Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 18: Examining Fringe Fantasy Football Flex Starters
Week 18 can be a difficult slate for fantasy managers to navigate. With multiple teams locked into playoff spots and several more with nothing to play for, NFL teams can be tempted to rest starters.
This means that many top fantasy performers might not be available for the final push to a fantasy championship. Managers may instead have to rely heavily on their bench and/or players plucked from the waiver wire. In this scenario, matchups become incredibly important.
Below, you'll find a look at four fringe fantasy starters—players rostered in 80 percent or less of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues—and whether they can be trusted in Week 18. Factors like projected role, recent performance and, of course, matchups were all considered here.
All picks are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.
Start 'Em: Latavius Murray, RB, Denver Broncos
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The Los Angeles Chargers don't appear to be a team willing to rest starters in Week 18.
"Our approach is definitely going to get [a] shot to win this ballgame and play as well as we can play heading into the playoffs," Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said, per Eric Smith of the team's official website.
The Denver Broncos, though, will be looking to play spoiler, and the best way to do that will be by attacking L.A. on the ground. This should mean a high floor for Denver running back Latavius Murray.
Murray is coming off a solid outing against the Kansas City Chiefs, one he finished with 56 rushing yards, four receptions and 16 receiving yards. That's probably on the low end of what managers can expect against the Chargers, who have not been great at stopping the run.
Los Angeles has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Murray had 64 scrimmage yards and a reception in the first meeting. While he shouldn't be considered a must-start RB, he should provide solid flex value for managers short on options.
Sit 'Em: Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders
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Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. appeared to be a can't-miss play in Week 17 against a bad Cleveland Browns defense. However, Washington threw a proverbial wrench into those plans by giving a fair amount of touches (nine carries and three receptions) to Jonathan Williams.
With Antonio Gibson out, Williams saw his biggest workload of the season. Robinson did log 24 carries but had just 87 yards and no receptions.
The backfield situation makes Robinson a huge question mark for Week 18, and his matchup with the Dallas Cowboys makes things even worse. Dallas hasn't been great against the run in 2022 (20th in yards per carry allowed), but it has limited opposing RBs in fantasy.
Only the San Francisco 49ers have allowed fewer fantasy points to RBs this season.
Add in the fact that Dallas still has a shot at the NFC East title and will be playing hard to win and Robinson is simply too much of a risk to trust in a championship fantasy matchup.
Start 'Em: Zay Jones, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
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Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Zay Jones is a complete boom-or-bust play in fantasy. Over the past two weeks, for example, he caught a combined four passes for just 38 yards. However, the speedy wideout caught six passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns in Week 15.
While there is always some risk with starting Jones, this feels like a week in which to trust him.
Like the Cowboys, the Jaguars have a shot at a division title in Week 18. If they beat the rival Tennessee Titans, they'll take the NFC South crown and host a playoff game next weekend. You can bet that Trevor Lawrence and the Jags will attack Tennessee through the air.
Tennessee ranks second in rushing yards allowed but dead-last in passing yards allowed.
The Titans have also allowed the most fantasy points to opposing WRs this season. That means a great matchup for Jacksonville's wideouts, and Jones burned Tennessee in the first meeting. He caught eight passes for 77 yards and a touchdown and should have a similar stat line in the rematch.
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Sit 'Em: George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Like Jones, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wideout George Pickens has been an up-and-down fantasy option this season. Between Weeks 14 and 16, he caught 10 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. In Weeks 13 and 17, he had three combined receptions for 31 yards.
This week, Pickens' matchup is the polar opposite of Jones'. The Cleveland Browns have been susceptible to the run and fairly strong against the pass.
Cleveland ranks 25th in rushing yards allowed but seventh in passing yards surrendered. It also ranks 27th in rushing touchdowns allowed (20) and seventh in passing touchdowns allowed (19).
The Browns have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs in 2022.
The Steelers still have an outside shot at making the playoffs, so this game won't be about developing chemistry between Pickens and fellow rookie Kenny Pickett. Pittsburgh will be trying to win, and that will likely mean leaning heavily on Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and clutch tight end Pat Freiermuth.
Expect Pickens to be an ancillary part of the game plan, as he was against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
*Fantasy roster and scoring information via FantasyPros.
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