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Craig Rondinone's sneaky fantasy football starts and streamers for Week 18 lineups. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.
Whether this is the Championship Week in your fantasy football league or your final time to win thousands of dollars in a regular-season DFS contest, you are going to need some sneaky starts and streamers to win a gold trophy, big bucks and/or bragging rights.
Fantasy footballers know Green Bay Packers players like Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are not going to play full games this weekend. Most superstars whose teams have either clinched playoff positions or have no mathematical chance to make the postseason will probably be rested. There will be plenty of guys primed for a big Week 18 though.
Whether it is an underrated understudy getting a shot to start or a veteran who should see additional time and touches due to his teammates sitting on the sidelines, there are many sneaky starts and streamers to choose from for this last regular-season weekend. Here are my sneaky starts and streamers for Week 18!
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Sneaky Starts and Streamers For Week 18
Cedric Wilson, Dallas Cowboys (WR) at PHI
Michael Gallup’s season-ending knee injury will probably do fantasy favors for Wilson’s target totals during the last game of the season. Even though Dallas has already clinched the NFC East, Wilson should get plenty of reps and opportunities against a Philadelphia squad that has nothing to play for since it clinched its wild card berth last week. Dallas’ top two targets, Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb, have a better chance of sitting out some plays than Wilson does. Wilson scored three touchdowns over a five-game stretch earlier in the season when he subbed for Gallup during another injury absence, including one against Philly. I am banking on him piling up a lot of meaningless yards in a semi-meaningless game as he looks to end the regular season on a high note.
Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills (RB) vs. NYJ
This might be a surprising pick for some since Devin Singletary is running like O.J. Simpson circa 1973 in recent weeks, but I like Moss as a low-cost sneaky streamer. No matter how much head coach Robert Saleh screams, the Jets run defense caves. Duke Johnson has been in the NFL for seven seasons. He had his first career 100-yard rushing game against the Jets three weeks ago. Not a shock. The Jets run defense is particularly porous in road games as they have allowed an average of 147 yards per game on the ground and allowed Johnson, Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor and New England’s Damien Harris to all break the 100-yard barrier. Singletary will likely cede carries to Moss as Buffalo tries to keep its key offensive players healthy for their Super Bowl run. Moss has also scored two touchdowns in three career contests versus the Jets. All the stars will align for Moss this Sunday.
K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings (WR) vs. CHI
I am shocked that Osborn’s price tag has been Walmart-like in some of the DFS contests I have checked out for the upcoming weekend. While his reception numbers have been low in recent weeks (18 over his last five outings), the guy has been Adam Thielen-esque by hauling in four touchdown tosses during that span. I know Chicago has a modest two-game winning streak, that its defense is ranked third in the NFL against the pass, and that the Bears held Minnesota to 17 points in a game less than a month ago. I also know that the defense has not been the same without Khalil Mack rushing opposing passers and that the Bears allowed 10 passing touchdowns over a four-game stretch before they faced the hopeless Giants last weekend. Minnesota signal caller Kirk Cousins should be back from the COVID list and the Vikes should be wanting to win for head coach Mike Zimmer in what could be his swan song. Osborn should be good for 75 yards and a TD and possibly more if Justin Jefferson is sat to keep him safe for the 2022 campaign.
Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TE) vs. CAR
Tampa Bay is losing receivers at a record rate, whether it is due to injury (Chris Godwin tearing up his knee) or historic meltdowns (Antonio Brown auditioning for the next Magic Mike movie). That means the Tampa Bay tight ends will be targeted more by Tom Brady. Brate has not been racking up yards at a record rate, but he has scored three touchdowns over his past five games. Brady likes looking at his tight ends inside the red zone, and Brate is someone who has always had a nose for the end zone. Brate scored against this same Carolina team a couple games ago, and the Panthers defense has gone from solid to suspect during the second half of the season. Looks like Brady and all of Tampa’s starters will be playing in this one since playoff seeding could be affected, so if you want to go sneaky and use Brate at a bargain-basement DFS price in the hopes he gets 30 yards and a TD, I fully support you.
Others Options To Consider
Marvin Jones Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (WR) vs. IND
Jones Jr. has been as disappointing as the entire Jaguars squad in 2021, but he has been targeted 19 times over the past two games by Trevor Lawrence. The game script should tilt towards the Jaguars trailing and throwing in the second half against Indianapolis’ below-average pass defense. Jones Jr. could put up a 5-80-0 line for a low cost, and maybe he possibly stumbles into the end zone if the Colts call off the dogs late.
Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks (TE) at ARI
I have been kicking the can for this guy for the past month. Everett has quietly either had a touchdown or at least 35 receiving yards in seven of his last eight games. Not many tight ends in the NFL can say that, especially ones listed as low on the price totem pole in DFS leagues as he is. Russell Wilson is finally throwing as if all five fingers on this throwing hand are A-OK, so look for Everett to have another decent day to end the season.
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