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FFL: Offseason | NFL: Week 18

Titans clinch No. 1 pick in 2025 NFL Draft

Sun Jan 5 5:03pm ET
Field Level Media

The Tennessee Titans wore Houston Oilers throwback uniforms for their season finale against the Texans on Sunday.

After a sixth straight defeat to end the season, the Titans are on the clock for the first time since the Oilers days.

Tennessee is one of three teams to finish the season at 3-14, joined by the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. The Titans got the nod in the tiebreaker by posting their record against the weakest strength of schedule out of that trio (.521).

The franchise will pick first overall for the first time since the Oilers drafted running back Earl Campbell in 1978. The only other time they went first overall was 1973, when the Oilers took defensive end John Matuszak.

Cleveland will pick second overall and New York will go third. All three teams could be in the market for a new franchise quarterback.

Rounding out the top five are the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 4-13. The Patriots could have secured the top pick with a loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday because their strength of schedule was weaker than Tennessee's. Instead, they upset playoff-bound Buffalo 23-16.

The order of selections 1-18 will be finalized by the end of the day. The New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders (4-12) were active in the late-afternoon window and their draft order is still up in the air, but they cannot break into the top five.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 18

Player Notes
Mike Evans Jan 5 5:40pm ET
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans caught nine of his 14 targets for 89 yards during their victory over the New Orleans Saints. As a result, Evans posted his 11th-straight 1,000 yard season. Evans is the only player in NFL history to tally at least 1,000 yards in his first 10+ seasons. He now only sits three 1,000-yard campaigns behind Jerry Rice for the NFL record. The 31-year-old even missed three games this season due to a hamstring injury but was still able to continue his incredible streak. During Weeks 12 through 17, Evans averaged a strong 96.7 yards per game. Fantasy managers should expect the veteran wideout to remain Baker Mayfield's top target during the playoffs. Evans should be viewed as a high-end WR1 in all playoff competitions and would carry elite upside in DFS if the Buccaneers draw a favorable matchup in the Wild Card round.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Jan 5 5:30pm ET
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed was a solid contributor during the Packers' 24-22 loss at the hands of the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Reed caught both of his targets for 48 yards, the majority coming from a 31-yard deep grab late in the first half from backup quarterback Malik Willis. Also taking three carries for three yards, Reed saw more touches running the ball than in the passing game, which illustrates his second half of the season. The Packers' passing game has been very spotty over the second half of the season and in turn, has made it difficult to rely on any of the top receiving options in the Packers' offense. With the Packers heading to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in the Wild Card round, consider Reed a low-end receiver play for playoff contests.

From RotoBaller

Bijan Robinson Jan 5 5:30pm ET
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 28 attempts during their overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers. Robinson brought in two of his five targets for three yards through the air. Robinson punched in his first score of the afternoon in the second quarter from three yards out. Later in the fourth quarter, Robinson tallied his second touchdown, on a four-yard run. His 28 attempts and 170 yards were the highest totals of his career. Since Week 10, Robinson has tallied at least 90 rushing yards in all but one contest. Overall, the Texas product tallied at least 100 rushing yards five games and tallied 15 total touchdowns. Given his role as the workhorse of the Atlanta offense, he should be viewed as a high-end RB1 heading into the 2025 season and remains an elite dynasty asset.

From RotoBaller

Tucker Kraft Jan 5 5:30pm ET
Tucker Kraft

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft was targeted consistently by both Jordan Love and backup Malik Willis during the Packers' 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Leading the Packers with seven targets on the afternoon, Kraft reeled in four of those targets for 36 yards as he was a featured part of the Packers' passing game for both Love and Willis. Kraft has been a solid contributor all season and with the downturn in the Packers' passing-game production, that's certainly affected Kraft's upside as a fantasy asset. With the Packers heading to Philadelphia for their Wild Card matchup with the Eagles, Kraft is a solid tight end option for those playing fantasy playoff contests.

From RotoBaller

Jerod Mayo Jan 5 5:30pm ET
Jerod Mayo

The New England Patriots have fired head coach Jerod Mayo, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Mayo's firing comes just one hour after the Patriots' season concluded with a win over the Buffalo Bills. The defeat cost New England the rights to the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, instead securing the fourth selection. Mayo went 4-13 in his first and only season as head coach, and he struggled to extract much production from the roster despite a strong campaign from rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Patriots owner Robert Kraft will lead the team's search for a new head coach, and there should be significant interest among coaching candidates given New England's prominence in the NFL and the allure of developing Maye. Mike Vrabel, Brian Flores, and Ben Johnson are among the names to watch for the vacancy.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Jan 5 5:20pm ET
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London had a career day as he brought in ten of his 18 targets for 187 yards and two touchdowns during their overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers. This surpassed London's previous career-high of 172 yards he set during Week 14 of the 2023 season. Rookie Michael Penix Jr. leaned heavily on London in this contest as his 18 targets were 11 more than any other Atlanta pass-catcher. London found the end zone at the end of the second quarter on a 20-yard pass. London would score again in the fourth quarter on a 21-yard reception. The former first-round selection enjoyed the best season of his NFL career tallying 1,217 yards and nine total scores. This was the first time he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in his career. London should be viewed as a high-end WR2 heading into the offseason.

From RotoBaller

Drew Lock Jan 5 5:20pm ET
Drew Lock

New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock threw for 138 yards, one touchdown, and one interception off 22-for-29 passing in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. The signal-caller tossed four touchdowns in the Week 17 win over the Indianapolis Colts. However, he cooled off significantly in this one. With the Giants done until September, Lock will finish the 2024-25 campaign by totaling 1,071 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions through the air and adding two scores on the ground. The G-Men will presumably be on the hunt for their quarterback of the future this offseason. While there is a chance New York brings Lock back in free agency, he likely won't find himself starting next season, regardless of what team he is on. But even if he does start somewhere, he'll need to prove he's worthy of a spot on fantasy rosters.

From RotoBaller

Dontayvion Wicks Jan 5 5:20pm ET
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks was plenty involved in the Packers' offensive game plan during their 24-22 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Wicks was second on the team in targets (6) and reeled in a team-high five catches for 49 yards. The Packers' wide receiver group is banged up following Romeo Doubs (illness) being added to the injury list and then out for Week 18 plus Christian Watson (knee) being carted off in the second quarter. Because of those injuries, Wicks was utilized extensively along with Malik Heath. The Packers will need every last bit of their available receivers for their matchup with the Eagles in Philadelphia for their Wild Card showdown. If Watson remains out, Wicks, is a low-end receiver play for playoff contests.

From RotoBaller

Emanuel Wilson Jan 5 5:10pm ET
Emanuel Wilson

Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson led the Packers in carries and was one of the main contributors in the Packers' 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Wilson saw a handful of carries on the Packers' second drive but took the bulk of his work once starter Josh Jacobs left after his second-quarter touchdown. Tallying 73 rushing yards on 14 carries, a good chunk of those yards came on Wilson's 21-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter that put the Packers within striking distance. Wilson also caught one pass for minus-two yards. With the Packers heading east to Philadelphia for their playoff game with the Eagles in the Wild Card round, Wilson will remain the backup to Jacobs without a realistic path to substantial work for playoff fantasy contests.

From RotoBaller

Michael Penix Jr. Jan 5 5:10pm ET
Michael Penix Jr.

Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. went 21-for-38 with 312 yards, two passing scores and an interception during their overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers. Penix added five yards and score on his lone carry. After averaging just 212.5 passing yards during the first two games of his career, Penix enjoyed a strong finish to the 2024 campaign, despite falling just short to the Panthers. The Washington product leaned on his top wideout Drake London as he threw to him 18 times. London also brought in both his touchdown passes and finished the day with 187 receiving yards. The 24-year-old has tallied four total touchdowns over his first three NFL games but sits with a 1-2 record, with both of his losses coming in overtime. Fantasy managers should expect Penix to be in the driver's seat to open as the team's starting QB in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Josh Jacobs Jan 5 5:00pm ET
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs maintained his massive touchdown streak despite the Packers' 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Jacobs did not see the volume he normally does and did not record a touch following his nine-yard touchdown plunge in the second quarter. After that score, Jacobs ceded the way for Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks to rest up for the Packers' playoff push. With his touchdown in Week 18, that makes 12 total touchdowns in Jacobs' final eight games. With the Packers headed to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in the Wild Card round, Jacobs is a locked-in RB1 for playoff contests.

From RotoBaller

Bryce Young Jan 5 5:00pm ET
Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young went 25-for-34 with 251 yards and three scores during their overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He added 24 yards and two touchdowns on five rushing attempts. This was his best performance of his young NFL career. After having a quiet first quarter, Young was able to punch in a five-yard score with his legs and threw a 33-yard TD pass to Miles Sanders in the second frame. In the third quarter, he found tight end Tommy Tremble and wide receiver David Moore on a 21-yard and nine-yard TD pass respectively. Then in the fourth quarter, Young tallied his second rushing score of the afternoon, this time from ten yards out. The former first-overall pick would then lead the Panthers to a game-winning drive in overtime which was capped off by a Miles Sanders TD run. Despite his struggles last season and at the start of this season, Young has begun to turn the corner. During Weeks 12 through 17, Young averaged a solid 22.0 PPR points per game and will carry some solid momentum into the offseason.

From RotoBaller

Zach Ertz Jan 5 4:50pm ET
Zach Ertz

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz caught all five of his targets for 44 yards and touchdown during their victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Ertz's five targets tied him for the second-most on the team. His yardage output placed him third among Washington pass-catchers. Ertz found the back of the end zone on a five-yard strike from Marcus Mariota in the third quarter. The veteran tight end has enjoyed a strong debut season in the DMV. After catching just three passes during Weeks 15 and 16, Ertz has been able to find his stride tallying three touchdowns over his past two games. Overall, Ertz found the back of the end zone seven times and caught at least 40 yards in seven games. The 34-year-old should be viewed as a low-end TE1 in all playoff competitions.

From RotoBaller

Isaac Guerendo Jan 5 4:50pm ET
Isaac Guerendo

San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (knee, ankle) exited during the first quarter of Sunday's Week 18 game against the Arizona Cardinals. He has been ruled out for the remainder of the contest. It was an ugly scene in Arizona as Guerendo's leg bent awkwardly while he was being tackled. He was in noticeable pain while being carted off the field, and the 49ers ruled him out with both knee and ankle injuries very quickly. He finishes Sunday's contest with two carries for five yards. All in all, he registered 420 rushing yards, 152 receiving yards, and four total touchdowns while splitting time as a depth option and starter this season. Patrick Taylor Jr. will lead the 49ers' backfield for the remainder of Sunday's contest.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Jan 5 4:50pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love left Week 18's game against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter and did not return in their 24-22 loss. Love exited Sunday's game late in the first half after an injury to his elbow where he was deemed questionable to return. Head coach Matt LaFleur did say after the game that Love was held out as a precaution and will be good to go against the Eagles. Prior to his early exit, Love was 7-of-12 passing for 69 yards and ceded the way to backup quarterback Malik Willis, who finished the rest of the game. Love was seen throwing on the sideline during the Bears' second-to-last drive, sparking optimism that he could return, but Willis played out the rest of the game. The Packers' playoff path is set with the team heading to Philadelphia to face the Eagles next week. For playoff contests, Love is a low-ceiling option.

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Jan 5 4:40pm ET
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin made team history in their victory over the Dallas Cowboys as he caught his 13th touchdown of the season. This is now the most touchdowns caught by a wide receiver in a single season in team history. McLaurin finished the day with 62 yards on eight receptions. He saw 12 targets his way. McLaurin caught this touchdown in the final seconds on a five-yard strike from Marcus Mariota to move Washington up to the No.6 seed in the NFC. This was also a nice bounce back outing for McLaurin as he caught just one of his seven targets for five yards last weekend. McLaurin enjoyed a fantastic season with Jayden Daniels under center. During Weeks 3 through 16, the Ohio State product averaged a stellar 18.2 PPR points per game. McLaurin should be viewed as a high-end WR1 in all playoff competitions.

From RotoBaller

Olamide Zaccheaus Jan 5 4:40pm ET
Olamide Zaccheaus

Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus caught two of his five targets for 51 yards during their victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon. Zaccheaus could have had an even better output but was unable to haul in a 40-yard strike from wide receiver Dyami Brown on a trick play. However, Zaccheaus' five targets tied him for second-most on the team. His yardage output was also the second-highest on the team, only behind Terry McLaurin. With Noah Brown (kidney) sidelined, Zaccheaus has begun to carve out a prominent role in the Washington offense. During Weeks 16 and 17, Zaccheaus averaged a strong 77.5 yards per game and tallied three scores over this stretch. Operating as the clear No.2 wideout in the offense, Zaccheaus carries solid flex upside heading into the Wild Card round.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Schultz Jan 5 4:30pm ET
Dalton Schultz

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz finished the regular season by catching all three of his targets for 26 yards in a 23-14 victory at Tennessee. The Texans already were locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs prior to the game, so they gave starting quarterback C.J. Stroud one drive before giving way to backup Davis Mills. The veteran tight end still managed an average game despite key players getting most of the day off and a game plan that ended with more rushing attempts (29) than passing attempts (28). Schultz and the Texans will turn their attention to the postseason, where they will play host to a Wild Card game.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Jan 5 4:30pm ET
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. ran the ball just five times for ten yards during their victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Robinson brought in his lone target for six yards. With Austin Ekeler back in action, Robinson saw his workload decrease. This matched his previous lowest rushing attempt total of the campaign. With the Commanders trailing throughout the game, Robinson was unable to find much rhythm in a negative game script. Entering this game, Robinson was carrying a three-game touchdown drought. During this stretch, he averaged just 49.7 rushing yards per game. During his first ten games of the season, he tallied eight touchdowns with 64.0 yards per game. Given his current struggles, fantasy managers should view Robinson as a low-end RB2 heading into the postseason.

From RotoBaller

Austin Ekeler Jan 5 4:30pm ET
Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler ran the ball three times for 12 yards. The running back added 20 yards on his two receptions. Ekeler missed the previous four games due to a concussion. While this victory helped the Commanders move up to a higher seed, they already secured a playoff spot and as a result, the team did not give Ekeler a heavy workload in his return. However, the 29-year-old performed well, especially in the receiving game which is a promising sign heading into the playoffs. During his first ten games of the season, Ekeler ran the ball seven times per game and saw just under four targets per game. During this stretch, he averaged a strong 66.0 total yards per game. If the Commanders find themselves in a high-scoring affair in the Wild Card round, Ekeler would have a path to being the top option out of the backfield, given his elite pass catching abilities.

From RotoBaller