NFL Player News

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 Wild Card round next weekend.

The Packers have made it known through various reports in the last week that they intend to discuss a new contract with LaFleur after the season. The tenor of those potential discussions likely hasn’t changed much, despite outside noise after the Packers lost in all-too-familiar fashion in the playoffs once again. Green Bay doesn’t want LaFleur, who has one year left on his contract, to enter next season as a lame-duck. The Packers can somewhat afford to play hardball with LaFleur in contract negotiations now. The organization isn’t known for paying coaches top tier money and LaFleur may not be in position to ask for that anymore, despite a 76-41-1 record. Upgrading from LaFleur to someone like John Harbaugh would be even less cost-effective for the Packers. Teams around the league with head coaching vacancies are keeping tabs on LaFleur in case these negotiations fall apart as he’d be a top candidate if he were to become available.

Patterson operated as the Chargers’ No. 3 running back this season, rushing 41 times for 159 yards and one touchdown, and catching 3-of-4 targets for eight yards. He is a free agent this offseason. Patterson is unlikely to be a late-round fantasy target in 2026, but he could fill in as a rotational player for a team hit hard by injuries.

Vidal functioned as the Chargers’ clear-cut lead back against the Patriots this evening. The compact back proved his value this season, playing effectively as a featured starter with Omarion Hampton sidelined by ankle injuries for much of the year. Vidal rushed 155 times for 643 yards and three touchdowns, and caught 16-of-20 targets for 136 yards and one touchdown. It is unclear whether he will offer standalone FLEX value in 2026, but he has proven himself as a high-upside bench stash option moving forward. He banked four weekly RB1 finishes this season.

Hampton was evidently just an emergency option for the Chargers this evening. The big-bodied back, drafted 22nd overall by the Chargers, dealt with injuries in both ankles this season. He was sidelined in Weeks 6-13 after fracturing his left ankle in Week 5. He then injured his right ankle late in the season, though it is unclear when exactly it happened. The Chargers rested key starters in Week 18, Hampton among them. He rushed 124 times for 545 yards and four touchdowns, and caught 32-of-34 targets for 192 yards and one touchdown. Hampton warrants RB1 treatment entering 2026.

A hamstring injury suffered in Week 18 kept the situational deep threat sidelined against the Patriots. He caught 5-of-12 targets for 51 yards and one touchdown in his rookie season. Lambert-Smith will get the chance to earn a spot on the game-day roster this offseason.

Dissly caught 11-of-15 targets for 97 yards this season. The veteran tight end has one year remaining on his contract, but the team can save $4 million by releasing him while taking only a $1.5 million hit in dead money.

Gadsden was unable to deliver a high-end performance against the Patriots, but he continued to show off his ability to get open on in-breaking routes. The talent should serve him well in his second NFL season next year. The fifth-round rookie caught 49-of-68 targets for 664 yards and three touchdowns this season, far surpassing expectations, given his draft capital. A knee injury suffered by veteran TE Tyler Conklin allowed Gadsden to remain active on game day in Week 3. He seized the opportunity, catching 5-of-6 targets for 46 yards in his first NFL game. Gadsden finished as the half-PPR TE16 this year and should be able to enter the TE1 tier in 2026.

Harris picked up a 14-yard gain on the Chargers’ first play from scrimmage, but caught just one pass after that. It took a while for the second-round rookie to earn a role in the offense this season, earning just six targets in Weeks 1-5. He caught 30-of-43 targets for 324 yards and one touchdown this year. Harris will be given the chance to earn a starting role in 2026, but his outlook is tough to project. He never once hit 55 receiving yards in a game. Wide receivers frequently make strides in their second season, but his to-date productivity does not inspire confidence. Harris could run as the Chargers’ No. 2 wide receiver next year, but he has a very wide range of potential outcomes.

The Chargers attempted to get Johnston going in the second half, but were unable to do so. The lanky wide receiver led the team in receiving touchdowns this year, catching 51-of-78 targets for 735 yards and eight touchdowns. Johnston was seemingly headed toward a career year early on, banking two WR1 finishes and two WR2 finishes in Weeks 1-4. His fantasy results became more volatile as the season progressed. Johnston has established himself as a capable tackle-breaking weapon and should compete for a starting role in 2026. His FLEX viability could simply come down to WR Tre’ Harris’ offseason development. Chargers veteran WR Keenan Allen is a free agent.

McConkey briefly flashed his top-tier route running abilities by selling a Patriots’ defensive back on an in-breaking fake before cutting back outside, en route to a 20-yard gain. His low target total is inexplicable, as is his status as the No. 2 wide receiver behind a 33-year-old Keenan Allen. McConkey caught 66-of-102 targets for 789 yards and six touchdowns this season. His yardage total led the team, but still falls far short of expectations after a promising 2024 rookie campaign. We give him decent odds of bouncing back next year. The talent he flashed last season is difficult to fake. McConkey can be viewed as a fantasy football WR2 for next year.