San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Wednesday that defensive end Nick Bosa (knee) is expected to return from his ACL injury around the start of training camp, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Bosa tore the ACL in his right knee back on Sept. 21 (Week 3), so he should have a chance to be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season this fall, depending on how he does in his recovery. First-round defensive lineman Mykel Williams (knee) is also expected to be ready to return around training camp. It would be great news for the 49ers' defense if both Bosa and Williams are ready for Week 1, considering how banged up the team's defense was in 2025. Bosa was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, when he had a league-high 18.5 sacks, but durability issues make him a risk/reward pass-rusher in IDP fantasy formats.

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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that tight end Jake Tonges (foot) suffered a plantar-fascia injury in the Divisional Round loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week and will need three weeks to recover, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. Before his injury on Saturday, Tonges caught five of his six targets for 59 yards, with George Kittle suffering a season-ending torn Achilles the week prior in the Wild-Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The 26-year-old saw an expanded role during the regular season, too, with Kittle missing time with injuries, and he finished with career highs across the board in catches (34), targets (46), receiving yards (293), and touchdowns (five) in 17 regular-season contests. Tonges should be fully healthy for next season, and he should be back in the Bay Area as a restricted free agent.

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Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on Wednesday that tight end Dalton Schultz (calf) is "going to be OK" after getting hurt in the Divisional Round loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, according to Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle. Caserio also added that tight end Cade Stover (knee) "avoided serious injury" and should be ready for the offseason program. Before getting hurt on Sunday, Schultz caught both of his targets for 47 yards and was on his way to a big game. Unfortunately, the 29-year-old never returned. He wrapped up his third season in Houston and eighth NFL season overall with a career-high 82 receptions on 106 targets for 777 yards and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. Schultz was the TE11 in half-PPR scoring, but for him to become a legitimate TE1 in fantasy, quarterback C.J. Stroud must improve as a passer.

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NC State tight end Justin Joly has been one of the most productive players at the position over the last three college football seasons. The 21-year-old New York native began his career at UConn before spending his junior and senior seasons with the Wolfpack, hauling in 92 receptions for 1,150 yards and 11 touchdowns. He enjoyed great success at NC State, but his breakout campaign came as a sophomore with the Huskies in 2023, when he tallied 56 catches for 578 yards and two scores. The 2025 first-team All-ACC selection is viewed as one of the top five tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft class, and he's currently projected to be a third-round selection in April. Joly thrives running intermediate and deep routes, making him a strong TE2 and second tight end in 12-personnel at the next level. His landing spot will determine his upside and placement in dynasty rookie drafts as part of a shallow incoming rookie tight end class.

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Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani (hamstring), who was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, is in "great shape" and could play in Sunday's NFC Championship game against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, according to head coach Mike Macdonald. It's excellent timing for the Seahawks, who lost Zach Charbonnet (knee) to a torn ACL in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers. Kenneth Walker III should see an elevated backfield role this weekend, regardless of whether Holani returns to the fold after landing on IR back in late November. If the 26-year-old isn't ready to return for the NFC Championship, the Seahawks will choose between Velus Jones Jr. or Cam Akers as the RB2 behind Walker. Before his injury, Holani had 22 carries for 73 yards and one touchdown in 11 games, adding two catches for 15 yards.

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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch had nothing but good things to say about wide receiver Jauan Jennings, and the team is interested in re-signing him after he becomes an unrestricted free agent in March. "Always plays with passion we can count on. We can move him around the way he blocks. He plays the right way. It frustrated other people. We'd love to have him back. We'll work to get that accomplished," Lynch said. Jennings caught just two passes for 23 yards in the Divisional Round loss to the Seattle Seahawks and didn't score in any of his final three games, but he was a big contributor in the regular season, especially when tight end George Kittle and receiver Ricky Pearsall missed time with injuries. The 28-year-old caught 55 of 90 targets for 643 yards and a career-high nine TDs in 15 regular-season games. If Jennings returns in 2026, he'll be a trusted target for quarterback Brock Purdy.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (oblique) "continues to get better" but will be limited in practice this week as he deals with a left-oblique injury that he suffered in practice last Thursday, according to head coach Mike Macdonald. Darnold won't throw every pass in practice, but the plan is still for him to start on Sunday in the NFC Championship against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. The 28-year-old went 12-for-17 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown in the 40-6 blowout win over the Niners. Darnold could draw another questionable tag going into the weekend, but all signs point to him suiting up as he attempts to lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. We expect Darnold to have to throw the ball much more against the Rams, which will give him a higher fantasy ceiling. In two games against L.A. this year, Darnold went 51-for-78 for 549 yards, two touchdowns, and six picks.

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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Wednesday that "it's safe to say" that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee), who missed the entire 2025 season, has "played his last snap as a Niner," according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The 27-year-old has been trying to get the 49ers to release him for a while, and it was essentially a done deal when the team voided guarantees in his contract. An official transaction releasing Aiyuk will probably come in the weeks following the Super Bowl. The former 25th overall pick in 2020 out of Arizona State had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023 before signing an extension with the team before the 2024 campaign. Aiyuk wasn't living up to expectations that year before tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 7. In addition to concerns about whether he can return to his pre-injury form, Aiyuk's fantasy value going forward will depend largely on where he ends up.

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Both San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch seem intent on keeping quarterback Mac Jones around going into next season as the backup for Brock Purdy, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. "We're not into getting rid of good players. I'd be surprised if he's not here next year," Shanahan said. "Mac made this place better and picked us up in a huge way ... Can't say enough about his play but also his leadership," Lynch said. The 27-year-old kept the 49ers afloat in 2025 with Purdy missing a chunk of time due to a turf-toe injury. He was in the first year of a two-year, $8.4 million contract, and all signs point to Jones returning in 2026 as one of the better backup QBs in the league. As a starter for the Niners this year, Jones went 5-3 while completing 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington was the wideout most frequently on the field with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams in three-receiver sets in Sunday's Divisional Round win over the Bears. However, his two targets in the overtime win were only the seventh most on his own team, and he was largely a non-factor after missing the Divisional Round with a knee injury. With the Rams frequently favoring two or three tight end alignments, Whittington is not a player that needs to be rostered in fantasy playoff leagues. With four teams left in action, he is RotoBaller's WR14 for the Conference Championship Round.

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. saw season highs in offensive snaps, targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns in the team's Divisional Round win over the Bills. Denver seemed to come out of the gates with a clear gameplan, feeding rookie Pat Bryant (concussion) on the first three passing plays of the game. However, when Bryant was knocked from the game with an early concussion, it was Mims who became the focal point of the team's passing attack, finishing the game with a team-leading 93 yards on his eight receptions. Managers participating in playoff fantasy leagues will need to monitor Bryant's status as he works through the league's concussion protocol. If he is unable to suit up against the Patriots in Sunday's AFC Championship matchup, Mims could become a necessary outlet for quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who prepares to make his first start in over two years.

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Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee was on the field for 39 offensive snaps in the team's Wild Card win over the Panthers, catching two of his three targets for 45 yards. However, with rookie Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) back from a two-week absence, Higbee took only eight snaps in Sunday's Divisional Round win over the Bears. Behind Ferguson, Colby Parkinson, and Davis Allen in terms of snap share, Higbee saw only one target in the overtime win, which he caught for 27 yards. With the Rams' tight end room back at full health, Higbee becomes an unreliable play in the Conference Championship round of fantasy playoff leagues.

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Los Angeles running back Blake Corum, who had carved out a healthy role in the Rams' backfield in the second half of the season, saw only six total opportunities to Kyren Williams' 26 in the team's Divisional Round win over the Bears. The narrative heading into the playoffs had been that Los Angeles was saving Williams for the games that mattered most, but a Wild Card win over the Panthers, which saw him out-touch Corum by a much thinner 15 to 13 margin, added uncertainty to how the backfield would be split moving forward. In an overtime win on Sunday that rarely saw Williams come off the field, the Rams may have provided some clarity. Corum is RotoBaller's RB6 for Championship Weekend, while Williams is RB2 for fantasy playoff leagues.

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Denver running back Jaleel McLaughlin totaled 21 yards on four touches in the Broncos' overtime win over the Bills in the Divisional Round. With the team opening the practice window of J.K. Dobbins (foot) ahead of the AFC Championship Game, McLaughlin may see even fewer touches against a Patriots defense that has been dominant against the run through two playoff games. Outside of quarterback scrambles, New England has allowed a total of 74 rushing yards through two games. Regardless of whether Dobbins can return from his Week 10 foot injury, McLaughlin and rookie RJ Harvey already face a daunting task, and an additional mouth to feed could serve to remove McLaughlin from the gameplan entirely.

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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that the team won't open the 21-day practice window for wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) on Wednesday, according to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com. Hollins has been on Injured Reserve since Dec. 27 with an abdominal issue, and he won't return for the AFC Championship this weekend against the hosting Denver Broncos. If New England wins and advances to the Super Bowl, they'll have a week off before the big game, so maybe then Hollins would have a shot to return from IR. In 15 regular-season games in his first year with the Pats before his injury, Hollins caught 46 of his 65 targets for 550 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots will move forward this Sunday with a WR group that includes Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, rookies Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III, and DeMario Douglas.

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The Seattle Seahawks activated running back George Holani (hamstring) from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, according to John Boyle of Seahawks.com. Now that Holani is back and ready to rejoin the team at practice, he'll be an option to play in the NFC Championship game this Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Holani opened the year as the team's RB3 behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet (knee) and as a key special teams player, but he injured his hamstring in the Week 12 win over the Tennessee Titans and has been sidelined since. Before his injury, Holani had 22 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown and added two catches for 15 yards. Seattle needs RB depth after Charbonnet tore his ACL in the Divisional Round win over the 49ers, but there's no guarantee that Holani would take on a notable role behind Walker this weekend if he's active, given the long layoff while on IR.

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The loss of Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee), who tore his ACL in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, is a significant one, but ESPN's Brady Henderson writes that it shouldn't matter if Kenneth Walker III "continues his recent tear." Walker had 19 carries for 116 yards and three touchdowns last Saturday in the win over the 49ers, and he finished with 100 yards in the big Week 16 win over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. In the regular-season finale against San Fran, he had 97 yards to put him over 1,000 rushing yards on the season. "I thought this was the most decisive he's ran up to this point, and as expected, you just keep getting better and keep finding ways to improve, especially in the run game. He's done a great job," head coach Mike Macdonald said. With Charbonnet now out, Walker's volume should increase, making him a top-three fantasy RB in the NFC Championship against the Rams.

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Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said that quarterback Josh Allen (foot) might need surgery on his right foot, but if he does, he should be ready for organized team activities in the spring, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Allen initially injured his foot in Week 16, but he played through soreness the rest of the year before being eliminated by the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The 29-year-old former MVP also battled a left-knee injury and a right-finger injury in the postseason. Either way, Allen should be completely fine for the start of training camp this summer and the start of the 2026 regular season in the fall. He once again led all QBs in fantasy points during the regular season in 2025 with 3,668 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 17 games, adding 579 rushing yards and a league-high 14 TDs. Even with head coach Sean McDermott gone, Allen should be the first QB off the board in fantasy football drafts this fall.

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Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said that he had a "really good" exit interview with wide receiver DJ Moore and called him a key guy who helped the team get as far as they did this season, according to Jasson Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times. Johnson called Moore a "huge contributor." Moore certainly finished on a high note, scoring in both of the team's playoff games and finding the end zone five times in the final six contests. However, the 28-year-old finished the 2025 campaign with career lows in receptions (50) and receiving yards (682) while finding the end zone six times in 17 games played. He definitely stepped up when Rome Odunze missed the final five regular-season games with a stress fracture in his foot, but for most of the year, he was hit or miss and extremely inconsistent for fantasy managers. Going into 2026, it could be more of the same for Moore, especially if Odunze gets over his foot ailment.

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Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on Wednesday that running back Joe Mixon (foot, ankle) had a medical condition that never improved, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. "He didn't jump off a building. He wasn't doing anything irresponsible. It was a freak thing," Caserio said. The Texans were extremely vague with Mixon's injury all year, and he never ended up playing in 2025. Head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that Mixon's status for the 2026 season is also uncertain due to his injury. Unexpectedly, the Texans struggled for consistent production out of their backfield with a mix of veteran Nick Chubb and Woody Marks. Marks took over halfway through the year and should be heavily involved again next season, even if Mixon returns. Needless to say, a lot of fantasy managers won't want anything to do with Mixon in 2026.

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