Let’s dive into some news and notes around the league, my top fantasy plays and favorite picks for Week 18.
Notes:
• Most fantasy football leagues wrapped up in Week 17, but there are some who continue to play in Week 18. If you won your championship, congratulations! If you need to win this week, good luck to you.
• Keep in mind that many NFL teams aren’t playing for anything in Week 18, so there is a possibility of players not playing at all or in limited fashion. Keep tabs on teams that are still fighting for playoff spots and make lineup decisions accordingly. I wouldn’t expect the Ravens to have any starters play this week, so if you have Lamar Jackson on your team, you’re going to need to find a replacement in your must-win game.
• The MVP of fantasy football this season is Rams running back Kyren Williams. Not on anyone’s radar at the time of drafts, Williams not only finished as RB3 this season but shined in crunch time, scoring three touchdowns in Week 17. He was a steal for owners who scooped him up after Week 1 and will be a high draft pick in 2024. I was fortunate enough to grab him in multiple leagues, and he carried me to a championship.
• The tight end position will look a little different next season. Travis Kelce, a first-round pick in most leagues, finished as TE3. That is still great for fantasy purposes, but he was not the dominant player we’ve become accustomed to seeing. Sam LaPorta was the top tight end this season. The debate this coming offseason will be which player should be the first tight end selected next year. The position as a whole is in a much better place than years ago with Evan Engram, Trey McBride, David Njoku and Jake Ferguson all stepping up as respectable fantasy options. Throw in yearly stars Mark Andrews, George Kittle and T.J. Hockenson, and the tight end group has more promise than ever.
• The injuries at quarterback will be a topic of discussion all offseason as nearly half the league is playing with a backup entering the final week of the regular season. Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts finished at the top, but no one could have expected Brock Purdy, Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, Russell Wilson and C.J. Stroud to finish as top-12 quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Kirk Cousins, Justin Herbert and Anthony Richardson all missed action with season-ending injuries. My gut tells me quarterbacks are going to be lower in the rankings with so many options available.
• Let’s close this out with players who disappointed based on their draft rankings. Austin Ekeler was arguably the biggest bust. After being selected in the top five picks, Ekeler finished outside the top 25 backs. Rhamondre Stevenson is another running back who was drafted early and flopped. I wouldn’t call Justin Jefferson’s season a bust because he was elite when he did play, but he did miss seven games. Patrick Mahomes finished as QB7 but that ranking would have been worse if not for all the injuries at the position. Jefferson will still be a first-rounder next year, but the rest will fall in the draft rankings.
• I hope I helped your fantasy team in some way this season. I will still be providing rankings during the playoffs for daily fantasy players, in addition to DFS lineups each week. In roughly six short months, we will be previewing the 2024 fantasy draft.
Saturday Night Game: Texans vs. Colts
Sunday Night Game: Bills vs. Dolphins
Top Pickups of the Week: Khalil Herbert, Jamaal Williams, Romeo Doubs, Demarcus Robinson, Juwan Johnson
Start ‘Em:
Quarterback: Joe Flacco
Running Back: Khalil Herbert
Wide Receiver: Tyler Lockett
Tight End: Darren Waller
Defense: Lions
Sit ‘Em:
Quarterback: Sam Howell
Running Back: Ezekiel Elliott
Wide Receiver: Jordan Addison
Tight End: George Kittle
Defense: Dolphins
Sleepers:
Quarterback: Tyler Huntley
Running Back: Elijah Mitchell
Wide Receiver: Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Tight End: Cade Otton
Defense: Seahawks
NFL Picks for Week 18
Weekly Pick ‘Em (Season Record: 161-94)
Steelers (vs. Ravens)
Texans (vs. Colts)
Saints (vs. Falcons)
Bengals (vs. Browns)
Jets (vs. Patriots)
Jaguars (vs. Titans)
Lions (vs. Vikings)
Buccaneers (vs. Panthers)
Cowboys (vs. Commanders)
49ers (vs. Rams)
Eagles (vs. Giants)
Packers (vs. Bears)
Seahawks (vs. Cardinals)
Raiders (vs. Broncos)
Chargers (vs. Chiefs)
Bills (vs. Dolphins)
Five Picks Against The Spread (Season Record: 41-43-1)
Commanders +13.5 vs. Cowboys
Jets +2.5 vs. Patriots
Saints -3.5 vs. Falcons
Seahawks -3 vs. Cardinals
Raiders -2.5 vs. Broncos
Five Over-Under Totals (Season Record: 40-45)
Texans-Colts under 47.5
Vikings-Lions over 46.5
Buccaneers-Panthers under 37.5
Jaguars-Titans under 40.5
Chiefs-Chargers over 35.5
One Bold Prediction for the Week
Week 1: Sam Howell finishes as a top-five fantasy QB against Cardinals. (miss)
Week 2: Michael Thomas leads all players in receiving yards in the two Monday night games. (miss)
Week 3: Justin Fields leads the league in rushing yards in an effort to keep up with the Chiefs. (miss)
Week 4: Travis Kelce has more receiving yards than Zach Wilson has passing yards in the “Sunday Night Football” game. (miss)
Week 5: The Bills put up 50-plus points against the Jaguars in London. (miss)
Week 6: Josh Jacobs has more total scrimmage yards than Mac Jones has passing yards. (miss)
Week 7: The Eagles hold Tyreek Hill to under 50 receiving yards. (miss)
Week 8: The Jets and Giants score more points than the Patriots and Dolphins. The Jets-Giants total is 36.5, while Patriots-Dolphins total is the highest of the week at 47. (major miss)
Week 9: Tee Higgins leads all receivers in yardage against Bills. (miss — finished fifth)
Week 10: With Travis Kelce on a bye, a tight end leads the league in receiving. (miss)
Week 11: Jordan Love is a top-five QB in fantasy this week. (miss)
Week 12: Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen combine to score four rushing touchdowns in the Bills-Eagles matchup. (finally got one!)
Week 13: Rachaad White leads the league in scrimmage yards. (miss)
Week 14: Jared Goff and Justin Fields throw for more combined yards than Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes in their respective games. (miss)
Week 15: Kyren Williams posts more than 175 scrimmage yards. (miss)
Week 16: Ty Chandler leads all running backs in rushing yards. (miss)
Week 17: Deebo Samuel leads all players in scrimmage yards. (miss)
Week 18: Tyler Huntley finishes as the top fantasy point-scorer with the Ravens sitting Lamar Jackson.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox