The final week of the NFL regular season has arrived, leaving plenty of playoff implications, contract incentives, and wacky storylines around the league. It’s more important than ever to keep an eye on injury reports, as well as what’s at stake in these matchups, but this also creates some unique opportunities for value in the DFS market.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in the action with DraftKings Sportsbook and DFS contests. As you seek to maximize your DFS lineups, here is a look at a few players in line to outperform their price point to help give you an edge across the Sunday slate. Here’s a look at my top DFS lineup and the logic behind each selection.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.25M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]
Quarterback
Tanner McKee ($4,500)
The Philadelphia Eagles are resting multiple key starters against the Washington Commanders in Week 18, and former Stanford standout Tanner McKee will step in under center. While he has attempted just 48 total passes in his first two seasons, McKee has showcased potential in the preseason.
He should also be licking his chops for this matchup with the Washington defense. The Commanders rank 27th in points allowed, 31st in yards conceded, 28th in passing yards allowed, 29th in passing touchdowns allowed, and 31st in net yards per passing play.
Washington has no incentive to win, with their playoff hopes squashed, and prioritizing a draft pick is in their best interest. Meanwhile, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is about as competitive as a person can be and will still have a full game plan in place to put the available players in a position to succeed. Philadelphia claimed they wanted to become a “quarterback factory” when they first drafted Jalen Hurts, and now it’s time for McKee, the next product off the assembly line, to face his first test.
Expect him to outperform his $4,500 price tag and save some funds for more studs in your lineup.
Other Considerations: Joe Burrow ($6,700), Bo Nix ($6,200), Jacoby Brissett ($5,600), Tyler Shough ($5,300)
Running Back
Bijan Robinson ($8,700)
The Atlanta Falcons have been eliminated from playoff contention, but there aren’t any signs suggesting Bijan Robinson won’t receive his typical workload on Sunday. The two-time Pro Bowler has tallied 1,445 rushing yards, 810 receiving yards, and 11 total touchdowns. He also leads the NFL with 2,255 total yards from scrimmage.
Robinson’s 24.2 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring ranks third among all fantasy players this year, trailing only Puka Nacua and Christian McCaffrey. The Falcons will close their season against the Saints, who rank 16th in opponent points and 23rd in rushing yards allowed this season.
With plenty of the top fantasy options resting this week, Robinson should be a priority as he looks to put the finishing touches on a career-best season.
RJ Harvey ($6,800)
The Denver Broncos can secure the number one seed and home-field advantage with a victory over the Chargers. While Los Angeles will be resting Justin Herbert and other key starters, don’t expect Denver to let off the gas pedal as they near the finish line.
RJ Harvey will remain a central figure in Denver’s attack as its go-to running back. This season, he’s rushed the ball 131 times for 512 rushing yards, along with 351 receiving yards, and 12 total touchdowns. Over his last six games, Harvey is averaging 13.5 rush attempts with six touchdowns. The rookie is averaging 12.7 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring, which ranks 22nd, but has tallied 18.6 or more in four of his past five games.
Count on Harvey to stay active in the Broncos’ attack and see additional workload if they seize a lead.
Other Considerations: Ashton Jeanty ($6,400), Woody Marks ($5,800), Jacory Croskey-Merritt ($5,300), Ray Davis ($4,900)
Wide Receivers
Justin Jefferson ($5,800)
Getting Justin Jefferson at a $5,800 price point feels like an insane bargain, but his production this season has justified the discount. The former Offensive Player of the Year has tallied 76 receptions for 947 yards and two touchdowns. While a respectable output for most receivers, it’s far below his sky-high standards.
The four-time Pro Bowler is averaging just 11.8 fantasy points on DraftKings scoring, which ranks 34th among wide receivers. The Vikings will roll out J.J. McCarthy once again this week, and a strong performance against the Packers would undoubtedly improve the franchise’s feelings about his future under center.
Expect McCarthy to consistently target his star wide receiver against a Packers team that’s resting multiple key starters. While Jefferson hasn’t cracked 20+ fantasy points in a game since Week 5, expect the tide to shift on Sunday afternoon.
Jerry Jeudy ($4,100)
The Cleveland Browns will round out their season against the Cincinnati Bengals and get one last look at Shedeur Sanders in his rookie campaign. It’s an ideal matchup for the young signal caller, as Cincinnati has hemorrhaged opponent points all season long.
The Bengals enter Week 18 ranking 31st in points allowed, 32nd in yards given up, 30th in net yards allowed per passing play, and 31st in passing touchdowns conceded. Still, it will be up to the pass catchers to step up and make plays. Jerry Jeudy seems well-positioned to do just that, with David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. both sidelined.
Jeudy has 48 receptions for 585 yards and two touchdowns this season, which come out to just 7.3 fantasy points per game. However, the former first-round pick is just a season removed from racking up 1,229 receiving yards and four scores. With Jeudy atop the target list against a vulnerable defense, look for Sanders to cap his rookie season with a strong performance with his top receiver.
Darius Slayton ($4,100)
The New York Giants will face the Dallas Cowboys to put a bow on what has been a disastrous season. Jaxson Dart is expected to remain in his starting role as the organization further evaluates his outlook as the franchise QB.
Look for Dart to put on a show against a vulnerable Cowboys defense. Dallas ranks 31st in opponent passing touchdowns and dead last in both points and passing yards allowed.
Darius Slayton should play a starring role in New York’s attack. The veteran has flown under the radar this season but tallied 33 receptions for 504 yards and a touchdown. Slayton is not the flashiest player, but he has tallied at least one reception in every game since the opening week and has been targeted as many as 10 times in a game.
With Dart looking to make a statement against a vulnerable defense, I’m backing Slayton to play an active role in the offense and outperform his $4,100 price point.
Other Considerations: Michael Wilson ($6,600), Courtland Sutton ($5,900), Parker Washington ($5,100)
Tight End
Trey McBride ($7,500)
It has been a historic season for tight end Trey McBride, who broke the NFL’s single-season record for most receptions by a tight end (119). McBride has turned this into 1,174 yards and 11 touchdowns, both of which are career-best marks. His average of 19.5 fantasy points per game on DraftKings scoring leads all tight ends by a comfortable margin and is tied for 19th among all position players.
Arizona will close down its season in a matchup with the Rams, and Jacoby Brissett is looking to hold onto a potential starting opportunity for next season. He has impressed all year and will look to keep the momentum rolling against a Rams defense that ranks 17th in passing yards allowed and 14th in opponent passing touchdowns.
McBride has become Arizona’s most dangerous weapon and will aim to punctuate his stellar season with an exclamation point. Count on the Cardinals to keep feeding their star tight end, and for the two-time Pro Bowler to continue producing monster fantasy numbers in the last week of the season.
Other Considerations: Travis Kelce ($4,700), Tyler Warren ($4,400), Mike Gesicki ($3,300)
Flex
Tank Bigsby ($5,400)
Saquon Barkley will rest the final week of the regular season, opening the door for Tank Bigsby to command Philadelphia’s backfield. The Eagles acquired Bigsby from the Jaguars in September, and he’s rushed the ball 42 times for 269 yards and a touchdown since joining the team.
Bigsby will take on a Commanders defense that has allowed the NFL’s second-most rushing yards, while ranking 22nd in rushing scores and 28th in opponent yards per carry.
Bigsby has impressed in limited opportunities and is just one season removed from piling on 766 rushing yards and seven touchdowns with the Jaguards. Philadelphia wouldn’t have made the in-season trade without confidence that the 24-year-old running back could deliver in matchups like these. He has big-play potential and could take any carry for a chunk or a touchdown, especially against the Commanders.
Keep Bigsby in mind as a dark horse threat to lead all running backs in scoring for the week.
Defense & Special Teams
Philadelphia Eagles ($3,100)
On the other side of the matchup, expect Philadelphia to have plenty of defensive success as well. The Eagles’ defense has continuously improved throughout the season and currently ranks 13th in opponent yards and third in points allowed.
They are producing 8.2 fantasy points per game on DraftKings scoring, which ranks fourth among NFL defenses. While the Eagles will be resting some starters on this side of the ball as well, the Commanders are rolling out Josh Johnson as their starting quarterback, with both Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota sidelined.
Johnson threw his first passes of the season in Week 16 against the Eagles, needing just nine attempts to throw an interception.
Expect Philadelphia to capitalize on some ugly offense from Washington and rack up fantasy points in the process.
Other Considerations: Jaguars ($4,000), Broncos ($3,800), Bills ($3,500)
