Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (knee), who remains on Injured Reserve, was listed as a limited participant in the first practice of the week on Tuesday. The Chiefs opened Hardman's 21-day practice window to return from IR during preparation for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Denver Broncos, but the 26-year-old pass-catcher ultimately was not activated for that contest. The Chiefs had a first-round bye for the wild-card round of the playoffs last weekend, giving Hardman another week to recover from a knee injury that has kept him sidelined since Week 13. Even if he returns to a full practice on Wednesday or Thursday and is activated from IR on Friday, it's highly unlikely that Hardman would have a major role in KC's offense after missing the last six weeks. Before getting hurt, he had 12 catches (14 targets) for 90 yards and no touchdowns in 12 games.

From RotoBaller

The Seattle Seahawks have requested to interview Minnesota Vikings assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski for their vacant offensive-coordinator job, according to sources. The 28-year-old has been a big part of head coach Kevin O'Connell's staff in Minnesota and is on the coaching fast track in the NFL. Seattle is looking for a new coach to run its offense after firing Ryan Grubb after just one season. Udinski has been with the Vikings for the last three years, working with the QBs for the last two seasons. Before heading to Minnesota, he was an assistant coach with the Carolina Panthers. In addition to Udinski, the Seahawks are also reportedly looking at Klint Kubiak, Hank Fraley and Thomas Brown for their offensive-coordinator position. Udinski has to be considered more of a dark-horse candidate for the gig.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder (hamstring, rest) was not at practice with the rest of the team on Tuesday as they begin preparing to take on the Lions in Detroit this Saturday in the Divisional Round of the postseason. The Commanders are likely just resting Crowder early in the week, so as long as he returns to practice on Wednesday or Thursday, he should be available this weekend as receiver depth for Washington. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore him in playoff leagues and in DFS, though, after catching nine of 13 targets for 72 yards and two touchdowns in just six games during the regular season. Crowder played through a questionable tag in the wild-card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday night and was not targeted at all. Both of his scores this year came back on Dec. 22 in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (rib, rest) was held out of the team's first practice of the week on Tuesday. With rest also listed next to Ertz's name on the first injury report of the Divisional Round, it's likely that his rib injury won't be serious enough to keep him sidelined this Saturday versus the Detroit Lions, but we'll keep a close eye on his practice status the next two days. As long as the 34-year-old veteran gets back onto the field the next two days, he should be available this weekend on the road in Motor City. Ertz became a much bigger part of the Commanders' offense in the second half of the season, but he was a disappointment in the three-point wild-card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night, catching just two passes for 23 yards. In a game in which the Commander will likely have to throw often this Saturday, Ertz is a prime bounce-back candidate for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

According to the team, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) participated fully during Tuesday's practice. Mahomes has been dealing with a lingering ankle injury over the past month and was given Week 18 off as the Chiefs have already locked up the top seed in the AFC. However, seeing him open the week as a full participant is a great sign and suggests he will be a full-go for Saturday's playoff game against the Houston Texans. After starting the season off slow, Mahomes has begun to round into form at the perfect time. Over his previous six games, Mahomes has tallied 12 total scores, averaging 254 passing yards per game and 23.3 rushing yards per game. Fantasy managers should view Mahomes as a solid QB1 in all DFS competitions facing the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Texans said tight end Dalton Schultz (shoulder) was limited during Tuesday's practice with a shoulder injury. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status throughout the week if he faces a setback. During their victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday afternoon, the veteran tight end caught two of his four targets for 23 yards. With Tank Dell (knee) sidelined, Schultz has seen an increase in targets. Over his previous three contests, Schultz has seen 4.3 targets per game, with a high of six during Week 17. Fantasy managers should expect Schultz to bounce back this weekend facing the Kansas City Chiefs, who have allowed the fourth-most PPR points to opposing tight ends.

From RotoBaller

According to the team, Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (rib) logged a full practice on Tuesday. Pacheco sustained a rib injury during their Week 17 victory over the Steelers and was held out of action in Week 18 as the Chiefs already locked up the top seed in the conference. However, seeing the 25-year-old open the week as a full participant suggests he will be a full-go for Saturday's game against the Houston Texans. Since returning from a fractured fibula in Week 13, Pacheco has averaged just 35.0 rushing yards per game and has been in a split committee with Kareem Hunt. During this stretch, he only logged double-digit attempts in two contests. Fantasy managers should view Pacheco as a low-end RB2 in DFS formats facing the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

According to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, Washington Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez (hip) was limited during Tuesday's practice. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week, but seeing him open the week as a limited participant suggests this injury is relatively minor. Gonzalez played the hero in their victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday evening as he went 3-for-3 on attempts, including a game-winning field goal as time expired from 37 yards out. With Austin Seibert (groin) on the injured reserve, Gonzalez has continued to operate as the No.1 option in the DMV. Across his previous four games, he has gone 5-for-5 on field goals and 11-for-11 on extra points. He remains a solid option in fantasy competitions this weekend, playing on a potent Washington offense.

From RotoBaller

According to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Texans, wide receiver Robert Woods (hip) did not practice on Tuesday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the 32-year-old's status throughout the week. Woods caught two of his four targets for 22 yards during their victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. However, he logged the second-most offensive snaps among Houston wide receivers, only behind Nico Collins. Over his previous four games, Woods has begun to grow into a more prominent role in this offense, as he has seen 3.8 targets per game and averaged 25.2 yards per game. If Woods were to miss Saturday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, John Metchie III would be deployed as the clear No.2 option behind Collins and carry WR3 value in DFS formats.

From RotoBaller

According to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner (ankle) did not practice on Tuesday. The 34-year-old sustained this injury during their victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday evening. However, it did not inhibit his performance, as he tallied eight tackles, three assists, and a fumble recovery. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week, as another missed practice session could put him in danger of missing Saturday's game against the Lions. Wagner's absence would be felt as he has been the leader of the Washington defense all season. The former Super Bowl champion averaged 7.8 tackles per game during the regular season and tallied two sacks and four deflections.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed on Tuesday that former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is on a long list of candidates for the team's vacant offensive-coordinator position. McDaniels previously served as former head coach Bill Belichick's offensive coordinator in two different stints in New England. His first stint was from 2006-08, with the Patriots going 16-0 in 2007 before losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. After a head-coaching gig with the Denver Broncos and a trip to St. Louis as the Rams offensive coordinator, McDaniels returned to the Pats from 2012-21, where he helped New England win eight straight AFC East titles and three Super Bowl championships. The 48-year-old had a failed two-year stint as the Las Vegas Raiders head coach in 2022-23 and didn't work in the NFL this year.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders WR Jamison Crowder (hamstring, rest), TE Zach Ertz (rest), DE Clelin Ferrell (rest), OLB Dante Fowler Jr. (rest), LB Jordan Magee (hamstring) and LB Bobby Wagner (ankle) did not practice Tuesday, Jan. 14. PK Zane Gonzalez (hip), DT DaRon Payne (finger) and TE Ben Sinnott (shoulder) were limited participants at practice. TE John Bates (shoulder), LB Dominique Hampton (back), CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring), LB Frankie Luvu (shoulder) and TE Colson Yankoff (hamstring) were full participants at practice.

From TheHuddle

The Philadelphia Eagles signed wide receiver Parris Campbell from their practice squad to the active 53-man roster on Tuesday. In additional moves, the team signed linebacker Nick Morrow and wide receiver Elijah Cooks to their practice squad, released wide receiver Joseph Ngata from the practice squad and placed linebacker Nakobe Dean (knee) on Injured Reserve. Campbell will merely serve as receiver depth for the team's upcoming Divisional Round game on Sunday versus the visiting Los Angeles Rams and won't be on the fantasy radar at all behind the likes of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson and rookie Johnny Wilson. The 27-year-old former Indianapolis Colts wideout has only played in five games this year in his first year in Philly and has caught six of his eight targets for 30 yards and one touchdown.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions DE Patrick O'Connor (calf), CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (hamstring, illness) and OG Kevin Zeitler (hamstring) did not practice Tuesday, Jan. 14. CB Terrion Arnold (foot) was a full participant at practice. The Lions conducted a walkthrough Tuesday so this is an estimation.

From TheHuddle

Detroit Lions RB David Montgomery (knee) was a full participant at practice Tuesday, Jan. 14. The Lions conducted a walkthrough Tuesday so his participation level is an estimation.

Fantasy Spin: Montgomery surprisingly is on track to make his return after missing a few weeks due to an MCL sprain. How much his workload is impacted due to the quick turnaround is unclear, but it wouldn't be a surprise if Montgomery saw something close to his typical role alongside Jahmyr Gibbs.

From TheHuddle

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold resurrected his career by leading the Vikings to 14 wins in 2024 while posting career-highs in passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35), but he came crashing down hard in losses to the Detroit Lions in Week 18 and the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round in which he had a combined 23 off-target throws and took 11 sacks. Darnold's future is now as unsettled as ever as he heads toward free agency in March, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Darnold is still the top free-agent QB. The teams that Fowler has spoken with recently forecasted Darnold in the Geno Smith/Baker Mayfield weight class of contracts. Mayfield got a three-year, $100 million deal last offseason with Tampa, while Smith signed a three-year, $75 million deal before the 2023 season. Darnold tanked to end the year, but he did enough to find work as a starter somewhere else if Minnesota doesn't want him back.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans rookie tight end Cade Stover (collarbone) suffered a broken collarbone in the wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers last Saturday and will require season-ending surgery. The Texans officially placed Stover on Injured Reserve on Tuesday. The 24-year-old first-year player caught all four of his targets for 28 yards in the 32-12 win over the Bolts and played 36 offensive snaps. Stover was mostly a blocker for the Texans in his first year in the NFL and took a back seat pass-catching-wise to starter Dalton Schultz, as he had only 15 catches for 133 yards and one touchdown on 22 targets over 15 regular-season games. If Teagan Quitoriano (calf) isn't activated from IR to play this Saturday in the Divisional Round against the hosting Kansas City Chiefs, Irv Smith Jr. would operate as the primary backup to Schultz.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (knee) was listed as a full participant in the team's first practice of the week on Tuesday. An MCL sprain to his right knee kept Montgomery out for the final three games of the regular season, and he had an extra week to heal up with the Lions on bye during the wild-card round of the playoffs last weekend. With the 27-year-old back to a full-go in practice, even though it was merely a walkthrough on Tuesday, he's on track to be available this Saturday in the Divisional Round against the visiting Washington Commanders. It's good news for the Lions offense for sure, but fantasy managers in playoff leagues should be hesitant to rely on Monty, who could have a reduced role alongside Jahmyr Gibbs in his first game back. In 14 games before his knee injury in 2024, Montgomery had 185 rushing attempts for 775 yards and 12 TDs and also caught 36 passes for 341 yards.

From RotoBaller

Updating previous reports, Los Angeles Rams TE Tyler Higbee (chest) was able to travel home with the team on Monday, Jan. 13, and is expected to play in the Divisional Round game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 19.

Fantasy Spin: Higbee amazingly compiled five catches for a team-high 58 yards despite logging only 12 offensive snaps against the Minnesota Vikings. Considering how involved he has been since returning four games ago, Higbee may be on equal footing as Cooper Kupp at this point. Higbee will have his hands full this weekend if he plays, however, as Zack Baun emerged as an All-Pro linebacker in his first year with the Eagles.

From TheHuddle

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing free-agent quarterback Skylar Thompson on Tuesday, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. Thompson, a 2022 seventh-round pick out of Kansas State, has played in 10 regular-season games (three starts) for the Miami Dolphins. Overall, he has completed 58.7% of his passes for 721 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. While the Steelers might have a quarterback issue to address this offseason, Thompson is clearly not going to be viewed as a serious candidate to start next season. The team is undecided on the futures of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, so Thompson could find his way into the QB2 or QB3 role for Mike Tomlin in 2025, though it's early in the process.

From RotoBaller