RADIO
No. 12 - Courtland Sutton (Denver Broncos) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Denver’s Courtland Sutton added another touchdown to his season-long tally in Week 17, his seventh of the season. Sutton made two clutch grabs that advanced the ball into Bengals territory on the Broncos’ final drive in regulation, culminating in a game-tying touchdown catch by teammate Marvin Mims.
Sutton’s 5-55-1 line was outshone by Mims’ 8-103-2 effort in the Broncos’ eventual loss but Sutton’s nine targets led the team for the thirteenth time in 16 games. Since Week 8, Sutton has had no fewer than eight targets in all but one game. His Week 18 matchup against the Chiefs’ strong defense is unappealing at first glance but Sutton will continue to see plenty of opportunities and Kansas City, who has already secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed, may elect to rest their starters.
No. 11 - Drake London (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Carolina Panthers
Atlanta’s Drake London caught seven of his 13 targets for 103 yards in the Falcons’ Week 17 loss to the Washington Commanders. The yardage put London across 1,000 for the season for the first time in his three years as a pro. London is now up to 140 targets on the year, sixth-best among all wide receivers.
The loss last Sunday put the Falcons’ backs up against a wall. In order to clinch a playoff berth, they must beat the Carolina Panthers in the season finale (and hope the Saints can upset the Buccaneers, too). The Panthers are tied for the third-most touchdowns allowed to opposing wide receivers this season and have allowed seven over the last three weeks. He stands a good chance of finding the end zone for the first time since Week 15 in a must-win game for Atlanta in Week 18.
No. 10 - George Pickens (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Cincinnati Bengals
After missing three games nursing a hamstring injury, George Pickens returned in Week 17 and caught three passes for 50 yards in the Steelers’ 29-10 loss to the Chiefs on Christmas Day. Pickens looked healthy but the Chiefs’ high-pressure defense didn’t allow time for his trademark deep routes to pan out. Pickens leads the league in receptions (15) and receiving yards (515) off passes of 20 or more air yards.
In Week 18, the Steelers square off against the Bengals, who should give quarterback Russell Wilson more time to find Pickens downfield. Cincinnati is at the bottom of the league in touchdown passes of 20+ air yards allowed with 10. Pickens caught three of six targets for 74 yards and a touchdown when the teams last met back in Week 13.
No. 9 - Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders) vs. Dallas Cowboys
Terry McLaurin was a surprising non-factor in Washington’s Week 17 win over the Atlanta Falcons. For fantasy football players, the performance couldn’t have come at a worse time with most league’s championships decided in the NFL’s penultimate week. McLaurin’s near-ghosting was especially shocking considering he had six touchdowns in the Commanders’ previous four games and is one of six wide receivers to have posted five 100-yard games in 2024.
With another win in the season finale, Washington can improve its playoff seeding and avoid a first round matchup against the Eagles. McLaurin should be a greater factor in the gameplan in the matchup against the Cowboys, who have given up the most touchdowns and fourth-most receptions and yards to opposing wide receivers over the last four weeks. When they last played in Week 12, McLaurin posted a 5-102-1 line.
No. 8 - Malik Nabers (New York Giants) vs. Philadelphia Eagles
In Week 17, the New York Giants posted their highest point total since 2015 in a shocking 45-33 win over the Indianapolis Colts. In the game, rookie standout Malik Nabers caught seven passes for a season-high 171 yards and two touchdowns.
Nabers will look to close out his first year in the NFL on another high note against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 18. The Eagles have defended against the pass well this season but have softened up in recent weeks, allowing six touchdowns to opposing wide receivers in their last four games. Philadelphia may also be sitting key players as their own No. 2 seed is assured regardless of the outcome, which could pave the way for another big game from Nabers.
No. 7 - Brian Thomas, Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Indianapolis Colts
Climbing the Week 18 power rankings, we go from one rookie standout to another in Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas, Jr. Last week Malik Nabers torched the Colts for 7-171-2 and in this time around it is Thomas’ turn. When the Jags played Indianapolis earlier this season he went off with five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.
Last week against the Titans, Thomas went 7-91-1, extending his scoring streak to a third game. His 1,179 receiving yards rank fifth-most in the NFL and he is one of seven wide receivers with 10 or more touchdowns. Thomas’ performance has been a bright spot in the Jaguars’ dismal season and he has a great matchup to shine one last time in the final week of the regular season.
No. 6 - Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
In a must-win game against the Denver Broncos last week, Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins had a career day with 11 catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. Higgins is now one of seven wide receivers to have scored at least 10 touchdowns this season, despite being active for only 11 games.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been vocal about how important Higgins is to the team’s success and he seems to be underscoring his point by feeding him as much as possible. Even with Ja’Marr Chase operating as the WR1, Higgins has averaged 9.5 targets and 0.9 touchdowns per game in 2024. Another big showing in Week 18 may be in store. Cincinnati needs a win against Pittsburgh (and for the Dolphins and Broncos to lose) to make the playoffs and should go out guns blazing.
No. 5 - Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams) vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Rams could only muster 13 points in Week 17 but it was enough to put down the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West battle. Puka Nacua was the one standout in an otherwise dreary offensive effort. Nacua caught 10 of 14 targets for 129 yards, giving him his fifth 100-yard game in the 10 he has played since returning from a knee injury in Week 8.
Even with the NFC West title secured, Los Angeles will likely push to close out the season with a win to improve their seeding and avoid the loser of the Lions-Vikings matchup in Week 18. The Rams finish the regular season hosting the Seahawks. In their last meeting, Nacua was disqualified just before halftime and had just one catch for 11 yards but will make a much bigger impression this time around.
No. 4 - Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans needed a solid showing in Week 17 to keep pace for his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season in as many years as a pro. He got just that, going 8-97-2 on nine targets in a 48-14 win over the Carolina Panthers. An 85-yard day in Week 18 is all he needs to achieve the milestone.
Tampa hosts the New Orleans Saints in the season finale, giving Evans a solid shot at sealing the deal. Evans has a history of getting shut down by New Orleans but his longtime nemesis on the Saints, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, was traded away at the NFL trade deadline, leaving the door open for Evans to end the 2024 season with a bang. The Saints have allowed the fifth-most yards to opposing wide receivers this season.
No. 3 - Ja'Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase took another step forward towards finishing the season as the NFL’s receiving triple crown champion. With nine catches for 102 yards on 15 targets, his season-long line is now up to 117-1,612-16.
The Bengals go from one must-win game in Week 17 to another to finish the regular season. In Week 18, they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFC North showdown. Chase posted a 6-86-1 line in their last meeting and could fare better against a flagging Steelers secondary. Over the last five weeks, they have allowed the most touchdowns and eighth-most receptions and yards to opposing wide receivers.
No. 2 - Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Detroit Lions
Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson didn’t score for the first time in three weeks but he did lead the team in targets, receptions, and yards in their Week 17 win over the Green Bay Packers. Jefferson caught eight passes for 92 yards on 11 targets in the game, bringing him to 100 receptions and 1,479 yards on the season. This marks his third 100-catch and fourth 1,400-yard season in five years as a pro.
In Week 18, the Vikings have a high-stakes matchup against the Detroit Lions, with the winner getting the No. 1 seed in the NFC and the loser getting busted down to No. 5 as a wild card. Detroit has given up 141 yards and a touchdown to an opposing wide receiver in each of their last two games (Keenan Allen in Week 16, Ricky Pearsall in Week 17) and has allowed the most receiving yards and second-most receptions to the position all year. Jefferson is in a prime position to close out the regular season with another big game.
No. 1 - Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions) vs. Minnesota Vikings
On the flip side of the aforementioned Vikings-Lions showdown is Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown had eight catches on 10 targets for 60 yards and a touchdown in Week 17 against the 49ers. He is up to 109 receptions and 12 touchdowns on the year, ranking second in both categories behind Ja’Marr Chase.
Like Jefferson, St. Brown has an inviting matchup in Week 18, as the Vikings have given up the most receptions and second-most yards to opposing wide receivers this season. When the teams met in Week 7, St. Brown went 8-112-1 en route to a Lions win. Minnesota has been solid against the run this year so look for Detroit to take to the air and for St. Brown to close out the season with another solid performance.
