Highsmith posted 50 tackles (36 solo), including 9.5 sacks, along with three pass defenses and a forced fumble while appearing in 13 regular-season games in 2025.

Although Highsmith had a pair of two-game absences in 2025 due to ankle and pectoral injuries, he managed to reach the 50-tackle threshold for the fourth time in his first six professional seasons while also recording a team-high 9.5 sacks. The 2020 third-round pick saw plenty of work down the stretch after returning to game action in Week 13, and he should maintain a prominent role during the playoffs.

Henry caught three of five targets for 64 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 16-3 wild-card game win over the Chargers.

Henry's 28-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was the only touchdown by either team. The tight end tied with Stefon Diggs for the team lead in targets, but Rhamondre Stevenson (75) and Kayshon Boutte (66) both had more receiving yards. Henry has scored in three of his last four games dating back to the regular season, and he'll look to keep rolling in the AFC divisional round, when the Patriots host the winner of Monday's matchup between the Texans and Steelers.

Diggs caught two of five targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 16-3 wild-card win over the Chargers.

Diggs tied Hunter Henry for the team lead in targets, but the former didn't make much of an impact in Sunday night's defensive battle, which had three times as many combined turnovers as touchdowns. New England will have another home game in the AFC divisional round, hosting either the leaky Steelers secondary or the stout Texans secondary. Diggs has been hit-or-miss in his postseason career, with 35 or fewer receiving yards in six of 15 such games and more than 100 yards in four playoff games.

Watt tallied 55 tackles (23 solo), including seven sacks, along with two interceptions, eight pass defenses, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over 14 regular-season appearances in 2025.

Watt missed three of the Steelers' final four games of the regular season due to a partially collapsed lung. While most of his total numbers were down from the 2023 and 2024 campaigns -- when he didn't miss any games -- he was still relatively efficient in 2025 and finished third on the team in sacks despite missing three matchups. Watt returned to action for the team's Week 18 matchup against the Ravens and will continue to be available to begin the playoffs. The 2017 first-round pick signed a three-year, $123 million contract extension with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2025 season, so he'll remain a focal point for the team's defense in 2026.

Henderson rushed nine times for 27 yards and caught his only target for nine yards in Sunday's 16-3 wild-card game win over the Chargers.

Henderson struggled to find running room, with most of his rushing yards coming on a 15-yard carry on his final touch as the Patriots were running out the clock. He ceded most of the backfield touches to the much more efficient Rhamondre Stevenson, who turned 10 carries and four targets into 128 scrimmage yards. After an underwhelming playoff debut, Henderson will get an opportunity to pick up the pace in the AFC divisional round against either the Texans or Steelers while continuing to share backfield reps with Stevenson. Both of those defenses were stout against the run in the regular season and Henderson hasn't contributed much as a pass catcher recently, with only two targets in his last four games.

Stevenson rushed 10 times for 53 yards and caught three of four targets for 75 yards in Sunday's 16-3 wild-card game win over the Chargers.

Stevenson was much more effective than TreVeyon Henderson, who had just 36 total yards on 10 touches. The Patriots rode the hot hand on the ground, helping Stevenson finish with the team lead in carries in addition to his usual role as the primary pass catcher among the team's running backs. Stevenson and Henderson will likely continue to split carries in the AFC divisional round, when New England will face a stout run defense, regardless of whether that's the Texans or Steelers. In each of his last six games dating back to the regular season, Stevenson has produced at least 77 scrimmage yards.

Maye completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception while rushing 10 times for 66 yards in Sunday's 16-3 wild-card game win over the Chargers. He also fumbled twice, losing one.

Neither team scored a touchdown in the first half, though the Patriots took a 6-3 lead into the break after the defense bailed Maye out with a fourth-down stop by the goal line following his first-quarter interception. Maye's rough start extended into the third quarter, when he lost a fumble after the Patriots had worked their way into the red zone, but New England's defense continued to carry the team until Maye's 28-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Henry extended the lead to 16-3 with 9:45 remaining to provide a fourth-quarter cushion. The Patriots have already beaten as many winning teams in the playoffs as they did the entire regular season, and they will remain at home in the AFC divisional round against either the Texans or Steelers.

Wilson recorded 126 tackles (74 solo), including two sacks, along with an interception, two pass defenses and a fumble recovery while appearing in all 17 regular-season games in 2025.

Wilson showed promise as a rookie in 2024 with 78 tackles (49 solo), an interception, two pass defenses, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown, and he took a step forward in his second professional season by leading the Steelers in tackles. He had four games with double-digit tackles and should remain heavily involved in the playoffs and during the 2026 campaign.

Heyward secured three of four targets for 21 yards and a touchdown while logging 15 carries for 43 yards and two scores over 17 appearances during the 2025 regular season.

Heyward played mostly on special teams in 2025 and wasn't very involved in the passing game. However, he saw some short-yardage work on the ground down the stretch and reached the end zone in two of the team's final four regular-season games. The Steelers had an abundance of options at tight end for most of the season, including Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington (forearm), and it certainly seems possible that Heyward will look for other opportunities as an unrestricted free agent this spring.

Wilson secured 12 of 21 targets for 166 yards and two touchdowns over 13 regular-season appearances in 2025.

After missing most of his rookie season in 2024 due to injuries, Wilson had some encouraging performances in 2025, highlighted by a midseason stretch in which he had five performances with double-digit receiving yards in a span of six games. However, his role diminished down the stretch, and he was a healthy scratch in four of the team's last six regular-season matchups. Wilson could have some streaming appeal in 2026, but he'll likely have trouble carving out consistent fantasy relevance throughout the season.