RC's Daily Notes 2025: For the Week of 12/29-1/4 (The Week That Was...)

: R.C. Fischer; FreeView; 04 January 2026

RC's daily streaming notes on football, and other, things going on this week...

Just an open page for me to drop notes/ideas/things I'm hearing/seeing/working on or just caffeinated or lack of sleep thoughts on football items.

1/4 SUN

(8:05amET)

-- Today’s Agenda...

Sunday Morning Sit-Start Show 10:30amET-NoonET. Show access will post around 10amET+. Last one for 2025 season!

Week 18 final projections update will post around 12:30pmET

-- Saturday game’s first reaction...

CAR at TB

-- The game was played in a steady rain, on a sloppy field, so the matchup was more the teams vs. the elements over the teams versus themselves. Tampa Bay took the early 10-0 lead in the 1st-quarter and did their best to sit on that lead the rest of the way...and they did.

Now Tampa has to pray the Falcons lose Sunday...or this was all for naught.

I don’t know what’s ‘weirder’ to consider...that Atlanta (if they win) is gonna tie for 1st-place in the NFC South after all their bizarre season...or that the Saints win and end up 1-game out of that first-place cluster after a (1-8 start).

If the Saints do win, the Saints/Shough will have won 5 in-a-row to finish the season.

-- Raheem Morris and Todd Bowles were on the same staff together in 2001 as lowly defensive assistants with the Jets. They have a friendly, colleague relationship.

Knowing this, I wondered -- would Raheem ‘throw’ this game to help his buddy Bowles? I mean, if Bowles misses the playoffs he’s likely done as a head coach...he may be done anyway. If TB wins this division, maybe Bowles keeps his job.

I thought about it...looked into it a bit. I think Raheem will NOT help Bowles here. It’s a bigger priority for Raheem for the Falcons to win and have a 4-game win streak to end the season and claim a tie for first...that helps Raheem. A loss does not help Raheem in any way. Morris is not in any position to help Bowles. Interesting thought though.

https://x.com/fballanalysisyt/status/2006372323046359071?s=43

-- If I were Todd Bowles, I think I would have spread the run game around more between his three talented backs for this game...especially since White-Tucker are better straight ahead runners on a slippery surface, better ‘mudders’, and Bucky is such a sharp cutting RB...so this surface wasn’t great for him...so, I would have spread the touches almost in ‘thirds’.

But what did Todd Bowles do? What they always want to do...all-in on Bucky. He’s not that kind of back in context of the other options available, and it almost cost TB here...but they got away with it.

-- A sign of my whole QB rant/dilemma was evident in this game...

Bryce Young is arguably the worst starting QB in the NFL (of the intended starters for teams). Baker Mayfield is arguably one of the single best all-around QBs in the NFL.

And yet...

The Panthers are on the verge of a division title.

And Bryce threw more passes, threw for more yards, and had 2 TDs passes over Baker and his 1 TD pass. And the terrible QBR metric, for whatever it is worth...Bryce 98.0 v. Baker 73.9.

Bryce played well enough to win...even though he is terrible. Even the worst QBs in the NFL are halfway decent and can win divisions. That never used to be...unless it was with an elite, epic defense...and that’s not this.

SEA-SF

-- And just like that...Seattle is the #1 seed in the NFC, and I’ll bet hardly anyone picks them or bets them to go all the way to the Super Bowl.

With this win by Seattle, the Rams now have something to play for...if they win they will go to TB/CAR for the 1st-round. A Rams loss means they’d go play Chicago or Philly. Add in the fact that the Rams have been ‘bad’ the past 1.5 games...and LAR is gonna go for it now, it appears...they want to win, they want to book a ‘good’ game for some momentum into the playoffs. As soon as the Rams have major control of Week 18, then they will pull starters ASAP.

-- This was a game where the winner won the old-fashioned way...run game and defense. Seattle’s defense was terrific this game. Two weeks ago, the Rams dropped 30 points on them in a little more than 3 quarters...at Seattle in a major game.

-- When was this game lost? Probably when 49ers OT Trent Williams was announced out before the game started. Brock Purdy goes from greatest QB last week to ‘Nine’ memes this week. He was under pressure on most of his throws. O-Line is everything.

-- When was this game won? Probably when Seattle drafted arguably the best single player in this season’s NFL Draft...OL Grey Zabel. Seattle ran all over the 49ers = 39 carries, 180 yards rushing.

-- Rashid Shaheed caught the very pass on the very first play of the game...and never had a target the rest of the game.

== Injury Issue Update ==

-- De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle are likely OUT today.

-- Josh Allen is clear for today...we’ll see how long he plays. It’s debatable/up in the air.

-- Jake Ferguson is clear to play now.

-- PHIL MAFAH activated by Dallas!!!!

== Weather Issue Update ==

Game	Condition	Temp (Feel)	Sustained Wind	Gusts	Metric Impact
DET @ CHI	Light Snow	31° (23°)	7 mph	12 mph	MODERATE. 60% chance of flurries. Wind is a non-factor, but slick footing at Soldier Field is a concern for the Lions' dome-based offense.
NYJ @ BUF	Frigid	24° (18°)	6 mph	10 mph	MODERATE. No major wind or snow accumulation expected. The low temperature is the story; expect higher drop rates for cold-weather hands.
BAL @ PIT (SNF)	Frigid	25° (20°)	2 mph	4 mph	MODERATE. Wind is non-existent. Purely a cold-weather grind; favors the interior run games of Henry/Harris.

== NEWS & NOTES ==

-- HEADLINE: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports “the general sense” is Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon will return next season.

So, the thrust of the report is -- Arizona is blaming Kyler Murray for their awful season, not Jon Gannon?

So, Gannon actually is forced to switch QBs early in the season...switch to a better QB...and then they lose 10-of-11 games with the better QB? And this is Kyler’s fault?

I’m not buying it. Arizona’s GM can’t be so dumb as to not see where the league is headed by ditching ex-defensive coordinators as head coaches and going to fresh O-Cs to become head coaches...but I don’t want to assume the Cardinals know what they’re doing. They have one of THEE worst owners/presidents in the league, so anything is possible. And Arizona has to compete with McVay-Shanahan-Macdonald...they think Gannon is the man to do that? OK.

I will bet the pull the plug on Gannon.

-- Fantasy player of the year? https://x.com/yahoofantasy/status/2007166834265784343?s=43

-- People don’t want to believe this, and I get the suspicion of this technology: https://x.com/mlfootball/status/2007210579136786676?s=43

-- A look at the downfall of the ‘great’ 2024 rookie class of WRs...

https://x.com/sleepernfl/status/2007159078343324135?s=43

-- New Hierarchy list for the next month...’The Waddle List’.

Ross and I were debating something flippant I said about Jaylen Waddle...something like, ‘I think Waddle is very average in this era...and there’s probably 50-100 other WRs like him now, in this era.’ Ross disagreed.

So, I had the idea to test my theory out...are there 50+ other WRs better than Waddle? So, let’s go in our usual alphabetical order, a new team’s WRs considered each day until the end...and I’m gonna use Waddle as may baseline and make a RC’s hierarchy of all WRs, who if were an NFL GM, I would take ahead of Waddle...today for 2025/2026 usage for my fictitious NFL franchise I am magically the GM for.

Four buckets we will put WRs into (designated below).

We start the debut with Arizona and go all the way to Washington.

Current > Waddle count = 29 WRs (15 teams in)

CLEARY better than Waddle:

George Pickens, Tetairoa McMillan, Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michael Wilson, Nico Collins, Drake London, Michael Pittman

BETTER than Waddle:

Tee Higgins, CeeDee Lamb, Josh Downs, Jayden Higgins, Rome Odunze, Christian Watson, Parker Washington, Jameson Williams, Zay Flowers, Jakobi Meyers, Alec Pierce, Cedric Tillman, Courtland Sutton, Brian Thomas Jr.

SIMILAR range of Waddle but I’ll take them:

Marvin Mims, Isaac TeSlaa, Jaylen Noel, D.J. Moore, Romeo Doubs, Khalil Shakir, Jalen Coker

**JAYLEN WADDLE Line of Demarcation**

Big names I propose are ‘LESS THAN Waddle’:

Travis Hunter, Luther Burden, Pat Bryant, Ryan Flournoy, Jayden Reed, Marvin Harrison, Keon Coleman, Rashad Bateman, Jerry Jeudy, Troy Franklin, Xavier Legette, Darnell Mooney

-------------------

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1/3 SAT

(7:19amET)

-- Today’s Agenda...

Game Reports...post as they are completed/submitted.

Week 18 projections update planned for later evening as the CAR-TB and SEA-SF games can/will have a serious effect on things for Sunday. Any hot updates prior/during the day we will do a quick update of any major shifts.

FFM News items

Anything else that pops up, and any new betting items I might see.

== SAT GAMES PREVIEW ==

CAR-TB

Carolina wins, they win the NFC South. Tampa Bay wins, and they would still need Atlanta to lose Sunday to get the division. The Panthers are in the driver’s seat.

My quick summary/preview of this game: The Panthers are the better team all around, and much better coached. The main advantage TB might have is Baker Mayfield, but..

1) He is so injured that he’s become a mediocre QB now (for like the last 2 months).

2) QB does not matter anywhere near what we’re used to, a major sea change in the NFL in 2025, so if you are picking this as Baker > Bryce...your assessment of the QBs is correct, but you’re living in the past on how that matters.

Carolina has the edge at head coach, O-Line, and defense...this matters more.

But anything can happen any given week in the NFL.

SEA-SF

I think Seattle is walking into a buzzsaw here. The 49ers are white hot, and Sam Darnold is not. Seattle shouldn’t even be in the position for any number of reasons. I think 49ers are gonna wreck them -- SF has the advantage at QB, O-Line...Seattle has the defense, but it’s an overrated defense that the Rams blew through a week+ ago. SF should win big here, especially if we get more late season Darnold collapse.

https://x.com/coach_yac/status/2007196471083643021?s=43

If Seattle wins, the Rams have something to play for (#5 v. #6 seed) Sunday.

If the 49ers win, the Rams are a #6 seed locked.

https://x.com/adamlevitan/status/2007168525945974984?s=43

== NEWS & NOTES ==

-- HEADLINE: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Dolphins hired “Hall-of-Fame QB and ESPN analyst Troy Aikman as a consultant” to assist in the team’s search for a new general manager.

How is it this is all that the Dolphins have to turn to for help finding a GM? How out of touch is your management team and ownership?

-- I think we may get word, today, that Phil Mafah is gonna be activated for Week 18 and thus should get a few touches with Javonte and Malik out. Maybe. Mafah practiced in full for the first time this season on Friday.

-- The Saints WRs available for Week 18 will be: Kevin Austin Jr., Dante Pettis, and practice squad guys...Ronnie Bell and Samori Toure.

A tough road for Tyler Shough to keep up his OROY run.

-- Betting world Week 18 trends (from the internet):

95% of money on Bears -3

88% on Rams -7.5

79% on Chiefs -5.5

78% on Patriots -10.5

74% on 49ers +1.5

73% on Jaguars -13.5

72% on Saints +3.5

70% on Eagles -4

66% on Vikings -7.5

65% on Bills -6.5

60% on Texans -10.5

60% on Panthers +3

-- New Hierarchy list for the next month...’The Waddle List’.

Four buckets we will put WRs into (designated below).

We start the debut with Arizona and go all the way to Washington.

Current > Waddle count = 26 WRs (14 teams in)

CLEARY better than Waddle:

George Pickens, Tetairoa McMillan, Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michael Wilson, Nico Collins, Drake London, Michael Pittman

BETTER than Waddle:

Tee Higgins, CeeDee Lamb, Josh Downs, Jayden Higgins, Rome Odunze, Christian Watson, Jameson Williams, Zay Flowers, Alec Pierce, Cedric Tillman, Courtland Sutton

SIMILAR range of Waddle but I’ll take them:

Marvin Mims, Isaac TeSlaa, Jaylen Noel, D.J. Moore, Romeo Doubs, Khalil Shakir, Jalen Coker

**JAYLEN WADDLE Line of Demarcation**

Big names I propose are ‘LESS THAN Waddle’:

Luther Burden, Pat Bryant, Ryan Flournoy, Jayden Reed, Marvin Harrison, Keon Coleman, Rashad Bateman, Jerry Jeudy, Troy Franklin, Xavier Legette, Darnell Mooney

-------------------

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1/2 FRI

(5:30amET)

-- Today’s Agenda...

Game Reports that we have.

FFM News briefs throughout the day.

Week 18 projections update planned approx. 9-11pm to allow for the West Coast injury reports.

Anything else that pops up, and any new betting I might see.

== Head Coach Projected ‘To Be Fired’ List...==

This is my hit list with % odds of it happening, according to me and talking to sources, etc.

100% = Mike Kafka, NYG...the worst interim coach in years.

99% = Mike McCoy, TEN...the Titans are improving.

95% = Jon Gannon, ARI...almost certainly fired -- 8 losses in a row, 13 losses in their last 14 games going into Week 18.

86% = Todd Bowles, TB (if they lose Saturday)...the end is near.

81% = Pete Carroll, LV...it’s gonna be a huge hit to Mark Davis’s bank account, but he’s got that kind of money. Only fear of admitting another monumental mistake so quickly might keep Carroll around for another season.

68% = Kevin Stefanski, CLE...I think he’s done, but with the Browns you never know. No one wants to coach there, so it’s hard to find a replacement.

61% = Mike Tomlin, PIT (if they lose Sunday)...I think the Steelers are ready to move on, as is Tomlin.

*If it’s this group above, the 50%+ group...it would be 7 openings, 2 interim spots to fill, and four of 5 actual existing real HCs as ex-defensive coordinators, etc., getting gone.

45% = Andy Reid, KC (retires, not fired)...I really do believe he is gonna leave. He’d be crazy to come back to this downward spiral...but usually that’s exactly what head coaches do -- stay too long. Hey, if people wanna give them $5-10+ million a year to go at their own pace...why not?

35% = Aaron Glenn, NYJ...he should be the first fired, but I bet Woody Johnson is too afraid of Glenn to make the obvious move. He'd rather him have another year to fail and have the world turn on him, so he has the cover to do the deed.

30% = Mike McDaniel MIA...if fired, he might be one of the hottest coaching free agent names out there.

26% = Todd Bowles, TB (if they win Saturday but then lose 1st-round of playoffs)...

23% = John Harbaugh, BAL (if they lose Sunday)...Some AFC North team has to have the guts to rebuild itself for the new era, and get out of the 1970s style...

13% = Raheem Morris, ATL...the late win streak seems to have saved his job.

11% = Dan Quinn, WSH...What if Adam Peters sees Mike McDaniel come available? Or wants Robert Saleh...or Klint Kubiak...something from the SF tree?

== Injury Issue Update ==

Player / Unit	Team	Pos	Injury	Status & Metric Outlook (Jan 2, 2026)
Javonte Williams	DAL	RB	Shoulder/Neck	DNP (Thursday). After a "phantom" FP Wednesday, he missed Thursday practice entirely. High risk for a Week 18 shutdown in a meaningless game.
Dontayvion Wicks	GB	WR	Concussion	DNP (Thursday). Still in protocol. Unlikely to clear for Sunday; Clayton Tune is confirmed to start at QB for Green Bay.
Michael Pittman	IND	WR	Calf	Active. Gutted through Sunday's game. Likely to play Week 18, but target share is capped with Riley Leonard at QB.
Jake Ferguson	DAL	TE	Calf	LP (Limited). Returned to practice Thursday. Trending toward playing, but monitor the "Rest vs. Start" risk for the Cowboys finale.
Josh Allen	BUF	QB	Foot	LP (Limited). Re-aggravated midfoot sprain Sunday. With the #2 seed secure, Buffalo is expected to be extremely cautious.
Rashid Shaheed	SEA	WR	Concussion	Active. Cleared protocol Thursday. No designation for the Saturday night game vs. 49ers.
Harold Fannin Jr.	CLE	TE	Groin	DNP. Re-injured Sunday. Highly unlikely to play; CLE is down both Fannin and Njoku.
Darnell Washington	PIT	TE	Arm	OUT (IR). Broken forearm sustained Sunday. Done for the season.
Jaylen Waddle	MIA	WR	Ribs	DNP (Thursday). Did not practice after Sunday's hit. High risk to sit vs. NE.
Christian McCaffrey	SF	RB	Back	LP (Limited). Sustained Sunday. Trending toward playing but will likely share more snaps with Jordan Mason.
---	---	---	---	---
Trent Williams	SF	LT	Hamstring	DNP (Thursday). Major concern for Brock Purdy. If he sits, Seattle’s pass rush metrics spike.
Charles Cross	SEA	LT	Hamstring	OUT. Officially ruled out for Saturday.
Kevin Dotson	LAR	G	Ankle	OUT/DNP. Exited Sunday/Monday. Massive loss for Rams interior rushing lanes.
Tyler Biadasz	WAS	C	Knee/Ankle	OUT/DNP. Exited Christmas. Washington O-Line is now a "makeshift" unit.
Robert Hunt	CAR	G	Biceps	Questionable. Trying to return from IR, but not yet activated.
Alex Anzalone	DET	LB	Concussion	DNP. Heart of the defense. If he sits, the Bears' interior rushing floor rises.
T.J. Watt	PIT	LB	Lung	DNP. Officially ruled out for Week 18. Huge downgrade for Steelers DST.
Harold Landry III	NE	LB	Knee	DNP. Massive loss for the Patriots' pass rush against Miami.
Robert Spillane	LV	LB	Ankle	DNP. Further depletes a Raiders defense already missing Maxx Crosby.
Shavon Revel Jr.	DAL	CB	Concussion	DNP. Exited Christmas Day. Remains in protocol for the finale.

== Week 18 Weather Issue Update ==

Game	Condition	Temp (Feel)	Sustained Wind	Gusts	Metric Impact
SEA @ SF (Sat)	Rain Showers	58° (56°)	8 mph	12 mph	MODERATE. 65% chance of rain at kickoff. Wind is a non-factor,.
BAL @ PIT (SNF)	Frigid	22° (13°)	3 mph	5 mph	MODERATE. The wind has completely vanished from the forecast. The only issue is the extreme cold.

== FFM Offensive Line Grades (last 5 weeks) ==

Top 5 Best:

1) LAR

2) BUF

3) BAL

4) PIT

5) PHI

Top 5 Worst:

1) LV

2) CLE

3) HOU

4) KC

5) LAC

-- New Hierarchy list for the next month...’The Waddle List’.

Four buckets we will put WRs into (designated below).

We start the debut with Arizona and go all the way to Washington.

Current > Waddle count = 23 WRs (13 teams in)

CLEARY better than Waddle:

George Pickens, Tetairoa McMillan, Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michael Wilson, Nico Collins, Drake London

BETTER than Waddle:

Tee Higgins, CeeDee Lamb, Jayden Higgins, Rome Odunze, Christian Watson, Jameson Williams, Zay Flowers, Cedric Tillman, Courtland Sutton

SIMILAR range of Waddle but I’ll take them:

Marvin Mims, Isaac TeSlaa, Jaylen Noel, D.J. Moore, Romeo Doubs, Khalil Shakir, Jalen Coker

**JAYLEN WADDLE Line of Demarcation**

Big names I propose are ‘LESS THAN Waddle’:

Luther Burden, Pat Bryant, Ryan Flournoy, Jayden Reed, Marvin Harrison, Keon Coleman, Rashad Bateman, Jerry Jeudy, Troy Franklin, Xavier Legette, Darnell Mooney

-------------------

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1/1 THU

== May GOD BLESS YOU and YOURS this New Year!! ==

(7:29amET)

-- Today’s Agenda…

Game Reports out today...as many as we can get out today and the rest of the week.

Week 18 projections update after 7pm+

FFM News & Notes during the day as I get them.

Anything else that pops up, and any early betting I might see.

*ALL PICKS ATS will NOT post today...they will post Friday with the luxury of no games tonight.

== News & Notes ==

-- HEADLINE: The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reports NFL evaluators are concerned about Cam Ward’s throwing mechanics.

I thought this might be the dumbest headline/story of the day/week/year, but there is one even dumber coming below.

There is no story here. There’s no reason for it. If there are NFL evaluators with this opinion, and there are wrong/useless...because there are NFL evaluators who are negative/wrong on everything. They are once again wrong.

In an absolute disaster of an offense, for an absolute disaster of a franchise, who had a bottom of the league O-Line and has the worst WR group in the entire NFL (along with the Jets)...of course Ward’s Comp. Pct. isn’t 70% as a rookie.

His first 9 games, Ward went (1-8) with 5 TDs/6 INTs.

After the Titans changed out the Callahan’s, as the O-Line then started to improve, Ward is (2-5) in his last 7 games with 12 TDs/1 INT.

Things have really come on the past 4 games, a (2-2) record with 10 TDs/1 INT.

What throwing mechanic issues? Are these the same ‘evaluators’ who have known for 5 years that Brock Purdy isn’t very good? Among a thousand other ‘concerns’ they’ve had every year...that’s almost always wrong?

-- HEADLINE: Ravens ‘Very Optimistic’ That Lamar Jackson Plays in Week 18.

Looks like he will be in place for the big showdown on Sunday.

If the Ravens win Sunday, then the ‘issues’ and trade whispers are held in check for a while.

If the Ravens get Lamar back, then lose and miss the playoffs...the story of 2026 offseason with be underway -- all the Lamar drama/issues that the media has no sensed or cared about for years. Soon, it will be all they care about.

-- HEADLINE: The Vikings signed RB Sincere McCormick off the Practice Squad.

One of Jordan Mason or Aaron Jones is for sure out this week, I bet. But I think it is possible both RBs are out. No running back has been hurt more, hurt every game more than Aaron Jones...but he never misses a game hardly either.

-- HEADLINE: The Packers signed QB Desmond Ridder.

GB also already elevated Clayton Tune. The Pack has nothing to play for Sunday. Jordan Love definitely out. This very likely means Malik Willis will be held out as well.

-- HEADLINE: Reports are that the Giants are open/considering drafting a QB with their 1st-round pick.

Then single dumbest report I’ve seen this year, perhaps.

The logic apparently is...Jaxson Dart’s numbers have fallen in the past few weeks, as a passer. So, NYG is looking at passers in the draft...and/or plan to evaluate QBs.

High pick teams always evaluate all the QBs...they evaluate all the top picks/prospects, every NFL team...every FF analyst...everybody evaluates all the top picks. That doesn’t mean NYG is planning to draft a 2nd QB. Surely, they will hold Jameis Winston in place as their #2...and that’s that.

Jaxson Dart is totally fine. Their ridiculous interim head coach is their problem...not Dart or the offensive pieces.

NFL fans and media are getting worse, not better, about player analysis. It used to be if a QB had a bad full season, the judgments might start to come...they used to get a full season to work through. I wanna say that judgement/analysis is now down to ‘what happened last game?’

I wanna say that it is about ’last game’, but honestly NFL criticism life is moving so fast that it is now judgement throw-to-throw, series-to-series. If a QB misses a throw, the fans miss the next 1-2-3 plays because they are typing ‘he’s s bum’ into chats or are distracted finding the right critical meme to post about said QB’s bad throw.

Football society is getting worse not better with time.

I’m not even saying it to be funny...it’s an epidemic...it’s reality now. Everything is an online swarm over every little thing. Way too high if something goes good, way too low if something goes bad...play-to-play.

I hope I can bet it somehow that the Giants are not taking a QB with their top 5 pick. The notion is ridiculous.

== Key Injury Updates ==

Player / Unit	Team	Injury Type	Wednesday Status & Final Outlook
Javonte Williams	DAL	Shoulder	Full Practice (FP). Surprisingly avoided the injury report Wednesday. Despite earlier "limited" talk, he looks on track to play.
Dontayvion Wicks	GB	Concussion	DNP (Did Not Participate). Still in protocol. Unlikely to clear for the finale. Clayton Tune or Desmond Ridder may start at QB.
Michael Pittman	IND	Calf	Active. Gutted through Sunday. While quiet, he is the primary target for rookie Riley Leonard.
Jake Ferguson	DAL	Calf	Active (Limited). Listed as questionable on projection boards but trending toward playing. No major Wednesday DNP.
Josh Allen	BUF	Foot (Midfoot)	Limited (LP). Team is optimistic, but with the #2 seed locked, he may see limited action or a full sit.
Christian McCaffrey	SF	Back	Limited (LP). New injury. SF needs this win for the division; he is expected to play through it.
Breece Hall	NYJ	Knee	Limited (LP). Monitoring swelling. High risk for a "precautionary" benching in a meaningless game.
Jaylen Waddle	MIA	Ribs	DNP. Did not practice Wednesday.
Harold Fannin Jr.	CLE	Groin	DNP. Aggravated Sunday. Highly unlikely to play; Cleveland is decimated at TE with Njoku also out.
Rashid Shaheed	SEA	Concussion	Full Practice (FP). Great news—he cleared major protocol hurdles and is on track for the SF showdown.
George Kittle	SF	Ankle	Limited (LP). Missed last week but returning to practice. Looks like a "Go" for Sunday.
Trent Williams	SF	Hamstring	DNP. Massive blow. If he sits, Brock Purdy's blindside is highly vulnerable vs. Seattle.
Lane Johnson	PHI	DNP (Foot)	OUT/Doubtful. The Eagles' right-side rushing efficiency craters without him.
Charles Cross	SEA	Hamstring	DNP. Seattle's O-line is in crisis; backup Josh Jones is also "banged up" but expected to play.
Tyler Biadasz	WAS	Knee/Ankle	DNP. Washington will use a "makeshift" line against the Eagles front.
T.J. Watt	PIT	Lung	Limited (LP). Small window of optimism, but still high-risk. Steelers DST is a fade if he's limited.
Nakobe Dean	PHI	Hamstring	DNP. Significant loss for the Eagles' interior run defense.
Chop Robinson	MIA	Concussion	DNP. Miami's pass rush is severely depleted for the Patriots game.

== Weather Issue Update ==

Game	Condition	Temp (Feel)	Wind (Gusts)	Strategic Impact & Metric Shift
SEA @ SF (Sat)	Heavy Rain	57° (55°)	10 (15) mph	MODERATE. 80% chance of rain. Saturated turf at Levi's Stadium makes ball security the primary metric. Downgrade pure speed receivers.

-- New Hierarchy list for the next month...’The Waddle List’.

Four buckets we will put WRs into (designated below).

We start the debut with Arizona and go all the way to Washington.

Current > Waddle count = 20 WRs (12 teams in)

CLEARY better than Waddle:

George Pickens, Tetairoa McMillan, Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michael Wilson, Drake London

BETTER than Waddle:

Tee Higgins, CeeDee Lamb, Rome Odunze, Christian Watson, Jameson Williams, Zay Flowers, Cedric Tillman, Courtland Sutton

SIMILAR range of Waddle but I’ll take them:

Marvin Mims, Isaac TeSlaa, D.J. Moore, Romeo Doubs, Khalil Shakir, Jalen Coker

**JAYLEN WADDLE Line of Demarcation**

Big names I propose are ‘LESS THAN Waddle’:

Luther Burden, Pat Bryant, Ryan Flournoy, Jayden Reed, Marvin Harrison, Keon Coleman, Rashad Bateman, Jerry Jeudy, Troy Franklin, Xavier Legette, Darnell Mooney

-------------------

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12/31 WED

*Have a happy and safe New Year’s Eve*

(7:27amET)

-- Today’s Agenda…

Game Reports...as many as we can get out today and the rest of the week.

Week 18 projections update 6-8pmET approx.

Streaming news items throughout the day, more afternoon-night for me this day.

Any betting action to start the week.

== Tuesday night free agency/waivers commentary/notes (national overview) ==

A light night, obviously...most of the action coming from Dynasty leagues positioning their rosters for the future/stashing prospects.

-- Malik Willis was the top add player. All it took was one reporter with a headline supposedly with a source that Willis was going to be a top free agent pursuit for 2026 free agency. OK. Sure.

It didn’t hurt that Willis had a big game on national TV Saturday night.

-- Malik Davis ran for 100+ yards in a game in Week 17, so now he might be great(?)...propelling him to the #2 most added player of the night.

-- Jake Tonges was #3 most added...a TD on national TV Sunday night helped...but also showing he has a future hope...when he becomes a free agent...in like 2 years.

-- Konata Mumpfield was #4...solid targets in the last 2 games with Davante Adams out. Xavier Smith has had bigger games with Davante out, but he’s not a rookie so apparently it doesn’t matter as much. It does make Dynasty/future sense as I was shocked to see that Smith is already 28+ years old.

-- Theo Wease was #5...had a long TD Sunday, apparently that was good enough to get him looks on some Dynasty rosters.

-- The most dropped list was a parade of older players: Taysom Hill, Philip Rivers, Darren Waller, Colby Parkinson, Michael Carter.

== Injury Issue Update ==

Player / Unit	Team	Injury Type	Wednesday Status & Outlook
Javonte Williams	DAL	Shoulder/AC	DNP/Doubtful. Coach Schottenheimer called the shoulder "problematic." With Dallas eliminated, expect a full shutdown.
Dontayvion Wicks	GB	Concussion	DNP/Doubtful. Still in protocol from Saturday night. Unlikely to clear for the finale.
Michael Pittman	IND	Calf	LP (Limited). Gutted out the Sunday game but is clearly slowed. Target high-volume Alec Pierce as a pivot.
Jake Ferguson	DAL	Calf	DNP/Doubtful. Like Javonte, the team is signaling a rest day for the veteran tight end in a meaningless game.
Josh Allen	BUF	Foot (Midfoot)	LP (Limited). Re-aggravated the sprain Sunday. With the #2 seed secure, Buffalo is leaning toward resting him.
Trent Williams	SF	Hamstring	DNP. Strained on the opening play Sunday.
Christian McCaffrey	SF	Back	DNP. New addition to the report. Likely precautionary, but watch the Thursday practice report closely.
Breece Hall	NYJ	Knee	LP (Limited). Tests were "encouraging," but he is a high-risk start if the Jets choose to protect his 2026 health.
Harold Fannin Jr.	CLE	Groin	DNP/Doubtful. Re-injured the groin Sunday. Usually a 14-day recovery for a player of his size.
Rashid Shaheed	SEA	Concussion	LP (Limited). Progressing through protocol but remains a 50/50 toss-up for the finale.
Kevin Dotson	LAR	Ankle	DNP. A catastrophic loss for the Rams' interior run blocking. Downgrade Kyren Williams.
Charles Cross	SEA	Hamstring	DNP. Seattle's blindside is in crisis; backup Josh Jones is also nursing knee/ankle issues.
Tyler Biadasz	WAS	Knee/Ankle	OUT. Multi-joint injury sustained Christmas Day. Washington's center position is a total liability.
Robert Hainsey	JAX	Groin	DNP. Jacksonville is now down to their 3rd-string interior rotation.
Alex Anzalone	DET	Concussion	DNP. The Lions' defensive heart is unlikely to play. Major boost to opposing interior rushers.
T.J. Watt	PIT	Lung/Ribs	OUT. Officially ruled out. The Steelers' defense loses its primary sack/pressure engine.
Maxx Crosby	LV	Knee	OUT (IR). Effectively shut down. Raiders defense is now a "Green Zone" for any offensive production.

== News & Notes and Interesting Tweets I collected this week ==

-- HEADLINE: The Vikings are “working on a new deal” with DC Brian Flores.

They are working on a new deal because there is ZERO point ZERO interest by any NFL team in ex-defensive coordinators to be new head coaches for 2026. Flores has NO choice but to stay in Minnesota.

Just a few days prior, ‘insiders’ were reporting how in demand Flores was gonna be in the coaching carousel this offseason. They were just making stuff up...’assuming’ as ‘reporting’.

Flores will probably get ‘Rooney Rule’ interview invites, but he has to know, or his agent does, that there is no interest from team ownership in defensive coordinators being head coaches in 2026.

Aaron Glenn was probably the tipping point in history of why ex-defensive coordinators will rarely/never be hired as head coaches again. Jon Gannon and Pete Carroll getting fired in a few days are going to be the next to fall. Todd Bowles depends upon his Week 18 result. Aaron Glenn and Raheem Morris likely make it through to 2026 before they get fired in-season next season.

-- Speaking of Jon Gannon...

You will watch this at least twice, because you won’t believe it the first watch: https://x.com/themarvspace/status/2005712373861265694?s=43

Remember this when he is fired a week from now... Why did they hire him in the first place?

-- Tank Dell update: https://x.com/jmthrivept/status/2005728739129450855?s=43

-- Bryce Young’s ‘generational run’...

https://x.com/startkyieorton/status/2005805516623388746?s=43

-- Wait until you see #5 on this list...

https://x.com/ihartitz/status/2005703007036735705?s=43

Fire Nagy should be a thing again...but I bet Andy Reid retires first (next week) throwing the situation into some chaos.

-- Game Recap of the CHI-SF game from Sunday night...

https://x.com/lombardihimself/status/2005464193982677146?s=43

-- This will be a story/whining datapoint of the offseason...

https://x.com/schadjoe/status/2006059549388685464?s=43

-- A nice, succinct summary of team ‘motivations’ for Week 18:

https://x.com/adamlevitan/status/2006081137404223596?s=43

-- A fitting item to end on...

https://x.com/barryonhere/status/2006068272274215023?s=43

-- New Hierarchy list for the next month...’The Waddle List’.

Four buckets we will put WRs into (designated below).

We start the debut with Arizona and go all the way to Washington.

Current > Waddle count = 18 WRs (11 teams in)

CLEARY better than Waddle:

George Pickens, Tetairoa McMillan, Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michael Wilson, Drake London

BETTER than Waddle:

Tee Higgins, CeeDee Lamb, Rome Odunze, Jameson Williams, Zay Flowers, Cedric Tillman, Courtland Sutton

SIMILAR range of Waddle but I’ll take them:

Marvin Mims, Isaac TeSlaa, D.J. Moore, Khalil Shakir, Jalen Coker

**JAYLEN WADDLE Line of Demarcation**

Big names I propose are ‘LESS THAN Waddle’:

Luther Burden, Pat Bryant, Ryan Flournoy, Marvin Harrison, Keon Coleman, Rashad Bateman, Jerry Jeudy, Troy Franklin, Xavier Legette, Darnell Mooney

-------------------

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=====================

12/30 TUE

(6:36amET)

-- Today’s Agenda…

Week 18 Projections day...they will debut/post approx. 5-7pmET

NO Free Agent Snapshot/FAAB %s Report (not enough data for a Week 18)

Tuesday Night Waivers Video Show 8:30pm-10pmET...any football questions you want...free agents, stashes, Dynasty offseason items, playoffs, NFL Draft...

Game Report/s today...as many as we can get out.

News & Notes throughout the day.

MNF First Reactions...

-- I wondered if the Rams might come out flat for this game...after having their division title and #1 seed hopes ripped from them by flawed refereeing (and bad McVay coaching) vs. Seattle Week 16...and then seeing Seattle and San Fran winning Week 17 to completely snuff out that candle. And, well, they did! Down 21-0 at the half, then they woke up and made a furious comeback to tie it up late...only to lose by 3 in the end.

The Rams still have a chance to be the #5 seed, despite this loss. If Seattle wins Week 18, as well as the Rams...then LAR is the #5 seed.

-- The Falcons are one win away from potentially tying for the NFC South title...only they have no hope of getting over because the tiebreakers are already against them.

Winners of three in-a-row. Is Raheem Morris’s job safe now? Especially if they win a 4th in-a-row to tie for the division title (if TB wins, and they win Week 18)? AndrewDFS is going to tackle that among various items in his report on this game.

-- The Rams not only lost the game, but also lost ground on having ATL’s 1st-round pick this year (which they do…via a trade earlier this year). It could’ve been a #8-9 overall pick had LAR won here...but we now project it to #13 today.

If Atlanta loses Week 18, their pick (belonging to the Rams) could be as high as #8 again. If ATL wins Week 18...we project the pick to be #13 +/- a spot or two.

-- The Matt Stafford MVP run may have been derailed in this game...allowing Drake Maye to take the award, but Stafford has such long-time respect and still the best QB numbers...he may still get it. This loss...on MNF...with 3 picks...no help...two losses in a row...collapse from the #1 seed and division (a 3rd-place team)...

-- Our DROY prop bets on James Pearce had this one last shot to shine on national TV...and, well...congrats to Carson Schwesinger. We got close...we had a moment...the moment is all but gone.

-- Bijan racked up 39.9 PPR points in this game...changing many an FF-title game finish, pro or con. I hope he didn’t bite too many of you.

== News & Notes ==

-- HEADLINE: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said he doubts that Pete Carroll will be the Raiders head coach in 2026.

I have been hearing about this, predicting it for weeks now. An utterly embarrassing season from illegal GM/owner Tom Brady, his stooge GM, their 2025 draft, the trade/deal for Geno, Chip Kelly, the whole season the coaching and management was terrible...worst in the league right up there with the Jets.

#1 overall pick potentially coming LV’s way, a perfect lure for a great new coach.

-- HEADLINE: Adam Schefter says on the Pat McAfee show that it's "in the realm of possibility" that Mike Tomlin leaves the Steelers with a loss on Sunday. And goes and does TV next season. Or coaches somewhere else in 2026.

Just what the world needs...another uninteresting head coach paid huge money by ‘big football’ to steal their money for a year looking wildly uncomfortable in a suit for a few months and not bringing anything interesting to the table for analysis among the 3-6 sentences they utter per Sunday.

Has ‘Coach Cowher’ (or any other ex-head coach) ever said one thing interesting or memorable in his...what?...50 years of broadcasting? It seems like he has been at CBS longer than dullard Phil Simms (who they finally ditched).

Jimmy Johnson is arguably one of the best coach/personnel guys to ever do it in the NFL...yet never anything interesting as a ‘broadcaster’...and the list is full with them.

I’m sure Tomlin realizes he is on the full hot seat if they lose Week 18 and he is keeping his options open. A year off would do him good. He hasn’t been a good head coach for many years. He does more harm than good, but the team keeps finding a way to .500+, so he’s still there. I think they’ve been wanting to move on from him for years, but he just hasn’t given them the loaded gun...similar to Todd Bowles in Tampa.

The new era of football is not built for Tomlin-Bowles types...old school, fiery ex-defensive coordinators. Robert Saleh and Brian Flores and Jeff Ulbrich, among others, fall into the same bucket.

The future is all ex-offensive coaches and quality control guys becoming NFL head coaches...’CEOs’ of the organization. While these old school defensive coordinators will stay D-Cs for life, with occasional exceptions/mistakes made in hiring by the New York’s or Cleveland, etc. One by one the NFL will purge themselves of Pete Carroll and Mike Tomlin and Todd Bowles and Aaron Glenn and Jon Gannon...and Sean McDermott doesn’t have much longer. They can work as D-Cs...but they are not head coach material.

-- HEADLINE: A “prominent NFL agent” told The Athletic’s Mike Sando that “The biggest story of the offseason is going to be Lamar [Jackson]. That is going to be crazy.”

I fully believe the Ravens will attempt to purge themselves of Lamar Jackson this offseason, and with that...they may dump John Harbaugh as well...another ex-defensive guy (if I remember correctly).

Baltimore has been mired for years...a totally miss of the playoffs and sub-.500 record could be the fuse that lights a rebuild dynamite blast.

== Injury of Note Report ==

Player / Unit	Team	Pos	Injury	Game Context & Week 18 Outlook
Javonte Williams	DAL	RB	Shoulder/AC Sprain	Christmas Day: Re-aggravated a lingering issue. With Dallas eliminated, he is a high-risk shutdown candidate for Week 18.
Dontayvion Wicks	GB	WR	Concussion	Saturday Night: Exited before halftime. Now in NFL protocol; highly unlikely to clear for the finale on a short week.
Michael Pittman	IND	WR	Calf	Sunday: Exited briefly but returned to the game. Finished with a quiet line; availability for W18 is high but ceiling is capped.
Jake Ferguson	DAL	TE	Calf	Christmas Day: Ruled out in the 3rd Qtr. Like Javonte, there is zero incentive for the Cowboys to play him in Week 18.
Breece Hall	NYJ	RB	Knee	Sunday: Sustained mid-game vs NE. If tests show significant swelling, the Jets will likely pivot to Braelon Allen for the finale.
Josh Allen	BUF	QB	Foot (Aggravation)	Sunday: Spotted heading to X-ray after limping late. Re-aggravated midfoot sprain; Buffalo may rest him with the #2 seed secure.
Jaylen Waddle	MIA	WR	Ribs	Sunday: Exited after a hard hit vs TB. Will be a pain-management decision for Week 18's playoff seeding race.
Rashid Shaheed	SEA	WR	Concussion	Sunday: Sustained mid-game. Enters protocol; expect an absence for the season finale.
Harold Fannin Jr.	CLE	TE	Groin (Aggravation)	Sunday: Re-injured the groin that kept him limited Friday. Usually a multi-week recovery for 300lb+ frames.
Darnell Washington	PIT	TE	Broken Arm	Sunday: Confirmed fractured forearm in the 1st Qtr. Officially OUT for the season.
Trent Williams	SF	LT	Hamstring	Sunday: Strained on the opening play. Any absence would leave Brock Purdy's blindside exposed for the #1 seed race.
Kevin Dotson	LAR	G	Ankle	Sun/Mon: Ruled out. Massive loss for the Rams' interior run-blocking metrics.
Tyler Biadasz	WAS	C	Knee/Ankle	Christmas Day: Exited vs DAL. Commanders' pocket integrity suffered significantly without him.
Robert Hainsey	JAX	C	Groin	Sunday: Aggravated in pre-game/early action. Jacksonville's interior line is now a major liability.
Patrick Mekari	JAX	G	Back	Sunday: Forced out early. JAX is now down two interior starters for the stretch run.
Alex Anzalone	DET	LB	Concussion	Christmas Day: The heart of Detroit's defense. If he sits W18, DET is vulnerable to interior rushing attacks.
Shavon Revel Jr.	DAL	CB	Concussion	Christmas Day: Rookie standout exited late vs WAS. Enters protocol for the finale.
Mike Hughes	ATL	CB	Ankle	Sun/Mon: Ruled out. Further depletes Atlanta's thinning secondary depth.
Sam Roberts	ATL	DL	Knee/Ankle	Sun/Mon: Ruled out. Atlanta loses critical depth on the interior defensive front.
Josh Wallace	LAR	CB	Ankle	Sun/Mon: Ruled out. Depletes Rams' coverage options for Week 18.

== Early Weather Issue Report ==

*Note...

1) This is the EARLY board.

2) Early weather report issue items are almost always 25%+ increased hysterical, so more homing in work on these situations will be done as the week rolls on. However, we are into January...

Game	Condition	Temp (Feel)	Wind (Gusts)	Strategic Impact
BAL @ PIT (SNF)	Frigid/Gusty	31° (19°)	18 (30) mph	HIGH WIND. The 30 mph gusts at Acrisure Stadium are a major red flag for the kicking game and deep passing accuracy.
CLE @ CIN	Cold Rain (40%)	35° (28°)	12 (22) mph	MODERATE. A raw, cold rain is expected. Harder to grip the ball; favors the interior rushing attack over deep shots.
NYJ @ BUF	Snow Showers	29° (17°)	15 (25) mph	MODERATE. Highmark Stadium is expecting lake-effect flurries. Visibility and footing will be the primary metrics to watch.
MIA @ NEP	Cold/Windy	34° (20°)	20 (35) mph	HIGH WIND. Sustained 20 mph winds in Foxborough are notorious for pushing field goals and deep passes off-course.
DET @ CHI	Freezing	19° (7°)	10 (22) mph	MODERATE. "Bear Weather." Sub-20 temps make the ball hard as a rock. Expect more drops and shorter passing distances.
WAS @ PHI	Frigid	32° (20°)	15 (28) mph	MODERATE. Standard winter conditions for the Linc. Wind is the bigger factor than the cold here for the passing game.
LAC @ DEN	Post-Snow	32° (28°)	8 (12) mph	LOW. Snow is expected Saturday night but should be cleared by the 4:25 PM Sunday kickoff. Manageable conditions.

== Our Projected Final Standings/the Playoff Seeds ==

AFC

1) DEN

2) NE

3) HOU

4) BAL

5) BUF

6) JAX (I think there’s a good chance they lose to TEN Wk18, in a shocker)

7) LAC

-----------

8) PIT

NFC

1) SF

2) CHI

3) PHI

4) TB

5) LAR

6) SEA

7) GB

------------

8) MIN

NFL Draft:

1) LV

2) NYJ

3) ARI

4) CLE

5) WSH

-- New Hierarchy list for the next month...’The Waddle List’.

Four buckets we will put WRs into (designated below).

We start the debut with Arizona and go all the way to Washington.

Current > Waddle count = 15 WRs (10 teams in)

CLEARY better than Waddle:

George Pickens, Tetairoa McMillan, Ja’Marr Chase, Michael Wilson, Drake London

BETTER than Waddle:

Tee Higgins, CeeDee Lamb, Rome Odunze, Zay Flowers, Cedric Tillman, Courtland Sutton

SIMILAR range of Waddle but I’ll take them:

Marvin Mims, D.J. Moore, Khalil Shakir, Jalen Coker

**JAYLEN WADDLE Line of Demarcation**

Big names I propose are ‘LESS THAN Waddle’:

Luther Burden, Pat Bryant, Ryan Flournoy, Marvin Harrison, Keon Coleman, Rashad Bateman, Jerry Jeudy, Troy Franklin, Xavier Legette, Darnell Mooney

-------------------

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===============================

12/29 MON

(8:08amET)

-- Today's Agenda...

Game reports will post randomly all week as we complete them.

FFM news stream page will be active/happening every day all this week, trying to get to what players are playing or at-risk of not playing much/at all Week 18.

Executive Report planned to post after 5-6pmET and before the MNF game.

MNF Betting overview and my prop bets will post ahead of MNF.

== Rams motivations Tonight? ==

My worst-case scenario happened last night, as a bettor...when Caleb Williams’s game-winning TD shot fell a few yards short at the buzzer. SF won. Seattle won. Now, the Rams can NOT win the NFC West. They are a wild card only.

What the Rams now have ‘at stake’ is either being the #5 seed (currently) or the #6 seed (worst case). Green Bay is locked at the #7 seed. One of SEA/SF will be the other NFC wild card.

How motivated are the Rams to get that #5 seed? This year, that’s a pretty valuable thing (vs. the #6 seed). As the #5 seed, you go to Tampa or Carolina...the easiest matchup of any NFC division winner by far. If the Rams are the #6 seed...they are off to (likely) cold Philadelphia for a showdown with the defending champs...or maybe going to Chicago, but likely vs. Philly. Facing the NFC South winner in the Southern climate in January is preferred...by a lot.

The Rams have to balance that #5 seed motivation versus...getting/keeping players healthy for the playoff games/run. Should they prioritize health or seeding?

I think they will play to win tonight but they’ve also had a huge wind taken out of their sails (no chance to win the NFC West) and the second it makes sense...they are pulling players. But us ‘fans’ or ‘fans with business sense’ tend to see these things differently than the players or coaches do...so we could see a flat, wandering Rams tonight that the #5 v. #6 seed is not the motivation we’d think.

I also believe the Rams will change their offensive approach, even in ‘trying to win’...no more ‘everything to Puka’. You’ll see a much more diverse offense the next two games, as they try to let Puka not take on as many hits and they can use this time to develop others. Matt Stafford won’t throw the ball all the time, especially not as many deep passes...he will have more quick hitters to keep contact away from him. The Rams will take a 3rd-and-8 screen or 50/50 timing deep pass down the sidelines over Stafford hanging in the pocket and trying to throw a laser to the 2nd/3rd option to get a clutch 1st-down with Atlanta’s great pass rush in his face. And the run game will be more spread around, and we’ll see some more Ronnie Rivers floating in and out of games.

At this point, I think you have to FF-start the Rams things tonight as you probably planned...but brace yourself for less upside/accumulation. And if you are facing Rams’ things...there’s hope they will not go crazy with accumulation. Matt Stafford has likely put up enough stats to make his case for MVP without super-piling on, but more numbers would help make his case more-and-more over Drake Maye. Stafford has to balance toning it down to stay healthy or gunning it, exposing himself in the pocket to rack more stats to try to put the MVP race away. I’m not sure which way he goes. I bet those goal-to-go from the 5-yard line and closer plays end up NOT those typical handoffs up the middle, but play action passes for short TDs to help Stafford get easy TD numbers.

Stafford is faced with = try harder to win the MVP or don’t care about that and just stay healthy/clean for the playoffs on behalf of the organization.

We will be watching for any words or information or insight from Sean McVay all day, and reporting out on it ASAP.

== Injury Report coming out of the weekend ==

Gemini report with my research/double-checks...

Player / Unit	Pos	Team	Injury Type	Status & Week 18 Outlook
Javonte Williams	RB	DAL	Shoulder/AC Sprain	OUT/High Risk. Left Christmas game in 2nd Qtr. With Dallas eliminated, he is a prime candidate for a Week 18 shutdown.
Dontayvion Wicks	WR	GB	Concussion	OUT. Sustained Saturday night. Now in NFL protocol. Unlikely to clear in time for the regular-season finale.
Michael Pittman	WR	IND	Calf	ACTIVE. Exited Sunday briefly but returned to finish the game. Availability for W18 is high, though explosiveness is a concern.
Jake Ferguson	TE	DAL	Calf	OUT/High Risk. Left Christmas game in 3rd Qtr. Like Javonte, the team has no incentive to play him in a meaningless finale.
Harold Fannin Jr.	TE	CLE	Groin Re-injury	DOUBTFUL. Scored a TD then exited Sunday. This is an aggravation of a Friday tweak; usually a 2-week recovery.
Breece Hall	RB	NYJ	Knee	QUESTIONABLE. Sustained Sunday vs NE. Monitoring for swelling today.
Josh Allen	QB	BUF	Foot Re-injury	QUESTIONABLE. Aggravated his midfoot sprain Sunday. Buffalo may rest him for the playoffs.
Darnell Washington	TE	PIT	Broken Arm	OUT. Confirmed fractured forearm in the 1st Qtr on Sunday. Done for the season.
Rashid Shaheed	WR	SEA	Concussion	OUT. Sustained Sunday. Entering protocol.
Malik Willis	QB	GB	Shoulder (AC)	QUESTIONABLE. Aggravated his throwing shoulder Saturday night. Expect erratic velocity if he plays W18.
Jaylen Waddle	WR	MIA	Ribs	QUESTIONABLE. Left Sunday’s game after a hard hit. Will be a pain-management decision for W18.
Kevin Dotson	G	LAR	Ankle	OUT. Exited Sunday/Monday. A massive blow to the Rams' interior run-blocking metrics.
Tyler Biadasz	C	WAS	Knee/Ankle	OUT. Mult-joint injury sustained Christmas Day. WAS pocket integrity collapsed after he left.
Robert Hainsey	C	JAX	Groin	OUT. Aggravated in pre-game/early Sunday. JAX interior line is now a major liability.
Patrick Mekari	G	JAX	Back	OUT. Forced out early Sunday. Leaves JAX down two interior starters.
Alex Anzalone	LB	DET	Concussion	OUT. Sustained Christmas Day. Detroit's run-stop efficiency drops without him in the middle.
T.J. Watt	LB	PIT	Lung/Ribs	OUT. Officially ruled out for the game and likely Week 18. Steelers DST loses its elite pressure floor.
Maxx Crosby	DE	LV	Knee	OUT. Effectively shut down for the season as of Sunday/Monday. Las Vegas edge rush is now non-existent.
Mike Hughes	CB	ATL	Ankle	OUT. Exited Sunday/Monday. Depletes Atlanta's already thin secondary depth.

== Week 18 Early ‘sit’ list items ==

Ashton Jeanty: https://x.com/wessteinberg/status/2005327269657784537?s=43

Green Bay Packers...definitely sitting all starters they can.

*We will be tracking and reporting on this and reflecting in our projections all week.

== Week 18 Game Plan ==

-- Some are still playing for titles Week 18...whether a title game or Part 2 of a two-part event...or season-long point accumulation leagues wrapping up.

We do Week 18 somewhat like all the other weeks with just a few changes...

-- Game reports on key games we want to take a look at...especially the games with the young QBs will be released daily as we complete them. We’re watching all the games for study purposes, but only some will we report out on this week.

-- MONDAY = Executive Report (just three things part, but not the five player reports...because there’s way too many changes coming from teams that takes all week to find out about).

We will be doing a running news & notes page/report every day with info we are finding out about the way teams are planning to utilize players, play their starters, give new QBs a chance, etc.

-- TUESDAY = Week 18 Projections debut...and we’ll update them daily. Also, Tuesday Night Waivers Video show will happen...but feel free to ask all the Stash questions you might have for Dynasty leagues. Any football question is open Week 18 Tuesday night.

-- WEDNESDAY = News updates and projection updates. And New Year’s Eve.

-- THURSDAY = NO NFL games on Thursday this week. So, this is a regular news update and projection update day.

FRIDAY = News updates and projection updates with those final/week ending injury reports.

SATURDAY = Two Saturday games this week...KEY games. News updates and projection updates.

SUNDAY = Sunday Morning Sit-Start for Week 18 Video Q&A at the usual time.

--------------

MONDAY 1/5/26 = The offseason begins...a focus on the NFL playoffs, FF-playoff contests and betting, etc. And the NFL Draft scouting process begins as well...more on our plans and items when we get to that week.

-- New Hierarchy list for the next month...’The Waddle List’.

Four buckets we will put WRs into (designated below).

We start the debut with Arizona and go all the way to Washington.

Current > Waddle count = 13 WRs (9 teams in)

CLEARY better than Waddle:

George Pickens, Tetairoa McMillan, Ja’Marr Chase, Michael Wilson, Drake London

BETTER than Waddle:

Tee Higgins, CeeDee Lamb, Rome Odunze, Zay Flowers

SIMILAR range of Waddle but I’ll take them:

Cedric Tillman, D.J. Moore, Khalil Shakir, Jalen Coker

**JAYLEN WADDLE Line of Demarcation**

Big names I propose are ‘LESS THAN Waddle’:

Ryan Flournoy, Luther Burden, Marvin Harrison, Keon Coleman, Rashad Bateman, Jerry Jeudy, Xavier Legette, Darnell Mooney

-------------------

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