The Kansas City Chiefs defense will take on the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this week. The Texans most recently scored 32 points in their Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. With C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, and Joe Mixon leading the offense, Houston has plenty of talent at their skill positions. That said, if the Kansas City defense can successfully erase Collins from the offensive game plan, Houston has a depth issue among their pass catchers. Losing Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell means the Texans offense will have to rely on Robert Woods and John Metchie III at wide receiver. If the Chiefs offense controls the game's pace, the defense could be a viable option in DFS and playoff leagues. The Kansas City defensive unit is risky, given the potency of the Texans offense, but they could be a sneaky good play.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face the Houston Texans on Saturday in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The 35-year-old finished the season as the team's leading receiver yet again, but his performances this season were far from what we've come to expect from the eventual Hall-of-Famer. Kelce appeared to regress as an offensive weapon, causing the team to shift toward feeding Xavier Worthy. The rookie receiver became the focal point of the Chiefs passing attack in the home stretch of the regular season, but Kelce has the edge with playoff experience. Patrick Mahomes still trusts Kelce's ability to make big plays for the team and will likely be heavily targeted against the Texans. The Houston defense put on a clinic against the Los Angeles Chargers in last week's Wild Card matchup, collecting four sacks, four interceptions, and a touchdown while only allowing 12 points. The Texans struggled to defend in the red zone this season, where Mahomes will be looking for Kelce. Kelce should be considered a safe play in DFS and playoff leagues since he is one of the most prolific playoff performers in NFL history.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy will take on the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round this weekend. The 21-year-old came on strong in the season's final weeks, collecting 21 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns from Weeks 15 through 17. Worthy stepped into the WR1 role and displayed why he was a first-round pick in 2024. With nearly three full weeks off to rest and prepare, the rookie will look to continue his dominant stretch against the Texans defense. Houston recorded four interceptions last week against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card round. The Chiefs were often scheming the young receiver open, and he capitalized on those opportunities. If Worthy is utilized like he was down the stretch, he should be a strong play in both DFS and playoff leagues this week.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will face the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this week. Hopkins rested in Week 18 with the rest of the starters, making it nearly three weeks since he last suited up. Hopkins played a consistent role in the offense following his acquisition at the trade deadline, but his involvement tapered off as the season went on. The emergence of rookie Xavier Worthy and the steady presence of Travis Kelce pushed Hopkins down in the pecking order. That said, Mahomes has still demonstrated trust in the sure-handed veteran receiver at key moments. Hopkins will also have to contend with a tough Texans defense that held the Los Angeles Chargers to 12 points and picked off Justin Herbert four times. The 32-year-old is a risky play in both DFS and playoff leagues, given his low floor, but there's still a chance he finds the endzone.

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Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will face the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this Saturday. Butker missed his lone field goal attempt in the Week 18 shutout loss to the Denver Broncos. The veteran kicker will look to turn things around now that the playoffs have started. Since returning from knee surgery in Week 15, Butker has nailed three of his five field goal attempts and eight of nine extra-point attempts. The 29-year-old could be heavily involved if the Texans get rolling offensively, which is possible given they scored 32 points in their Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Given how the Chiefs perform in the playoffs, Butker should be good for at least two field goals and extra-point attempts. Butker should be considered a viable plug-in kicker in DFS and playoff leagues this week.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was listed on the injury report with an ankle injury but practiced fully all week and has no injury designation heading into this week's contest. Mahomes will benefit from two extra weeks off between games since the Chiefs clinched the top seed in the AFC. The additional rest and preparation should come in handy against the Houston Texans defense that racked up four sacks, four interceptions, and a touchdown in their Wild Card matchup. The 32-year-old should also benefit from a healthy receiving core outside of Mecole Hardman, who is listed as doubtful for this week. For those playing DFS or in playoff leagues, few quarterbacks can compete with Mahomes' career playoff stats. The Chiefs quarterback is among the surest bets to show up when the lights are the brightest. Start Mahomes with confidence anywhere you can.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco was listed on the injury report with a rib injury but practiced fully all week and does not have an injury designation for this game. The second-year back has had nearly three weeks to recover since the last time he suited up, so he should be back to full strength come Saturday. Pacheco has been competing with Kareem Hunt for touches out of the backfield, and Hunt appeared to be winning that battle when the duo last played in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pacheco handled six carries for 18 yards compared to nine carries for 20 yards and a touchdown for Hunt. It is possible that the Chiefs were limiting his touches after his return from injury, so it will be interesting to see how the split shakes out in the team's return to play against the Houston Texans. The Texans held the Los Angeles Chargers to 12 points while also collecting four sacks, four interceptions, and a touchdown. Given the uncertainty around his workload, the 25-year-old is risky to play in playoff leagues. Pacheco is a much better DFS play in case the team decides to lean on him in the run game. The Chiefs are touchdown home favorites, so whichever running back leads the backfield should have some value.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt has been the team's leader out of the backfield despite the return of Isiah Pacheco. The veteran running back has earned more opportunities in the last three games he played alongside Pacheco. Hunt was not listed on the injury report this week, while Pacheco appeared to be nursing a rib injury. The 29-year-old running back may be the healthier of the duo, which could impact the way the backfield is split against the Houston Texans. The Texans defense held the Los Angeles Chargers to 12 points in last week's Wild Card matchup. Much of Hunt's value this season has come from finding the endzone, and those opportunities should be available to him in this contest. Hunt should be viewed as the Chiefs lead running back until the team shows otherwise, which makes him a valuable asset in DFS and playoff leagues this week.

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The Detroit Lions D/ST continues to be a top fantasy option as their 2024 playoff run gets underway. The Lions take on the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round, fresh off a bye week that allowed them to get healthy on both sides of the football. While Detroit's defense is still dealing with some key ailments, the unit is making progress. Alex Anzalone returned to the mix in Week 18, and Terrion Arnold (foot) is expected to play on Saturday after avoiding a serious injury. Plus, while the Commanders' offense is no joke, Washington is technically the weakest team left in the playoffs strictly based on seeding. The Lions' intimidating defense and relatively favorable matchup give them significant fantasy appeal for the Divisional Round. RotoBaller's latest fantasy rankings place the Lions second among D/ST units this week, only behind the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is a big-play threat who remains a solid fantasy option for Saturday's playoff game against the Washington Commanders. Williams spent this season occupying the No. 2 receiver slot on the depth chart behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, but that didn't stop him from breaking out for 58 catches, 1,001 yards, and seven touchdowns through 15 games. He was the overall WR19 in half-PPR leagues during the 2024 season, though his low floor and high ceiling often meant that he was finishing inside the top 10 receivers or outside the top 25. This weekend, he'll get a chance to make his playoff presence felt against a Commanders defense that ranks near the middle of the league in terms of production allowed to opposing receivers. They've fared equally well against slot and perimeter receivers, so the fact that Williams is capable of playing both roles doesn't give him much of an edge this weekend. Instead, he'll simply have to use his game-changing speed and athleticism to dismantle a solid Washington secondary. He has shown that he can be matchup-proof at times in the past, so managers shouldn't be surprised if he finishes the Divisional Round as a top-six fantasy receiver. His upside makes him an intriguing option for fantasy managers and bettors.

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Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick delivered a solid four-game stretch where he looked like one of the best No. 3 receivers in the NFL, but a subpar finish to the regular season has stripped him of some fantasy appeal as the Divisional Round gets underway. This week, Patrick gets ready for a matchup with the Washington Commanders, who have ranked near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers. They've also fared equally well against both slot and perimeter weapons, so Patrick's tendency to operate out wide doesn't give him much of an advantage. The veteran receiver caught two passes on three targets over his final three games during the regular season, consistently playing between 55 and 65 percent of the offensive snaps. His experience and veteran status do give him a slight boost in the playoffs, but he's still tough to trust given his reduced volume to end the regular season. Look for him to rank as a fringe top-24 fantasy receiver this week.

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Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has never appeared in an NFL playoff game before, but he already ranks as the No. 1 overall kicker in RotoBaller's Divisional Round fantasy rankings. His highly anticipated performance against the Washington Commanders on Saturday is the result of an impressive regular season in which he scored the seventh-most fantasy points among kickers. He missed just three field-goal attempts, and the Lions' incredibly potent offense put him in position to make a whopping 64 extra points. Also working in his favor is a somewhat favorable matchup against the Commanders, who surrendered two field goals to Chase McLaughlin last week, including one from 50 yards out. All in all, Bates is this week's top fantasy kicker thanks to his accuracy, power, and role on a dominant Lions team.

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Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta remains a top option for fantasy managers and bettors ahead of Saturday's playoff game against the Washington Commanders. The second-year tight end exploded down the stretch, finishing as the overall TE3 in half-PPR leagues. He had two touchdowns over his final three games, and he amassed 24 catches for 281 yards over his last four contests. The Commanders have performed in a peculiar fashion against tight ends this year, surrendering the third-fewest catches and fifth-fewest receiving yards to opposing tight ends in 2024. Most important, however, is that Washington surrendered the fifth-most touchdowns to the position. LaPorta has a very strong chance to feast, especially as he continues to carve out an even larger role around the goal line.

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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has the potential to lead his position in fantasy points during Saturday's playoff game against the Washington Commanders. St. Brown was the overall WR1 in two different games during the 2024 regular season, and now, he has a chance to replicate that finish in an exciting playoff battle against the Commanders. The path to more fantasy glory could face some adversity, of course, against a Washington defense that has been under the radar this year. The Commanders have allowed the fewest receptions to opposing wide receivers, and they also rank in the top half of the league in terms of points allowed. St. Brown has repeatedly shown that he can overcome tough matchups, but his path to doing so may be a little tougher than for someone like Puka Nacua, who takes on the Philadelphia Eagles. As a result, Nacua is the overall WR1 and St. Brown is the overall WR2 in fantasy rankings, but the latter has an equally strong chance to finish this season as the highest-scoring fantasy receiver.

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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff remains an appealing fantasy option as he prepares for the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Washington Commanders. The veteran quarterback has never been a very mobile player, but he has been able to maintain high upside thanks to his sharp passing skills and strong group of weapons. Throwing passes to players like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs in 2024, Goff was able to rank as the overall QB6. This week, he should crack the top five fantasy quarterbacks as he takes on a suspect Washington Commanders defense. The Commanders have shown real potential, allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year. However, their defense is typically regarded as mediocre at best, and they just surrendered two passing touchdowns to Baker Mayfield in the Wild Card Round. Furthermore, they failed to pick off Mayfield, despite the Buccaneers' quarterback leading the NFL in interceptions during the regular season. Goff may not post an absurdly high yardage total, but he should still be relied upon for a couple of touchdowns and potentially turnover-free football. He continues to be a top option for fantasy and betting purposes.

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Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs remains a top option for fantasy managers and bettors ahead of Saturday's Divisional Round contest against the Washington Commanders. Gibbs delivered otherworldly production near the end of the season, picking up 396 rushing yards, 205 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns over a four-game span to end the year. Much of the credit for his productivity can be given to the absence of David Montgomery (knee), who was no longer healthy enough to handle short-yardage situations. However, after four weeks with the backfield all to himself, Gibbs welcomes Montgomery back to the mix for the Divisional Round. Fortunately for Gibbs, he doesn't have to worry too much about opportunities slipping away. Not only did he assert himself as the Lions' undisputed No. 1 running back near the end of the season, but he also gets to face a subpar Commanders defense. In fact, Washington allowed the 12th-most fantasy points, fourth-most rushing yards, and fifth-most rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs last season. Even if he loses some touches to Montgomery, Gibbs remains a top-three fantasy running back ahead of his favorable matchup against the Commanders.

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According to SI.com's Drae Harris' sources, the Cincinnati Bengals have two finalists for their defensive-coordinator job, and Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is one of them. Graham, a former Yale defensive lineman, interviewed with the Bengals last week. He's also interviewed for the Jacksonville Jaguars' head-coaching position this offseason and has spent time coaching in the NFL with the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. In addition to Graham, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is considered the other finalist to run Cincy's defense in 2025. The former Penn State tight end played for the New England Patriots in the NFL and was on Bengals head coach Zac Taylor's staff as the team's linebackers coach in 2020 and 2021. Harris believes Golden will end up getting the job.

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The Chicago Bears have reportedly limited down their head coaching search down to two candidates. At the moment, Mike McCarthy and Ben Johnson are the two favorites for the head coaching gig in Chicago. Johnson is probably the most coveted coach available right now after his work as the offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions. Somehow, Super Bowl winning McCarthy appears to be the underdog in this race. To be fair, McCarthy won the Super Bowl in 2010, but he's still a well accomplished coach. His days in Dallas appear to be over after a 7-10 finish, but they didn't have quarterback Dak Prescott for a majority of the year. Both Johnson and McCarthy seem like they would be upgrades for the Bears organization.

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Green Bay Packers defensive back Jaire Alexander (knee) rocked the boat a bit after he declined to talk with the media because he had nothing good to say after the team lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on wild-card weekend. Afterwards, there were rumors that Alexander and the Packers might split this offseason. The organization would save nearly $7 million by releasing Alexander. That doesn't seem like an impossible outcome given Alexander only played seven games this year and ended the season on Injured Reserve. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst downplayed the situation and said there is no disconnect between Alexander and the organization. For now, Alexander remains with the Packers, but he could cut later if the organization wants to save money down the road.

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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said he expects tight end Tyler Higbee (chest) to play versus the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in a Divisional Round clash. Higbee was limited in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday after leaving the wild-card win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night with a chest injury that was serious enough to send him to the hospital. However, the 32-year-old was quickly discharged, and the Rams are optimistic that Higbee won't miss the Divisional Round tilt this Sunday against the Eagles in Philadelphia. If he can return to a full practice by Friday, he could even be removed from the final injury report for the weekend. Before hurting his chest on Monday, Higbee was being peppered with targets and caught all five of them for a season-high 58 yards. He also have five catches on seven targets for 46 yards and a TD in Week 18. Coming off his injury, Higbee will be a risk/reward, low-cost TE for DFS lineups in the Divisional Round if he's active.

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