It’s time to set those DFS lineups!
Most fantasy football players are done for the season after Week 17, but daily fantasy offers an opportunity to keep playing!
Of course, Week 18 offers a lot of unique twists. Many teams will be resting their starters, while others have everything in the world to play for. Don’t forget some players are close to contract incentives, too! We break all of those down here.
Be sure to double check this list as you make your final selections.
The players below are all expected to return value regardless of their salary. Check back Friday for our bargains list, which will exclusively target players with low salaries worth using for your DFS tournaments.
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Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott, Dallas CowboysPrescott and the Cowboys have a lot at stake for this matchup. They secure the NFC East title and the No. 2 playoff seed if they win. That means they would get home-field advantage and potentially not have to face the 49ers until the NFC title game -- two things that are especially advantageous to Dallas. CeeDee Lamb has been on a tear lately, and the Commanders have allowed the second-most DFS points per game to opposing passers this year. Even with the Cowboys favored by 13 at home and the potential that McCarthy could pull his starters early, Prescott is worth the spend. No quarterback has more passing touchdowns (32) than Dak this season. Four of those touchdowns came in Week 10 vs. this Commanders team.
Geno Smith, Seattle SeahawksThe Seahawks must win this game to have any shot at a playoff berth. And guess what else? If they do, Smith gets a $2 million bonus. Consider everyone motivated! Not only that, but the matchup is juicy, with the Cardinals allowing the fifth-most DFS points per game to opposing QBs across the last eight weeks of the season.
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
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Here’s what I am thinking: Wouldn’t it be fun for the Bears to play spoiler to their divisional rivals on Sunday? With a Chicago win, the Bears could cost the Packers their playoff berth, and it won’t even cost them a draft spot. Meanwhile, fans chanted “We want Fields!” after the Bears win last Sunday, and Justin should be playing for his future. Fields has finished as a Top 4 DFS QB in three of the last four games, and the Packers have allowed the third-most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season.
Running Backs
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle SeahawksSeattle has everything to play for and must win its game on Sunday to have any shot at the postseason. They should lean on their run game vs. the Cardinals, who have allowed the most rushing yards to opposing running backs this season (1917). Walker has been playing through a shoulder injury, so check his health status, but if he goes, he is a start.
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay BuccaneersThe Bucs have to win this one vs. the Panthers. They either take home the NFC South title, or they are done for the season. Meanwhile, no team has allowed more rushing touchdowns (21) than the Carolina Panthers this year.
Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville JaguarsIf the Jaguars win this one, they will win the AFC South. If they lose, whoever is the victor in Saturday’s battle between the Colts and Texans wins the title instead. Jacksonville has every motivation to win this one, and with Trevor Lawrence continuing to battle with injury, expect Jacksonville to continue to lean on the run game with Etienne. The Titans have allowed the seventh-most rushing yards to the position across the last four contests, and Etienne has looked excellent when facing softer matchups. Etienne leads the Jaguars with 12 total touchdowns this season, and he’s tied for the sixth-most rushing touchdowns among NFL running backs (11).
James Conner, Arizona CardinalsSure, the Cardinals don't have a lot at stake, but there's no reason to rest Conner when he looked so good with Kyler Murray last week, and the Cardinals might like to continue to take a look at Murray. Conner's matchup is ideal, as the Seahawks have allowed the third-most DFS points per game to opposing runners this year.
D’Andre Swift, Philadelphia EaglesThe Eagles must win this game to have a chance at the NFC East, so expect them at least to start their best players. If the Cowboys pull away with a big lead and look to secure the NFC East, head coach Nick Sirianni may pull Swift early, but this matchup is good enough for Swift to put up enough points to still be worth rostering. The Giants, who have nothing to play for but a better draft slot, have allowed the seventh-most points per game to running backs across the last seven games. Swift had 92 yards and a touchdown in Week 16 vs. this Giants team.
Khalil Herbert, Chicago BearsI’m sticking with the idea that the Bears will want to play spoiler, and I am rolling out Herbert, who finished as a Top 9 running back in each of the last two weeks. Green Bay has allowed an average of more than 100 rushing yards per game and .9 touchdowns per game across the last eight.
Wide Receivers
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas CowboysThis is simple. Lamb is playing like the best receiver in the NFL right now. He leads the league in targets and catches, and he’s coming off a 13-catch, 227-yard game to face a Commander's team that has allowed the most yards to opposing wideouts this year. The Cowboys are highly incentivized to win this one, and you better believe CeeDee will be a nig part of that.
DJ Moore, Chicago BearsBears and Cowboys. Are you noticing that trend? I’m entirely buying into the Bears here, even though the Packers defense has been good. DJ Moore is an elite talent, and he and Fields are fresh off a monster game vs. Atlanta, where Moore caught nine passes for 159 yards and a score.
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
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With news that Nick Mullens will get the start, I am happy to spend up for Jefferson in a few lineups. A simple eye test will tell you Jefferson is still among the most elite in the league, even with backup quarterback play. The Vikings have to win this one to have any shot at the postseason, and the matchup is right. The Lions allowed 227 yards to Lamb last weekend, and they may not even play all of their starters as they have already locked up a playoff berth. Fire him up.
Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia EaglesThe Eagles will be fighting for at least the first half of this game vs. the Giants, and the matchup is a good one for Goedert, as the Giants have allowed the sixth-most DFS points to tight ends across the last four.
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay PackersIf we are betting on the Bears, we have to bet on some Packers, too! Jordan Love has looked excellent lately, but there are a lot of questions about the health of his receivers. Kraft has stepped up admirably in the absence of Luke Musgrave, and he’s seen six targets in each of the last three games.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee TitansLet’s get Chiggy with it. Okonkwo is in a good spot vs. the Jaguars, who have allowed three passing touchdowns to the position across the last four contests.
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