Making lineup decisions can be the most frustrating — or most rewarding — part of fantasy football. Here to help you make those decisions for fantasy leagues that are still rolling in Week 18 are our start ’em and sit ’em picks.
Start ‘Em Picks for Week 18
Tyrod Taylor, QB, New York Giants (vs. PHI)
Apparently, I’m the Tyrod Taylor guy for Week 18 — I just love the way he’s played this season for the New York Giants. He looks like a guy who still has a few good years left, and someone who — given the caliber of quarterbacking we’ve seen in the NFL this year — deserves a chance to start.
Taylor will be out to prove himself in one final game against the Philadelphia Eagles — a team he threw for 200 yards and ran for 24 in a mere two quarters against when these teams played two weeks ago.
The Eagles allow 20.9 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks — just 0.1 behind the Washington Commanders for the most in the league.
Additionally, Philadelphia’s HC Nick Sirianni suggested he may pull starters at some point in the game if the Dallas Cowboys have their game well in hand. Taylor is poised to end the season on a high note.
Pierre Strong Jr., RB, Cleveland Browns (at CIN)
Before Sunday’s slate of games, Ian Rapoport reported that the Cleveland Browns intended to rest starters if their Week 18 game did not matter. Cleveland is now locked into the fifth seed, so I fully expect them to rest not only Jerome Ford but Kareem Hunt as well. That would position Pierre Strong Jr. to operate as the feature back.
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This is a great spot for Strong against a Cincinnati Bengals run defense that can’t stop anyone. Somehow, they’re only allowing the 17th-most fantasy points per game to running backs.
However, over the past month, they’ve struggled and allowed Ty Chandler and Isiah Pacheco to go for over 130 yards against them. Pierre is a strong play this week — sorry, couldn’t help myself.
Jordan Mason or Elijah Mitchell, RB, San Francisco 49ers (vs. LAR)
Christian McCaffrey has already been ruled out for Week 18 due to a calf strain, but let’s be honest — he was never playing in this game anyway. We likely won’t see Brock Purdy, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, or any of the San Francisco 49ers starters with the NFC’s top seed locked up.
I think the 49ers will opt to rest Elijah Mitchell as well, but we’ll get more clarity on that situation as the game nears. Whether it’s Mitchell or Jordan Mason, San Francisco’s RB will be worth starting against a Los Angeles Rams team that will also likely be resting starters.
Brandin Cooks, WR, Dallas Cowboys (at WAS)
With so many wide receivers either injured or not playing, Brandin Cooks suddenly looks pretty appealing, as the Dallas Cowboys are playing for the NFC East title. When these teams last played, Cooks had his second-best game of the season, catching four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.
The Commanders allow the second-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Cooks has been touchdown-dependent, but there’s a good chance he can continue having a nose for the end zone against a defense that has allowed the second-most touchdowns to wide receivers this season.
Gabe Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills (at MIA)
I know — I know. Predicting when Gabe Davis is going to smash is like playing darts with a blindfold, but I’m going to try and prove there is a method to the madness.
Back in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins, Davis caught three passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins have been vulnerable to the deep ball, as evidenced by the fact that Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson was able to throw all over them last week.
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The Buffalo Bills are going to continue with their running ways, but when they do throw the ball, look for them to take some shots to Davis.
What’s the alternative? Throw to Stefon Diggs? We know from recent history that that’s not part of Buffalo’s game plan. This just feels like a Davis game.
Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers (vs. CHI)
Last week marked Tucker Kraft’s fourth consecutive game with double-digit fantasy points. He’s been remarkably solid for six weeks now with fellow TE Luke Musgrave sidelined.
The Green Bay Packers have a ton of injury issues at wide receiver. Christian Watson is trying to fight through a hamstring strain, Dontayvion Wicks didn’t play last week, and Jayden Reed might miss this week with a rib injury. That has resulted in Kraft being more heavily used.
This week, the Packers get a Chicago Bears defense that allows the third-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. It should be another solid outing for Kraft.
Sit ‘Em Picks for Week 18
Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at CAR)
I firmly believe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will defeat the Carolina Panthers to secure another NFC South crown. I don’t expect Baker Mayfield to play a big role in doing so, though.
In Week 13, Mayfield posted just 10.88 fantasy points against Carolina. The Bucs still won the game. Why? The Panthers can’t stop the run.
While Rachaad White has struggled with efficiency as a runner this season, he’s been effective against porous run defenses. He should have no trouble carrying the load this week, which limits what Mayfield has to do against a pass defense allowing 13.5 fantasy ppg to quarterbacks — the fewest in the league.
Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos (at LV)
This game is one of the few with both teams not playing for anything. The Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos are just trying to end the season on a high note. Javonte Williams, however, has not been tracking to do so for several weeks now.
Williams has scored more than 10.9 fantasy points in only six of his last seven games. His rushing performance over his last three games has been especially troubling, posting lines of just 12-27, 11-24, and 15-41.
The Raiders have been much improved defensively since firing former HC Josh McDaniels. This looks like another spot where Williams will fail to impress.
Jamaal Williams, RB, New Orleans Saints (vs. ATL)
The New Orleans Saints need to win and get help from other teams to make the playoffs. It will be all hands on deck.
That means there’s a chance Alvin Kamara pushes to play through an ankle sprain that otherwise might keep him out for a week or two.
If Kamara doesn’t play, Jamaal Williams would be set to operate as the lead back. The volume will be there, but he still wouldn’t be a recommended start.
Last week, while filling in for Kamara, Williams turned 19 carries into 58 yards. The Atlanta Falcons allow the second-fewest fantasy points on average to running backs. With or without Kamara, Williams will need a touchdown to avoid underwhelming.
Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons (at NO)
It might feel easy to pick on the Falcons, but it was quite difficult to find perceived start-worthy wide receivers that might not be worth starting. Still, Drake London fits the bill.
In Week 14, London caught 10 passes for 172 yards. That’s the only game in his last five where he’s reached double-digit fantasy points. To be fair, though, London has faced a tough slate of pass defenses.
Still, that’s not about to get better this week against a Saints defense allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers. All but one of his quality games have come against below-average pass defenses.
London has just two touchdowns this season and none since Week 4. The Falcons just got steamrolled by the Bears, and they appear to just be playing out the season. I have no confidence in this offense or this extremely talented player.
DeMario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots (vs. NYJ)
I like DeMario Douglas. He’s probably going to be a player I target in the later rounds of 2024 fantasy drafts, but he’s also probably closing out the 2023 season on a sour note.
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The New York Jets may have struggled against elite Browns QB Joe Flacco, but overall, they’ve been a defense to avoid. They’re allowing the fewest fantasy ppg to wide receivers, and it’s not close.
The Jets are a whopping 4.8 points per game better than the second-best defense against WRs. Fantasy managers should steer clear of Douglas in Week 18.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Facons (at NO)
I’m beginning to think that maybe Kyle Pitts just isn’t that good. Yes, the Falcons have issues that go well beyond their players, but there’s no real way to spin Pitts’ 2023 season as a positive.
Last week, Pitts caught a mere one of five targets for five yards. He did so against the aforementioned Bears defense that has been terrible against tight ends. The Saints aren’t great against tight ends, but if Pitts couldn’t produce against the third-most generous defense to TEs, I’m not optimistic about him against the 14th most.
As he has for much of the season, Pitts is best left on benches this week.
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!