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FFL: Offseason | NFL: Week 18

NFL wild-card schedule includes Steelers-Ravens showdown

Sun Jan 5 9:06pm ET
Field Level Media

The NFL finalized its schedule for the wild-card round of the playoffs Sunday evening after results from the late-afternoon window put most of the final puzzle pieces into place.

The Los Angeles Chargers, by defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 34-20, finished the season 11-6 and secured the No. 5 seed in the AFC over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Chargers' AFC West foes from Denver took care of business against a resting Chiefs team, winning 38-0 to lock up the conference's seventh and final bid.

The Steelers, who lost four straight games to end the regular season, must face the rival Baltimore Ravens for a third time in the AFC's No. 3 vs. No. 6 game. The teams split their season series but the Ravens won the AFC North by two games.

On the NFC side, the Los Angeles Rams lost 30-25 to the Seattle Seahawks, pushing them behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the pecking order. Tampa Bay, which clinched the NFC South earlier in the day by beating the Saints 27-19, took over the No. 3 seed and the Rams settled for No. 4.

The following is the schedule for the first round of the NFL postseason. The only determination left to make will be the No. 5 seed in the NFC. That will go to the loser of the Minnesota Vikings-Detroit Lions game on "Sunday Night Football" as the winner claims the NFC North crown, the top seed and the first-round bye.

Saturday, Jan. 11

No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at No. 4 Houston Texans (10-7), 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS

No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at No. 3 Baltimore Ravens (12-5), 8 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video

Sunday, Jan. 12

No. 7 Denver Broncos (10-7) at No. 2 Buffalo Bills (13-4), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

No. 7 Green Bay Packers (11-6) at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3), 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX

No. 6 Washington Commanders (12-5) at No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7), 8 p.m. ET, NBC

Monday, Jan. 13

No. 5 Minnesota Vikings OR Detroit Lions at No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (10-7), 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 18

Player Notes
Rico Dowdle Jan 5 9:30pm ET
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle rushed 22 times for 72 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders. He also caught two of his three targets for an additional 12 yards through the air. Dowdle was quite impressive throughout the 2024 season, supplanting Ezekiel Elliott as the Cowboys' undisputed No. 1 running back. He finished the campaign with 1,079 rushing yards, 249 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns through 16 games, ranking as a low-end RB2 in fantasy football. There has been plenty of speculation that the Cowboys could take an aggressive approach with their pursuit of a running back this offseason, such as drafting Ashton Jeanty. However, there's also a real possibility they feel confident in Dowdle and don't take as big of a swing for a backfield addition within the upcoming months. The 26-year-old currently still has appeal as a mid-range RB3 option heading into the 2025 campaign, and until Dallas brings in competition, this backfield belongs to Dowdle.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Jan 5 9:30pm ET
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of his 36 passes for 274 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Rodgers set a record by becoming just the fifth NFL quarterback to throw 500 touchdown passes in his career, joining Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Brett Favre in the exclusive club. The veteran quarterback finishes his second season with the Jets with 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while appearing in all 17 of the team's games. It was a rocky season for Rodgers and a Jets team that had playoff aspirations in the preseason, only to fire head coach Robert Saleh in October and ultimately go 5-12 on the season. Rodgers is under contract for another season but the Jets could choose to part ways with the future Hall of Famer after the two sides appeared to have some issues throughout the season. After the game, Rodgers was not ready to state whether he would return for the 2025 season or retire. Stay tuned.

From RotoBaller

Shane Steichen Jan 5 9:30pm ET
Shane Steichen

Per Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard will continue to operate in their roles next season. Irsay took to X (Twitter) on Sunday evening following Indianapolis' 26-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars to express his frustration over not making the playoffs. However, he gave his head coach and GM a vote of confidence heading into next season. "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." Steichen has coached his way to a 17-17 record since taking over in 2023, while the Colts have seen just four winning seasons since Ballard got the GM job during the 2016 playoffs. There is plenty of talent on this squad -- particularly on the offensive side. Still, as of now, the team's success hinges on the development of quarterback Anthony Richardson. Fortunately for Ballard and Steichen, they'll get at least one more go.

From RotoBaller

Payne Durham Jan 5 9:20pm ET
Payne Durham

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Payne Durham saw increased playing time for the third straight week with Cade Otton (knee) inactive during the regular season finale. Durham hauled in both his targets for 16 yards and a touchdown during the victory. This marked the second straight game that Durham has been able to find the end zone. The hope is that Otton will be able to return to the field for next week's playoff game. Otherwise, Durham and Devin Culp will remain the primary options at tight end. Durham might be worth a dart throw in DFS contests for the Wild-Card round.

From RotoBaller

Marvin Harrison Jr. Jan 5 9:13pm ET
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Dynasty | Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr caught six passes for 63 yards and a touchdown in the season finale. Dynasty Analysis: Harrison ends the season with 63 catches, just under 900 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. It was a solid season by most measures, but Harrison was overshadowed by the likes of Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr, and even Ladd McConkey this year. The future is bright for Harrison, but the thoughts of him being "the next big thing" at the position have certainly cooled over the course of the year as he's looked more like a WR2 than an absolute superstar. He could be a "buy low" candidate moving forward.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Aaron Rodgers Jan 5 9:13pm ET
Aaron Rodgers

Dynasty | Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 23-of-36 passes for 274 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in a win against the Dolphins. Dynasty Analysis: Rodgers waited until the last possible moment to have his best game as a Jet. He finishes the season with just under 4,000 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Speculation will only intensify now as Rodgers decides if he wants to retire or keep playing. He really wasn't great this season and was more of a problem than a solution for the Jets, but his history of greatness makes this a tough situation. Rodgers remains a hold in dynasty leagues as a bye-week fill-in or QB2, but it seems his days as a QB1 are all but over. Congratulations to Father Time, who remains undefeated.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jalen McMillan Jan 5 9:10pm ET
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan posted another strong performance during Sunday's regular season finale against the New Orleans Saints. The rookie wideout hauled in five of his six targets for 74 yards and a touchdown in the win. It's also worth noting that McMillan rushed the ball once for six yards. That score was his seventh touchdown over his last five games. McMillan has come out of nowhere and become an elite red-zone threat for the Bucs down the stretch of the season. The rookie wideout will look to extend his five-game touchdown streak during next week's playoff game.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Jan 5 9:10pm ET
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving finished his rookie campaign on a high note during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. Irving rushed the ball 19 times for 89 yards and scored a touchdown during the win. He also added two receptions on five targets for -5 yards during the division clinching victory. The 22-year-old has literally run his way with the lead back job in Tampa Bay. Fellow back Rachaad White didn't even log in a touch during Sunday's win. Irving should remain a focal point of this offense heading into the postseason.

From RotoBaller

Tyreek Hill Jan 5 9:10pm ET
Tyreek Hill

While being interviewed by reporters after their 32-20 loss to the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill insinuated that he'd prefer to play elsewhere moving forward. "I just gotta do what's best for me and my family. If that's here or wherever the case may be...I'm out. At the end of the day, I need to do what's best for my career." Whoah. 2024 marks the first season since his rookie year that Hill had played at least 15 games and not reached 1,000 receiving yards. Additionally, it was the first time since then that he'd failed to finish as a top-ten fantasy wideout under those same parameters. The 30-year-old was visibly frustrated after the game and noted he won't be in the playoffs for the first time in his career. It's a bad look for his future prospects with the team. Still, the off-season is young for him and the Dolphins, and there will be plenty of time to speculate on where he might play in 2025. As of now, he's on contract with the team through 2026.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Jan 5 9:00pm ET
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs caught 10 of his 13 targets for 94 yards during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts' passing attack has seen a significant boost ever since quarterback Joe Flacco took over for the injured Anthony Richardson (back), but Downs truly took his productivity to the next level during Sunday's season finale. He finishes the 2024 campaign with 72 catches, 803 yards, and five touchdowns. Each of these three marks represented season-highs, topping the totals he delivered as a rookie last year. Downs has firmly established himself as an appealing 1B option with the Colts, pairing nicely alongside their 1A receiver, Michael Pittman Jr. The UNC product will rank as a high-end WR3 when 2025 fantasy football drafts kick off next summer, and he has even greater appeal in dynasty leagues.

From RotoBaller

Demario Douglas Jan 5 8:50pm ET
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas caught three of his four targets for 34 yards during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills. The second-year slot receiver finishes his 2024 campaign with 66 catches, 621 yards, and three touchdowns. Although he technically out-produced all other Patriots receivers this season, he lost significant ground to Kayshon Boutte as soon as Drake Maye took over as New England's starting quarterback. Heading into 2025, both Boutte and Douglas can expect to face competition as the Patriots bring in a new coaching staff and look to bolster their offense with a big-name wide receiver addition.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Jan 5 8:50pm ET
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee scored his second touchdown of the season and caught a season-high five passes for 46 yards in the team's 30-25 loss to the Seahawks. Higbee returned from a knee injury in Week 16 and scored a critical touchdown against the Jets. He had two catches in Week 17 against Arizona, but the veteran played his most involved role of the year in Week 18 despite the Rams resting most of their regular starters. Higbee had seven targets, which was just one short of Tutu Atwell's team-high. He tied with Atwell for the team lead with five catches and added his second score of the year. Higbee looked healthy and ready to contribute for the Rams as they start the playoffs with a home game next week.

From RotoBaller

Alec Pierce Jan 5 8:40pm ET
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce did his usual thing on Sunday, catching a deep 40-yard touchdown pass on the team's opening drive and adding another 17-yard catch in the 26-23 win over the Jaguars. Despite only 37 receptions on the season, the 24-year-old finishes as the Colts' receiving leader with 824 yards and seven touchdowns. With blazing speed, he led the league in average depth of target (aDOT) which helped him rack up the yardage. The former second-round draft pick will likely fill a similar role in 2025 but, unless he can garner additional targets, it's hard to envision outpacing this season's production. Nevertheless, he should be worthy of at least a bench spot in next year's drafts, as he can be a viable (yet volatile) fill-in when the bye weeks hit.

From RotoBaller

Zach Charbonnet Jan 5 8:30pm ET
Zach Charbonnet

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet did not deliver for fantasy managers in Week 18. He ran for 59 yards and gained 32 yards on a lateral from wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Charbonnet was in a great position to succeed as the starter. However, Seattle rotated running back Kenny McIntosh into the lineup consistently. As such, Charbonnet did not have the same volume he has enjoyed in his other starts this season. Charbonnet's future in fantasy is interesting. The Seahawks seem very committed to starting running back Kenneth Walker III (ankle). However, Charbonnet has shown this season that he can carry the load when called upon and Walker has proven himself to be injury prone throughout his career. At the very least, Charbonnet has proven himself to be an excellent complimentary piece to Walker. Charbonnet should have a chance to be a consistent contributor next year. His eight rushing touchdowns were excellent this year. Time will tell what Seattle decides to do with their offense.

From RotoBaller

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Jan 5 8:30pm ET
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught four passes for nine yards in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. Smith-Njigba was invisible in a game in which quarterback Geno Smith threw four touchdown passes. What's worse, JSN had a chance to break wide receiver Tyler Lockett's single-season team receptions record. He fell one reception short of breaking the record. Overall, Smith-Njigba had a great season. He will finish with 1,130 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 100 receptions. Fantasy managers should be ecstatic about Smith-Njigba heading into next season. He is clearly Smith's No. 1 target, and he has displayed that he has the talent to be a high-end producer for fantasy. While his Week 18 was disappointing, the future is bright for JSN.

From RotoBaller

Joshua Karty Jan 5 8:30pm ET
Joshua Karty

Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty made all four of his field goal attempts against the Seahawks in Week 18 and converted his only extra-point attempt as well. The sixth-round pick from Stanford finished the regular season 29-of-34 on field goal attempts and 32-of-36 on extra-point tries. He made all 13 of his field goal tries over the last four weeks, which should give him a big confidence boost going into the postseason. He also made field goals of 57 and 58 yards to finish the season six-of-seven on kicks from 50+ yards. After an inconsistent season, the rookie finished strong and will look to keep rolling next week as the Rams host a Wild Card game, which means he'll be kicking indoors again as a solid option against the Vikings or Lions.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Jan 5 8:30pm ET
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf caught three passes for 53 yards and a touchdown in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. Metcalf was tied for second on the team in targets with five on Sunday. Metcalf's three receptions were still concerning considering he has not caught more than four passes since Week 11. Metcalf will finish the season eight yards shy of the fourth 1,000-yard season of his career. Metcalf began 2024 on fire, but he did not have the same production after returning from an MCL sprain halfway through the season. With Seattle headed into their offseason after missing the playoffs, they will look to retool their roster. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Seattle's personnel moves and the evolution of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. Hopefully, Metcalf can bounce back for fantasy managers in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Jan 5 8:30pm ET
Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (hip) threw a season-high four touchdown passes in a Week 18 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Smith cashed in on several contract incentives in arguably his best game of the season. Smith led a go-ahead drive that was ultimately the game-winning drive. He capped the drive with a touchdown pass to tight end Noah Fant. After throwing the touchdown, Smith was checked out for a lower body injury that was later reported as a hip injury. His services were ultimately not needed again as the Seahawks iced the game on defense, but not much is known about the injury at this time. Smith's end to the season is encouraging for fantasy. After struggling in the touchdown department all year, Smith's four touchdown passes on Sunday were a welcome sign. Smith's future as Seattle's starting quarterback is up in the air. For now, Smith can enjoy the time off as Seattle will not be advancing to the playoffs.

From RotoBaller

Kayshon Boutte Jan 5 8:30pm ET
Kayshon Boutte

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte caught all seven of his targets for 117 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills. Boutte finishes 2024 as New England's best receiver. Despite a slow start to the year, he finished his second season with 43 catches, 589 yards, and three touchdowns through 15 games. He has played at least two-thirds of the offensive snaps in each of his last 13 contests, developing into New England's No. 1 option in the passing game. His role atop the depth chart is far from assured heading into 2025, especially with a new coaching regime on the way. However, Boutte has shown that he deserves to be involved, even if that's merely as a deep threat on the perimeter. He continues to trend upward in dynasty leagues, and he should also sneak into the back end of fantasy drafts next summer.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Whittington Jan 5 8:20pm ET
Jordan Whittington

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington fell just short of 100 yards rushing plus receiving in the regular season finale of his rookie season. While Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp rested for the playoffs, he posted a team-high 86 yards by catching three of four targets from backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo. The former Longhorn also added 12 rushing yards on two carries. Whittington wasn't heavily targeted but made the most of his chances, highlighted by hauling in a 50-yard reception that helped give the Rams a late lead. While the team came up just short in the end against the Seahawks, Whittington continued to show the potential to contribute as a depth option and possibly figure into the Rams' future plans at the position.

From RotoBaller