Week 18 Sleeper Fantasy Football Picks - Snap Counts, Targets, Usage Analysis

Joey analyzes 5 sleeper fantasy football picks for Week 18 based on recent increases in snap counts and usage. Should I start these fantasy football sleepers?

It's crazy to think that we are in the final week of the NFL regular season. What a journey it has been to get to this point. With most fantasy leagues over, you either became a champion or came up just short in one of the most stressful and wild fantasy seasons ever.

If you are still playing for the fantasy championship because your league goes until Week 18, don't worry because this information below can be a big help.

This article could be a great tool to help you set your lineups in Week 18, or if you play daily fantasy sports (DFS). Either way, let's dive in and see which players saw a surprisedly high/low snap count or usage in Week 17.

Surprisingly High Snap Count/Usage From Last Week

RB Jamaal Williams New Orleans Saints: 57% snap share & 19 carries 

We saw New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams in the lead back role in Week 1, and it resulted in a 75% snap share to go with 18 carries. We saw some of that in Week 17 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when Alvin Kamara (ankle) missed the entire second half with an injury. 

As a result, Williams took over as the Saints' top back. He finished with 19 carries for 58 yards and four catches for 13 yards. It wasn't the most productive outing for the veteran, but the touches and carries were there with the team leading for the entire second half.

If Kamara were to miss in Week 18 with that ankle injury, Williams would step up once again in that role. Check the injury report this week for rookie Kendre Miller (ankle). He has missed seven straight games, and if he's inactive in the final week, that should help the 28-year-old get even more chances.

RB Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers: 37% snap share 

San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell has dealt with his fair share of injuries this season. He missed two games earlier in the year and three games from Week 14 to Week 16 with a knee issue. He was active in Week 17 against the Washington Commanders and played a big role. 

With Christian McCaffrey (calf) leaving the contest early in the third quarter, it was Mitchell – not Jordan Mason – who stepped in as San Francisco's top running back. He saw 37% of the 49ers' offensive snaps in the game while playing 26 snaps compared to Mason, who was on the field just five times in the game.

McCaffrey has already been ruled out for Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams, meaning Mitchell should be in line to start for the 49ers. Also, pay attention to the reports this week on whether the team plans to rest some players. The running back could start the game but be pulled shortly after to rest him for the playoffs.

WR Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams: 6 catches for 92 yards 

It's been a surprising fantasy season for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson as of late. The wideout totaled a touchdown in four straight games from Week 13 to Week 16 and finished with over 13 PPR fantasy points in every game during that span. 

Robinson continued his strong second half of the season in Week 17 against the New York Giants. The 29-year-old didn't cross the goal line in this one but did catch six passes for 92 yards in the contest. He also saw an impressive 10 targets, which was the most on the team.

Robinson has been a sneaky solid flex option over the past five weeks and should be a strong fantasy option in Week 18 against the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams are still playing for something (to finish 6th in the NFC), and the 49ers might be resting some starters on Sunday. That could help the veteran wideout produce another nice fantasy day.

Other Players To Note: 

• ARI James Conner (27 touches)
• LAC Austin Ekeler (72% snap share, most since Week 14) 

Surprisingly Low Snap Count/Usage From Last Week

RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns: 40% snap share 

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford is coming off his best fantasy game of the year. In Week 17 against the New York Jets, he scored 26.1 PPR fantasy points behind two receiving touchdowns. He finished with 12 carries for 64 yards and two catches for 57 yards in the contest.

But, the snap share is extremely worrisome. He played just 40% of the team's offensive snaps, while Kareem Hunt saw 37% of the snaps, and Pierre Strong Jr. saw 23% of the chances. Ford actually wound up being on the field for two more snaps than Hunt and 10 more than Strong.

The touchdowns in Week 17 were great for Ford. However, he has seen his snap share drop in three straight games. He has also failed to reach above a 45% snap share in back-to-back contests. With the Browns also likely resting starters in Week 18, he should be avoided in most cases in both fantasy leagues and DFS contests this weekend.

RB Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos: 45% snap share 

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams was really carrying fantasy managers toward the middle of the season. He finished with double-digit fantasy points in six of seven games from Week 7 to Week 14. But, the 23-year-old back has fallen off in recent weeks, especially his snap share.

In Week 17, Williams saw just a 45% snap share, while Samaje Perine played 25% of the Broncos' offensive snaps, and Jaleel McLaughlin saw a 28% snap share. McLaughlin also saw the first snap of the game on Sunday, which was not a great sign.

After a strong middle of the season, Williams has now played under 50% of the team's snaps in three straight games, including a 39% snap share in Week 16. The Broncos aren't playing for anything in Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders, so they could decide to give the rookie McLaughlin even more run this weekend.

Other Players To Note: 

• DET David Montgomery (39% snap share)
• MIN Ty Chandler (snap share has dropped in three straight games as Alexander Mattison gets healthy)

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