Fantasy Football Rankings Week 18: Starts, sits | Playoff scenarios, matchups
Sophia Dalton Itβs Week 18, and while we assume most of you arenβt playing for a fantasy football championship, we know some might play for fun or might even be looking for some DFS action. There are a lot of teams with uncertainty around resting starters, and then plenty with some good and bad matchups. Weβll sift through all the possibilities and matchups below.
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Waivers | Week 18 SOS Ranks
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Updated with a 1-to-5 duck scale on risk of resting players
AFC
- BAL π¦ β Can win and create a situation where their playoff location is up for changing locations.
- BUF β No concern now. With new NFL plan, a win with Chiefs winning would make the AFC Championship game neutral location (if they meet).
- CLE π¦π¦ β Could sit early or midgame since only playing spoiler.
- CIN β Similar to the Bills, a playoff location is open for changing depending on Bengals/Ravens winning.
- DEN π¦π¦π¦π¦ β Tons of injuries this year; many could rest.
- HOU π¦π¦π¦ β Nothing to play forβ¦ expect the No. 1 draft pick with a lossβ¦ so, tank?
- IND π¦π¦π¦ β Could improve draft position with a lossβ¦ so double tank?
- JAX β Win and in.
- KC β Win and Bills lose guarantees No. 1 seed. Win and Bills win opens up location scenarios.
- LAC π¦π¦π¦π₯ β Likely want to win to avoid BUF/CIN and get JAX/TEN instead, but thatβs only if the Ravens win. If the Ravens lose, the Chargers would rest everyone since locked into the JAX/TEN game.
- LV π¦π¦π¦ β Already benched Derek Carr. More could easily rest.
- MIA β Need to win for a playoff hope.
- NE β Same as Dolphins.
- NYJ π¦ β Spoiler with Joe Flacco at quarterback, but they might protect Garrett Wilson.
- PIT β Same as Dolphins and Pats.
- TEN β Win and in.
NFC
- ARI π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ β Injuries galore. No reason to risk anyone of worth.
- ATL π¦ β Maybe give rookies some rest in the fourth quarter.
- CAR π¦π¦ β Nothing of note game wise, so D.J. Moore and maybe some others get an early breather.
- CHI π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ β Justin Fields is already out, why risk Cole Kmet too, but who knows if David Montgomery is next yearβs plan and gets early rest.
- DAL β Still playing for No. 1 seed hopes.
- DET π¦ β Dan Campbell isnβt going to lie down, even if the Seahawks win, but maybe some final few drives/Q4 rest.
- GB β Win and in.
- LAR π¦π¦ β Similar to the Panthers, not even much here, but maybe some short days.
- MIN π¦π¦ β Can only move to the No. 2 seed with a win and 49ers loss, so could play to win since early, but we could also see half games for everyone given risk/reward of injury versus the No. 2 seed.
- NO π¦π¦ β Chris Olave has been hurt, and heβs their future, similar to Garrett Wilson situation.
- NYG π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ β Nothing to play for and already mentioned resting starters.
- PHI β Win and get the No. 1 seed.
- SEA β Need to win for a playoff hope.
- SF β Christian McCaffrey is the only concern but a significant one since the 49ers could destroy the Cardinals without him.
- TB π¦π¦π¦π¦ β Said theyβre playing starters, but that could mean one drive as Mike Evans hit his bonus last week and there is nothing at stake.
- WSH π¦π¦π¦ β Already starting Sam Howell, Brian Robinson could easily sit, and the receivers workload is in question.
2022 Week 18 Fantasy Football Sleepers
π¨ HEADS UP π¨ These good and bad matchups β for sleeper types β use APA (link above). This does NOT mean the good are must-starts or the bad need to benched everywhere. These are simply a look at potential upside plays and players you might think twice about with a quality replacement on hand.
QUARTERBACK
Good Matchups
- Aaron Rodgers, GB β As good as it gets for a win-and-in game.
- Josh Dobbs, TEN β Normally, wouldnβt be worth mentioning, but pickings could be slim.
- Jarrett Stidham, LV β See: Dobbs, and Stidham balled out last week.
- Mike White, NYJ β The Jets could sit some (Garrett Wilson), but they will look to evaluate and play spoiler.
Bad Matchups
- Kenny Pickett, PIT β The Browns could rest some, but similar to the Jets, could want to spoil the slim Steelersβ hope.
- Dolphins QB β Unless itβs Tua Tagovailoa (likely not), this is untouchable.
- Dak Prescott, DAL β Normally, this would make Prescott dicier, but the Commanders are mixing in several youngsters, including some on defense, and the Cowboys still have No. 1 seed chances.
- Jared Goff, DET β As with Prescott, worth the risk given options and especially if the Seahawks lose.
RUNNING BACK
Good Matchups
- 49ers β Christian McCaffrey could easily sit, as they can beat the Cardinals without him and reports are the injury is at least a one-week concern. Jordan Mason and Tyrion Davis-Price will share the backfield work unless Elijah Mitchell returns, who would muddy things and potentially lead.
- Zack Moss, IND β Mediocre, but he sees the majority of work and in a great matchup.
- Alexander Mattison, MIN β If the starters sit, Mattison has shown RB1 upside before, and the matchup adds to that.
- Jerick McKinnon, KC β A league-winner, and McKinnon should keep rolling in Week 18.
Bad Matchups
- Keontay Ingram, ARI β The Cardinals are in shambles, and the matchup is just as bad as the team.
- Travis Etienne, JAX β Still starting him as a Top 10 option given other potential resting players, which could include the Bills.
- Joe Mixon, CIN β As mentioned, could sit out entirely.
- Cowboys β Fire them both up. Donβt fret this matchup given the Week 18 issues.
WIDE RECEIVER
Good Matchups
- Rashid Shaheed, NO β Best matchup of the week, and Chris Olave could easily get the week off.
- Packers β Amazing matchup, playoffs on the line, and limited pool of reliable options at receiver this week. Christian Watson, Allen Lazard and Romeo Doubs are all in play.
- Treylon Burks, TEN β Even with Josh Dobbs, Burks is a nice boom/bust play with a better floor than some with workload concerns.
- Drake London, ATL β The connection with Desmond Ridder is there, as is the matchup with a Buccaneers defense likely limiting starters.
Bad Matchups
- Van Jefferson, LAR β In Week 18? With the Seahawks looking toward their playoff hopes? No thanks.
- Broncos β As mentioned, will they even play? Against the Chargers defenseβ¦ does it even matter?
- Diontae Johnson; George Pickens, PIT β Even with the matchup, worth risking in most situations.
TIGHT END
Good Matchups
- Robert Tonyan, GB β Upside for Top 10 finish and playing for something.
- Evan Engram, JAX β Lock of the week?
- Chigoziem Okonkwo, TEN β Still carries some risk, but Titans are playing for the division.
Bad Matchups
- Albert Okwuegbunam, DEN β Even if Greg Dulcich sits, most of the Broncos sitting would add more bust to his boom.
- Logan Thomas, WSH β Hasnβt been usable, and the matchup does Thomas no favors.
Week 18 Fantasy Football Rankings
π¨ HEADS UP π¨
- New widget doesnβt have Week 18, so back to the old one for this week only.
- Only Half-PPR in this widget.
Photo Credit: Dan Powers/Appleton Post-Crescent-USA TODAY NETWORK