NFL Player News

As predicted by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Warren didn’t survive the offseason with a $5.925 million roster bonus due next week. Though he can still get after quarterbacks, the 32-year-old has been a major liability against the run. Desmond Bryant is expected to take his place in the starting lineup.

Sutton simply ran cardio in this one. The Broncos’ No. 1 wide receiver led the receiving corps with 46 offensive snaps, yet earned just two targets. His lone reception occurred with roughly six minutes left in the third quarter. To Sutton’s credit, he successfully forced a missed tackle after QB Bo Nix dumped off to him on 3rd-and-8. Unfortunately, Sutton was unable to pick up the first down. He goes on bye next week with the Broncos having secured the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.

Coming into the season, McLaurin dealt with contract disputes all the way up to late August, signing a three-year extension before the start of the season. He suffered a quad injury that caused him to miss four games prior to re-aggravating the injury in Week 8 and not returning until Week 13. Seeing under five targets in 6-of-10 games this season, McLaurin did not return on his fantasy draft capital, totaling 38 receptions for 582 yards and three touchdowns. It ends up as a lost season for the veteran receiver, dealing with injury with Jayden Daniels also hurt throughout the season. McLaurin will return as Washington’s WR1 for next season with strengths in contested catches and the red zone. He did not return WR3 value this season but will sit on the WR2 borderline with no contract disputes holding him out for the offseason.

It’s not that Fontenot didn’t hit well with his higher picks — Drake London and Bijan Robinson worked out pretty well — but he failed spectacularly by double-tapping quarterback with Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix in the 2024 offseason. Before that, he was arguably too conservative by holding on to Desmond Ridder for multiple seasons. The last straw was probably sending Atlanta’s 2026 first-round pick to Los Angeles for the rights to draft EDGE James Pearce. It took a late winning streak to keep Atlanta from surrendering a top-10 pick. With both Fontenot and Raheem Morris gone, it’s a clean sweep in Atlanta.

McNichols spent the season as the Commanders’ pass-catching back after Austin Ekeler tore his Achilles at the beginning of the season. He broke several tackles on a Beast Mode-esque 60-yard touchdown run in Week 3; that run was his only rushing touchdown and 27-percent of his rushing yards for the season. On the season, McNichols totaled 44 carries for 221 yards and a touchdown on the ground but often saw more passing-down snaps than rushing snaps, adding 25 receptions for 196 yards through the air. He will be a free agent heading into the offseason and could find a home as a pass-catching depth piece for a team’s backfield.

Earlier today, prior to the Falcons’ 19-17 victory over the Saints, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Morris “may have saved his job.” Unfortunately, that was not the case. Morris’ time with the Falcons comes to a close after two consecutive 8-9 seasons. Morris is known for being a defensive-minded coach, yet the Falcons’ defense struggled to stymie opposing offenses this season, allowing 7.1 yards per pass play and 4.6 yards per carry. The Falcons also fired general manager Terry Fontenot, beginning a full front office reset for 2026.

Walker continued to operate as the team’s WR3 in the absence of Rome Odunze, this time cashing in on a 25-yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter for the team’s first points of the game. he is likely to return to a modest role once Odunze returns to the game-day roster, which should occur when the team hosts the Packers in the Wildcard Round next weekend.

Rodriguez was active in the Commanders’ backfield after Austin Ekeler tore his Achilles in Week 2. He split time as the team’s downhill rusher with Jacory Croskey-Merritt, seeing double-digit carries in 7-of-13 games played. He ran 112 times for exactly 500 yards and six touchdowns, adding just three receptions for 30 yards. With Brian Robinson traded before the season and Ekeler out, Rodriguez tallied career-high numbers across the board. Week 11 was his highest yardage total on the ground, gaining 79 yards on 15 carries against the Dolphins. Rodriguez is a career backup and presumably will take a backseat to Croskey-Merritt’s development moving forward. He will be a restricted free agent for 2026 and would be a depth piece for fantasy purposes, depending on the situation Rodriguez lands in.

It was the second straight dud put forth by Moore amidst an illness that he continues to play through, both of which came without Rome Odunze in the lineup. Even more confusing is the team’s continued hesitancy to increase the snap rate of rookie Luther Burden, leaving Moore with an elevated snap rate as a player relied upon for the nitty-gritty, run-blocking work on non-passing plays. Moore’ next chance to return usable counting stats comes at home against the Packers in the Wildcard Round.

This was a fairly standard showing for the veteran tight end. Engram made himself available to a scrambling Bo Nix on the Broncos’ third drive, securing the backhand-flipped pass and turning upfield for seven yards. Unfortunately, it was third down, and the Broncos needed 15. Engram made a nice play on a post route in the third quarter, though, finding a soft spot in the Chargers’ zone before hauling in a 37-yard gain. Engram is on bye next week, with the Broncos having secured the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.

The talented rookie tight end handily led the team in targets as no other pass-catcher saw more than four looks in the walk off loss, finding paint with just over five minutes left to play to knot the game at 16. Loveland has proven to be a draft day steal for fantasy managers that took the gamble in the middle rounds of drafts this offseason. He’ll look to keep the momentum going when the Bears host the Packers in the Wildcard Round next weekend.