NFL Player News

Danna served as a rotational lineman with the Wolverines in 2019 after spending the first four seasons of his career with Central Michigan. He ultimately racked up 38 total tackles, three tackles for a loss and three sacks in 12 games with Michigan, demonstrating the ability to play both inside and out across the defensive line. Still, the lack of production at Michigan compared to Central Michigan is worrisome when projecting how Danna might perform against NFL talent. He’ll likely be nothing more than a depth piece for at least the first season or two of his career.

Two weeks missed with an illness is rather unusual. We hope Johnson is alright and the story about the illness isn’t too gruesome. Johnson returned five touchdowns with a 45/528 line, becoming more involved with the offense when Jaxson Dart took over against the Chargers in Week 4. It’s possible that Johnson exits the 2026 offseason with a TE1 case, but he feels more like a high-end TE2 from where we sit today. His absence in Week 18 gives Daniel Bellinger a chance to feast against Dallas.

Robinson enters free agency off his first career 1,000-yard season, shedding his label as a quick-game only option by setting a career-high with 11.0 yards per reception. He turns 25 in a few days and will be one of the premiere free agents at wideout to hit the market if the Giants don’t tag him or otherwise extend him. The final seasonal line will be 92/1014/4 for Robinson, and his absence leaves Darius Slayton as a fine FLEX play in Week 18.

We do not expect Odunze to play. He aggravated the stress fracture in his foot during pre-game warmups in Week 15, after logging three limited sessions during the week. Odunze has been sidelined ever since and only resumed practicing, in a limited capacity, today. He would be a very risky FLEX option if the Bears allow him to take the field.

Burden’s injury caused a scare last week, but the exciting rookie missed only half a practice on Wednesday. He practiced full on Thursday and Friday and should be ready to roll against the Lions. The Bears (11-5) currently hold the NFC’s No. 2 playoff seed. They can secure their position with a win. Should they lose, and the Eagles (11-5) beat the Commanders (4-12), the Bears would slip to the No. 3 seed. Burden is a top-25 wide receiver for Week 18.

With Jordan Addison taking a major leap in 2024, Hockenson has slid into an uninteresting low-end TE1 stab over the past two years, generating 41/455/0 in 2024 and 51/438/3 in 2025. Cutting Hockenson would free up over $8.9 million in cap space for a team that’s currently up against it to get cap-compliant and The Athletic’s Alec Lewis pointed to Hockenson as one contract that could be reworked this offseason. His future with the Vikings is in some question entering 2026.

Jones finishes the year with a 548/2 rushing line on 132 carries, adding 28/199/1 through the air in 12 starts. Jones plays hurt often, and with Jordan Mason in tow this year, the Vikings were more proactive about sending him to IR. Jones enters his age-32 season on the final year of a two-year, $20 million deal with a $14 million cap figure. He figures to either be asked to restructure that deal or be released with the Vikings currently $36.4 million over the cap for 2026 per Over The Cap.

McCarthy has been practicing in full since Thursday, so he should be full-strength for this one. The rookie quarterback is probably only a QB2 in superflex leagues even with the Packers resting starters and down Micah Parsons. Still, there’s a chance he can close out the year on a high note and give Vikings brass something to think about as they try to figure out how — if at all — to address the position in the offseason.

The Saints added Tipton to the squad in 2024 as an undrafted free agent. Injuries and a trade allowed him to work his way into the wide receiver rotation late in the year, though he caught just 11-of-17 targets for 76 yards and rushed four times for 18 yards. He also returned 12 kicks for 378 yards and will likely chip in as a returner again next season. He has one year remaining on his contract. He is highly unlikely to be a fantasy contributor in 2026.

Smith suffered an ankle injury that kept him out of Weeks 13-15, coinciding with the Chiefs losing their grip on a wild card spot. He had the worst season of his career per PFF grading, making it to just a 68.5 overall grade. He did notably play worse with the ankle injury in Weeks 12, 16, and 17. Smith remains a long-term building block for Kansas City’s line, but this ends a rough season for him.

Nobody in this passing game needs to be played given the Chris Olodokun of it all. Yes, even against the Raiders. Worthy is probably more of a WR4 or WR5 if active for Week 18.