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

Jets interview Ron Rivera for head coach, Louis Riddick for GM

Thu Jan 2 7:53pm ET
Field Level Media

The New York Jets said Thursday that they completed interviews with Ron Rivera for their head coaching vacancy and Louis Riddick for their general manager job.

The Jets have gotten the hiring process underway after firing coach Robert Saleh in October and GM Joe Douglas the next month.

Rivera, 62, spent this season as an analyst for ESPN and Westwood One after serving as an NFL head coach for the previous 13 seasons. Rivera coached the Carolina Panthers from 2011-19 and the Washington Football Team/Commanders from 2020-23.

His record sat at 102-103-2 overall and 26-40-1 with the Commanders when he was fired following the 2023 season. Rivera guided the Panthers to a 15-1 season and a Super Bowl appearance in 2015.

Riddick, 55, has been with ESPN since 2013 and has interviewed for GM vacancies in recent years, most recently with the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 2021 season.

The former NFL defensive back (1992-96, 1998) worked as a scout and director of pro personnel for Washington from 2001-07, and as a scout and front office executive for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2008-13.

New York has already interviewed Thomas Dimitroff, Jon Robinson and Jim Nagy for the GM job.

The Jets (4-12) have Jeff Ulbrich as their interim head coach and Phil Savage as their general manager as they wrap a disappointing season. The new regime will have to decide whether to cut ties with Aaron Rodgers or move forward with the 41-year-old quarterback for a third season.

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Player Notes
Rashod Bateman Jan 2 9:10pm CT
Rashod Bateman

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has been a boom-or-bust option all season long despite logging the best year of his career so far. He remains the most consistent deep threat on the team as he averages 17 yards per reception and 10.6 yards per target. The Cleveland Browns are a bit banged up and don't have any playoff aspirations, so Bateman could find his way behind the defense for another long touchdown play. His boom-or-bust nature leaves him as more of a flex play though.

From RotoBaller

Antoine Winfield Jr. Jan 2 9:00pm CT
Antoine Winfield Jr.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. It's nice to see Winfield back at practice considering he hasn't played since suffering a knee injury in Week 14. A limited session on Thursday indicates that Winfield has a decent chance at playing against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. If so, that would be a huge upgrade for this secondary who desperately misses Winfield. This season, Winfield has 60 tackles, two sacks, and three passes defended in nine games.

From RotoBaller

Mark Andrews Jan 2 9:00pm CT
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is the TE5 on the season in half-PPR formats and has hauled in a touchdown in each of the last five games. The Ravens will go up against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday with a chance at winning the AFC North, so the starters will suit up against a team that has a laundry list of injuries. Andrews remains a TE1 heading into the season finale especially with a TE1 finish against the Browns the last time they played in Week 8.

From RotoBaller

Payne Durham Jan 2 8:50pm CT
Payne Durham

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Payne Durham (quad) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. This is good news after Durham sat out to open the week due to a quad issue. Durham has seen a bigger role on offense lately with Cade Otton (knee) missing the last two games. Otton was able to get back on the practice field on Thursday as well. The return of Otton would basically end the streaming value that Durham has created for himself. Possibly, Durham has played well enough to remain involved, but he'll fall further on the pecking order if Otton returns for this weekend's matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

From RotoBaller

Harrison Smith Jan 2 8:40pm CT
Harrison Smith

Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (foot) was upgraded to a full participant during Thursday's practice session. Smith opened the week as a limited participant after battling through a foot injury during last week's win over the Green Bay Packers. The fact that Smith was able to get through a full practice session on Thursday means that he should be good to go for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. The All-Pro safety is a big part of this defense with 83 tackles, nine passes defended, and two interceptions in 15 games this season.

From RotoBaller

Dustin Hopkins Jan 2 8:40pm CT
Dustin Hopkins

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made his lone field-goal attempt in a Week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He will look to finish up what has been a tough season for him in a Week 18 road matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. The Ravens have been decent against kickers this season, allowing the 13th-most fantasy points per game to the position. Neither Hopkins nor the Cleveland offense has done much to inspire confidence in fantasy this season, leaving him as a low-end option heading into Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Sterling Shepard Jan 2 8:40pm CT
Sterling Shepard

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard (hamstring) remained a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. This marks two days in a row that Shepard has been limited after missing last week's win over the Carolina Panthers. There is a decent chance that Shepard returns this weekend, but his fantasy outlook is bleak. Rookie wideout Jalen McMillan has taken a major step forward over the last few weeks. Both McMillan and Mike Evans figure to be the focal point in the receiving game going forward. The absence of Shepard could mean more snaps for Trey Palmer, but he hasn't done anything noteworthy lately.

From RotoBaller

Kalif Raymond Jan 2 8:30pm CT
Kalif Raymond

Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (foot) was a full participant in practice for the second straight day on Thursday. Raymond was designated to return from the injured reserve last Thursday. Afterwards, Raymond was a full participant in practice, but remained sidelined for Monday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. It remains to be seen if the Lions will let him back get on the field for the regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings this weekend. Raymond has 16 receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns this season. If active, fantasy managers shouldn't expect Raymond to be a difference maker during Sunday's game.

From RotoBaller

Elijah Moore Jan 2 8:30pm CT
Elijah Moore

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore will finish off his 2024 season with a road matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Moore has been quiet of late, having caught just eight passes for 55 yards over his past four contests. The Ravens have struggled against wide receivers this season, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position. The entire Cleveland passing attack gets a small upgrade as the team will start Bailey Zappe in place of Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the season finale. That being said, Moore hasn't been consistent enough to trust as anything more than a WR5 in fantasy heading into Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Akins Jan 2 8:30pm CT
Jordan Akins

Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Akins finished second on the team in receiving in a Week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He will draw another start with David Njoku (knee) already ruled out for his team's Week 18 road matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Akins will take on a Baltimore defense that is allowing the 14th-most fantasy points per game to enemy tight ends this season. The Cleveland pass catchers will also get a slight upgrade in the season finale as the team will start Bailey Zappe and not Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback. That being said, Akins is tough to trust as anything more than a low-end TE2 in Week 18.

From RotoBaller

D'Onta Foreman Jan 2 8:20pm CT
D'Onta Foreman

Cleveland Browns running back D'Onta Foreman led the team in rushing in a Week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. With both Jerome Ford (ankle) and Pierre Strong Jr. (concussion) ruled out for a Week 18 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, Foreman is expected to operate as Cleveland's lead back in the season finale. The Ravens have been tough on running backs this season, allowing just the 25th-most fantasy points per game to the position. They also have something to play for as they can lock up the AFC North and a first-round home game with a win over the Browns. Foreman should see decent volume but his ceiling is capped in a tough matchup, making him a mid-range RB3 for fantasy this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Jack Campbell Jan 2 8:20pm CT
Jack Campbell

Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (ribs) was upgraded to a full participant during Thursday's practice session. Campbell was limited to open the week due to a ribs issue, but is back to a full-go now. Campbell has made a huge impact on defense for the Lions this season. He has 125 tackles, five tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks in 16 games. Campbell has played 100 percent of the defensive snaps in six straight games. He appears to be fine heading into an important game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Derrick Henry Jan 2 8:20pm CT
Derrick Henry

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry will suit and try to win an AFC North crown in his first season with the team. He's registered back-to-back games with at least 20 fantasy points in half-PPR formats, and now he sets his sights on the Cleveland Browns in the season finale. Henry posted 73 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries the last time he played the Browns, and fell just shy of an RB1. At home, Henry averages 119.0 yards and a touchdown per game, and the Browns won't have a full team of starters. He comes in as an RB1 yet again to finish off the season.

From RotoBaller

Jerry Jeudy Jan 2 8:20pm CT
Jerry Jeudy

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (knee) will put the finishing touches on a career year in a Week 18 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Jeudy turned in a solid effort last week, catching 12 passes for 94 yards in a loss to the Miami Dolphins. Cleveland will turn to their fourth starting quarterback of the season as Bailey Zappe will make his first start for the team after Kevin Stefanski chose to tab him as his starter over Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The quarterback change will actually be a slight upgrade for Jeudy as Thompson-Robinson has not shown much as an NFL passer across his two seasons. The Baltimore defense has been beatable through the air this season, making Jeudy a low-end WR2 in fantasy for Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Brian Burns Jan 2 8:10pm CT
Brian Burns

New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (illness) remained a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. This marks back-to-back days that Burns has been limited in practice due to a lingering illness. Burns hasn't missed a game this season, so this illness is unlikely to keep him out of the regular season finale. Burns has been a force on defense with 66 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. This absence would certainly be a hit to this defensive unit ahead of their Week 18 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Jan 2 8:00pm CT
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is in the race for his second consecutive MVP and third overall while leading the team into a regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns. Jackson and company control their playoff destiny, and if they beat the Browns, they win the AFC North and get a home playoff game. The last time these two teams faced off, Jackson posted 289 yards and two touchdowns on 23-for-38 throwing despite losing 24-29. The Browns have a long injury list this time around and have decided to rest some players since they're out of the playoff race. Fantasy managers still competing in Week 18 will want to keep Jackson in all lineups.

From RotoBaller

Andrei Iosivas Jan 2 8:00pm CT
Andrei Iosivas

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas hasn't been the most consistent fantasy option during the 2024-25 campaign. However, he's still had the best season of his young career, catching 34 passes for 467 yards and six touchdowns. Granted, the 25-year-old hasn't been productive enough to be considered a week-to-week fantasy starter. But with Tee Higgins (knee, ankle) and Chase Brown (ankle) both questionable for Saturday's matchup with the Steelers, Iosivas may need to get more involved, giving him some upside for the remaining redraft participants. He'll also draw DFS attention for those looking for value in Week 18, although Brown and Higgins must be ruled out first.

From RotoBaller

Mike Gesicki Jan 2 7:50pm CT
Mike Gesicki

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki hasn't been the most reliable fantasy option throughout the 2024-25 campaign. To be fair, he's had some productive outings, although they have been few and far between. However, the 29-year-old is coming off a potent performance, catching 10 of his 12 targets for 86 yards in the Week 17 overtime win over the Denver Broncos. With the Bengals looking to secure a spot in the postseason, Gesicki could remain more involved than normal, especially if Tee Higgins (ankle, knee) and Chase Brown (ankle) don't suit up. Yet, if either of those guys play, Gesicki's ceiling will come crashing down heading into the Week 18 meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

From RotoBaller

Khalil Herbert Jan 2 7:50pm CT
Khalil Herbert

Cincinnati Bengals running back Khalil Herbert has barely seen any action since being traded by the Chicago Bears in November. He's appeared in seven games for the Bengals this season. However, he has only eight carries for 45 yards and one catch for seven yards to show for it. But with Chase Brown (ankle) questionable for the Week 18 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Herbert may take over as the No. 1 option out of the backfield. The 26-year-old was once one of the most promising young backs in the National Football League, giving him some upside on Saturday. Still, his presence in any fantasy lineup isn't without risk.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Jan 2 7:40pm CT
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has been a top fantasy option all year, leading all wideouts in catches (117), yards (1,612), and touchdowns (16). With Cincinnati still alive for the postseason, the former LSU Tiger will need to be at his best in Week 18 versus the Steelers. Chase played well enough when the Bengals met the Steelers on December 1, catching six passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Granted, it wasn't his best performance. However, Chase may need to see more targets this time around, especially if Tee Higgins (knee, ankle), who is questionable, doesn't suit up. But even if Higgins is on the field, Chase is a must-start, obviously. He's also worth considering for all DFS contests, despite his hefty rostering cost.

From RotoBaller