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Image Credit: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire. Pictured: Colston Loveland.
Kevin Szafraniec highlights some of the biggest NFL storylines of the week, as seen through the eyes of RotoViz’s staff and our industry-leading suite of tools.
The 2026 RotoViz Rookie Draft Guide is now available for pre-order! Jam-packed with comprehensive player profiles, advanced stats, player comps, strategies, and rankings from the RotoViz staff, it is a must-have for every fantasy manager who wants to crush their best ball, dynasty, and redraft leagues in 2026!
Keep an eye out for Volume 1, scheduled to release at the beginning of February!
If Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Playoffs is any indication, we will be in for a wild ride for the rest of the season. For as exhilarating as Rams-Panthers turned out to be, it still came in a distant second to the drama that Green Bay and Chicago gave us in prime time. After the Packers had momentum firmly on their side — heading into halftime with a 21-3 lead — Chicago turned the tables in the second half. Still, Chicago’s path to victory was not smooth, as the game hinged on an improbable 4th-and-8 connection between Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze with the Bears down 11 points with just over five minutes remaining.
While the highlight of the night was the Williams-Odunze throw and catch, the Bears’ comeback was primarily driven by rookie tight end Colston Loveland. He put up a massive 8-137-0 receiving line on a team-leading 15 targets, coming up clutch for Williams throughout the entire game. Loveland’s debut playoff performance was a continuation of his late-season surge, which I outlined in this week’s Monday Review:
Chicago’s Other Rookie Starred in Week 18
Last week, it was Luther Burden III who starred for the Bears and fantasy managers alike in a pivotal Week 17 matchup against the 49ers. This time, it was rookie tight end Colston Loveland who was the star of the Bears’ passing attack. To be fair to Loveland, he was still the overall TE2 during championship week, but was simply overshadowed by Burden. On Sunday, no one was standing in Loveland’s way — on his own team or otherwise — as his 25.1 PPR points positioned him as the TE1 for the week.
Despite Chicago losing to Detroit on a field goal as time expired, Loveland’s performance should still be considered a huge win. He set new career highs in targets and receptions and continues to become a more integral part of the Bears’ passing game. After not clearing 6.8 PPR points through Week 8, Loveland has put up five top-10 performances over the final 10 games of the year — with four coming in at TE3 or better — on his way to ranking as the overall TE2 over that span and TE12 for all of 2025.
Loveland still has an opportunity to build upon his breakout as the Bears host the Packers on Saturday night. Regardless of how Chicago’s season ends, it is difficult not to feel bullish about the outlook of Chicago’s young passing weapons for 2026. If Caleb Williams can continue to cut down on the mistakes that have plagued his early career, the Bears’ passing game could end up being absolutely electric next year.
This week at RotoViz, we tied a bow on the regular season and began looking ahead to what 2026 has in store. Our two biggest features this week focused on the FFPC Playoff Challenge. Shawn Siegele kicked off the festivities by detailing some contrarian tactics people could use to take down the contest in this week’s edition of The Banana Stand. In his piece, Shawn explains why rostering the league’s hottest quarterback was still likely to be an underutilized strategy:
Option #3 Play Trevor Lawrence at Quarterback
The Jaguars have won eight consecutive games, only two of which were decided by fewer than 14 points. Despite that, they are home underdogs to a Bills team that is 1-3 against teams with winning records (with additional road losses to the Falcons and Dolphins).
[Trevor] Lawrence got off to a rough start in 2025, but from Weeks 5 through 17, he was the overall QB1 on both a total and per-game basis.
Some of that value was generated by multi-rushing score games against the Chiefs in Week 5 and the Raiders in Week 9, but the transformation as a passer was even more dramatic.
Through Week 11, Lawrence ranked No. 30 overall in IQR and 31st in ANYA (min. 100 attempts). From Week 12 on, he ranked No. 1 in IQR (with no one close) and No. 2 in ANYA (behind Maye).
The Bills are an interesting matchup for an aggressive rushing QB. While Buffalo posts sturdy numbers in pass defense, they allowed the most QB rush attempts, the third most QB rushing yardage, the most yards after contact, and easily the most QB rushing TDs (14). Lawrence tied for the second-most rushing TDs (9) at the QB position in 2025.
Lawrence could have a plus matchup in the second round as well if New England wins, or the Jags could host the PIT/HOU winner. A home matchup against a soft Steelers pass defense would position him well for another big score.
Due to the presence of QBs like [Drake] Maye, Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, and perhaps even Brock Purdy, and the perceived difficulty of Jacksonville’s path to the Super Bowl, Lawrence is unlikely to be rostered at a percentage that reflects both his scoring prowess and the quality of this current Jaguars team.
Blair Andrews also covered the FFPC Playoff Challenge in this week’s installment of The Wrong Read. He too made a case for Lawrence, while also shining a spotlight on the upside the running backs in Sunday’s Bills-Jaguars showdown offer:
If, however, you want to fade both [Christian] McCaffrey and [Saquon] Barkley but not pivot off [Puka] Nacua, the two most reasonable RB options face off against each other in the AFC.
James Cook has a higher projection and higher ceiling than Travis Etienne, but the Jacksonville back has the more favorable SOS matchup.
The advanced team stats confirm the Streaming App’s take.
While Buffalo has been the easiest team to run against recently, Jacksonville is considerably more stout.
The problem for the Bills is that Jacksonville is even more difficult to throw against.
Cook becomes more compelling when you consider the Buffalo alternatives, but what starts to look even more compelling is playing for a Jacksonville win, especially as the majority of lineups are likely to feature one of either Cook or Josh Allen.
In a Jaguars win, there’s a good chance no one on Buffalo’s offense is worth rostering. Yet on the flip side, with each additional game the Jaguars play, the likelihood of Etienne being their leading scorer diminishes. No player this week has a higher projection than Trevor Lawrence, and this is despite the fact that Buffalo has a stingy pass defense.
Lawrence is averaging nearly 29 PPG since Week 12, and is easily the overall QB1 in that span, outscoring the QB2 (Stafford) by more than 25 points, and the QB3 (Jared Goff) by more than 50.
If Jacksonville wins, they would face either the Patriots or the winner of the Texans-Steelers game. A matchup against New England would favor Etienne more than the passing game, although Lawrence’s rushing ability keeps him in consideration.
Despite Cook’s challenging rushing matchup against the Jaguars, Buffalo’s offensive line could serve as an equalizer. In this week’s RB Advanced Stats article, Corbin Young broke down which backs were hit at the line with the most and least regularity. All three Buffalo backs fell into the latter category:
Who is Hit At the Line Less Often?
On the flip side, 17 out of 25 running backs averaged 1.5 YBC/Att, or more were hit at the line, 40% of the time or fewer. Unsurprisingly, many of these running backs who were contacted at the line less often had low stuff rates, meaning a low percentage of carries resulted in zero or fewer yards.
There might be noise here, but 10 out of 25 running backs averaged 3.0 YAC/Att when hit at the line, 40% of the time or fewer. Theoretically, running backs might have open running lanes and not need to fight for yards after contact if they’re not hit at the line, especially on an above-average offense like the Bills, Rams, Eagles, and Cowboys.
The league average for evasion rate was 16.5% in 2025. [James] Cook, [Tank] Bigsby, Blake Corum, Chase Brown, Brian Robinson Jr., Cam Skattebo, J.K. Dobbins, and Javonte Williams evaded tackles at an above-average rate (17% or more) on this list. For Bigsby and Robinson, it’s a limited sample of under 100 rush attempts.
Where the noise exists involves expecting these team contexts, offensive lines, and situations to maintain throughout the following season. However, we should want to bet on above-average offenses unless it’s an outlier situation.
Unfortunately, 18 of the NFL’s 32 teams will not be taking part in the postseason. For them, the 2026 offseason will be key in ensuring they won’t be left out in the cold when the playoffs roll back around at the beginning of 2027. To make sure RotoViz has readers covered for the beginning of best ball season, we are feverishly working to get the 2026 RotoViz Rookie Draft Guide released as early as possible. Additionally, we have begun putting together comprehensive positional breakdowns for this year’s free agent class.
I kicked off the 2026 free agency series with a deep dive into the quarterback position. As we would expect, every team in this year’s playoffs has a steady presence at QB. However, the Steelers could have a big hole to fill this offseason depending on what the future holds for Aaron Rodgers:
Pittsburgh Steelers ($23.7M)
Aaron Rodgers has strongly hinted for a while now that 2025 would probably be his last year in the NFL. However, we shouldn’t put it past Rodgers wanting to spend some time in the spotlight this offseason as he mulls over his final decision. It doesn’t seem realistic to think the Steelers would be content rolling out Mason Rudolph or Will Howard as their Week 1 starter in 2026.
Retirement or a return to Pittsburgh may not be Rodgers’ only options, especially if he can lead the Steelers on a deep playoff run. Later in the article, I went on to explain why Pittsburgh may not only be a viable landing spot for Rodgers but also for the other biggest wildcard in this year’s free agent QB class:
Aaron Rodgers
We already discussed Rodgers earlier, but his situation warrants further review. To be clear, Rodgers wouldn’t be considered a top-tier QB option in most instances. But considering the current QB landscape, he could have multiple suitors trying to persuade him to hold off retirement for one more year.
After helping lead the Steelers to the AFC North title, Pittsburgh would surely be open to a reunion. Another obvious fit would be in Minnesota, where Rodgers could complete the full Brett Favre career arc. Playing in a dome behind a solid line and surrounded by elite weapons might sound awfully appealing to the 43-year-old QB. Last offseason, Rodgers made it known he would be open to playing for Kevin O’Connell before the Vikings ultimately passed. With things about to reach DEFCON 1 in Minnesota, they might be more open to the idea of bringing Rodgers aboard this time around.
Malik Willis
Malik Willis entered the NFL as a small-school QB who possessed all of the physical tools a player could ever want, but he needed a ton of refinement before resembling anything close to an NFL QB1. Over two seasons in Tennessee, Willis saw limited time on the field, and the results were clear: he still needed more time to develop.
As the Titans brought in a new coaching staff in 2024, they shipped Willis to Green Bay two weeks prior to the start of the season. Despite having minimal time to acclimate, Willis was thrust into the starting lineup in Week 2 after Jordan Love sprained his knee in the season opener. Willis performed admirably in his two starts, although it was pretty clear that the coaching staff was holding his reins tightly. Still, his rushing ability helped him deliver usable fantasy performances in both games, with his 27.4-point outburst against his former team in Week 3 coming in at QB8.
Willis returned to the bench for the next year and a half, seeing few opportunities until Love suffered a concussion in the middle of the second quarter of the Packers’ Week 16 matchup against the Bears. Despite coming into the game cold, Willis hardly resembled the QB we saw at the beginning of 2024. He attacked all levels of the field with his passes, going 9 of 11 for 121 yards and a touchdown through the air, while also adding 44 yards with his legs on 10 carries. Although the Packers ultimately lost the game in overtime, Green Bay was able to stay in the game because of Willis, not in spite of him.
Willis then powered through a shoulder injury to start the following week against Baltimore. Despite leaving late in the game for treatment, Willis’ dynamism as a passer and rusher was once again on display. He finished the week as the overall QB2 while inspiring awe and wonder across social media.
To be clear, Willis is far from a finished product as a passer. But given the NFL’s massive thirst for viable starting QBs, there is a decent chance that Willis will be positioned as a team’s QB1 heading into training camp in 2026. Whether or not he ultimately succeeds may depend on the ability of his coaching staff to continue to properly develop Willis as opponents get more tape on him.
Miami has been one of the trendiest landing spots for Willis, but his fit there will depend on who takes over in the front office and as head coach. Shane Steichen’s history with mobile QBs could also make Indianapolis a dark-horse contender, although the Colts might prefer to see what they have in Riley Leonard before investing in a player of the same ilk.
Lastly, we come to Pittsburgh. While it pains me to think that Willis’ upside could be squandered in an Arthur Smith offense, the former Falcons head coach does love mobile QBs. The Steelers also have a sufficient amount of cap space to offer Willis the type of short-term “prove-it” contract he will command on the open market. Speaking of which, the uncertainty that Willis presents should make him a relatively affordable target for pretty much any team in the market for a QB. More suitors could move into the picture once the 2026 coaching carousel has come to a halt.
We might not want to admit it, but the 43-year-old Rodgers may be the lynchpin of 2026 free agency. His decision once the season ends could realistically affect everything else that comes after.
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Full-time Cat Dad, Sneakerhead, Record Collector, LOTR Fanboy, and Jeopardy Enthusiast. Fantasy football writer and beatmaker in my free time. Follow me on X and Bluesky @thecatdadff
Kevin Szafraniec breaks down 2026’s impending free agent quarterback class in addition to discussing a handful of other signal callers who could become available this offseason. Quarterback is the most important position in professional sports. For NFL teams that don’t have a viable starting QB on their roster, the search to find one should always be their top priority. With the 2026 NFL draft class…...
Kevin Szafraniec discusses the biggest storylines of Week 18 with the help of RotoViz’s industry-leading suite of tools, most notably the Monday Review Tool. After spending a year immersed in fantasy football, it’s understandable that most fantasy managers want to take a break from the NFL in Week 18. Sure, there are always a few matchups with real-world playoff implications. But for the most part,…...
Kevin Szafraniec highlights some of the biggest NFL storylines of the week, as seen through the eyes of RotoViz’s staff and our industry-leading suite of tools. Things were a bit lighter than normal on the site this week as we entered the fantasy offseason. But that didn’t mean that there was any shortage of amazing data for those of us who live and breathe fantasy…...
Kevin Szafraniec breaks down 2026’s impending free agent quarterback class in addition to discussing a handful of other signal callers who could become available this offseason. Quarterback is the most important position in professional sports. For NFL teams that don’t have a viable starting QB on their roster, the search to find one should always be their top priority. With the 2026 NFL draft class…...
Kevin Szafraniec discusses the biggest storylines of Week 18 with the help of RotoViz’s industry-leading suite of tools, most notably the Monday Review Tool. After spending a year immersed in fantasy football, it’s understandable that most fantasy managers want to take a break from the NFL in Week 18. Sure, there are always a few matchups with real-world playoff implications. But for the most part,…...
Kevin Szafraniec highlights some of the biggest NFL storylines of the week, as seen through the eyes of RotoViz’s staff and our industry-leading suite of tools. Things were a bit lighter than normal on the site this week as we entered the fantasy offseason. But that didn’t mean that there was any shortage of amazing data for those of us who live and breathe fantasy…...
