Here we are, now in Week 18 of the NFL regular season. Sounds weird to say, doesn’t it? Regular season finales can cause a lot of confusion in fantasy football with teams resting starters for playoffs. With so many players to choose from on this 13-game slate, we’re here to give you some clarity. This article will outline the Week 18 NFL DFS picks with core players at each position to hammer into your FanDuel lineups.
Week 18 FanDuel NFL DFS Picks
Quarterbacks
Kyler Murray ($8,400)
Kyler Murray and the Cardinals will have the NFC West crown in mind when they take on Seattle this Sunday. With plenty to play for, Murray will get a full game in against a poor Seahawks secondary. This matchup holds the highest over/under of the slate, currently sitting at 48.0 points. As the Seahawks are coming off their best offensive outing of the season, NFL DFS owners should be eyeing this potential shootout. Murray’s rushing upside gives him a similar ceiling to Josh Allen while avoiding Allen’s blowout risk. He also has plenty of discounted stacking options this week in Christian Kirk ($6,200) and Zach Ertz ($5,600).
Taysom Hill ($7,700)
With a low ownership projection, Taysom Hill checks all the boxes for a great tournament play. The Saints can clinch a playoff birth with a win against the Falcons and a 49ers loss. Hill will look to put his team on his back against a below-average Atlanta defense. He has consistently run the ball, with at least 11 carries in each of his last four games. With defenses focusing on Alvin Kamara in recent weeks, Hill will have a perfect opportunity to perform. Lock him in as a high upside quarterback.
Other NFL DFS Picks: Josh Allen ($8,800), Trey Lance ($7,000)
Running Backs
Jonathan Taylor ($10,200)
We touch on Jonathan Taylor again this week after he rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders. He has been a machine all season as the Colts will look to him to carry them to the postseason. The Colts are -14.5-point favorites on the road against the Jaguars. Taylor will see positive game script against a Jacksonville front seven that allows 127.1 rushing yards per game. Expect the Colts to play it safe, locking up their playoff spot by feeding their most trusted weapon on offense. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Taylor eclipse 30 carries for the third time this season.
James Conner ($7,000)
With Chase Edmonds officially ruled out for Week 18, James Conner will return to a workhorse role. Conner will be one of the chalkier plays of the week as his salary fails to account for his increased usage. In the five games that Edmonds missed, Conner averaged a whopping 23.44 FanDuel points per game. His receiving volume increases significantly when Edmonds is out of the lineup. Conner is currently listed as questionable with a heel injury but will be an essential play if he’s healthy. If he sits, Eno Benjamin is the next man up and the team will rely more on Kyler Murray.
Devin Singletary ($6,700)
Devin Singletary had a massive Week 17, rushing for 110 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons. He has safely taken over Zack Moss and Matt Brieda as the RB1 in Buffalo. The matchup gets even better this week against the Jets. New York surrenders 136.3 rushing yards per game, the fourth-most in the NFL. Like Taylor, Singletary will benefit from positive game script as the Bills are favored by 16.0 points. With the Bills playing for playoff implications and Josh Allen struggling as a passer, Singletary will be in for another big week.
Other NFL DFS Picks: Dalvin Cook ($8,700), David Montgomery ($7,600), Antonio Gibson ($6,800), Saquon Barkley ($6,400), Ke’Shawn Vaughn ($5,900)
Wide Receivers
Cooper Kupp ($10,000)
Nobody has more to play for this week than Cooper Kupp. He is just 136 receiving yards away from breaking Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving record. The Rams also need a win this week to secure the second seed in the NFC. Last week was the first game Kupp logged less than 9 targets but he made do with limited opportunities. He gained 95 yards on 7 targets and also scored a touchdown. While the matchup isn’t great against a slow-paced 49ers team, Kupp is by far the best wide receiver on the slate. As usual, he will be heavily owned in all contests.
Justin Jefferson ($8,500)
Although the Vikings have been eliminated from playoff contention, it seems that they will roll out their stars one last time in Week 18. Justin Jefferson has had a stellar sophomore season, ranking second in the league with 1509 receiving yards. Currently, he is 124 yards away from breaking Randy Moss’ franchise receiving yards record. He will likely be shadowed by Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson this week, especially with Adam Thielen sitting out again. Regardless, Jefferson should see 9+ targets and is a strong WR1 for those who can’t afford to draft Cooper Kupp.
A.J. Brown ($7,400)
After drawing a tough matchup against Miami last weekend, A.J. Brown will have a bounce-back opportunity against the Texans. He will have a much easier time this week with a matchup against below-average cornerback Desmond King II. With the Titans looking to secure the first seed in the AFC, Brown will likely be in for a full workload. He will also benefit from the return of Julio Jones, who will take some coverage pressure off him. At a very affordable $7,400, A.J. Brown will be a popular pick in cash games and tournament-style contests.
DK Metcalf ($7,200) & Tyler Lockett ($6,900)
The Seattle Seahawks offense finally showed out in Week 16, scoring 51 points against the Lions. DK Metcalf headlined that game, scoring three touchdowns while Lockett scored one himself. Both receivers have an amazing matchup, going up against a Cardinals defense allowing the most fantasy points to wide receivers over the last month. With injuries to their main outside cornerbacks, Metcalf and Lockett will both be in great position lined up out wide. Playing in this high-scoring matchup should give both receivers a boost in fantasy.
Other NFL DFS Picks: Stefon Diggs ($7,700), Diontae Johnson ($7,600), Michael Pittman Jr. ($6,600), Christian Kirk ($6,200), Jarvis Landry ($6,000)
Tight Ends
Rob Gronkowski ($7,400)
After last week’s infamous Antonio Brown incident, the abundance of options on the Buccaneers offense has seemed to fade away. This leaves Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans as the main targets in the regular-season finale. After tallying 115 receiving yards last week, Gronkowski will look to continue his momentum with the postseason in sight. The matchup isn’t ideal against a stout Carolina Panthers defense that held him to one reception in Week 16. Gronkowski is still worth a look in DFS for his expected target share and touchdown upside.
Zach Ertz ($5,600)
Zach Ertz lands on this column for the second straight week as he continues to see a high target volume. While his touchdown upside is lacking, he has seen 33 targets in his last three games. Ertz’s matchup is appealing as he’ll take on a Seattle defense that has struggled to defend opposing tight ends. His involvement in this elite Arizona offense makes him unlike any other tight end priced around him. The lack of tight end options on the slate will make Ertz a very popular option come Sunday.
Other NFL DFS Picks: George Kittle ($6,900) *If Jimmy Garoppolo Plays, Cole Kmet ($4,900)
