Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will look to extend their playoff run in a showdown in Detroit on Saturday evening. In his playoff debut last weekend in Tampa Bay, Daniels looked poised as he went 24-for-35 with 268 yards and two passing scores. He added 36 yards on the ground. The LSU product finished the regular season on a high note, averaging an impressive 34.0 PPR points per game and tallying over 300 all-purpose yards per game during Weeks 12 through 17. During this stretch, he found the back of the end zone 17 times. This weekend, in a projected high-scoring affair (55.5 projected point total) against the Lions, who have allowed the ninth-most PPR points to opposing QBs, makes Daniels an elite option in all DFS competitions.

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Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. is a touchdown-dependent flex option in the divisional round when he faces the Detroit Lions. Robinson had a disappointing conclusion to the season, and those struggles lingered during their wild-card victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In this game, Robinson tallied just 16 yards on ten carries. Over the final three weeks of the regular season, Robinson tallied just 31.3 rushing yards per game and did not score a touchdown. However, during his first ten games of the season, Robinson scored eight touchdowns and averaged a solid 64 yards per game. Facing another tough rushing defense in Detroit, who has allowed the third-fewest PPR points to opposing running backs, makes him a touchdown-dependent flex option that is best to avoid in DFS in competitions.

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Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler could have an increased role in a potential high-scoring affair against the Detroit Lions on Saturday evening. Ekeler returned from his four-game absence due to a concussion in Week 18. In this game, he tallied 32 total yards. Last weekend in Tampa Bay, he tallied a solid 27 yards on eight carries and brought in 26 yards on three receptions. Given Brian Robinson Jr.'s recent struggles, Ekeler has a viable path to being the top option in the backfield this weekend. In addition, given the projected 55.5-point total, the Commanders will need to rely on their passing attack, which should bode well for Ekeler, given his elite pass-catching abilities. Ekeler is a great value play as an RB2 in DFS competitions despite the tough matchup on paper.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin should be viewed as a high-end WR1 during the divisional round when he faces the Detroit Lions on Saturday evening. Last weekend, McLaurin led the way in their upset victory in Tampa Bay, bringing in seven of his ten targets for 89 yards and a score. His targets were the most on the team. Over his previous seven games, McLaurin has scored in six of them (eight total TDs) and averaged a solid 66.3 yards and 19.3 PPR points per game. During this span, he has seen 8.4 targets per game and caught just under six of them in each contest. Given his role as Jayden Daniels' go-to option, he carries elite upside in a favorable matchup, as the Lions have allowed the second-most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season. McLaurin should be targeted in all DFS competitions this weekend.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus had a disappointing showing last weekend but should be poised for a bounce back showing in Detroit on Saturday night. Last weekend, Zaccheaus caught all three of his targets for a mere 19 yards. However, during his previous three games (Weeks 16 through 18), Zacchaeus averaged an impressive 68.7 yards per game and scored three touchdowns. While Dyami Brown (hamstring) has returned from his injury and should continue to have a role in the starting lineup, fantasy managers should expect Zaccheaus to return to form in a potential high-scoring affair in Detroit. Zacchaeus is a viable WR3 play in DFS, as the Lions have allowed the second-most PPR points per game to opposing wideouts.

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According to the team, Washington Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder (hamstring) is off the injury report and good to go for Saturday's playoff game against the Detroit Lions. Crowder carried a questionable tag with this same injury last tweet but avoided one heading into the divisional round. Last weekend against Tampa Bay, Crowder logged just offensive snaps and did not see a target. He also was held off the scoresheet during Week 18. However, during Weeks 15 through 17, Crowder caught 2.7 passes per game and, tallied 22.3 yards per contest and found the end zone twice. The 31-year-old should be viewed as a high-risk desperation flex play as he is the clear No.4 option in the wide receiver room and has not seen consistent work throughout the season.

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According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers expressed that his future with the Jets is dependent on the new general manager and head coach, not on owner Woody Johnson. The former four-time MVP winner spoke on the Pat McAfee Show earlier on Thursday and expressed how he discussed his future with the team during exit meetings. Rodgers said, "I think everybody understands that it's going to come down to a GM and a coach and myself and whether we all want to do a dance together or if it's not in the cards." Fantasy managers should continue to monitor this situation, as Rodgers still has another year remaining on his contract with the Jets. After firing Robert Salah during the 2024 season, Jeff Ulbrich took over as the interim head coach. Following the end of the season, the Jets have had contact with several potential coaches, such as Ron Rivera, Aaron Glenn, and Brian Flores. During their GM search, they have spoken to Darren Mougey of the Broncos, Lance Newmark of the Commanders, and Trey Brown of the Bengals, among others. If Rodgers returns to the Jets, he would likely carry QB2 value, given his unstable production this past season.

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Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (rib) is off the injury report and should be viewed as a low-end TE1 in DFS formats this weekend, facing the Detroit Lions. Ertz opened the week as a non-participant but was able to upgrade each day, ending the week with a full session on Thursday. Last weekend, during their upset victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ertz took the backseat as he caught just two of his four targets for 23 yards. However, Ertz scored three touchdowns during Weeks 17 and 18 and caught 11 of his 12 targets. Overall, the 34-year-old has enjoyed a nice debut campaign in the DMV as he has found the back of the end zone seven times and averaged 38.5 yards during 17 regular season games. Given the projected high-scoring affair on Saturday evening, Ertz should enjoy a nice bounce back despite the Lions allowing the fewest PPR points to opposing tight ends.

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According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (knee) is off the injury report and good to go for Saturday's playoff game against the Washington Commanders. The veteran back has been sidelined since suffering an MCL sprain during their Week 15 contest against the Buffalo Bills. While sidelined, sophomore running back Jahmyr Gibbs has taken complete control of the backfield. However, with Montgomery back in the mix, fantasy managers should expect both of them to share the backfield throughout the remainder of the postseason. During the first 13 games of the season, Montgomery averaged 13.8 carries per game with 59.3 rushing yards per game. During this stretch, he found the back of the end zone 12 times and saw 17 total carries within the five-yard line. While Gibbs carries the higher ceiling, given his elite speed, Montgomery is a high-floor RB2, given his role in short-yardage situations and in the red zone. Fantasy managers should feel confident viewing him as an RB2 in all DFS competitions this weekend against Washington.

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According to the team, Buffalo Bills rookie running back Ray Davis (concussion) remained limited during Thursday's practice. Davis will have another opportunity on Friday to log a full session before the final injury report. The Kentucky product suffered a concussion during Sunday's victory over the Denver Broncos. Before exiting, he ran the ball once for three yards. Through the first 16 contests of the season, Davis averaged 23.6 yards per game. During game No.17, Davis was given the start and tallied 64 yards on a season-high 15 attempts as the Bills had already locked up the No.2 seed. If Davis were to sit out on Sunday evening, fantasy managers should expect Ty Johnson to be deployed as the clear No.2 option behind James Cook against the Baltimore Ravens.

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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (illness) is not practicing on Thursday because of an illness. The 30-year-old should be able to play in Sunday's NFL Divisional Round contest against the Los Angeles Rams, but his status is worth monitoring. Goedert caught four of his six targets for 47 yards and a touchdown in last week's win over the Green Bay Packers and is a strong No. 3 option in the passing game behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. If he can play, he'll face a Rams defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season. If he's surprisingly inactive, Grant Calcaterra would earn the start at TE.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) has resumed on-field work, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. The 2024 first-round pick out of Michigan suffered a preseason ACL tear that cost him his entire rookie campaign, forcing veteran Sam Darnold into the starting role. However, it was unclear how much McCarthy was slated to play in Year 1. Darnold threw 35 touchdowns and led Minnesota to 14 wins in 2024, but his late-season collapse in Week 18 and the NFC Wild Card Round could impact his standing with the organization. In all likelihood, McCarthy will start at some point in 2025, and he's an intriguing fantasy football option due to his elite supporting cast consisting of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee) is practicing on Thursday after being listed as a "DNP" on Wednesday with knee and rest designations. Brown was limited or missing from practice early in last week's preparation, and the team is clearly being cautious with the All-Pro wideout. Brown registered just three receptions for 10 yards on three targets in last week's NFC Wild Card victory over the Green Bay Packers, but the team attempted just 21 passes compared to 35 rushes. Brown should be expected to suit up on Sunday, and he'll face a Rams defense that surrendered the 14th-most fantasy points per game to wideouts during the regular season.

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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee) is not practicing on Thursday, marking the fifth consecutive official practice he has been held out of since suffering a knee injury in the Week 18 win over the Cleveland Browns. Flowers, who posted his first 1,000-yard season and earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2024, is looking unlikely to suit up against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round on Sunday. The 2023 first-round pick played in every regular-season game in his second year with the franchise, and the timing of the injury in unfortunate. With Flowers likely out of action this week, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews, and Justice Hill should see additional opportunities in the passing game. His potential absence could loom large in Baltimore's chances to collect a road victory at Buffalo and advance to the AFC Championship Game.

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In a media availability on Thursday, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said he is interested in signing a contract extension. The 39-year-old has compiled a 34-17 record in three seasons with the Vikings, though he has begun his postseason career with an 0-2 record. O'Connell comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree and has been known for his reputation for working with quarterbacks. O'Connell helped guide Sam Darnold to career highs in passing yards (4,319) and passing touchdowns (35) in 2024, and Minnesota will surely want to keep him around to pair him with rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy for the foreseeable future.

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Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said the team wants to bring kicker Brandon McManus back for the 2025 NFL season. The 33-year-old signed with Green Bay on October 16 and played in 11 games for the Packers. He connected on 20 of his 21 field goal attempts and all 30 of his extra-point tries during the regular season. The Super Bowl 50 champion with the Denver Broncos has hit on over 82% of his career field goal attempts and arguably had the best season of his career in 2024. McManus averaged 9.0 fantasy points per game this season, so he'll be on the fantasy radar next season if he re-signs with the Packers.

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Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is set to interview with the New York Jets on Thursday for their head-coaching vacancy. In addition to Slowik, the Jets will interview Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for the same position on Thursday. Slowik, who is now in his second year running the Texans' offense, also received some head-coach looks last offseason but remained in Houston. The Texans' offense wasn't as productive in 2024 in quarterback C.J. Stroud's second season, but the team still managed to win the AFC South and win a playoff game for the second straight season. If the Texans were to pull the upset over the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend in the Divisional Round, it would make Slowik even more attractive to teams looking for a new head coach.

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Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said there's no concern about kicker Zane Gonzalez's hip injury or his status for the Divisional Round playoff game this Saturday versus the hosting Detroit Lions. Gonzalez was listed as limited in the team's first practice of the week on Tuesday but was a full-go on Wednesday, signaling he's ready to kick this weekend. If the 29-year-old puts in another full practice on Thursday, he'll most likely be removed from the final injury report. After joining the Commanders midway through the 2024 campaign, Gonzalez delivered stability at the position and made five of his seven field-goal attempts and all 19 of his extra-point tries in six regular-season games before kicking the game-winning field goal last Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round. Despite that, he'll be a shaky fantasy option in Detroit in a game in which the Commanders won't have the luxury of settling for field goals.

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ESPN's Ed Werder reports that University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders would almost certainly accept if Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones offers to make him the next head coach, according to sources. Those around Sanders are encouraging him to pursue the opportunity, and Jones is enamored with the idea of hiring the former NFL cornerback. While Dallas has yet to request a formal interview with Sanders, he's the current betting favorite to become the next head coach of the Cowboys. The team has requested interviews with former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and current Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and more names should surface this weekend. Sanders was the head coach at Jackson State for three seasons before signing a five-year $29.5 million deal at Colorado. He also played five seasons in Dallas and helped the team win Super Bowl XXX.

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Houston Texans Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon (ankle) was not seen at practice with the rest of the team on Thursday due to an ankle injury. Mixon wasn't on the injury report on Tuesday before being added on Wednesday while being listed as a limited participant. However KPRC's Aaron Wilson writes that it would be a surprise if Mixon were not active on Saturday to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The 28-year-old is a vital piece of Houston's offense, having rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns during the regular season. He had 106 yards on the ground and scored in last week's blowout win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round. However, Mixon's status is now worth watching heading into Saturday's contest. If he's out or limited at all, Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale would take on bigger roles in the backfield.

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