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Jamie's DraftKings NFL DFS Week 18 picks, value plays, DFS sleepers for the main slate (2025). His top DK plays and value picks for daily fantasy football lineups.
Happy New Year, RotoBallers! I hope 2025 brought you some fantasy championships and even more DFS wins, and that 2026 will be even more lucrative. We've finally reached the end of the NFL Regular Season, and Week 18 can be soul-sucking if you don't know how to attack it.
The first (and most important) thing to consider is motivation. The Seahawks, 49ers, Panthers, Bucs, Bears, Jaguars, Texans, Broncos, Patriots, Steelers, and Ravens should all be FULLY motivated to win with playoff spots, divisions, and seedings on the line. Other teams may be try-hards as a result as well (Rams?), so an all-day watch may be necessary to win this week.
Be sure to jump into our RotoBaller Discord! We have so many different channels devoted to whatever you're playing in fantasy football. We also have lots of great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win MORE this season! Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups -- let's dominate this Week 18 slate together!
DraftKings Quarterbacks - Week 18 DFS Picks
TOP PLAY
Trevor Lawrence, JAX vs TEN ($6,400)
Trevor Lawrence is big chalk in the early projections system, and it's chalk I'm going to follow in the cash build. The Jaguars are going to be a full go on Sunday as they attempt to lock up the AFC South, and have been the hottest offense in football lately. Since Week 11, Lawrence is the QB1 in fantasy, yet he is the seventh-highest priced QB on the DraftKings slate.
The Jags have the highest implied total of the week at 29.5, and the matchup with the Titans should offer no resistance. They have pressured the QB a lot better recently, but have still allowed the 10th-most FPPG to the QB position. Lawrence has eight passing TDs and four rushing TDs over his last three games, giving him a limitless ceiling.
not done yet. pic.twitter.com/WQu6cXpr7n
— Trevor Lawrence (@trevorlawrence) December 31, 2025
VALUE PLAY
C.J. Stroud, HOU vs IND ($5,400)
If you're looking to save a bit at the QB position, the logical other choice is from the other team that has a chance to win the AFC South. The Texans are surging this season after starting the year 0-3, and their defense has been a mighty force. C.J. Stroud has been highly efficient in his last three games, clearing 8.7 YPA in two of them.
The matchup with the Colts isn't imposing anymore, as Indy has crumbled completely. The statuses of both starting CBs are up in the air, and Indy has allowed 71 points over its last two contests. The defense often makes it so Stroud doesn't need to sling it a ton (he's maxed out at 35 passes over his last three games), but his price tag bakes in the potential lack of volume. In cash, I'd find the extra $1,000 for T-Law.
Other options - Drake Maye, Bo Nix, Jaxson Dart, Tanner McKee
DraftKings Running Backs - Week 18 DFS Picks
TOP PLAY
Bijan Robinson, ATL vs NO ($8,700)
You're taking a leap of faith on a player whose team has nothing to play for, especially against ANOTHER team that has been long eliminated. However, the field does not seem to be shying away from Bijan Robinson in the final week, as his recent play has re-inserted his name into the Offensive Player of the Year conversation.
Robinson's 229 scrimmage yards last game have put him within striking distance of Chris Johnson's record of 2,509 yards. Granted, he's 255 yards away, so it will take an even BIGGER game, but why wouldn't the Falcons let him try? They have nothing else to play for here, and the Saints have allowed the ninth-most rushing YPG. If spending up anywhere, Bijan looks like he's worth it.
The highest-graded offensive play in Week 17:
Bijan Robinson 93-yard TD run 💨pic.twitter.com/J8zisf8I8g https://t.co/u89NZ8WLpv
— PFF (@PFF) December 31, 2025
VALUE PLAY
Tank Bigsby, PHI vs WAS ($5,400)
It has been reported that the Eagles will "rest Jalen Hurts and most of their starters" in Week 18. It's almost impossible to imagine that this doesn't include Saquon Barkley, which means we should be looking at a full week of Tank Bigsby. The Eagles have run the ball at the ninth-highest rate, and that shouldn't change with a different cast of characters.
The Commanders are a perfect matchup to attack with running backs. On the season, they've allowed 145.4 rushing YPG (which is tied with the Giants for the second-worst in the league), and they've also given up the fourth-most FPPG to the RB position. Will Shipley should get some touches, too, but Bisgby is the favorite back to lead this team.
Other options - Jahmyr Gibbs, James Cook III, Travis Etienne, Tyrone Tracy Jr.
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DraftKings Wide Receivers - Week 18 DFS Picks
TOP PLAY
Puka Nacua, LAR vs ARI ($9,000)
This pick comes with a MAJOR caveat, because Saturday's game between the Seahawks and 49ers matters immensely. If the Seahawks win on Saturday, the Rams can move up to the #5 seed with a win and a chance to play the much more beatable NFC South winner. If the 49ers win, the Rams can't move and would almost certainly rest their starters.
Stafford. Puka. The @RamsNFL on the verge of tying it up!
LARvsATL on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/YSIE1fRE2c— NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2025
If the Rams are in a meaningful game, you're going to want Puka Nacua. The Cardinals' defense has been abysmal, allowing 35 PPG and the most yards from scrimmage over the past eight games. Nacua has 48 targets over his last four weeks, and Davante Adams is not expected to play in the season finale regardless of the Rams' status.
VALUE PLAY
Jakobi Meyers, JAX vs TEN ($5,600)
Jakobi Meyers is such an easy player to pair with Lawrence, and they're almost certainly going to be the first two players I click into cash. Meyers has had six or more targets in every game, but one with the Jags, and that number has increased even more as the season has ended (he's averaged 8.5 targets per game over the last four).
Meyers should find zero resistance from the Titans' secondary, which has allowed the sixth-most FPPG to the WR position. Yes, there are plenty of mouths to feed in the Jacksonville passing game (plus an elite rushing attack), but if it hasn't diminished Meyers' value to this point, it's not going to.
Other options - Ja'Marr Chase, Michael Wilson, Wan'Dale Robinson, Courtland Sutton
DraftKings Tight Ends - Week 18 DFS Picks
TOP PLAY
Trey McBride, ARI @ LAR ($7,500)
There's nothing left to say about Trey McBride. His 119-1,174-11 season is absolutely legendary, as is the 166 targets it took for him to get there. He's already broken the reception record for TEs, and can add to it considerably in this one. There's been no indication yet that Arizona will rest starters, so McBride should be well in play here.
Ownerships will tell the tale of how to utilize McBride. Right now, we're projecting him to be the eighth-highest owned TE, which would put him in elite GPP territory, but more values opening up this weekend may steam his ownership up. Stay with us in the RotoBaller Discord channel on this one.
VALUE PLAY
Michael Mayer, LV vs KC ($3,500)
The Raiders made my Giants look like world-beaters last week as they've fully embraced the tank for the #1 overall pick. Michael Mayer didn't get the memo; however, going 9-89-0 on 10 targets. He's been on the field over 90% of snaps in every game Brock Bowers has missed this year, and has led in targets in two of them.
On paper, the Chiefs are a tough team against TEs, but so were the Giants. As another eliminated team, we could see the Chiefs try several defensive packages (and also try to lose this game), opening up the field for Mayer. His price of $3,500 eliminated almost all downside, making him the top cheap TE on the slate.
Other options - Colston Loveland, Brenton Strange, Colby Parkinson, Grant Calcaterra
DraftKings D/ST - Week 18 DFS Picks
Top Five Defenses For Cash Games
- Kansas City Chiefs ($3,200)
- Buffalo Bills ($3,500)
- Minnesota Vikings ($3,000)
- Philadelphia Eagles ($3,100)
- Las Vegas Raiders ($2,400)
Thanks for reading, and good luck in your contests this weekend!
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