Key Starters and Tough Calls - Week 18 Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football And DFS Include Blake Corum, Marvin Harrison Jr., Ricky Pearsall

January 4, 2025

Scott Engel highlights fantasy football lineup starts/sits for Week 18 (2024). He features key NFL players to start when you are dealing with tight Week 18 fantasy football lineup decisions.

For the final week of the 2024 season, those who are still participating in Week fantasy football Super Bowls must do two things. First, vote in a new league commissioner for next season. Secondly, consult our rundown of our best streamers and lineup pluggers to win a league championship.

Using RotoBaller’s Week 18 Lineup Rankings as a guide, we identify prime seasonal final-week plays and also highlight the DFS prices of the featured options so you can consider them to cash out. The analysis is based on PPR formats. The players included here are the ones you should go with when facing difficult lineup decisions in Week 18.

So many players are being rested or are injured this week. Finding optimal starters is more challenging than at any point of the season. At the same time, some offensive players will be facing defenses that might be more depleted or resting starters, creating matchup advantages.

Running Backs – Fantasy Football Week 18

Zach Charbonnet

The Seahawks are playing to win, as Mike Macdonald wants to get to 10 victories. The Rams will be trotting out reserves as they are ready for the playoffs. Charbonnet can perform well with regular work and should be projected for an ample workload. Start him as an RB1 in seasonal leagues, and he is a good DFS play on DraftKings at $6,700. The Seattle RB is ranked in the top 10 at his position this week.

Blake Corum

In the same game, I will be very interested to see what Corum does with what should be a consistent amount of touches. He has been hidden behind Kyren Williams for much of the year, but now we will get to see his nifty cutback moves on display.

Blake Corum welcoming Matt Milano back to the field
MilaNOOO pic.twitter.com/Pk9yBH32cT

— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo) December 12, 2024

Corum is a potentially exciting runner and a nifty RB2 play. He is a fine upside play for DFS tournaments on DraftKings at $5,600 and can potentially help you win a Week 18 championship game. The Rams rookie is ranked as a high-end RB2 for Week 18.

Ray Davis

Here is another rookie starter who can be a difference-maker in Week 18. On Oct. 14 against the Jets, Davis rushed for 97 yards on 20 carries and also caught three passes for 55 yards. New England ranks 24^th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs.

Davis should take on a significant offensive role, with James Cook likely resting for most of the game and Mitchell Trubisky playing extensively at quarterback. He is ranked just inside the top 20 at RB and is a fine DraftKings DFS option at $5,200.

Jaleel McLaughlin

The Broncos will attempt to clinch a playoff berth for a third consecutive week against the Kansas City backups. McLaughlin led the Broncos with 10 rushing attempts last week, and if you are seeking a deeper play, the Denver is a viable option. He is ranked just outside the top 25 at RB, and his DFS price tag is just $4,800.

McLaughlin may split some work with Audric Estime, yet he can be a key performer for the Broncos, who should celebrate clinching their first playoff berth since 2015.

That is the longest postseason drought for any team following a Super Bowl win, per Field Level Media. Denver wants to enjoy their feel-good week before it goes to Buffalo to see its season end in the first round of the playoffs. You can even consider a Broncos DFS stack.

Wide Receivers - Fantasy Football Week 18

Jameson Williams

Get as much stake in the most consequential regular season game of the year in Week 18 as possible as The Lions clash with Minnesota. Williams is a must-start for those still playing in seasonal leagues, as he is a top-scoring weapon for the NFL’s best offense. Williams found the end zone four times from scrimmage in the last three games.

Jameson Williams pic.twitter.com/1WTwKEbs8m

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) January 3, 2025

Detroit will totally unleash everything it can on offense to protect the No. 1 NFC seed it has gripped for so many weeks. The Vikings’ pass defense has allowed the third-most FFPG to WRs over the past four weeks. Williams is ranked as a top 20 WR for Week 18. He can score from anywhere on the field, whether it’s on a deep pass or a running play near the end zone.

Jalen McMillan

The rookie has come on later in the season and is filling in admirably as the new and blossoming No. 2 WR for Tampa Bay. New Orleans is depleted and the Buccaneers are aiming to clinch the NFC South with a win. In a week filled with so much uncertainty for those still playing in seasonal leagues, McMillan is a must-start. He has caught six of his seven TD passes in the past four weeks.

The Saints rank 24^th in FFPG allowed to WRs. McMillan is a terrific DFS play at $5,100. He is ranked as a top-25 WR.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Harrison was overdrafted in fantasy leagues this season. I am very guilty of being one of those who picked him too soon, very often in the first few picks of the second round. In some leagues, I was able to survive the statistical frustration, and he still started for me in Week 17 in the RotoBaller Challenge, where I won my league championship. In others, drafting Harrison turned out to be a regrettable pick.

As his first NFL season closes, though, Kyler Murray has openly expressed a desire to improve his connection with Harrison in the final games. Last week, the Arizona WR was targeted 10 times and finished with six receptions for 96 yards. The San Francisco defense has been a tough matchup for WRs for most of the season, but the 49ers are dealing with multiple notable injuries on both sides of the ball,

Game flow may be much different when facing the 49ers this week, so don’t hesitate to start Harrison. He is ranked inside the top 30 at WR and is also a recommended DFS target at $5,500.

Ricky Pearsall

In the same Arizona-San Francisco matchup, Pearsall will get a good opportunity to finish with a flourish in his rookie year. He delivered the best performance of his first season last week, catching eight passes on 10 targets for 141 yards and a TD.

Deebo Samuel Sr. is out this week, and George Kittle is dealing with ankle and hamstring issues. Pearsall should be started in seasonal leagues as a WR3 and he is a prime DFS value at $4,100.

It was so exciting seeing Ricky Pearsall shine in prime time… another promising sign for the #49ers future 💯🔥

🎥: @49ers @S1ickSzn #FTTB pic.twitter.com/Be38XUjMlZ

— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) January 2, 2025

The 49ers will be without Brock Purdy, but Joshua Dobbs will get the ball to Pearsall enough to make him worthy of a starting slot this week. He is ranked as a top 30 WR.

Quarterback And Tight End - Fantasy Football Week 18

Kyler Murray

Murray has also been a disappointment this season, but in a week where the QB position looks so shaky because of injuries and players being rested, he is a surefire top-10 starter. It is important to note that he is also trying to reach a unique contract incentive.

Murray will trigger a $750,000 bonus if he rushes for 600 yards and six TDs this season. He is currently at 550 and five, respectively, so the rushing totals can obviously boost his stat line.

Murray’s DFS price tag of $6,000 is certainly comfortable. Pairing him with Harrison in cash games is a solid move.

Zach Ertz

The Washington TE is looking at a few performance incentives to reach in Week 18. Ertz can secure separate bonuses if he catches nine passes, reaches 90 yards, and registers two TD receptions. He might not quite hit any of those markers, yet he may get the ball enough on to justify starting him in Week 18 seasonal matchups. He is ranked as a top-8 TE.

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