RADIO
For most, the fantasy playoffs are over. But for some, there is still a Week 18 championship to fight for. Some star players like Lamar Jackson, Brock Purdy, Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams, and Christian McCaffrey are just a few fantasy studs that will not suit up this weekend.
That makes Week 18 tough to navigate with many backups playing the majority of snaps in these games. Teams like the Ravens, 49ers, Browns, and Rams are choosing to sit their starters in Week 18.
If you play in a Week 18 championship game or daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests, this is something to monitor as the week goes on. However, there are still plenty of teams fighting for a playoff spot in an important final week. So, let's dive in and see which players have the best and worst matchups this week that you can target in different formats.
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Week 18: Quarterback Matchups We Love
Dak Prescott - Dallas Cowboys
Opponent: @WSH
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 31st
With many top quarterbacks sitting out in Week 18, if you roster Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, you are playing him. Prescott is also a great option in DFS contests playing against the Washington Commanders. Washington has allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, and the Cowboys quarterback had one of his best games of the year in Week 12 against this secondary.
In that game, Prescott threw for 331 yards and four touchdowns. His 32.2 fantasy points were also his second-most in 2023, and a similar performance could be on the horizon in Week 18. The Commanders have allowed at least two passing touchdowns in 11 of the past 13 games, making the 30-year-old a great play this weekend.
Nick Mullens - Minnesota Vikings
Opponent: @DET
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 27th
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens will officially start for the team against the Detroit Lions in Week 18. Mullens hasn't shown a lot in his two starts this year, as he has thrown a combined six interceptions in both contests. But, in both games, he provided a safe fantasy floor. In Week 15, the 28-year-old threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns, and in Week 16, he threw for 411 yards and two touchdowns.
He finished with over 19 fantasy points in both games and now gets to face the same Lions defense he saw in Week 16. Detroit has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season at 19.4 fantasy points. That secondary has also given up over 340 pass yards and two touchdowns in back-to-back contests. Mullens has a great matchup in Week 18.
Week 18: Quarterback Matchups to Avoid
Baker Mayfield - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Opponent: @CAR
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 1st
It's been a surprise season for Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, especially in fantasy. Mayfield has finished as a top-15 fantasy option in four straight weeks, while also throwing for at least 280 yards and two touchdowns in three straight games. However, he now faces a Panthers defense in Week 18 that has been elite at preventing fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
Carolina has allowed the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this year, and just five weeks ago, Mayfield struggled against that secondary. In that game, he threw for just 202 yards, one touchdown, and one interception (10.9 fantasy points). The Panthers have also allowed just one quarterback to throw for over 250 yards and/or three passing touchdowns since Week 5, which was Tua Tagovailoa in Week 6.
Week 18: Running Back Matchups We Love
Kenneth Walker III - Seattle Seahawks
Opponent: @ARI
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 32nd
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has been dealing with a nagging shoulder issue for the past couple of weeks. As a result, he has been limited in games, especially last week after playing just 43% of the Seahawks' offensive snaps. But with Seattle fighting for a playoff spot, he should see more chances in Week 18 against a weak Arizona Cardinals run defense.
In Week 7, Walker totaled 26 carries for 105 yards against the Cardinals, which gives the young running back a safe floor heading into this weekend. Arizona's run defense has been torn apart in recent weeks, giving up over 5.45 yards per carry over the past five games. They have also allowed nine rush touchdowns since Week 8. That makes the Seahawks running back a great play in all formats this weekend.
Josh Jacobs/Zamir White - Las Vegas Raiders
Opponent: DEN
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 31st
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs will "fight until the end" to suit up this weekend against the Denver Broncos. But Jacobs is still not practicing (as of Thursday), and he'll likely be a game-time decision for Sunday. Either way, though, backup running back Zamir White is a must-start if he can't go.
For starters, the Broncos have given up the second-most fantasy points to running backs this season. They are also allowing 5.3 yards per carry this year, which really boosts Jacobs or White's value in Week 18. Denver's run unit has been better over the past two games. However, either Raiders running back should see enough volume to pave the way for a nice fantasy day.
Week 18: Running Back Matchups to Avoid
Chuba Hubbard - Carolina Panthers
Opponent: TB
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 3rd
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard has been a solid flex option in recent weeks. He has scored over 10 PPR fantasy points in six straight games while finishing as a top-25 back in five of those six contests. However, in Week 18 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has a tough matchup.
Surprisingly, Hubbard ran all over the Buccaneers the first time around. In Week 13, he ran 25 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns. But since then, Tampa Bay's front seven has allowed an average of 66 rush yards with just one rushing touchdown over the past four games. Opposing running backs are also averaging only 3.3 yards per carry during that span. That makes Hubbard a risky start this weekend.
Week 18: Wide Receiver Matchups We Love
Calvin Ridley - Jacksonville Jaguars
Opponent: @TEN
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 24th
It's been a very strange year for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley. There have been plenty of highs and plenty of lows for Ridley in his first year with the Jaguars. But there's a good chance he ends his 2023-2024 campaign on a high note against the Tennessee Titans in Week 18.
There's a good chance that Ridley will get back his quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder/finger), who practiced in a limited fashion on both Wednesday and Thursday. On top of possibly getting Lawrence back, Ridley dominated against this Titans secondary in Week 11, totaling seven catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
WR1s continue to feast against the Titans this year, which has included big games from Keenan Allen (31.1 PPR points), Mike Evans (26.3 PPR points), and Michael Pittman Jr. (27.5 PPR points). Ridley should be in for a big fantasy game as well in a must-win matchup for the Jaguars.
Brandin Cooks - Dallas Cowboys
Opponent: @WSH
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 31st
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks started the season off slow. But he has picked it up as of late and is coming off a solid five-catch, 60-yard, and one-touchdown performance against the Detroit Lions. In Week 18, Cooks will face a Washington Commanders secondary that has had their struggles.
The Commanders are allowing the second-most fantasy points to wideouts this season, and from Week 12 to Week 15, they gave up a combined 40 catches for 675 yards and seven touchdowns in a three-game span. The Cowboys attacked that Washington secondary heavily in Week 12, which helped Cooks finish with a solid 17.2 PPR fantasy points. A similar performance could be in store with Dallas playing for the NFC East title on Sunday.
Week 18: Wide Receiver Matchups to Avoid
Terry McLaurin - Washington Commanders
Opponent: DAL
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 7th
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin hasn't produced in fantasy this season with Sam Howell under center. It's been a bit of a surprise to see Howell not target his best wideout in McLaurin. But here we are in Week 18. The 28-year-old has only 946 receiving yards through 17 weeks, putting him on pace for his lowest receiving total since his rookie year in 2019.
Over the past eight games, McLaurin has also only seen at least nine targets in two of those contests. During that span, he has just one game with over 17 PPR fantasy points, which came in Week 15 when Jacoby Brissett came in and took over for Howell. Now, he'll go up against a ball-hawking corner in DaRon Bland or a veteran corner in Stephon Gilmore. It's not the best matchup for the Washington wideout in Week 18.
Week 18: Tight End Matchups We Love
Dalton Schultz - Houston Texans
Opponent: @IND
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 22nd
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz has been a top-10 fantasy option this year while averaging 10.1 PPR fantasy points per game. It's been a very up-and-down year for Schultz, who started the season rough and then picked it up by finishing as a top-eight fantasy tight end in six of seven games from Week 4 to Week 11.
Now, with C.J. Stroud back under center, he should be in for a nice fantasy day against a Colts defense that has struggled against tight ends this season. Indianapolis has given up at least five catches to tight ends in 12 of 17 games this season and just allowed seven catches for 81 yards and one touchdown to the Atlanta Falcons tight ends in Week 16. In a must-win game, Stroud should look Schultz's way often.
Week 18: Tight End Matchups to Avoid
Tyler Conklin - New York Jets
Opponent: @NE
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 2nd
New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin has seen consistent usage over the past two months, becoming a reliable checkdown option for both Zach Wilson and Trevor Siemian. Conklin has caught at least four passes in seven of the past nine games while also seeing at least six targets in six of those games.
But in Week 18 against the New England Patriots, he has a tough matchup. In Week 3, Conklin only caught three passes for 25 yards when facing this Patriots secondary. They've also only allowed two receiving touchdowns all year to this position group, which doesn't bode well for the Jets tight end.
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