The Seattle Seahawks will face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding WR DK Metcalf.
Is DK Metcalf Playing in Week 18?
Metcalf is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any unexpected setbacks, he is on track to play this weekend.
We’ll continue to monitor the Seahawks’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit DK Metcalf in Week 18?
Metcalf hasn’t had a catch gaining more than 30 yards since Week 7 and hasn’t had a 100-yard game since September. The Jaxon Smith-Njigba breakout has really cut the legs out from underneath the upside of him, and I’m not sure we’ll see that recovery this week in a meaningless game.
As of this writing, I have no reason to think that Metcalf sits out this game and that means ranking him alongside another proven receiver on a downswing due to a younger star taking over in Cooper Kupp.
Both are ranked as fine Flex plays for me this week, but neither appears worthy of the “co-WR1” label that we were assigning them as recently as a month ago.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 18 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
DK Metcalf’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 18
As of Sunday, Metcalf is projected to score 14.1 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 4.6 receptions for 65.7 yards and 0.5 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
PFN Insight on the Rams' Defense
The Rams' defense will finish the league in the bottom half, but this ranking doesn't really reflect the week-to-week variance of this team. Los Angeles delivered another strong defensive performance in Week 17 vs. the Cardinals, recording a 77.2 (C+) grade that ranked as the team's fifth-best performance of the season.
The Rams have posted a weekly top-15 finish in four of the last five weeks. The exception was the 44-42 bonanza against the Bills in Week 14, in which the Rams posted an F grade. Los Angeles has four top-10 finishes this season, yet they're one of three defenses with multiple F grades as well (Bengals and Panthers).
For the season, the Rams grade as a below-average defense in nearly every category that comprises our defensive rankings. The glaring exception is red-zone defense, where Los Angeles has the fifth-lowest touchdown rate allowed (47.2%).
That probably limits LA's playoff upside, particularly given the inconsistent game-to-game performance from the passing offense. Still, after a 1-4 start, the defense deserves credit for delivering enough high points to complement the star power on offense and help claim the NFC West.
For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.
DK Metcalf’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 7:00 AM ET on Sunday, January 5. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Week 18 Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 18 WR PPR Rankings
1) Ja'Marr Chase | CIN (at PIT)
2) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (vs. MIN)
3) Justin Jefferson | MIN (at DET)
4) Mike Evans | TB (vs. NO)
5) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (at IND)
6) Drake London | ATL (vs. CAR)
7) Ladd McConkey | LAC (at LV)
8) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at LAR)
9) Terry McLaurin | WAS (at DAL)
10) Malik Nabers | NYG (at PHI)
11) Tee Higgins | CIN (at PIT)
12) George Pickens | PIT (vs. CIN)
13) Davante Adams | NYJ (vs. MIA)
14) Courtland Sutton | DEN (vs. KC)
15) Jauan Jennings | SF (at ARI)
16) Jordan Addison | MIN (at DET)
17) DJ Moore | CHI (at GB)
18) Nico Collins | HOU (at TEN)
19) Zay Flowers | BAL (vs. CLE)
20) Tyreek Hill | MIA (at NYJ)
21) Jameson Williams | DET (vs. MIN)
22) Jalen McMillan | TB (vs. NO)
23) Calvin Ridley | TEN (vs. HOU)
24) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (vs. MIA)
25) DK Metcalf | SEA (at LAR)
26) Adam Thielen | CAR (at ATL)
27) Keenan Allen | CHI (at GB)
28) Jakobi Meyers | LV (vs. LAC)
29) Jayden Reed | GB (vs. CHI)
30) Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI (vs. SF)
31) Josh Downs | IND (vs. JAX)
32) Quentin Johnston | LAC (at LV)
33) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (at NYJ)
34) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (vs. JAX)
35) Romeo Doubs | GB (vs. CHI)
36) Darnell Mooney | ATL (vs. CAR)
37) Jerry Jeudy | CLE (at BAL)
38) Khalil Shakir | BUF (at NE)
39) Rashod Bateman | BAL (vs. CLE)
40) Rome Odunze | CHI (at GB)
41) DeMario Douglas | NE (vs. BUF)
42) Wan'Dale Robinson | NYG (at PHI)
43) Jalen Coker | CAR (at ATL)
44) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (vs. CHI)
45) Xavier Worthy | KC (at DEN)
46) Olamide Zaccheaus | WAS (at DAL)
47) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (at DEN)
48) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (vs. HOU)
49) Hollywood Brown | KC (at DEN)
50) Amari Cooper | BUF (at NE)
51) Brandin Cooks | DAL (vs. WAS)
52) Parker Washington | JAX (at IND)
53) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (vs. KC)
54) Tim Patrick | DET (vs. MIN)
55) Kayshon Boutte | NE (vs. BUF)
56) Ray-Ray McCloud III | ATL (vs. CAR)
57) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | BUF (at NE)
58) Devaughn Vele | DEN (vs. KC)
59) Andrei Iosivas | CIN (at PIT)
60) Calvin Austin III | PIT (vs. CIN)
61) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (vs. WAS)
62) Ricky Pearsall | SF (at ARI)
63) Michael Wilson | ARI (vs. SF)
64) Joshua Palmer | LAC (at LV)
65) Keon Coleman | BUF (at NE)
66) Tre Tucker | LV (vs. LAC)
67) Jalen Nailor | MIN (at DET)
68) Elijah Moore | CLE (at BAL)
69) Jamison Crowder | WAS (at DAL)
70) Xavier Legette | CAR (at ATL)
71) Kendrick Bourne | NE (vs. BUF)
72) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (vs. WAS)
73) David Moore | CAR (at ATL)
74) Adonai Mitchell | IND (vs. JAX)
75) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (vs. SEA)
76) Mike Williams | PIT (vs. CIN)
77) Malik Washington | MIA (at NYJ)
78) Alec Pierce | IND (vs. JAX)
79) Allen Lazard | NYJ (vs. MIA)
80) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at LAR)
81) John Metchie III | HOU (at TEN)
82) Robert Woods | HOU (at TEN)
83) Darius Slayton | NYG (at PHI)
84) Van Jefferson | PIT (vs. CIN)
85) Troy Franklin | DEN (vs. KC)
86) Mack Hollins | BUF (at NE)
87) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs. SEA)
88) Kevin Austin Jr. | NO (at TB)
89) Dante Pettis | CHI (at GB)
90) Luke McCaffrey | WAS (at DAL)
91) Xavier Hutchinson | HOU (at TEN)
92) Ryan Miller | TB (vs. NO)
93) Greg Dortch | ARI (vs. SF)
94) Lil'Jordan Humphrey | DEN (vs. KC)
95) DJ Chark | LAC (at LV)
96) Michael Woods II | CLE (at BAL)
97) Cedrick Wilson Jr. | NO (at TB)
98) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (at DEN)
99) Devin Duvernay | JAX (at IND)
100) Justin Watson | KC (at DEN)
101) Tylan Wallace | BAL (vs. CLE)
102) Jahan Dotson | PHI (vs. NYG)
103) Josh Reynolds | DEN (vs. KC)
104) Ryan Flournoy | DAL (vs. WAS)
105) Trey Palmer | TB (vs. NO)
Seahawks at Rams Trends and Insights
Seattle Seahawks
Team: Seattle has lost five of six games from Weeks 4-9 – they are 8-2 otherwise this season.
QB: Geno Smith’s average depth of throw on Thursday night was 3.2 yards, the second shortest in a winning effort of his career (minimum 20 attempts).
Offense: The Seahawks have punted on over 45% of their offensive drives five times this season, all five since the beginning of November (three in the past four weeks).
Defense: In their past six games, the Seahawks have held their opponents to a 32.9% conversion rate on third downs (seven games prior: 46.6%).
Fantasy: DK Metcalf doesn’t have a catch gaining more than 30 yards since Week 7 and doesn’t have a 100-yard game since September.
Betting: The Seahawks are 6-2 ATS in their past eight games played on extended rest.
Los Angeles Rams
Team: The Rams will enter 2025 with the longest active December winning streak, eight straight victories.
QB: Matthew Stafford is completing a career-high 53.5% of his deep passes, those his yards per completed pass on those throws (24.3) is tracking to be a career low (he was over 26 yards in each of the previous 10 seasons).
Offense: Saturday was the Rams’ sixth game this season without committing a turnover this season (6-0 in those games, 4-6 otherwise).
Defense: Over their past three games, Los Angeles has allowed just two red zone touchdowns (and four scores) on seven opponent trips inside their 20-yard line.
Fantasy: Puka Nacua notched his 10th career game with 115+ receiving yards on Saturday, making him the fifth receiver to hit that benchmark in his first two seasons. He can join Justin Jefferson and Odell Beckham as the only players to record 11 such games in the regular season finale.
Betting: Unders are 7-1 in Los Angeles last eight games played on extended rest.