If we want to find room in our Saturday DFS lineups for both Lamar Jackson and Ja’Marr Chase, we’ve got to find some cheap plays to pair with them. Thankfully, there are two running backs to target and help us save on salary.
It’s Week 18, which means it’s our last opportunity to stay hot and profit during the regular season. Let’s hope the AFC North helps us out.
Winning NFL Week 18 Saturday DFS Lineup:
QB: Lamar Jackson
RB: Khalil Herbert
RB: Jaylen Warren
WR: Ja’Marr Chase
WR: George Pickens
WR: Rashod Bateman
TE: Mike Gesicki
FLEX: Pat Freiermuth
DEF: Ravens
DFS Strategy: Lamar Jackson’s World
Lamar Jackson’s average QB+ this season (82.9) is well above what he posted a season ago (77.1). We didn’t create that metric to be a predictive one for fantasy purposes, but what more can I tell you on the production front that you’re not already aware of?
The reigning MVP has 13 top-10 finishes this season and routinely looks downright unstoppable. He has both a 20-yard run and a 40-yard completion in three of his past four games, too. The Cleveland Browns lead the league in pressure rate (41.3% of dropbacks), and that might prove meaningless against the Baltimore Ravens.
If you have Jackson, you’re playing him and are thrilled that he has the motive to go out and dominate for another week. If you’re facing him — you’re spending your weeknights praying to the fantasy gods for mercy.
It’s Lamar’s world, we’re just living in it. Join the fun and keep him on your DFS roster this week.
Chasing Ja’Marr
Ja’Marr Chase dropped a second-quarter end-zone target last week, and according to my unofficial database, that was the first mistake he had made all season.
OK, that might be a bit of a stretch, but you get the idea. He’s positioned to take home the receiving triple crown this season and will be in consideration for 1.01 status in 2025. Chase has posted 12 top-20 finishes this season, proving to offer a stable floor to complement a ceiling that — when everything is clicking — feels limitless.
The Cincinnati Bengals star has posted nine straight games with at least six receptions. Only 15 times in the history of this great game has such a streak reached double figures, a list that is littered with players like. Michael Thomas and Wes Welker, rather than Chase’s downfield potency. It’s lock and load for Joe Burrow’s favorite target.
Bargain Barrel RBs: Khalil Herbert and Jaylen Warren
We would be lying if we said anticipated writing an article about Herbert as a lineup lock – but here we are. The Bengals’ starting running back, Chase Brown, suffered an ankle injury in their Week 17 win over the Denver Broncos. That leaves Herbert as the only viable option to take over the lead role in Cincinnati.
Brown’s status for Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers is uncertain. If he is sidelined, Herbert, who had a productive 2023 season with the Bears, will get the bulk of the work. That bodes well for Herbert, as does a Pittsburgh defense that has struggled in recent weeks.
The Steelers (who we normally think of as a staunch, stingy defense) have given up over 100 yards rushing in three of their last four games. This situation presents an intriguing DFS opportunity, especially if Herbert receives 10 or more carries and Cincinnati gets ahead early.
On the flip side, the Bengals’ run defense has been porous all season long. In the last two weeks, we’ve seen Warren play a much bigger role in the offense, with over 16 touches in both games.
That’s encouraging; this could be a great spot to continue his late-season breakout. Warren is the only player to have 45 rushing yards and five receptions in each of his past two games, a role that almost lands one into RB2 status by itself.
The red-zone usage has my eye on Warren. The backup back has six touches inside the 20-yard line over Pittsburgh’s past two contests, a nice jump forward for a player who had four such touches in his previous five weeks. Najee Harris has six such touches over that stretch as well. While it’s not a bell-cow role for Warren, his piece of the pie is certainly growing.