Ravens QB Tyler Huntley (shoulder, wrist) is active for tonight's Wild Card game vs. the Bengals. NFL Network reported this morning that Huntley is expected to start but that Baltimore might also use QB Anthony Brown. It's a situation to avoid in fantasy lineups.
Seahawks QB Geno Smith tallied 25 completions on 35 attempts with 2 TDs and 1 INT in Saturday's Wild Card loss vs. the 49ers. The veteran led a stout effort all game but unfortunately came up short. WR DK Metcalf found himself on the receiving end of both of Smith's scoring passes in addition to 10 catches for 136 yards. Smith expressed his desire to return to Seattle in post-game comments. After leading a Seahawks team to a postseason bid in the aftermath of a trade that sent QB Russell Wilson to the Broncos, it would be a great story should Smith return.
49ers WR Deebo Samuel led the team in receiving with 6 catches on 9 targets for 133 yards and 1 TD in Saturday's Wild Card win vs. the Seahawks. The crafty wideout also handled 3 carries for 22 yards on the ground in the contest. Samuel was seldom used in Week 18 after returning from a 3-game absence due to injury, so it's good to see his body hold up to a more significant workload. It's also worth noting that teammate WR Brandon Aiyuk is the only other 49ers' pass-catcher who logged more than 2 receptions.
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey tallied 119 rushing yards on 15 carries in addition to 2 receptions for 17 yards and 1 TD in Saturday's victory over the Seahawks. The veteran back led the 49ers' backfield in touches by some distance and showed precisely why the 49ers were so aggressive in acquiring him from the Panthers via trade in October. McCaffrey will assuredly be ranked highly as playoff fantasy contests continue.
49ers QB Brock Purdy completed 18 of 30 attempts for 332 yards and 3 TDs in Saturday's Wild Card win vs. the Seahawks. The rookie signal-caller looked shaky entering halftime but turned things around and led a winning effort in his 5th career start. Purdy dispersed a pair of TDs into the hands of RBs Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell in the contest. His strongest connection was with WR Deebo Samuel, who logged 6 receptions for 133 yards and a score on Saturday. Purdy and the 49ers are looking strong headed into the next round of the NFL playoffs.
Vikings S Harrison Smith (knee) is active for today's game against the Giants. CB Cameron Dantzler (ankle, personal matter) is out. Both entered the day questionable.
Jaguars TE Evan Engram finished Saturday’s Wild Card win with 7 catches, 93 yards and 1 score. In a game that found the Jags down 27-0, Engram led the team in targets with 11. Credit the former Giant for emerging down the stretch — he’s now hit 14+ PPR points in 5 of his past 7 matchups. Next week will likely turn up a matchup with Kansas City. Engram tallied only 14 yards against K.C. back in Week 10.
Chargers TE Gerald Everett snagged 6 of 8 targets for 109 yards and 1 score in Saturday’s loss at Jacksonville. He paced the team and yardage and was on the receiving end of Justin Herbert’s lone TD. The former Seahawk ended his first year in L.A. as the TE13 in PPG, boosted by injuries to Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. Everett, 28, is under contract for 1 more season.
QB Tua Tagovailoa is expected to return as the Dolphins' starter next season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Tagovailoa suffered 3 -- ahem, 2 -- concussions this season, ultimately missing 4 games and most of another. His play tailed off late in the season, but he finished with a 65% completion rate and big 8.9 yards per attempt. "The Dolphins have been pleased with Tagovailoa's development this season under first-year coach Mike McDaniel," per Schefter, and "medical professionals also are confident that Tagovailoa should be able to resume his NFL career next season, if not sooner."
The Rams are expected to pick up QB Matt Stafford's 2023 option bonus and 2024 salary, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. It'll pay Stafford a combined $62 million in guaranteed money. There had been questions about Stafford's football future after a spinal cord contusion ended his 2022 season. He's avoided surgery, though, and is expected to be ready for the offseason program. With HC Sean McVay also returning for 2023, the Rams offense has bounce-back potential with better health and improvements along the offensive line.
Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie (hamstring) is inactive for today's Wild Card game vs. the Dolphins. That leaves WRs Cole Beasley, Khalil Shakir and John Brown behind Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis. Beasley is the most natural fill-in for McKenzie's slot role.
Dolphins QB Teddy Bridgewater (knee, right finger) is active for today's Wild Card game vs. the Bills. He'll back up QB Skylar Thompson. Bridgewater was only able to throw about 15 yards in practice this week, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen finished Saturday's Wild Card game with 6-61 on 13 targets. The massive workload represented a 30.2% target share. It also meant that Allen, 30, finished his 10th pro season with 9 straight games of 5+ catches. He’s currently under contract for 2 more seasons.
NFL Network's Stacey Dales reports that Ravens QB Tyler Huntley (shoulder, wrist) is expected to start tonight's Wild Card game vs. the Bengals. He's officially listed as questionable with a wrist issue and what's been reported as tendonitis in his throwing shoulder. Dales hears that Huntley "made good progress" throughout the week -- but adds that there's a "possibility" that QB Anthony Brown also plays tonight. This is a situation to steer clear of in fantasy lineups of all types.
Chargers RB Austin Ekeler capped off his age 27-season with 13 carries for 35 yards and 2 scores. Credit the Jags for filling up rushing lanes — and limiting Ekeler to only 2 catches for 8 yards (4 targets). A TD machine with 40 scores over the past 2 seasons, Ekeler is now scheduled to enter the final year of his second contract. Change could be coming to the Chargers’ coaching staff, but there's no reason to alter RB1 expectations for 2023.
Playing without WR Mike Williams, Chargers QB Justin Herbert completed 25-of-43 passes for 273 yards and 1 score. The Chargers settled for 2 short range FGs in the first half — 1 after Herbert missed Keenan Allen in the end zone — which kept Jacksonville’s comeback hopes alive. In the second half, the Chargers went: punt, FG, missed FG, punt. Following the loss, we’ll see if the Chargers retain HC Brandon Staley (and OC Joe Lombardi) for another season. Regardless, Los Angeles needs to find a speed threat to compliment Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Jags RB Travis Etienne racked up 109 yards on 20 attempts in a (wild) Wild Card win over Los Angeles. It’s amazing that he saw that type of volume, as Jacksonville fell behind 27-0 in the 1st half. Yet for the 4th time over the past 5 weeks, Etienne reached 100 total yards. We expect the Clemson product to face Kansas City in the Divisional Round. Back in Week 10, Etienne posted 11 carries for 45 yards (plus 3-28 receiving) against the Chiefs.
Jags QB Trevor Lawrence rebounded from 4 first-half INTs to post 288 yards and 4 TDs against Los Angeles. His scores went to Evan Engram, Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Marvin Jones. In a true stunner, Jacksonville climbed out of a 27-0 hole, taking its only lead on Riley Patterson’s game-winning FG. Assuming the Bills and Bengals pick up wins today, Lawrence will travel to Kansas City next week. The Chiefs held him to 259-2 on 40 attempts back in Week 10.
Speaking after Saturday’s Wild Card loss, Seahawks QB Geno Smith expressed a desire to finish his career in Seattle. It’s a good reminder that the 32-year-old is on track for free agency. If Seattle opts to get younger, note that they have the 5th overall pick from Denver and the Russell Wilson trade. Our hunch, though, is GM John Schneider will make a good-faith effort to re-sign Smith.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (toe) is active for tonight's game against the Chargers, as expected. Lawrence has carried "questionable" labels since sustaining the injury at Detroit in Week 13. He has yet to miss game time for it, though. WR Jamal Agnew (shoulder) is also active.
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