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Considine was brought in due to his familiarity with DC Sean McDermott’s scheme, but he was limited to special teams duty through four weeks. He didn’t have a tackle in four games.

Justin Hebert also tried to find Johnston in the end zone, but the Raiders stopped him from punctuating the day with a touchdown... by committing pass interference. Lack of a touchdown aside, the Chargers and fantasy managers alike couldn’t ask for more from the second-year wideout. He capped a career-save second season with high-water marks in catches and yards. Herbert was forced to lean on him with fellow deep threat Josh Palmer out and he didn’t disappoint. Palmer looks unlikely to play in the Wild Card Round, putting Johnston in line for another high-volume outing to open the playoffs.

The four-score start was Murray’s first of the year, and helped him sneak past 20 through the air on the season. An every-week starter for the first time since 2020, Murray appeared fully healthy after that was not the case during his eight-game post-ACL cameo last season. Unfortunately, the better health was not accompanied by another step forward as a player. It was more of the same for a quarterback who rips chunk gains on the ground, but not as often as fellow dual-threats Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Murray also again disappointed as a down-field passer despite the addition of first-round boundary man Marvin Harrison Jr. He entered Week 18 in the bottom half of Pro Football Focus’ deep passing grade, for instance. Bryce Young and dead-armed Kirk Cousins both generated more yardage on attempts of 20-plus yards. On the whole, Murray’s touchdown rate was a new career low, unacceptably so. No longer a spring chicken going on age 28, Murray seems unlikely to find a new career gear absent pairing up with an offensive Svengali. That is not on the horizon in Arizona.

JSN saved his worst game for last in an otherwise excellent sophomore campaign. After major struggles as a rookie, Smith-Njigba took over as Seattle’s clear-cut No. 1 receiver and caught 100 of 137 targets for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns in a Seahawks offense that was among the NFL’s pass heaviest for most of the year. After playing from the slot on 69 percent of his routes in 2023, Smith-Njigba operated from the slot on 84 percent of his routes in 2024. His average depth of target jumped from 6.4 in 2023 to 9.2 this season. He earned Geno Smith’s trust early on and overtook DK Metcalf as the top target in the Seattle offense while the aged Tyler Lockett became totally irrelevant both in real and fantasy football.

Meyers entered the week needing a big game to cross 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. He got there and then some through a handful of chunk plays, capping a career year in style for the veteran wideout. Meyers finished the season with 87 grabs for 1,027 yards and four scores. The former Patriot started the year slowly, playing third-fiddle to Davante Adams and rookie sensation Brock Bowers. That didn’t last long as Adams suffered a hamstring injury and was subsequently traded to the Jets. Meyers also missed time of his own with an injury but hit the ground running once healthy. All three of his 100-yard games and as many of his touchdowns came post-Adams. At 28 years old, Meyers has likely reached his peak as an NFL receiver, but high-end WR2 numbers are nothing to laugh at. Entering a contract year, Meyers will look to keep up the strong pace in search of either an extension or a new deal on the open market in 2026.

It could make sense for the Saints to cut Carr after June 1st, when his cap savings jump from $1.326 million to $30 million but the pass-catching corps already has its core players in place. The situation could encourage the Saints to pushback the rebuilding process another year. Only time will tell.

Nix looked like the most elusive player on the field at times, playing with a carefree flare. A forward pass penalty negated a would-be 49-yard gain that included a lateral to Javonte Williams, though Nix still banked 27 rushing yards on the play. Courtland Sutton needed 82 receiving yards to activate a half-million-dollar bonus so Nix flung him a team-high seven targets en route to five receptions for 98 yards and one touchdown. Nix proved himself as a high-upside fantasy QB1 this season and he can be treated as such against the Bills for playoff fantasy purposes next week.

Bowers entered Week 18 with the record for receptions by a rookie (at any position), lost it to Malik Nabers in the early window of games, and reclaimed in the second half of this game after being held without a reception through two quarters. Bowers easily set the records for catches and yards by a rookie tight end. He caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns, falling six catches short of tying Zach Ertz for the single-season record in receptions by a tight end. Bowers had no problems earning targets with Davante Adams on the field early in the year and hit overdrive after the team sent him to New York. Even if the Raiders add more talent at receiver in the offseason, Bowers is the team’s unquestioned top target heading into 2025. He will rightfully be drafted as the TE1 overall in all formats next season.

It was Smith’s first NFL game with four touchdown passes. Geno was cooking in this one, especially in the second half. He connected with Noah Fant, Jake Bobo, DK Metcalf, and AJ Barner for scores against a Rams defense resting most of its starters. Geno, 34, will end the season with 4,320 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, with a low 3.3 percent touchdown rate in what was a high-volume pass offense for most of the regular season. Though Smith is signed through the 2025 season, it would be a surprise if he doesn’t seem serious competition of the Seattle starting gig this offseason. That won’t come from Sam Howell, who proved this season that he is among the worst quarterbacks in organized football. The Seahawks have seemed to peak in the Geno era, leaving the franchise likely looking elsewhere for a QB who offers championship upside.

Pipkins left with the oblique injury in the second half and was listed as questionable to return. He did so in the fourth quarter. Pipkins started at right tackle in place of Joe Alt, who himself was moved to left tackle in place of Rashawn Slater.