Chargers defense that ranks in the top 10 against tight ends and holds opposing offenses to the fourth-lowest scoring percentage in football. Smart money is on Schultz continuing to be involved at a secondary level, but nothing overwhelming as the Texans seek to advance to the Divisional Round for the second straight season.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson should not be considered for lineups with the Texans set to play host to the Los Angeles Chargers in a Wild Card meeting on Saturday. The 24-year-old has played more often since Tank Dell (knee) was lost for the season, but still managed just four catches for 34 yards in the past three weeks. With wide receiver Diontae Johnson now in the fold and Robert Woods still around, it's tough to say which, if any, secondary receiver will emerge behind No. 1 option Nico Collins. Additionally, Houston's offense has averaged just 15.6 points in its past five games. Hutchinson wasn't a strong option anyway, but an uncertain target share and an unpredictable passing offense make him avoidable in playoff formats.

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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman steps into the top receiver role with Zay Flowers (knee) getting ruled out for the opening playoff matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Bateman did score against the Steelers in their last outing, he has only posted 44 total yards and three receptions on eight targets. He'll likely play a bigger role in the offense rather than serve as a deep threat while both tight ends will play important parts as well. Bateman always carries big play ability, but the Steelers' corners are good in coverage which makes him more of an intriguing option in bigger DFS tournaments rather than cash games.

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Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry enters the Wild Card round on a three-game streak of at least 100 rushing yards which started when the Ravens and Steelers met last. Henry gashed the Steelers' defense for 162 yards on 24 carries in Week 16 after turning in 65 yards on 13 carries in their first meeting. He's produced 11 games of five or more yards per carry with five of those games over 6.5. The Ravens will likely try to get the ground game going early on which would make Henry a valuable DFS play in the opening round.

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson drew a first-round matchup with the longtime rival Pittsburgh Steelers in what he hopes will be a different playoff experience. Jackson and company split the season series with the Steelers but won via blowout in their last game at home. That was the first non-COVID era home game he started against the Steelers and he registered 207 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception on 15-for-23 throwing with nine carries for 22 yards. Since their bye week, Jackson has thrown for at least two touchdowns in each game and has averaged 220.5 passing yards with 59.3 rushing yards. Signs point to much of the same which would make Jackson the big-time favorite for any and all DFS lineups in this showdown.

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The Cleveland Browns will interview Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach Charles London for their offensive-coordinator job on Friday, according to a source. In addition to London, the Browns will interview Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach/passing-game coordinator Darrell Bevell for the offensive-coordinator job. London's job in Seattle could be up in the air after Seattle recently fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb after one season. He was in his first year coaching in Seattle under head coach Mike Macdonald after previously serving as the Tennessee Titans QBs coach/pass-game coordinator in 2023 and as the Atlanta Falcons' QBs coach from 2021-22. In addition to London and Bevell, the Browns already interviewed tight ends coach Tommy Rees as an internal candidate for the offensive-coordinator gig.

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The Cleveland Browns are expected to interview Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach/passing-game coordinator Darrell Bevell for their vacant offensive-coordinator position, according to a source. In addition to Bevell, the Browns will discuss the same position with Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach Charles London. Bevell is a long-time NFL assistant and has been with Miami since Mike McDaniel took over as the head coach in 2022. He has plenty of experience running offenses around the league, serving as the OC for the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars. Bevell has been an interim head coach twice -- with the Lions in 2020 and with the Jaguars in 2021. Whoever is hired as Cleveland's next offensive coordinator will work closely with head coach Kevin Stefanski, although it's unclear who will be the Browns' QB in 2025.

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Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has declined an interview request from the New England Patriots for their head-coach opening, according to sources. Instead, Glenn will interview for the other five head-coaching openings around the league -- the Raiders, Saints, Jets, Bears and Jaguars -- over the next few days. Glenn is one of the top head-coaching candidates available during this coaching cycle and was also a three-time Pro Bowler as a defensive back as a player in the NFL. He's in his fourth year as Detroit's defensive coordinator, and the Lions ranked seventh in points allowed per game (20.1) and fifth in rushing yards allowed per game (94.4) in 2024. The Patriots are widely expected to choose Mike Vrabel, a former linebacker with New England, as their next head coach after firing Jerod Mayo after just one season on the job.

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The Seattle Seahawks are scheduled to interview Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley for their offensive-coordinator job on Friday, according to a source. Fraley was an offensive lineman for 11 years in the NFL and has been instrumental in the Lions' running game during their resurgence. Improving their ground game is something Seattle desperately wants to do, so this connection makes plenty of sense. In addition to Fraley, the Seahawks plan on interviewing Chicago Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown for the same position. The 47-year-old Fraley was a center and appeared in 142 games with the Eagles, Browns and Rams during his career. He started in 2018 with the Lions as an assistant offensive-line coach before being promoted to offensive-line coach in 2020.

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The Athletic's Vic Tafur reports that the Las Vegas Raiders currently don't have an interview set up to interview former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel for their head-coach job. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady and former New England Patriots quarterback reportedly wants to get Vrabel in for an interview after the team fired Antonio Pierce earlier this week, but no interview is scheduled for Vrabel, who is believed to be the overwhelming favorite to become the next head coach of the Patriots. Brady and Vrabel played together in New England from 2001-08 and won three Super Bowl rings together. Vrabel won Coach of the Year in 2021 and went 54-45 from 2018-23 while reaching the playoffs three times as the head coach of the Titans, which is why he's one of the most popular head-coaching candidates this cycle.

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Updating a previous report, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion, finger) was a full participant in Thursday's practice and remains on pace to clear the league's concussion protocol and play on Sunday against the visiting Green Bay Packers on wild-card weekend. Hurts suffered a concussion the Week 16 loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders and didn't play in the final two games of the regular season. After being limited on Thursday, Hurts is clearly making progress and is expected to be cleared by an independent neurologist before Sunday. Because of his rushing prowess along near the goal line -- he led the league with 14 rushing touchdowns -- Hurts should be considered a top-five fantasy QB in playoff leagues if he's cleared to play this weekend. In the Week 1 win over Green Bay, Hurts went 20-for-34 passing for 278 yards, two TDs and two interceptions.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (ribs) was limited in practice for the second day this week on Thursday. Pickett suffered fractured ribs while filling in for the injured Jalen Hurts (concussion) in the Week 16 loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders and made the start in Week 17, but he gave way to third-stringer Tanner McKee in the Week 18 regular-season finale. Hurts returned to a full practice on Thursday and is on pace to return this Sunday for the wild-card playoff game against the visiting Green Bay Packers, but it remains to be seen if Pickett will be healthy enough to serve as Hurts' backup. The 26-year-old is unlikely to carry any fantasy value into the postseason unless Hurts suffers another injury. The former first-rounder saw action in five games (one start) in his first year in Philly in 2024 and went 25-for-42 for 291 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

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The New Orleans Saints announced on Thursday that they completed a virtual interview with New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka for their head-coach position. On Wednesday, the Saints held an interview with Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Kafka was an assistant head coach to Brian Daboll in New York and has been with the G-Men for the last three seasons. After calling the plays on offense last year, Daboll took back over play-calling in another frustrating season in 2024. In addition the Saints, Kafka is set to interview for the Chicago Bears' head-coaching job. Before joining the Giants, Kafka worked for four years as the Kansas City Chiefs' quarterbacks coach. Other candidates for the Saints' head-coaching job include Aaron Glenn, Kellen Moore, Joe Brady, Kliff Kingsbury, Mike Vrabel and Darren Rizzi.

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Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis (thumb) returned to a full practice session on Thursday after he was limited on Wednesday. Jordan Love (elbow) was also limited on Wednesday and a full-go on Thursday, so both signal-callers should be ready to roll for the wild-card playoff game on Sunday in Philadelphia against the Eagles. Willis is dealing with a right-thumb injury that he apparently picked up on Sunday when he came on in relief of Love in the loss to the division-rival Chicago Bears in the Week 18 regular-season finale. The 25-year-old made two starts earlier this year when Love was sidelined with an injury and has appeared in seven games total, going 40-for-54 for 550 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Willis has been serviceable in limited duty for the Packers but won't carry any fantasy value into the postseason with Love looking good to go.

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The Minnesota Vikings are considering using quarterback Daniel Jones as the primary backup to Sam Darnold in the postseason over Nick Mullens. The Vikings signed Jones to their active 53-man roster this week after he spent six weeks on the practice squad. Mullens appeared in relief of Darnold only four times during the regular season as his backup all year. "The best way I can put it is we're doing everything we can to get Sam ready to go, but at the same time, whether it's Nick or Daniel or Brett, having all those guys absorbing the game plan like always. It's such a fluid thing here the rest of the way. We're going to do whatever we think gives us the best chance to win," head coach Kevin O'Connell said. Darnold had his worst game of the season in Sunday night's loss to the Lions with a 34.5% off-target rate, the second-worst of his career. Jones opened the year with the Giants but was benched after 10 games.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (quadriceps) finds himself on this week's injury report but he was able to practice in full on Thursday as the team begins preparing to face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday evening in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Darnold appeared to hurt his leg late in the Sunday night loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions in the Week 18 regular-season finale, but he didn't miss any snaps on his way to a poor showing (166 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions). He should be fine to play against the Rams, where he'll have plenty of bounce-back potential despite losing to them back on Oct. 24, when he went 18-for-25 for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, the Rams defense was a top-10 matchup for opposing QBs all year by allowing 19.6 fantasy points per game to the position. Darnold will be a solid midrange QB1 target in fantasy against LA.

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Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson (hamstring), who remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list, was officially ruled out on Thursday for the team's wild-card playoff game on Saturday night against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Wilson has been practicing in full with the rest of the team since he was designated to return from the PUP list, but the Steelers are going to play it safe and keep the 23-year-old third-rounder out this weekend. It's unclear if Wilson will be activated to play if the Steelers advance past the Ravens to play in the Divisional Round next week. Wilson has been active for 10 games in his first year in the NFL but hasn't been targeted at all. Pittsburgh will move forward with George Pickens, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III as their wideouts in three-wide sets against Baltimore.

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Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quadriceps) remains on the injury report and was limited in the first practice of the week on Thursday. The Vikings still have two more days of practice, so as long as Jones can return to a full session by Saturday, he should be cleared to face the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card playoff round on Monday night. The 30-year-old was also limited in practice with his quad injury last week but ended up playing in the Sunday night loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions in the Week 18 regular-season finale, seeing 15 touches for 75 scrimmage yards on a 62% snap share. For the volume alone as Minnesota's primary back in a high-scoring offense, Jones should be considered a low-end RB1 for wild-card weekend in fantasy. In the loss to the Rams back on Oct. 24, Jones had 19 carries for 58 yards and also caught two passes for 37 yards.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards (ankle) upgraded to a full practice on Friday and has been cleared from the injury report for wild-card weekend and will be active on Saturday against the Texans in Houston. With fellow RB J.K. Dobbins (ankle) questionable to play, there's a chance Edwards could lead LA's backfield in touches this weekend despite missing the final two games of the regular season due to his ankle injury. Edwards made the start in his last game in the Week 16 win over the division-rival Denver Broncos when Dobbins was out and had 14 carries for 68 yards and two rushing touchdowns. He'll only be worth considering as a fantasy flex in playoff lineups if Dobbins is ruled out. Edwards had only four rushing scores in 2024 in his first year in LA as the backup to Dobbins, and the Texans allowed the third-fewest half-PPR points per game to RBs this season.

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