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Dynasty $125 - FFL: Offseason | NFL: Week 18

Colts sticking with coach Shane Steichen, GM Chris Ballard

Sun Jan 5 9:51pm ET
Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts don't plan to move on from Shane Steichen at coach and Chris Ballard at general manager, team owner Jim Irsay said in a statement on Sunday.

Irsay laid out Indianapolis' future plans following a 26-23 overtime victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts finished the season at 8-9 and missed out on the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.

"As we close out this season, I can't tell you how disappointed I am that we failed to win the AFC South and earn a playoff appearance," Irsay said in his statement. "There's a high standard in this city for our team and anyone who steps on the field wearing the Horseshoe. The expectation is to win our division and compete for championships.

"Just being on the doorstep of the playoffs is not the standard I expect, nor what you deserve. We understand that and always accept the challenge. Believe me, I know you share my impatience and frustration. I know you invest your time, energy and money into the Colts every year. ...

"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."

Irsay acknowledged that fans who wanted a leadership change "will be disappointed" but said the team would "get back to work and keep doing what we can to earn your support and make you proud to be a Colts fan."

Steichen, 39, just concluded his second season as the Colts' coach and has guided Indianapolis to a 17-17 record.

Ballard, 55, has been general manager ever since the 2017 campaign.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 18

Player Notes
Allen Lazard Jan 5 9:10pm CT
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard caught all three of his targets for 71 yards and a touchdown in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Lazard brought in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers in the second quarter, giving him six in what was a bounceback season for him after he caught just one score last season. Lazard is under contract for two more seasons after he signed a four-year, $44 million contract before the 2023 season.

From RotoBaller

Alexander Mattison Jan 5 9:10pm CT
Alexander Mattison

Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison rushed for 20 yards on six carries during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He also caught four of his five targets for an additional 11 yards through the air. It appeared that Mattison was headed for an increased workload on Sunday with Ameer Abdullah (foot) sidelined, but instead, the Raiders somewhat abandoned the rushing attack. Vegas' running backs combined for just eight carries, and quarterback Aidan O'Connell added four rushes of his own. Mattison may have salvaged his performance in PPR leagues, but for the most part, his showing on Sunday left a lot to be desired. The 26-year-old will hit free agency in a few months, leaving the Raiders with some combination of Sincere McCormick, Zamir White, Dylan Laube, and Chris Collier. Las Vegas has numerous holes on both sides of the ball, but don't be surprised if they look to improve their backfield with draft picks, free agency spending, or both.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Conklin Jan 5 9:10pm CT
Tyler Conklin

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught two of his three targets for 16 yards and a touchdown in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Conklin made his way into history books as he was on the receiving end of the 500th touchdown pass of Aaron Rodgers' career in the second quarter. The veteran tight end was quietly productive in 2024, finishing with 51 catches for 449 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. Conklin is now slated to become an unrestricted free-agent this offseason and should have little trouble finding work with four straight 50-catch seasons under his belt.

From RotoBaller

Isaac Guerendo Jan 5 9:10pm CT
Isaac Guerendo

Per head coach Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (knee, ankle) has likely picked up an MCL sprain but will undergo more testing on Monday to confirm the severity of the injury. Matt Barrows of The Athletic reported the news. That'd be a best-case scenario for the rookie, who was carted off in the first quarter of his team's 47-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Guerendo was bent up awkwardly not even two minutes into the contest and quickly ruled out afterward. San Francisco has been unable to keep a running back healthy this season, as they've had four suffer serious injuries. It's been a disappointing year for the 49ers -- a team with Super Bowl aspirations that won't make a playoff appearance in 2024 after a campaign riddled with injuries. They'll hope for better in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Patrick Taylor Jan 5 9:10pm CT
Patrick Taylor

San Francisco 49ers running back Patrick Taylor Jr. produced well filling in for rookie Isaac Guerendo (knee), who was carted off the field in the first quarter. The former Memphis Tiger took 17 carries for a career-high 109 yards and caught one of four targets for 12 yards through the air. Taylor Jr. looked much better on Sunday than in any other of his limited opportunities in 2024 with physical, one-cut running. The fact that he got any game time at all this year was an improbability in the preseason, as he had four running backs ahead of him on the depth chart before they all went down with injuries at various times. Taylor Jr. finishes the year with 39 carries for 183 yards and one touchdown. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

From RotoBaller

Garrett Wilson Jan 5 9:00pm CT
Garrett Wilson

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson caught four of his five targets for 51 yards in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Wilson finished third on the team in receiving in the high-scoring win while he was held out of the end zone for the sixth time over his final eight games of the season. The Jets' decision to acquire Davante Adams at the trade deadline cut into Wilson's production over the back half of the season but he still finished with career highs in catches (102), receiving yards (1,104), and touchdowns (seven). Wilson vented some frustration about his role in December and there have been rumors he could demand a trade this offseason if Aaron Rodgers remains the team's quarterback, although he later went on record to state that his relationship with Rodgers was fine. It would be a surprise if the Jets were willing to part with their talented stud 24-year-old receiver this offseason.

From RotoBaller

Aidan O'Connell Jan 5 9:00pm CT
Aidan O'Connell

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell completed 24 of 34 pass attempts for 214 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. He also rushed four times for an additional 13 yards on the ground. O'Connell has delivered modest production over the last three weeks, tallying four passing touchdowns and one turnover during that span. He has benefitted from the breakout seasons of both Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers, but his production might not be enough to deter Vegas from selecting a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Purdue product finished this year with a 63.6 percent completion rate, eight touchdowns, and six turnovers through parts of nine games. Dynasty managers should hold O'Connell on their rosters for now, as he'll be hard to sell but is a little too valuable to drop in leagues with 14 teams or more. From a redraft perspective, he'll trend down as long as the Raiders add a notable quarterback especially if it's a rookie during the upcoming months.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Jan 5 8:50pm CT
Derek Carr

Per Mike Triplett of the team, New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (hand) is reportedly "very confident" he'll be back with the Saints in 2025. New Orleans came out of the gates hot this season -- winning their first two games by a combined 91-29 margin before it all came crashing down. They'd finish at 5-12 after sustaining many injuries on both sides of the ball, and their starting quarterback also fell victim to that team trend. Carr missed seven games in 2024 after battling a core muscle injury and a fracture in his non-throwing hand -- culminating in the worst statistical season of his career. Unfortunately, it's a lost season for him and the team, but he'll look to give it at least one more go next year. Presently, his contract locks him up with New Orleans through 2026.

From RotoBaller

Joshua Dobbs Jan 5 8:50pm CT
Joshua Dobbs

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs had a fantastic fantasy performance during a 47-24 loss to the Cardinals in Arizona. The 29-year-old backup to Brock Purdy (right elbow) completed 29-of-43 attempts for a career-high 326 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He added eight carries for 17 yards, including another touchdown on a sneak. His first touchdown throw was a six-yard dart just before halftime to rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall on a slant. Later, he hit a wide-open Kyle Juszczyk down the left side for a 36-yard score. Dobbs will be a free agent this offseason and comments made to the press on Thursday about Sunday's lone start of 2024 representing an "audition not only for the team that you're on, but for the other 31 other teams" make it seem unlikely he'll be back in Northern California next year.

From RotoBaller

Davante Adams Jan 5 8:50pm CT
Davante Adams

New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams caught six of his 12 targets for 88 yards and a touchdown in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Adams wrapped up his 2024 season with six touchdown grabs over his final six games, giving him eight total TDs on the season. The veteran wideout came over to the Jets at the trade deadline but New York wound up being one of the more disappointing teams in the NFL this season, winning just five games while some cracks in the relationship between Aaron Rodgers and the organization appeared. Adams has stated that he wants to continue to play with Rodgers, so if the team decides to move on from the quarterback, Adams could be on his way out of town as well. Adams is still under contract for two more seasons but he has huge cap hits in each of the next two years and could probably leverage his way out of town if he refuses to renegotiate his deal. Regardless of where he is playing next season, Adams has proven that he can still be a No. 1 receiver in real life and fantasy even at age 32.

From RotoBaller

Ray Davis Jan 5 8:50pm CT
Ray Davis

Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis rushed for 64 yards on 15 carries during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the New England Patriots. He also caught two of three passes for one receiving yard, plus a receiving touchdown. The rookie was tasked with handling an increased workload on Sunday as the Bills reduced snaps for many of their key starters. In fact, Davis led Buffalo's backfield in snaps (35) and touches (17). For comparison, James Cook played 15 snaps and had 10 touches, adding a touchdown along the way. Meanwhile, Ty Johnson had 17 snaps and three touches. While Davis will lose his lead-back role to James Cook when the playoffs begin, Sunday's game showed that the Kentucky product is capable of handling a large workload as his team's primary running back. He'll rank as a low-end RB4 in fantasy football next season, maintaining his status as one of the more appealing handcuff options.

From RotoBaller

Breece Hall Jan 5 8:40pm CT
Breece Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall carried the ball 12 times for 57 yards and caught three of his five targets for 15 yards and a touchdown while rushing for a two-point conversion in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Hall's late-season struggles on the ground continued as he failed to top 60 rushing yards in five straight games to close out the year. That being said, he salvaged his afternoon with a six-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. Hall finishes his 2024 season with 876 rushing yards while catching 57 passes for 483 yards and scoring eight all-purpose touchdowns. He will be back as the Jets' lead running back heading into the 2025 season, although rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis both flashed at various points throughout the season.

From RotoBaller

Braelon Allen Jan 5 8:40pm CT
Braelon Allen

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen carried the ball four times for 15 yards and caught two of his three targets for eight yards in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Allen mixed in behind starter Breece Hall, per usual, in the high-scoring win. While he didn't hold much standalone value in fantasy this season, Allen flashed his talent at times and appears to be slated to remain a quality backup running back in the NFL moving forward. He is a solid player to roster in dynasty leagues moving forward as he is just one injury away from a big role in the New York offense.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Davis Jan 5 8:40pm CT
Isaiah Davis

New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis carried the ball four times for 41 yards in a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Davis was impressive in a backup role behind Breece Hall, ripping off a 20-yard run and averaging 10.3 yards per carry. While fellow rookie Braelon Allen got most of the attention this season, Davis quietly carved out a role in the New York offense as the year went on. He remains blocked by Breece Hall and Allen on the Jets but he is a good player to stash in dynasty heading into the offseason.

From RotoBaller

Rico Dowdle Jan 5 8:30pm CT
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 8:30pm CT
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 8:30pm CT
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 8:20pm CT
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 8:13pm CT
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 8:13pm CT
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