Most fantasy football managers are done for the season, putting their feet up after a crazy Week 17. However, many leagues go all the way through Week 18. Whether it is a two-week playoff or the added difficulty of staying liquid and managing a team throughout the entire NFL season, fantasy managers need sleeper options this next week.
Should you target players like Gardner Minshew, Zamir White, and Brandin Cooks as quality starting options?
Week 18 Fantasy Football Sleepers | Quarterbacks
Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants (vs. PHI)
The “Tommy Cutlets” era ended as quickly as it began, with the New York Giants replacing Tommy DeVito with veteran Tyrod Taylor. After being re-inserted as the starter, Taylor almost pulled off the upset on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams and looked like his old self, especially when he took off on a 31-yard run late in the game.
The Giants are playing for very little in Week 18, but Taylor is playing for a job, and he gives his team the best chance to win. New York gets to take on the Philadelphia Eagles, which is the best matchup in fantasy for QBs –- they gave up over 200 yards passing and three TDs to Kyler Murray in Week 17. If you are worried that the starting QB you have been starting all year might be resting, Taylor is a sneaky option.
Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts (vs. HOU)
“Minshew Magic” is still delighting fantasy managers left and right. Colts QB Gardner Minshew hasn’t changed lives, but since you probably grabbed him off the waiver wire, the QB21 on the season has delivered in great matchups. He had four top-15 performances on the season.
In Week 18, the Colts take on the Houston Texans in an important matchup, and the Texans have given up the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing QBs. Minshew loves to throw –- he has over 35 passing attempts in four of the last six games –- and the Colts games love to hit the over. Minshew is a fine Week 18 option.
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (@ ARI)
Another great QB matchup to exploit is the Arizona Cardinals. The Seattle Seahawks face them in Week 18, and QB Geno Smith stands a good chance of having solid numbers. Arizona is playing for pride, and we know Pete Carroll is one of the league’s biggest motivators, so I expect a better game than some think.
Smith has not been as impressive as he was last year, but he has moments of brilliance where he has shown that the old guy still has it. He’s a quality streaming option.
Week 18 Fantasy Football Sleepers | Running Backs
Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. DEN)
Josh Jacobs has missed three games due to injury, and Zamir White has been the RB1 for Las Vegas with him out of the lineup. With the Raiders having nothing to play for in Week 18, I think there is a strong chance that Jacobs is done for the season, and the Raiders want to continue to see what they have in White.
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If this is the case, White is a fantastic start in Week 18 against the Denver Broncos. This defense is the second-best matchup for RBs from a fantasy standpoint, and we have seen that Las Vegas isn’t huge on passing lately. White had 71 yards on the ground and 35 yards receiving in Week 17.
Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots (vs. NYJ)
If you don’t already have Ezekiel Elliot on your fantasy team, you probably won’t find him on the waiver wire; he is currently 84% rostered in Yahoo. But if you have him, he has a great matchup this week against the New York Jets. They allow the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs, and Elliott is basically the only show in town for the New England Patriots.
Elliott had a relatively quiet game on Sunday, but he still had 14 carries for 39 yards and one TD. The next highest amount of carries? Kevin Harris with two. Zeke is (what is left of) New England’s offense.
Week 18 Fantasy Football Sleepers | Wide Receivers
Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants (vs. PHI)
The matchup against the Eagles is excellent for the entire passing game of the Giants in Week 18. Darius Slayton was the big weapon against the Rams this week, but Wan’Dale Robinson had the most targets with nine. He caught six of them for 55 yards and did have a TD on the ground.
Robinson has at least three catches in each of his last six games and is a sneaky start in Week 18.
Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys (@ WAS)
With the way Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys offense looked on Saturday night, it might be challenging to view Brandin Cooks as a sleeper. But hey, it’s Week 18. CeeDee Lamb stole the majority of the spotlight this week, but Cooks had eight targets, which is the second-highest amount of the season for him.
Dallas wants to put its foot on the gas, and I expect a high-scoring affair, at least on the Cowboys’ side, in Washington in the final week of the fantasy season.
Week 18 Fantasy Football Sleepers | Tight Ends
Darren Waller, New York Giants (vs. PHI)
I never thought I would be saying Darren Waller is a potential sleeper, but the way this season has gone for him, here we are. Waller had six targets on Sunday from Taylor, and any TE that is consistently getting that many targets is a good start in a decent matchup.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (vs. ATL)
New Orleans TE Taysom Hill is a great start, especially if you are in week two of a two-week championship and are not favored to win. If you need a high ceiling, Hill is your guy. In Week 17, Hill threw for 11 yards, had two rush attempts, and also had 30 receiving yards, with one culminating in a TD.
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Sure, he could leave you with zero points, but Hill is an excellent option in Week 18 if you need upside.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (vs. NYJ)
If you had Hunter Henry on your fantasy team, you no doubt missed him over the last two weeks. After back-to-back weeks as the TE3, Henry had to sit out two games in a row due to a knee injury.
It is uncertain if he will be active in Week 18, but if he is, he should be in your lineup. He has turned into the best receiving option for the Patriots as late, and the matchup against the Jets is a good one; they give up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing TEs. Just keep an eye on that injury report this week.
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