Week 18 Fantasy Football Rankings: Matchups, Box Score Projections for Stars We Love
It's the final week of the NFL regular season. Most season-long fantasy leagues have ended. However, a few larger leagues may still be wrapping up their playoffs, and daily fantasy sports (DFS) games are going strong.
The trickiest part of Week 18—and the reason most season-long leagues end a week earlier—is that it's hard to know which teams will play all of their biggest stars. The Philadelphia Eagles, for example, are locked into the NFC's No. 2 seed and have already announced that Saquon Barkley will sit the finale.
Fantasy managers competing in Week 18 may have to consider backup options or simply stream the best matchups to be successful.
Here, we'll dive into our favorite plays of Week 18, based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.
Quarterback
1 of 4
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: 228 passing yards, 2 TDs, 70 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs
2. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 280 passing yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
3. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders: 275 passing yards, 2 TDs, 45 rushing yards
4. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings: 275 passing yards, 2 TDs, 15 rushing yards
5. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: 275 passing yards, 2 TDs, 10 rushing yards
6. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers: 250 passing yards, 2 TDs, 20 rushing yards
7. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: 245 passing yards, 2 TDs, 20 rushing yards
8. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions, 265 passing yards, 2 TDs
9. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos: 260 passing yards, 2 TDs
10. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers; 225 passing yards, 2 TDs, 10 rushing yards
Matchup to Love: Jayden Daniels at Dallas Cowboys
Teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have plenty at stake in Week 18 and will play their starters accordingly. The Washington Commanders can accomplish little, aside from keeping the sixth seed and avoiding falling to the No. 7 seed.
For head coach Dan Quinn, that's important.
"We're going to fight like hell to keep that," Quinn told reporters on Monday.
Expect rookie phenom Jayden Daniels to have a big game against a Dallas Cowboys defense that has surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2024.
Washington will do everything possible to secure the No. 6 seed while giving Daniels one last entry on his Rookie of the Year resume. Fantasy managers who have Daniels in their lineups will reap the rewards.
Running Back
2 of 4
1. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons: 4 receptions, 145 scrimmage yards, 1 TD
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions: 3 receptions, 120 scrimmage yards, 1 TD
3. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens: 1 reception, 130 scrimmage yards, 1 TD
4. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3 receptions, 100 scrimmage yards, 1 TD
5. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers: 2 receptions, 105 scrimmage yards, 1 TD
6. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: 2 receptions, 100 scrimmage yards, 1 TD
7. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins: 3 receptions, 90 scrimmage yards, 1 TD
8. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks: 2 receptions, 85 scrimmage yards, 1 TD
9. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings: 3 receptions, 83 scrimmage yards, 1 TD
10. Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys: 4 receptions, 109 scrimmage yards
Matchup to Love: Bijan Robinson vs. Carolina Panthers
The Atlanta Falcons need help to reach the postseason. They can only get in by winning the NFC South. For that to happen, they need to outlast the Carolina Panthers while seeing the Buccaneers fall to the New Orleans Saints.
While Atlanta can't simply expect Tampa Bay to lose, all four NFC South teams will be in action at the same time. Therefore, the Falcons will bring their best game against Carolina in the finale.
That's a great situation for Bijan Robinson managers. Robinson has been one of fantasy's top backs throughout the season, though his production has been more inconsistent than players like Barkley and Derrick Henry.
This week, though, Robinson will face a Panthers defense that has surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing RBs.
Wide Receiver
3 of 4
1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings: 8 receptions, 155 yards, 1 TD
2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions: 7 receptions, 139 yards, 1 TD
3. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals: 6 receptions, 125 yards, 1 TD
4. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD
5. Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars: 5 receptions, 120 yards, 1 TD
6. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders: 6 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD
7. Malik Nabers, New York Giants: 5 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD
8. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals: 6 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
9. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks: 5 receptions, 95 yards, 1 TD
10. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers: 5 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD
Matchup to Love: Justin Jefferson at Detroit Lions
Sunday night's regular-season finale between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings will be the game of the week. These are two of the top teams in the NFC, and they'll be battling for both the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed.
The winner will receive a first-round bye, while the loser will drop to the fifth seed and will be on the road to open the postseason.
Because of the stakes and the matchups, we love both Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown this week. The Vikings have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season, while the Lions have surrendered the second-most.
We'll give Jefferson the slightest of edges here, largely because of Sam Darnold's tendency to force-feed the ball to his top receiver. Both teams have strong run defenses, however, meaning the game will likely be an aerial track meet. Neither Jefferson nor St. Brown should disappoint.
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Tight End
4 of 4
1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders: 9 receptions, 129 yards, 1 TD
2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals: 7 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD
3. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings: 5 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
4. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens: 5 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD
5. Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins, 5 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD
5. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions: 5 receptions, 70 yards, 1 TD
7. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers: 5 receptions, 85 yards
8. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers: 5 receptions, 80 yards
9. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans: 5 receptions, 75 yards
10. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders: 5 receptions, 70 yards
Matchup to Love: Mark Andrews vs. Cleveland Browns
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews may have started the season slowly, but he's come on strong as a fantasy option. Entering Week 18, he has 51 receptions for 619 yards and 10 touchdowns.
While Andrews is no longer a top-tier tight end in the mold of Brock Bowers or Trey McBride, he can be fully trusted in Week 18. Baltimore needs a win or a Pittsburgh Steelers loss to lock up the AFC North. The Ravens will play before the Steelers on Saturday, and they'll leave nothing to chance.
Baltimore should rout the lowly Cleveland Browns, who appear to be chasing a top draft pick Even if Cleveland is motivated to play spoiler, it probably won't do much to slow Andrews.
The Browns have surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.
*Fantasy scoring information via FantasyPros
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