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FFL: Offseason | NFL: Week 18

Colts sticking with coach Shane Steichen, GM Chris Ballard

Sun Jan 5 9:51pm ET
Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts don't plan to move on from Shane Steichen at coach and Chris Ballard at general manager, team owner Jim Irsay said in a statement on Sunday.

Irsay laid out Indianapolis' future plans following a 26-23 overtime victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts finished the season at 8-9 and missed out on the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.

"As we close out this season, I can't tell you how disappointed I am that we failed to win the AFC South and earn a playoff appearance," Irsay said in his statement. "There's a high standard in this city for our team and anyone who steps on the field wearing the Horseshoe. The expectation is to win our division and compete for championships.

"Just being on the doorstep of the playoffs is not the standard I expect, nor what you deserve. We understand that and always accept the challenge. Believe me, I know you share my impatience and frustration. I know you invest your time, energy and money into the Colts every year. ...

"I've been evaluating our entire operation, and I believe in Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen and our collective ability to make the improvements needed to take us to the next level in 2025."

Irsay acknowledged that fans who wanted a leadership change "will be disappointed" but said the team would "get back to work and keep doing what we can to earn your support and make you proud to be a Colts fan."

Steichen, 39, just concluded his second season as the Colts' coach and has guided Indianapolis to a 17-17 record.

Ballard, 55, has been general manager ever since the 2017 campaign.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 18

Player Notes
Austin Hooper Jan 5 10:30pm ET
Austin Hooper

New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper caught four of his six targets for 27 yards during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills. The veteran tight end handled an increased workload in the regular-season finale, playing 67.2 percent of the Patriots' offensive snaps with Hunter Henry (foot) sidelined. The 30-year-old finished as a low-end TE2 in fantasy football this season with 45 catches, 476 yards, and three touchdowns. Hooper was a pleasant surprise during his first year in New England, maintaining a significant role on offense despite being listed second on the depth chart behind Henry. He's slated to hit free agency in March but could be a priority re-signing for the Patriots' next coaching regime.

From RotoBaller

Joey Slye Jan 5 10:30pm ET
Joey Slye

New England Patriots kicker Joey Slye went 2-for-2 on extra points and 3-for-3 on field goals during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills. He converted field goals from 41, 42, and 50 yards out. The 28-year-old finished as a top-24 fantasy kicker this season, demonstrating impressive power but dealing with accuracy issues and handling reduced opportunities on a Patriots team that struggled to score points. All in all, he finished the 2024 campaign with 95.8 percent accuracy on extra points and 78.8 percent accuracy on field goals. This season was far from a disaster, and Slye did provide more stability in 2024 than Chad Ryland did as a rookie with the Patriots in 2023. Still, the Patriots may look to bring in a different kicker as they head into the 2025 campaign. Slye is slated to hit free agency in March.

From RotoBaller

Greg Joseph Jan 5 10:20pm ET
Greg Joseph

New York Jets kicker Greg Joseph made his lone field-goal attempt and added three extra points in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Joseph was signed off of the Jets' practice squad earlier in the week and hit all of his kicks in the season finale. New York opened the season with Greg Zuerlein as their kicker, but he struggled with injuries and accuracy issues throughout the season. That being said, he is still under contract for one more season so he is likely to open 2025 as the Jets' kicker once again, leaving Joseph to pursue work elsewhere this offseason.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Huntley Jan 5 10:20pm ET
Tyler Huntley

The New York Jets defense played well in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. New York forced four turnovers and notched four sacks in the high-scoring win over their division rivals. The Jets intercepted Tyler Huntley twice and also recovered two fumbles in the contest. They were led by Ashtyn Davis, who had both of their interceptions. Overall the Jets defense was a disappointment in 2024 but they at least were able to finish the season on a positive note.

From RotoBaller

Justin Herbert Jan 5 10:13pm ET
Justin Herbert

Dynasty | Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert 28-of-36 passes for 346 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a win against the Raiders. Dynasty Analysis: Herbert ends the year with 23 touchdown passes and just under 4,000 yards. While his numbers aren't gaudy, the one that should stick out is three - that's the total number of interceptions he threw on the season. It was an unbelievably efficient year from Herbert, who did more in Jim Harbaugh's offense than anyone could have imagined in year one. With Ladd McConkey emerging and the promise of more talent on the way, Herbert is clearly a "buy low" in dynasty leagues this off-season.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Quentin Johnston Jan 5 10:13pm ET
Quentin Johnston

Dynasty | Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston caught 13-of-14 targets for 186 yards in a win against the Raiders. Dynasty Analysis: Those are career highs in terms of catches and yards for Johnston. While this season was certainly one of highs and lows for Johnston, he clearly ended on a high note. After a lost rookie season, Johnston's dynasty ADP has been on a steady climb and while we still need to see more, the "bust" label seems to have at least gone away for the time being.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Kayshon Boutte Jan 5 10:13pm ET
Kayshon Boutte

Dynasty | Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte caught seven passes for 117 yards and scored a touchdown in a win against the Bills. Dynasty Analysis: The Patriots ruined their draft choice (they moved from 1-4) by winning and can lay a lot of blame on Boutte. The former LSU standout really came on strong with 43 catches, 589 yards and three touchdowns this season, with most of that damage coming in the second half of the year. While there is still a lot work to do before claiming Boutte as being someone who has truly arrived, he clearly belongs on dynasty rosters moving forward.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Brian Thomas Jr. Jan 5 10:13pm ET
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dynasty | Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas had seven catches for 103 yards in a loss against the Colts. Dynasty Analysis: Well, that'll work. Thomas ends the season with 87 catches for 1,282 yards and ten touchdowns. When you consider how bad the Jaguars season really was, this is borderline ridiculous. Thomas did nothing but prove he's a future superstar this season and is going to enter the off-season as one of the most coveted wide receivers in dynasty leagues. If you didn't draft him last year, good luck getting him now.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Will Levis Jan 5 10:13pm ET
Will Levis

Dynasty | Titans quarterback Will Levis completed 9-of-17 passes for 175 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in a loss against Houston. Dynasty Analysis: Levis finishes the season with 2,091 passing yards, with 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Unfortunately for him, the loss was combined with a Patriots win, giving the Titans the top pick in the NFL Draft. At this point, it seems more than likely the Titans use that pick to replace him at quarterback, with Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders topping the list of candidates. Levis has been fine this year at times, but has really looked more like a backup than a franchise savior and today's events won't help his dynasty value.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Christian Watson Jan 5 10:13pm ET
Christian Watson

Dynasty | Packers wide receiver Christian Watson was carted off the field in a loss against the Bears. Dynasty Analysis: Yikes. Watson endured a non-contact knee injury and left the field in tears. We've all seen this happen before and likely can't remember a case where the outcome has been good. Chances are Watson has sustained a significant knee injury and will be lost not only for the playoffs, but for much of 2025 as well. He's had some trouble staying healthy in the past, but this injury has the looks of the most significant of his career. We'll wait to evaluate his dynasty value moving forward, but this doesn't look good.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Allen Lazard Jan 5 10:10pm ET
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard caught all three of his targets for 71 yards and a touchdown in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Lazard brought in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers in the second quarter, giving him six in what was a bounceback season for him after he caught just one score last season. Lazard is under contract for two more seasons after he signed a four-year, $44 million contract before the 2023 season.

From RotoBaller

Alexander Mattison Jan 5 10:10pm ET
Alexander Mattison

Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison rushed for 20 yards on six carries during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He also caught four of his five targets for an additional 11 yards through the air. It appeared that Mattison was headed for an increased workload on Sunday with Ameer Abdullah (foot) sidelined, but instead, the Raiders somewhat abandoned the rushing attack. Vegas' running backs combined for just eight carries, and quarterback Aidan O'Connell added four rushes of his own. Mattison may have salvaged his performance in PPR leagues, but for the most part, his showing on Sunday left a lot to be desired. The 26-year-old will hit free agency in a few months, leaving the Raiders with some combination of Sincere McCormick, Zamir White, Dylan Laube, and Chris Collier. Las Vegas has numerous holes on both sides of the ball, but don't be surprised if they look to improve their backfield with draft picks, free agency spending, or both.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Conklin Jan 5 10:10pm ET
Tyler Conklin

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught two of his three targets for 16 yards and a touchdown in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Conklin made his way into history books as he was on the receiving end of the 500th touchdown pass of Aaron Rodgers' career in the second quarter. The veteran tight end was quietly productive in 2024, finishing with 51 catches for 449 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. Conklin is now slated to become an unrestricted free-agent this offseason and should have little trouble finding work with four straight 50-catch seasons under his belt.

From RotoBaller

Isaac Guerendo Jan 5 10:10pm ET
Isaac Guerendo

Per head coach Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (knee, ankle) has likely picked up an MCL sprain but will undergo more testing on Monday to confirm the severity of the injury. Matt Barrows of The Athletic reported the news. That'd be a best-case scenario for the rookie, who was carted off in the first quarter of his team's 47-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Guerendo was bent up awkwardly not even two minutes into the contest and quickly ruled out afterward. San Francisco has been unable to keep a running back healthy this season, as they've had four suffer serious injuries. It's been a disappointing year for the 49ers -- a team with Super Bowl aspirations that won't make a playoff appearance in 2024 after a campaign riddled with injuries. They'll hope for better in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Patrick Taylor Jan 5 10:10pm ET
Patrick Taylor

San Francisco 49ers running back Patrick Taylor Jr. produced well filling in for rookie Isaac Guerendo (knee), who was carted off the field in the first quarter. The former Memphis Tiger took 17 carries for a career-high 109 yards and caught one of four targets for 12 yards through the air. Taylor Jr. looked much better on Sunday than in any other of his limited opportunities in 2024 with physical, one-cut running. The fact that he got any game time at all this year was an improbability in the preseason, as he had four running backs ahead of him on the depth chart before they all went down with injuries at various times. Taylor Jr. finishes the year with 39 carries for 183 yards and one touchdown. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

From RotoBaller

Garrett Wilson Jan 5 10:00pm ET
Garrett Wilson

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson caught four of his five targets for 51 yards in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Wilson finished third on the team in receiving in the high-scoring win while he was held out of the end zone for the sixth time over his final eight games of the season. The Jets' decision to acquire Davante Adams at the trade deadline cut into Wilson's production over the back half of the season but he still finished with career highs in catches (102), receiving yards (1,104), and touchdowns (seven). Wilson vented some frustration about his role in December and there have been rumors he could demand a trade this offseason if Aaron Rodgers remains the team's quarterback, although he later went on record to state that his relationship with Rodgers was fine. It would be a surprise if the Jets were willing to part with their talented stud 24-year-old receiver this offseason.

From RotoBaller

Aidan O'Connell Jan 5 10:00pm ET
Aidan O'Connell

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell completed 24 of 34 pass attempts for 214 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. He also rushed four times for an additional 13 yards on the ground. O'Connell has delivered modest production over the last three weeks, tallying four passing touchdowns and one turnover during that span. He has benefitted from the breakout seasons of both Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers, but his production might not be enough to deter Vegas from selecting a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Purdue product finished this year with a 63.6 percent completion rate, eight touchdowns, and six turnovers through parts of nine games. Dynasty managers should hold O'Connell on their rosters for now, as he'll be hard to sell but is a little too valuable to drop in leagues with 14 teams or more. From a redraft perspective, he'll trend down as long as the Raiders add a notable quarterback especially if it's a rookie during the upcoming months.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Jan 5 9:50pm ET
Derek Carr

Per Mike Triplett of the team, New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (hand) is reportedly "very confident" he'll be back with the Saints in 2025. New Orleans came out of the gates hot this season -- winning their first two games by a combined 91-29 margin before it all came crashing down. They'd finish at 5-12 after sustaining many injuries on both sides of the ball, and their starting quarterback also fell victim to that team trend. Carr missed seven games in 2024 after battling a core muscle injury and a fracture in his non-throwing hand -- culminating in the worst statistical season of his career. Unfortunately, it's a lost season for him and the team, but he'll look to give it at least one more go next year. Presently, his contract locks him up with New Orleans through 2026.

From RotoBaller

Joshua Dobbs Jan 5 9:50pm ET
Joshua Dobbs

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs had a fantastic fantasy performance during a 47-24 loss to the Cardinals in Arizona. The 29-year-old backup to Brock Purdy (right elbow) completed 29-of-43 attempts for a career-high 326 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He added eight carries for 17 yards, including another touchdown on a sneak. His first touchdown throw was a six-yard dart just before halftime to rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall on a slant. Later, he hit a wide-open Kyle Juszczyk down the left side for a 36-yard score. Dobbs will be a free agent this offseason and comments made to the press on Thursday about Sunday's lone start of 2024 representing an "audition not only for the team that you're on, but for the other 31 other teams" make it seem unlikely he'll be back in Northern California next year.

From RotoBaller

Davante Adams Jan 5 9:50pm ET
Davante Adams

New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams caught six of his 12 targets for 88 yards and a touchdown in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Adams wrapped up his 2024 season with six touchdown grabs over his final six games, giving him eight total TDs on the season. The veteran wideout came over to the Jets at the trade deadline but New York wound up being one of the more disappointing teams in the NFL this season, winning just five games while some cracks in the relationship between Aaron Rodgers and the organization appeared. Adams has stated that he wants to continue to play with Rodgers, so if the team decides to move on from the quarterback, Adams could be on his way out of town as well. Adams is still under contract for two more seasons but he has huge cap hits in each of the next two years and could probably leverage his way out of town if he refuses to renegotiate his deal. Regardless of where he is playing next season, Adams has proven that he can still be a No. 1 receiver in real life and fantasy even at age 32.

From RotoBaller