RADIO
It's hard to accept that we are down to the final weekend of the NFL season. The good thing is we get a little more Saturday football. There are two games this Saturday -- two interesting games. The Chiefs head into Denver for an AFC West battle while the Cowboys head into Philadelphia for an NFC East battle. The Chiefs have clinched the West and have a shot at the top AFC seed if they win and the Titans lose on Sunday. For the nightcap, there are a lot of questions with both teams already clinching playoff spots, as well as some significant COVID issues with the Eagles.
With the Chiefs having a shot at the top seed, we should expect their starters to play and have some fun against a down Broncos team. At the same time, the Broncos may be without Teddy Bridgewater (concussion) and Drew Lock (shoulder), which could mean some Brett Rypien action. For now, it appears Lock will play, but it is something to monitor. Nevertheless, the Chiefs should roll and their defense should be a trendy play on Saturday. With the Cowboys and Eagles both clinching playoff spots and not much movement among seeding, we could see some sitting on both sides. There is also the problem with roughly 1/3 of the Eagles players being placed on the COVID IR on Monday. That is worth monitoring as they could all come back by Saturday, but will also likely return with no practice. There is a lot of news to watch, but I will be writing this article as if the regulars not on the COVID IR will be playing.
In this article, I will be providing you with my Saturday Night DFS lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings in Week 18. These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Please also check out our other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big! Also, feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @bdentrek.
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Quarterbacks - NFL DFS Lineup Picks
Dak Prescott, QB - DAL at PHI (DK: $6,800, FD: $7,700)
There can be arguments for Patrick Mahomes or Jalen Hurts, but I am rolling with Dak. Dak is coming off back-to-back 24+ fantasy point performances where he has combined for seven passing touchdowns. Now he heads into Philadelphia to take on an Eagles defense that allowed 21 fantasy points on 238 passing yards and three touchdowns. The Eagles' defense has improved since then, but the Cowboys running game has gotten worse, which means the Cowboys passing game should once again be the primary source of offense.
Dak and the Cowboys are seven-point favorites with an implied team total of 25. If the Cowboys show up this week, Dak should be a significant reason why. However, if you choose to pay up for Mahomes, there is nothing wrong with that as the Chiefs offense has been clicking on all cylinders over the last four weeks, and Mahomes' last bad game was in Week 13 versus the...Broncos. Mahomes should be the more popular pick, giving me another reason to target Dak, who projects for similar fantasy outputs.
Running Backs - DFS Lineup Picks
Darrel Williams, RB - KC at DEN (DK: $5,900, FD: $7,000)
As of Wednesday, Clyde Edwards-Helaire has yet to practice, severely putting his chances of playing Saturday in trouble. However, with CEH out of the way, Williams should lock back into the lead-back role for the Chiefs, a role he has flourished with this season. Last week, Williams had 17 total touches for 107 yards and two touchdowns, posting a massive 20+ point fantasy week.
This Saturday, Williams will face a Broncos defense that ranks 10th versus opposing running backs but allows 113 yards rushing per game over the last four games and over 20 PPR points per game. The Chiefs need to win to have a chance at the top seed in the AFC, and as 10.5 point favorites, they should rely heavily on the legs of Williams. Look for Williams to have another 15+ touch game and find the end zone once or twice. Williams is the top back this Saturday, and you can roster him at quite a discount.
Kenneth Gainwell, RB - PHI vs. DAL (DK: $4,100, FD: $4,800)
With the COVID issues running wild through the Eagles, Gainwell may be the last back standing come Saturday. This could change with the new protocols, so keep an eye on the availability of other backs. If Gainwell is the last man standing, run with the discount he brings. Gainwell has not received a heavy workload often this season, but back in Week 13, he saw 12 carries and five receptions on his way to a near 20 point PPR week. Gainwell could be in line for a similar game versus the Cowboys on Saturday night.
The Cowboys' defense has been playing much better of late, but they allow nearly five receptions a game and almost 20 PPR points per game to opposing running backs. So Jalen Hurts could take away some of Gainwell's upside. At the same time, Hurts could use Gainwell for dump-offs and PPR goodness since the Eagles have shown around five targets per game to the running backs. Regardless, Gainwell is dirt cheap, and if he gets the start, you take the discount and roll on Saturday.
Wide Receivers - DFS Lineup Picks
Tyreek Hill, WR - KC at DEN (DK: $8,000, FD: $8,200)
Hill is the elite wide receiver option on Saturday's slate, and with all the value, it will be effortless for Hill to fit into lineups. Hill is coming off back-to-back weeks that some may think Hill disappointed, but he was targeted ten times last week. We know with Hill's upside that it takes just one play to provide fantasy goodness. Even though Hill played a limited role two weeks ago, he leads the Chiefs in targets, air yards, and red zone targets over the last four weeks. The monster week is coming, and what better time than Week 18 versus the division rival Broncos.
Courtland Sutton, WR - DEN vs. KC (DK: $4,800, FD: $5,700)
Rostering Broncos' receivers is never a fun choice, but it could be the excellent tournament choice on Saturday. The Broncos are 10.5 point underdogs and should be throwing it early and often. The predicament is which reliever will Drew Lock be throwing to? Last week Tim Patrick and Jerry Jeudy were out, but they are now back, meaning there are more options in the passing game. All three receivers make for attractive receiving options, but Sutton would be my choice for a tournament play.
Over the last four games, Sutton has led all Broncos' receivers with 19 targets while leading the entire team in air yards. Over the previous four games, Sutton has 294 air yards which are nearly 100 more than the following option in Patrick. Sutton also has five or more targets in three straight games and four of his last five games. Sutton should get his regular target share again and hopefully gets the big one against a Chiefs defense that ranks 30th versus opposing wide receivers over the last four games. Playing any of the Broncos receivers is a risk, but Sutton brings the biggest boom with a decent floor out of the bunch for me this Saturday.
Cedrick Wilson, WR - DAL at PHI (DK: $4,200, FD: $5,600)
Wilson is a great value play this week and should be extremely popular. With Michael Gallup tearing his ACL this past week, Wilson should slide into Gallup's role and excel. Last week Wilson caught all six of his targets after Gallup left, and that was after Gallup already had four targets and a touchdown. Wilson managed 18 PPR points last week. When he started in week 12, he caught seven of his ten targets for 104 yards and 20 PPR points. Wilson has flourished in the starting role and should have no issues producing at his discounted price tag this week.
As I said, Wilson will be popular, and if you want to pair Wilson with another Cowboys receiver or not use Wilson, then target Amari Cooper, who has been a target monster over the last few weeks. The Cowboys be throwing a lot this week, meaning Wilson, Cooper, and CeeDee Lamb should all get a fair share of fantasy goodness this week.
Tight Ends - DFS Lineup Picks
Noah Fant, TE - DEN vs. KC (DK: $5,000, FD: $5,900)
I just mentioned the Broncos wide receiver trio, but the reality is Fant is the one Bronco receiving option you want if you are playing only one. Fant leads the team with 21 targets over the last four games and receptions with 18. Fant has received four or more targets in all but one game this season and has seen six or more targets in two of the last three games. Lock seems to love him some Fant, and that bodes well for Fant as the Chiefs are allowing over 13 PPR points per game to opposing tight ends over the last four games. Fant is a great play and excellent value this Saturday. He will pair nicely with Schultz or Kelce as two tight-end builds are very much in play.
Dalton Schultz, TE - DAL at PHI (DK: $5,300, FD: $6,100)
Schultz has been on an absolute tear in recent weeks. He has been targeted eight or more times and made six or more receptions in the last three games. Schultz leads the Cowboys in targets, receptions, and second in red-zone targets over the previous three games. He'll take on an Eagles' defense that ranks 31st versus opposing tight ends over the last four games. They are allowing nearly 17 PPR points per game over the previous four games, and Schultz should look to eat just like he did earlier this season versus the Eagles. Schultz caught six of seven targets in Week three with two touchdowns and over 20 fantasy points. Schultz is my top point per dollar play for Saturday and will be locked into all of my lineups.
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