Running Back Matchups to Target for Week 18 (2025)

January 3, 2026

Thunder Dan's favorite RB matchups to exploit for Week 18 of 2025 -- DFS running backs to target on DraftKings and FanDuel. These RB matchups are GPP and cash game opportunities.

While most fantasy leagues have wrapped up, a few are still going. We in the DFS and betting community never stop grinding, even when presented with the challenge of navigating Week 18 and figuring out what players are going to actually play, how much they'll play, and which teams even care about winning their games.

Even as I finish writing this on Saturday morning, we still don't have as much information as we normally do in a regular week. So, what I decided to do this week was highlight the top six team matchups and list the various running backs on those teams who could be in line for a big day if they get the touches. You won't find Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs on this list, the two most-expensive backs on the slate, who are both projected to be the most highly rostered this week. You already know those backs are typically good plays most weeks, and their rostership this week is more of a product of how much value will be available on the slate and not a reflection of their matchups. By all means, play those guys in lineups, but I am hunting for the other running backs who can win you the slate at a fraction of the rostership.

The primary focus of this piece is NFL DFS; however, these are also running backs you should consider adding to your season-long lineups and are great candidates for prop bets. We also have lots of great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win MORE this season! Without any further ado, here are my top six TEAM matchups for the Week 18 main slate on Sunday, January 4th at 1 PM ET.

Week 18 Running Back Matchups

In my constant search for usable metrics, I crunched the first 17 weeks of data. The first column shows the overall offensive rushing attack vs. the opponent, calculated from each team's offensive and defensive DVOA.

The second column is the offensive vs. defensive line matchup, calculated from each team's "adjusted line yards" created and allowed. The third column is simply Pro Football Focus' run-blocking grade for each team's offensive line.

L.A. Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals

Kyren Williams ($6,700 DK, $7,900 FD)

Blake Corum ($5,700 DK, $6,600 FD)

Jarquez Hunter ($4,000 DK, $4,000 FD)

The Rams and their top-rated rushing attack have the best matchup grade this week against the porous Cardinals defense -- is anyone surprised? These teams met just four weeks ago, and in that game, Blake Corum and Kyren Williams combined to run for over 200 yards and three touchdowns.

The Cardinals are allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs and continue to be a gold mine for DFS, as we saw Chase Brown emerge as a slate-winning play last week in this spot. The matchup is clearly the best this week, and it's not particularly close. However, the complicating factors are as follows.

If the Niners beat the Seahawks on Saturday night, then the Rams are locked into the six seed and have less motivation to win. Sean McVay has stated that his starters will play regardless, but I'd feel less confident deploying Williams if the Rams already know their fate.

Even if the Rams are playing for the fifth seed (go Seattle!), Williams has been sharing duties with Corum and could get a quick hook in this game if the Rams race out to a big early lead.

Ok, so just play Corum, right? Well, he left last week's game early and got only one limited practice in this week. He could rest on Sunday, especially since Williams is confirmed to play and the Rams have both Ronnie Rivers and rookie Jarquez Hunter chomping at the bit for some carries behind him.

If Corum is out, then we have to guess between Rivers and Hunter if we want to go after a low-owned GPP smash play. Rivers is the veteran who is probably the next guy on the depth chart, but Hunter is min-priced on both sites and is the more exciting player. Maybe the Rams want to give him an audition in the season finale, and we know that even 10-12 touches in this offense is enough to do some major damage.

Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions

D'Andre Swift ($5,900 DK, $6,500 FD)

Kyle Monangai ($5,400 DK, $5,900 FD)

While it was Caleb Williams and the Bears' passing attack that rolled up big yardage against the Niners in their shootout loss last week, let's not overlook the fact that Swift averaged six yards per carry and totaled two more rushing touchdowns. He ran the ball only nine times, but was easily more productive per carry than Kyle Monangai, who went 8-38.

.@DAndreSwift breaks free for 6⃣

📺: NBC pic.twitter.com/hlsJ64Hyar

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 29, 2025

The two have been a dynamic duo this season, and the Bears enter this week with the fourth-ranked DVOA rushing offense. The Chicago offensive line should be licking its chops this week as it'll face a Detroit defense that has been softening against the run over the last month or so. Detroit now allows the 10th-most adjusted line yards and is dealing with injuries.

This game means everything to Chicago as it can secure the second seed and lock up a matchup against the Packers, while avoiding a team like the Rams. Detroit is playing for pride alone, but will have its hands full trying to stop this running game that its former offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, has built in Chicago.

I like Swift a lot in tournaments this week. He went 12-63-1 against Detroit in their first matchup and remains a cheap option with upside, especially if he can break off a long TD run or two, thus avoiding the goal-line vulture Monangai.

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

Jaydon Blue ($4,300 DK, $4,500 FD)

This one just got a lot easier to write since the Cowboys ruled out both Javonte Williams and Malik Davis yesterday. The rookie Blue is the last back standing in the backfield and should handle the majority of the touches for Dallas in what we all know is the absolute best rushing defense to attack in the NFL.

Yes, the Giants still rank dead last in DVOA rushing defense. Let's not forget how excited we were at the beginning of the season about Blue's upside, either, as he was a popular sleeper pick in fantasy drafts and best ball leagues.

He's easily one of my favorite values on the entire slate, even with Dallas having nothing to play for in this one. An explosive runner and a guy with some solid hands as a receiver, Blue could rack up a big yardage total in this one.

Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets

James Cook ($7,900 DK, $9,000 FD)

Ray Davis ($4,900 DK, $4,400 FD)

This is yet another matchup we can't ignore this week, even if figuring out how the backfield snaps and touches will be disseminated could be tricky.

The Bills have the second-ranked rushing attack in the NFL, and the Jets have offered little resistance to any opponents in the second half of the season. Their pass defense is the worst in football, while their run defense still ranks a respectable 16th overall. However, the Jets allowed Cook to go for 22-132-2 in their first meeting and will likely be overmatched up front as Buffalo has some of the best run-blockers in football.

The problem with rostering Cook is that he's expensive, and we aren't guaranteed to get a full day's workload from him. The Bills have not stated that he will be rested, but it would make a lot of sense for them to give him some first-half touches, secure a lead, and then lean on their very competent backups, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson.

WHAT A RUN FOR RAY DAVIS 🔥

63 yards for the Buffalo lead 😮‍💨

(via @nfl)pic.twitter.com/xA274A6Djm

— ESPN (@espn) November 3, 2024

I'm not too interested in Johnson, who is more of a third-down back and pass-catching specialist. Davis, however, is dirt cheap and has had plenty of success as a runner both last year and this year when given the opportunity.

If we can project Davis for 12-15 carries and a chance at a second-half touchdown, then I love him as a GPP play in tournaments.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders

Tank Bigsby ($5,400 DK, $5,600 FD)

Will Shipley ($4,400 DK, $4,900 FD)

The Eagles have decided to rest their starters since the ability to move from the third to the second overall seed is not entirely in their own control (the Bears control their own destiny). But the Eagles have a deep team and are still favored to win on Sunday against a Commanders team that has been trending down all season long.

Tank Bigsby should be first in line for carries against Washington's 27th-ranked run defense, and he's shown in a very limited sample in Philly that he's still one of the most physical backs in the league.

Tank Bigsby with his first TD with the Eagles!

You can tell that one meant a lot!#Eaglespic.twitter.com/xEKMg5Hdod

— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) December 21, 2025

Will Shipley is an option here, too, as he'll likely mix in for some carries. But Bigsby is picking up some steam as the week moves along and could end up being one of the more popular options at his price point. There's no guarantee that the Eagles run the ball effectively, especially with some starting linemen out, too, but the opportunity for Bigsby to perform well is there, and the matchup certainly helps.

New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys

Tyrone Tracy Jr. ($5,500 DK, $5,900 FD)

Devin Singletary ($5,000 DK, $5,600 FD)

We finish things off with the other side of the Dallas-New York game, and two more cheap backs could make value relatively easily if they can find paydirt. One thing to consider before clicking on either of these players is the fact that Jaxson Dart is a threat to steal those rushing touchdowns, as we saw him run two more in last week.

Tracy has been leading the committee in touches and has three strong games in a row now, with yardage totals of 70, 71, and 62. However, it was Singletary who got the touchdown last week, even while Tracy out-touched him, 15-12.

Dallas ranks 30th in DVOA run defense, and the Giants are likely to lean on their rushing attack even more than usual as they've already ruled out their top receiver, Wan'Dale Robinson, in this one. It's a bit of a crapshoot as to which back has the bigger day, but the spot for this rushing offense is a good one!

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