Does the end of the fantasy football season have you feeling like you are missing out on the fun of setting a lineup? Well, fear not! We still have one more chance to get some wins on DraftKings to start the new year out right.
Here is a look at some of my top DFS picks for the Saturday action of Week 18.
Week 18 DFS Locks on Saturday
C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans ($7,300)
The return to the starting lineup after a two-game hiatus for Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud may not have been a big fantasy day, but the team rallied around their leader in a dominating win over the Tennessee Titans to stay in the playoff picture.
Stroud was exceptional against the Indianapolis Colts when they met back in September, throwing for 384 and two scores in a performance that was a preview of things to come from the talented rookie quarterback.
The task is simple heading into the season finale: Win, and you advance to the playoffs.
The team will likely lean heavily on Stroud’s arm in this game, making him well worth paying top dollar to lead your DFS lineup.
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts ($7,400)
Speaking of leaning heavily on a player, Colts RB Jonathan Taylor has seen a combined 40 total touches over the last two games after returning from a thumb injury he sustained back in Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Taylor’s efficiency has been a bit hit or miss during this two-game stretch, but he has managed to find the end zone in back-to-back games and should be the featured player in this Colts offense in a must-win game to keep their postseason hopes alive.
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Taylor has been a major thorn in the side of the Texans since entering the NFL, averaging 124 rushing yards per game through his first five meetings with the Houston defense.
Taylor is another expensive option that is worthy of paying up to get into your lineup for Saturday.
George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers ($5,600)
To say it has been a bit of an up-and-down year for Pittsburgh Steelers WR George Pickens would be an understatement.
If you look at his numbers from a bird’s eye view, then his 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five scores should be regarded as a successful year when you consider the overall struggles of the Steelers passing offense.
However, Pickens has put up a handful of dud performances where it looks like he can check out emotionally if the ball doesn’t find him early.
Fortunately, that hasn’t been a problem since Mason Rudolph has taken over under center. Over the last two games with Rudolph as the starter, Pickens has posted consecutive 100-yard performances, which hasn’t happened since playing the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams back in October.
Speaking of the Ravens, Pickens caught six passes for 130 yards and a score against one of the stingiest defenses in the league earlier this year.
Normally, I would be a little hesitant to start any receiver against this unit, but with the Ravens already locked into the No. 1 seed in the AFC, Pickens may have the chance to exploit some of the weaker corners in this season finale, with the playoffs on the line for the Steelers.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans ($4,200)
Texans TE Dalton Schultz may be the TE10 on the year in full-PPR formats, but his production has been fairly volatile in 2023.
Despite Stroud returning under center last week, Schultz caught just two passes on four targets for just 19 yards.
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On the flip side, Schultz does have three games this year with 10+ targets and could see an expanded role if WR Noah Brown is limited or unable to go altogether in Week 18 while dealing with a back injury.
Schultz’s price point makes for an appealing stack, with Stroud heading into the team’s first prime-time game of the year.
Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST ($3,100)
The Steelers and Ravens rivalry is among the most physical in the league. These two teams respectfully hate one another and aim to physically impose their will on the other heading into every encounter.
It certainly helps the Steelers’ defense that they won’t be seeing potential league MVP QB Lamar Jackson this week, which means they could choose to overload backup QB Tyler Huntley, who hasn’t seen any significant snaps the entire year.
In what could be a low-scoring, physical contest between two familiar foes… give me the defense who has their postseason hopes on the line when playing against a backup quarterback.
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!