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RotoBaller's Koby Hanson provides his picks for the DraftKings NFL DFS Saturday slate (1/3/2026). His top DK plays and value picks for daily fantasy football lineups.
Welcome back, RotoBallers! The new year is upon us, and we have one final week of regular-season football. Luckily for us, we got a slate that actually matters to all four teams. No one should be resting any starters or throwing the game away for a better draft pick. There is a lot at stake, so let's dive in.
We start with the Carolina Panthers (8-8) as they travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers (7-9). The Panthers just need a win and are in; the Buccaneers need the Saints to win as well as beat the Panthers to win the NFC South. In our late game, we have the No. 1 seed in the NFC on the line as the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers (12-4).
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DraftKings Quarterbacks - Week 18 DFS Picks
Bryce Young, CAR at TB ($4,800)
Getting different worked out for me last week with Malik Willis, can I go back-to-back? Bryce Young has been a serviceable QB for the Panthers this season and has them in line for a playoff spot with a win this week. He is getting a great matchup against the Buccaneers, who have given up the third-most fantasy points to QBs on the season.
This is the same defense that saw rookie QB Quinn Ewers lead the Dolphins to a win in just his second career start. Young is much more experienced and saw this defense not too long ago in Week 16, where he finished with 17 fantasy points. Young is dirt cheap and has the best matchup of the slate.
Other options - Sam Darnold
DraftKings Running Backs - Week 18 DFS Picks
TOP PLAY
Christian McCaffrey, SF vs. SEA ($8,800)
Christian McCaffrey has once again been one of the best players in the league. He is also basically matchup-proof. The Seahawks have given up the fourth-fewest amount of rushing yards to opposing RBs this season. He does get a solid matchup in the receiving game as Seattle is giving up the sixth-most receiving yards to RBs.
CMC had 23 fantasy points in their first matchup in Week 1. CMC is way above the rest of the RBs on the slate, and should be one of the first guys you roster in every lineup. CMC has a high red-zone rush share of 76% and leads the team in red-zone target share at 29%. He should be good for at least one touchdown in this one, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is more than one.
VALUE PLAY
Zach Charbonnet, SEA at SF ($5,600)
The Seattle offense has been tough to predict. It loves to run the ball, but there is no consistency to who leads that charge. Getting a little bit of both Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III could be necessary. The thing that has me leaning more toward Charbonnet, though, is how he vultures those rushing TDs in the red zone.
Charbonnet holds a 52.4% red-zone rush share this season compared to Walker's 34.5%. Charbonnet has more than double the touchdowns. If he can get the rushing attempts like he did last week against the Panthers, he could make for a killer value play at the RB position.
Other options - Kenneth Walker III, Bucky Irving
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DraftKings Wide Receivers - Week 18 DFS Picks
TOP PLAY
Tetairoa McMillan, CAR at TB ($5,800)
Tetairoa McMillan is a live favorite alongside fellow rookie Tyler Shough to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. It may come down to how both guys perform this week, and a big game from McMillan to get the Panthers into the playoffs might be just enough to seal the deal.
McMillan had a lackluster week in the Week 17 loss to the Seahawks, but I do expect him to get back on track here in a much better matchup against the Buccaneers. He had six receptions on 10 targets for 73 yards and a touchdown in the previous game against the Buccaneers.
McMillan should be lined up against Benjamin Morrison, who is giving up .35 fantasy points per route run this season. A lot of people will start their lineups with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but I think McMillan makes for a solid pivot. The pairing with Young could ultimately prove to be extremely optimal.
VALUE PLAY
Chris Godwin Jr., TB vs. CAR ($5,300)
It's always a risk to take one of the Buccaneers WRs, with four viable options at WR, but Chris Godwin Jr. is coming off his best game of the season and looked like his former self once again. He finished with just under 27 fantasy points in their loss to the Dolphins last week. Godwin led the WR corps in total snaps played and tied for receptions alongside Jalen McMillan.
Mayfield. Godwin. TD Bucs!
TBvsMIA on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/YgnyBKIR9J
— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2025
I like the matchup we are getting for Godwin here; he should be lining up against Chau Smith-Wade in the slot. He is giving up .26 fantasy points per route run this season. Godwin is also second on the team in red-zone target% at 23.3%. With the playoffs on the line, I expect Baker Mayfield and company to do everything they can to get the job done, even if it means throwing the ball quite a bit.
Other options - Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Mike Evans, Jauan Jennings
DraftKings Tight Ends - Week 18 DFS Picks
TOP PLAY
AJ Barner, SEA at SF ($3,700)
The price difference between George Kittle and the rest of the TEs on the slate is wild. Kittle is, by all means, worth the price, but what would the fun in that be if I just touted him? AJ Barner has had a couple of solid performances in the last couple of weeks and could end up being a solid pivot option at TE.
End zone had his name on it ‼️ @_ajbarner_ 17 yards to the house.
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/yYoG20JvaW
— x - Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 28, 2025
Barner has slowly seen his red-zone target share climb throughout the season, and now he is the second-highest on the team at 20%. With eight games of double-digit fantasy scoring, I'm expecting Barner to make it his ninth here.
The 49ers defense has given up the fourth-most touchdowns and 10th-most receiving yards to TEs this season. I think Barner has the best chance, other than Kittle, to lead the TE category in fantasy points this week.
Other options - George Kittle (questionable), Jake Tonges (if Kittle is out)
Thanks for reading, and good luck in your contests this weekend!
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