The Week 18 NFL DFS main slate is packed with interesting matchups featuring a mix of teams with varying levels of motivation. While most are merely playing out the string, several are in must-win situations. Others are safely in the playoffs but potentially still trying to improve their seeding. Knowing who's playing for what can go a long way toward finding potential sleepers and values for daily fantasy football contests, and we're primarily targeting players on contending teams for our Week 18 FanDuel lineup.
There are always risks this time of year, as teams could rest players if they get up big or as a reaction to results in other games. Putting together a "safe" lineup is almost impossible, so we're taking some chances as we gun for a high finish to close out the regular season.
Before we break down our picks and strategy, here are the most notable scoring rules for FanDuel contests: four-point passing TDs and half-point PPR.
WEEK 18 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings
FanDuel Picks Week 18: NFL DFS lineup for GPP tournaments
Sunday main slate, $60,000 budget
QB Kirk Cousins, Vikings @ Bears ($7,700). The Vikings are still playing for seeding, so we're expecting them to go all out. If we hear otherwise, we'll obviously pivot from our primary stack, but at the very least, we should get a solid three quarters from Cousins and Co. Against a Bears' defense that's allowing the seventh-most FanDuel points to QBs, that's enough to make him a high-upside play. Cousins generally isn't as good outdoors, especially late in the year, but the Bears look like they've completely given up and the Vikings need to rinse out the bad taste from their latest shellacking, so we're willing to take the chance.
RB Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ Bears ($8,000). If you stack a QB and RB, you'd normally like the running back to catch a few more passes than Cook usually does, but he has stepped it up over the past three games, hauling in nine-of-11 targets for 125 yards and a score. Even if he doesn't do much through the air, he should be able to run all over a Bears' defense allowing the second-most FD points to RBs. Chicago was just torched by Detroit's backs, and Cook should get around 20 touches this week if he plays all game. Even if he plays just a half, he can post 100 yards and a score.
RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers @ Falcons ($5,800). With the Buccaneers locked into the four seed, we're expecting them to go with mostly backups. That should be especially true at RB, as both Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White have been banged up in recent weeks. Even if White starts and gets some early carries, Vaughn should play the majority of the final three quarters, making him a major value against Atlanta's 24th-ranked run defense.
WR Justin Jefferson, Vikings @ Bears ($9,000). Jefferson is unlikely to get shut down two weeks in a row, especially by a Bears' defense that's allowed either 100 yards or a touchdown to WR1s in eight of its past 10 games. Jefferson torched Chicago for 12 catches and 154 yards back in Week 5, and a similar showing could be in order this week. He's well worth the sky-high price.
WR Christian Watson, Packers vs. Lions ($6,900). Watson managed just one catch for 11 yards on five targets last week, but Aaron Rodgers showed a willingness to force it to the exciting rookie downfield. He should only be healthier after another week removed from his hip injury, and he should get back to his big-play ways against Detroit's 30th-ranked pass defense. Since his breakout Week 10 against the Cowboys, Watson has averaged 3.7 catches, 6.6 targets, and 59.9 receiving yards while scoring eight overall touchdowns. That's despite missing over half of Green Bay's Week 16 contest and playing through an injury in Week 17. If anything, he's underpriced in this favorable matchup.
WR Rashid Shaheed, Saints vs. Panthers ($5,800). Shaheed just keeps quietly producing, grabbing a career-high six catches (six targets) for 79 yards last week. He's a threat to take it the distance every time he touches the ball, as shown by his 18.2 yards-per-catch average, and he has the added bonus of returning kickoffs. The Panthers were just shredded by the Bucs for over 400 passing yards, and with nothing to play for this week, Carolina's secondary could be even more burnable. Here's calling a long TD from New Orleans' newest playmaker.
TE Dallas Goedert, Eagles vs. Giants ($6,200). We originally wanted to pay up for George Kittle ($7,600) against Arizona's porous TE defense, but the 49ers might have nothing to play for by the time they kick off. Goedert is a solid pivot, though, as he should play the majority of the game against a Giants' defense allowing the 10th-most FD points to TEs. Since returning from a shoulder injury in Week 16, Goedert has hauled in six-of-nine targets for 112 yards, but with Jalen Hurts (right shoulder) expected back, it's reasonable to bank on better numbers, making Goedert a high-ceiling play at a solid price.
WEEK 18 FANTASY RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
FLEX Zack Moss, Colts vs. Texans ($6,800). There's no doubt that Moss is the man in Indy's backfield, as shown by his 61 carries over the past three weeks. Houston has sported the league's worst run defense virtually all year and just allowed Jacksonville's RBs to post 158 rushing yards and three TDs on just 24 carries. Neither team has anything to play for, but Moss surely wants to have a good game as he auditions for a job next season. He should be running hard, and if he gets even 15 carries, he has a good shot at 100 yards and a score.
DEF Miami Dolphins vs. Jets ($3,500). The Jets are out of playoff contention and the Dolphins are in a must-win scenario. They should be flying around the field and forcing some mistakes from Joe Flacco. Given its price, Miami is the best D/ST value on the board.
