Week 18 is always a wild ride for fantasy football leagues, which is why many formats don’t use the week at all. With many teams dealing with injuries or planning to rest their stars, it sometimes leads to strange scenarios and unusual opportunities for some players. However, if you’re using this week, it’s probably a very important one for you to win since it could be your championship or your punishment game. To help you with your lineups, I ranked my top starters at each position, as I have all season.
Be sure to consider all the matchups and options on your roster and the waiver wire since there is so much change in the fantasy football landscape coming into Week 18.
Normally in this post, I highlight some of the biggest risers and fallers at each position compared to the previous week. Since Week 18 is such a different week, though, I’m going to highlight some of the biggest adjustments I would make to my rankings that came out on Monday based on the news that has unfolded already this week and what I expect to see on Sunday. Be sure to stay tuned to DK Network for more breaking news as the week goes on and teams clarify their plans for their Week 18 matchups.
QB Risers and Fallers
With so many QB changes for Week 18, my colleague Garion Thorne has a full post focused on who is playing and who is resting at QB. Many of the top options from the season will not play, but we know Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield all have lots to play for, which is why I have them as my top three, and I’d keep them there based on what we know to this point.
Bo Nix is another option I like a lot as he tries to lead his team to a win to get into the playoffs, while Michael Penix Jr. gets a cushy matchup against the Panthers in a game the Falcons need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
I listed Brock Purdy in my top 10 before his elbow injury on Monday Night Football, but since he’s out, I do think Joshua Dobbs has interesting sleeper appeal if you need a QB from the waiver wire. Another option that I highlighted in my early waiver wire pickups for Week 18 is Tanner McKee, who looks like he could get the start for the Eagles, who are locked into the No. 2 seed.
Check out my full QB rankings for Week 18.
RB Risers and Fallers
By the nature of the position, running backs take a lot of hits and are very prone to injury. Playoff teams will definitely try to keep their key runners out of harm’s way as much as possible this week, which explains why Saquon Barkley will be sitting even with a shot to potentially set the all-time single-season rushing record. He was ranked in my top five initially for this week.
Ahead of him are running backs whose teams need wins. I’ve got Bijan Robinson in my top spot against the soft Panthers’ run defense, followed by Jahmyr Gibbs, Derrick Henry and De’Von Achane. Bucky Irving would slide into my top five in Barkley’s spot, since the Bucs need to beat the Saints to claim the NFC South.
There is a host of “if healthy” options which are still to be determined heading into the weekend, but James Conner has already been ruled out, so he would come out of my No. 16 spot.
It does look like Kyren Williams and J.K. Dobbins will mostly rest, leaving plenty of work for sleeper plays Kimani Vidal and Blake Corum. Michael Carter is another intriguing sleeper, with James Conner out. Veteran Miles Sanders could also be in the mix, since he has a real shot of being the Panthers’ top running back after putting in full practices this week. Austin Ekeler is also on his way back from IR, although his focus will likely be getting healthy for the postseason.
Check out my full RB rankings for Week 18.
WR Risers and Fallers
Ja’Marr Chase has a shot at the wide receiver triple crown and will definitely have everything to play for against the Steelers on Saturday night. I have him as my top receiver of the week with other big-name receivers in must-win games right behind him.
We haven’t gotten a lot of clarity yet over how much or if some of the star receivers for playoff teams will be in action, while other receivers have been putting up good numbers for teams long eliminated from the playoff race. Rookie receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. are in my top 10 this week, with other veterans likely resting, while Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown are also in my top 10 for their head-to-head battle on Sunday Night Football.
With Deebo Samuel Sr. uncertain, one player I’d add to my top 25 is Ricky Pearsall. The rookie from Florida had a breakout performance Monday night and could be very busy against the Cardinals this week. He’s a strong sleeper play to consider this week.
Check out my full WR rankings for Week 18.
TE Risers and Fallers
Brock Bowers and Trey McBride stay in my top two spots since their teams continue to have nothing to play for, as they have for the last several games. Jonnu Smith, Mark Andrews and Sam LaPorta all have plenty to play for and round out my top five, while George Kittle drops out due to his injury.
Kittle isn’t the only injury at the position, with Cade Otton and David Njoku still missing practices as well. With Kittle, Otton and Njoku uncertain, options like Payne Durham and Jordan Akins are in play as top 10 options.
Another key tight end situation to watch this week is with the Eagles. Dallas Geodert could return and tune-up for the playoffs, which would limit the upside of Grant Calcaterra. However, if Goedert doesn’t play or only gets a few snaps, Calcaterra could be very busy with the Eagles resting other pass-catchers.
Check out my full TE rankings for Week 18.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is z.thompson) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
