It’s Week 18, and while we assume most of you aren’t 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. We’ll sift through all the possibilities and matchups below.

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Updated with a 1-to-5 duck scale on risk of resting players

AFC

• BAL 🦆 — Can win and create a situation where their playoff location is up for changing locations.
• BUF — No concern now. With new NFL plan, a win with Chiefs winning would make the AFC Championship game neutral location (if they meet).
• CLE 🦆🦆 — Could sit early or midgame since only playing spoiler.
• CIN — Similar to the Bills, a playoff location is open for changing depending on Bengals/Ravens winning.
• DEN 🦆🦆🦆🦆 — Tons of injuries this year; many could rest.
• HOU 🦆🦆🦆 — Nothing to play for… expect the No. 1 draft pick with a loss… so, tank?
• IND 🦆🦆🦆 — Could improve draft position with a loss… so double tank?
• JAX — Win and in.
• KC — Win and Bills lose guarantees No. 1 seed. Win and Bills win opens up location scenarios.
• LAC 🦆🦆🦆🥚 — Likely want to win to avoid BUF/CIN and get JAX/TEN instead, but that’s only if the Ravens win. If the Ravens lose, the Chargers would rest everyone since locked into the JAX/TEN game.
• LV 🦆🦆🦆 — Already benched Derek Carr. More could easily rest.
• MIA — Need to win for a playoff hope.
• NE — Same as Dolphins.
• NYJ 🦆 — Spoiler with Joe Flacco at quarterback, but they might protect Garrett Wilson.
• PIT — Same as Dolphins and Pats.
• TEN — Win and in.

NFC

• ARI 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆 — Injuries galore. No reason to risk anyone of worth.
• ATL 🦆 — Maybe give rookies some rest in the fourth quarter.
• CAR 🦆🦆 — Nothing of note game wise, so D.J. Moore and maybe some others get an early breather.
• CHI 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆 — Justin Fields is already out, why risk Cole Kmet too, but who knows if David Montgomery is next year’s plan and gets early rest.
• DAL — Still playing for No. 1 seed hopes.
• DET 🦆 — Dan Campbell isn’t going to lie down, even if the Seahawks win, but maybe some final few drives/Q4 rest.
• GB — Win and in.
• LAR 🦆🦆 — Similar to the Panthers, not even much here, but maybe some short days.
• MIN 🦆🦆 — 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 🦆🦆 — Chris Olave has been hurt, and he’s their future, similar to Garrett Wilson situation.
• NYG 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆 — Nothing to play for and already mentioned resting starters.
• PHI — Win and get the No. 1 seed.
• SEA — Need to win for a playoff hope.
• SF — Christian McCaffrey is the only concern but a significant one since the 49ers could destroy the Cardinals without him.
• TB 🦆🦆🦆🦆 — Said they’re playing starters, but that could mean one drive as Mike Evans hit his bonus last week and there is nothing at stake.
• WSH 🦆🦆🦆 — Already starting Sam Howell, Brian Robinson could easily sit, and the receivers workload is in question.

2022 Week 18 Fantasy Football Sleepers

🚨 HEADS UP 🚨 These good and bad matchups — for sleeper types — 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 — As good as it gets for a win-and-in game.
• Josh Dobbs, TEN — Normally, wouldn’t be worth mentioning, but pickings could be slim.
• Jarrett Stidham, LV — See: Dobbs, and Stidham balled out last week.
• Mike White, NYJ — The Jets could sit some (Garrett Wilson), but they will look to evaluate and play spoiler.

Bad Matchups

• Kenny Pickett, PIT — The Browns could rest some, but similar to the Jets, could want to spoil the slim Steelers’ hope.
• Dolphins QB — Unless it’s Tua Tagovailoa (likely not), this is untouchable.
• Dak Prescott, DAL — 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 — As with Prescott, worth the risk given options and especially if the Seahawks lose.

RUNNING BACK

Good Matchups

• 49ers — 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 — Mediocre, but he sees the majority of work and in a great matchup.
• Alexander Mattison, MIN — If the starters sit, Mattison has shown RB1 upside before, and the matchup adds to that.
• Jerick McKinnon, KC — A league-winner, and McKinnon should keep rolling in Week 18.

Bad Matchups

• Keontay Ingram, ARI — The Cardinals are in shambles, and the matchup is just as bad as the team.
• Travis Etienne, JAX — Still starting him as a Top 10 option given other potential resting players, which could include the Bills.
• Joe Mixon, CIN — As mentioned, could sit out entirely.
• Cowboys — Fire them both up. Don’t fret this matchup given the Week 18 issues.

WIDE RECEIVER

Good Matchups

• Rashid Shaheed, NO — Best matchup of the week, and Chris Olave could easily get the week off.
• Packers — 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 — Even with Josh Dobbs, Burks is a nice boom/bust play with a better floor than some with workload concerns.
• Drake London, ATL — The connection with Desmond Ridder is there, as is the matchup with a Buccaneers defense likely limiting starters.

Bad Matchups

• Van Jefferson, LAR — In Week 18? With the Seahawks looking toward their playoff hopes? No thanks.
• Broncos — As mentioned, will they even play? Against the Chargers defense… does it even matter?
• Diontae Johnson; George Pickens, PIT — Even with the matchup, worth risking in most situations.

TIGHT END

Good Matchups

• Robert Tonyan, GB — Upside for Top 10 finish and playing for something.
• Evan Engram, JAX — Lock of the week?
• Chigoziem Okonkwo, TEN — Still carries some risk, but Titans are playing for the division.

Bad Matchups

• Albert Okwuegbunam, DEN — Even if Greg Dulcich sits, most of the Broncos sitting would add more bust to his boom.
• Logan Thomas, WSH — Hasn’t been usable, and the matchup does Thomas no favors.

Week 18 Fantasy Football Rankings

🚨 HEADS UP 🚨

• New widget doesn’t 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