Playoff football takes center stage as Wild Card weekend kicks off, with Los Angeles visiting Carolina and Green Bay traveling to Chicago in the NFC, while Buffalo–Jacksonville, San Francisco–Philadelphia, the Chargers–Patriots, and Houston–Pittsburgh round out a loaded slate that will shape the path to Levi’s Stadium and the Super Bowl. Outlets like AS and The Big Lead note that Seattle in the NFC and Denver in the AFC sit at home with the top seeds and first-round byes, adding pressure on everyone else to survive and advance.

Injuries are a major storyline. College Football Network and NFL.com detail that the Bills will be without linebacker Terrel Bernard, corner Maxwell Hairston, and safety Damar Hamlin, while running back Ty Johnson and receiver Josh Palmer are questionable, which boosts the fantasy outlook for James Cook and Stefon Diggs–type volume pieces. The Bears’ secondary and front seven are thinned by multiple concussion absences, which improves the fantasy ceiling for Jordan Love and the Packers’ passing game, even as Green Bay misses receiver Dontayvion Wicks. The Rams lose guard Kevin Dotson but are watching the status of playmakers like Jordan Whittington, while Carolina’s interior line is banged up, potentially tilting the trench battle toward Aaron Donald and company.

San Francisco’s situation is especially tense: 49ers WebZone reports seven players are questionable against the Eagles, including All-Pro tackle Trent Williams and wideout Ricky Pearsall. Kyle Shanahan hinted the team may need last‑minute roster moves, and if Williams can’t go, fantasy managers should downgrade 49ers rushing efficiency and Brock Purdy’s protection outlook. On the other side, Philadelphia monitors tackle Lane Johnson’s foot, a critical factor in keeping Jalen Hurts upright against that 49ers pass rush.

Coaching and front office drama continues to swirl. Front Office Sports and FOX Sports highlight an unusually active cycle, with the Falcons, Raiders, Giants, Ravens, and others in various stages of head-coach and GM searches. John Harbaugh’s split with Baltimore instantly made him one of the most coveted names on the market, while the Raiders’ search is being heavily shaped by GM John Spytek in close collaboration with minority owner Tom Brady. ESPN and FOX Sports also point to interview buzz around candidates such as Vance Joseph, Raheem Morris, and several rising coordinators, moves that will reshape schemes and fantasy value across multiple teams in 2026.

New England quietly juggles its roster ahead of hosting the Chargers. NESN notes the Patriots re‑signed offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez to the practice squad and released corner Miles Battle as illness has swept through their locker room, and the team’s own reports confirm nose tackle Khyiris Tonga is out while several key offensive players are questionable. For fantasy listeners, any further late scratches on the Patriots’ offensive line could downgrade Rhamondre Stevenson–style rushing projections and increase short passing volume.

Looking ahead to the games, national preview shows on ESPN emphasize Green Bay–Chicago as a classic rivalry tilt where Jordan Love’s poise and Caleb Williams’ debut on the playoff stage will dictate tempo, while Chargers–Patriots is framed as a quarterback duel with big fantasy stacks on both sides if the Foxborough weather cooperates. Analysts are also circling Texans–Steelers as a potential defensive slugfest where turnovers and field position decide everything, making kickers and DSTs unusually valuable.

Across other professional leagues, CFL and UFL transaction wires have been relatively quiet compared with the NFL chaos, with most news centered on future-reserve signings and coaching-staff tweaks rather than headline‑grabbing moves, leaving the spotlight firmly on the NFL postseason and the coaching carousel that will follow.

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