Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, who will be a free agent in March, said his decreased number of carries at the end of the season will impact his thinking in free agency, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Dowdle said he wants to go somewhere "where he can get the bulk of the carries." The 27-year-old was an unquestioned RB1 during the 2025 season when Chuba Hubbard missed time with an injury. However, Dowdle was involved in more of a timeshare late in the year following Hubbard's return, and he watched Hubbard score twice in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. He had only five rushing attempts for nine yards while adding one catch on two targets for six yards. In the final four regular-season games, Dowdle averaged only 3.3 yards per carry as his role shrank. It sounds as though Dowdle doesn't plan on signing in Carolina, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to land a lead-back role elsewhere in free agency.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith (glute) was a full participant in practice on Saturday and was cleared from the final injury report, according to Adam Caplan of Sirius XM NFL Radio. Smith will be active for the Wild-Card matchup against the visiting Houston Texans on Monday night. Even though Darnell Washington (forearm) is done for the year due to injury, Smith is a hard sell for starting fantasy football lineups in playoff formats, especially with receiver DK Metcalf returning from a two-game suspension. The 30-year-old Smith had only one catch on two targets for two yards in the team's Week 18 regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens, and he caught only 38 passes during the regular season for 222 yards and two touchdowns. If you are going to use a TE from Pittsburgh this weekend, it should be Pat Freiermuth.

Houston Texans running back Jawhar Jordan (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday night's Wild-Card contest against the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Adam Caplan of Sirius XM NFL Radio. Jordan suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday and was unable to practice all week. If the Texans advance past the Steelers and to the Divisional Round next weekend, the 26-year-old Jordan still might not be ready to go. With Jordan sidelined against the Steelers, veteran Nick Chubb should be active to help give the Texans some backfield depth behind rookie Woody Marks. Before Jordan's injury in the season finale, he had taken over RB2 duties from Chubb, with Chubb being a healthy scratch last Sunday. Chubb shouldn't be in any starting fantasy lineups on Wild-Card weekend.

The Buffalo Bills announced on Saturday that they placed wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) on Injured Reserve. Palmer will not play in Sunday's Wild-Card playoff tilt against the Jacksonville Jaguars and will not be available for the rest of the postseason if the Bills advance. The 26-year-old did not practice at all this week and will end what has been a disappointing first season in Buffalo in 2025. In 12 games, Palmer caught only 22 of 37 targets for 303 yards and no touchdowns. His absence on Sunday might mean more involvement from the likes of Brandin Cooks, Gabe Davis, and Tyrell Shavers, although all three of the receivers should still be considered deep sleepers in fantasy football playoff formats.