The majority of fantasy football leagues are behind us, but there are still those faithful few who persevere all the way through Week 18! With that in mind, here are my early QB rankings to help guide you as you set your lineups.
Which QB Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
1) Jalen Hurts | PHI | (@ NYG)
2) Dak Prescott | DAL | (@ WAS)
3) Josh Allen | BUF | (@ MIA)
4) Patrick Mahomes II | KC | (@ LAC)
5) Lamar Jackson | BAL | (vs. PIT)
6) Brock Purdy | SF | (vs. LAR)
7) C.J. Stroud | HOU | (@ IND)
8) Kyler Murray | ARI | (vs. SEA)
9) Justin Fields | CHI | (@ GB)
10) Tua Tagovailoa | MIA | (vs. BUF)
11) Jared Goff | DET | (vs. MIN)
12) Matthew Stafford | LAR | (@ SF)
13) Baker Mayfield | TB | (@ CAR)
14) Joe Flacco | CLE | (@ CIN)
15) Trevor Lawrence | JAX | (@ TEN)
16) Jordan Love | GB | (vs. CHI)
17) Derek Carr | NO | (vs. ATL)
18) Geno Smith | SEA | (@ ARI)
MORE: Week 18 Positional Rankings — RB | WR | TE | K | DST
19) Gardner Minshew II | IND | (vs. HOU)
20) Sam Howell | WAS | (vs. DAL)
21) Jake Browning | CIN | (vs. CLE)
22) Tyrod Taylor | NYG | (vs. PHI)
23) Jaren Hall | MIN | (@ DET)
24) Jarrett Stidham | DEN | (@ LV)
25) Aidan O’Connell | LV | (vs. DEN)
26) Easton Stick | LAC | (vs. KC)
27) Bryce Young | CAR | (vs. TB)
28) Will Levis | TEN | (vs. JAX)
29) Taylor Heinicke | ATL | (@ NO)
30) Trevor Siemian | NYJ | (@ NE)
31) Mason Rudolph | PIT | (@ BAL)
32) Bailey Zappe | NE | (vs. NYJ)
33) Nick Mullens | MIN | (@ DET)
34) Ryan Tannehill | TEN | (vs. JAX)
35) Tommy DeVito | NYG | (vs. PHI)
36) C.J. Beathard | JAX | (@ TEN)
The Top QBs To Start in Week 18
Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns (at CIN)
People questioned if Joe Flacco was simply beating up on lesser competition. People also questioned if Flacco was being carried by Amari Cooper’s contested catches.
People got their answers last week against the New York Jets in a game Flacco played without Cooper and, for an extended period of time, without Elijah Moore. All he did was light up the Jets for 309 yards (fourth straight 300-yard game) and three touchdowns (multiple TD passes in all five starts this season).
Betting against Flacco at this point is dangerous, and this matchup is nothing to fear. The Browns are going to want to maintain their form heading into the postseason and that makes Flacco a viable play in all formats.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
It’s hard not to worry about some natural regression, but we are talking about an impressive five-game stretch that requires us to take the veteran very seriously if your league extends into Week 18.
He’s a top-15 QB for me this week and is part of a tier that extends up to QB10 — volume talks, and he projects for as much of it as anyone in a favorable spot.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!