Week 18 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preview: Unpacking Rest Situations
Top Fantasy QBs for Week 18
Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 18 QB Rankings.
TIP
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1. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
QB1 on
Maye finished QB2 back in a Week 2 meeting with Miami. This version of the Fins’ defense might remain without DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, who missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday.
2. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
QB2 on
Lawrence has been on a tear. Since Week 12, he's produced 19 total TDs against one INT. He's been the overall QB1 during the stretch, which included a 229-yard, 2-TD game against the Titans. Tennessee allows the seventh-most fantasy points to QBs, so pencil in Lawrence for another top-5 performance as the Jaguars try to win the division by sweeping Tennessee.
3. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
QB3 on
The Bears need a win to lock up the NFC's No. 2 seed. And Williams needs 270 passing yards to become the first Bears QB to ever reach 4,000. Expect him to be a full-go against a struggling Lions defense that's allowed the opposing QB to top 22 fantasy points in four of its last six games.
4. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
QB4 on
We expect Dak to play most (if not all) of the game vs. the Giants. Here’s Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer (via Dallas’ official site) on Wednesday: “Dak will start the game. Dak will certainly play. We’re playing to win the game. I talked to the team today, just about the importance of us trying to finish strong and getting to 8-8-1. As we go about building a championship football team, we’re learning that you have to dominate your division and a chance to go 5-1 in the division would be really cool for us to have that. But again, we’re gonna play the game and see how the game goes, and I certainly can adjust my thinking if I deem it fit and reasonable to do.”
5. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
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We expect Burrow to play all four quarters, despite his injury history and the Bengals out of the playoff mix. He's posted lines of 309-4 and 305-2 over his past two outings.
6. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
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Dart's passing volume rebounded in Week 17, but it was his rushing production (9-48-2) that proved difference-making for fantasy. We’ll keep an eye on the iffy status of Wan’Dale Robinson (ribs).
7. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
QB7 on
The 49ers will face off against the Seahawks for the top seed in the NFC. Purdy has been hot with 5 TDs in each of the last two games. He faces off against a tough Seahawks defense, but the motivation and recent success makes Purdy a fine start for Week 18.
8. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
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Although they have nothing to play for, expect the Dan Campbell-led Lions to go all out vs. Chicago. The Bears rank 27th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs on the season and 20th over the last five weeks. Note, though, that this will be Goff's first outdoor game since Week 11. He's historically been more efficient and productive indoors.
9. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
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The Broncos will be playing to secure the AFC's top seed and get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Chargers held Nix to 153 yards and one TD in Week 3, but Los Angeles will be resting starters on both sides of the ball. This is a favorable spot for Nix to compile top-10 fantasy numbers.
10. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
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Jackson is set to play in Sunday night's must-win game vs. the Steelers. But between the back issue and all the lower-body injuries he's dealt with this season, it's tough to believe he'll be anywhere close to 100%. He ran for 43 yards and a score vs. Pittsburgh back in Week 14 but mustered just 219 passing yards with one TD and one INT.
11. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold
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Sam Darnold
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Darnold only has three total passing TDs over the last three weeks, but has done enough to win. Now the Seahawks face off against the 49ers for the top seed in the NFC. Darnold can be a serviceable starter this week.
12. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
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Houston enters Sunday with a chance to still win the division. We're assuming that means normal playing time for Stroud, who hit 260+ yards and 2+ TDs two of the past three weeks. The Colts hit this week off allowing a QB6 finish to Trevor Lawrence and a QB1 finish to Brock Purdy.
13. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
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Brissett has been a fantasy marvel while starting for the Cardinals. He does face a tough Rams defense that could be playing for a higher seed this week. The volume could still make Brissett a top-12 option this week.
14. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Mayfield and the Buccanners have been fading. In his last eight games, Mayfield is averaging just 196.4 passing yards per game, with 12 TDs and INTs. The Panthers limited him to 145 yards with one TD and one INT in Week 15. Carolina has only allowed five top-12 QB finishes this season, so view Mayfield as a mid-range QB2 with risk.
15. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
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Shough is making a late push for offensive rookie of the year honors, throwing for 300+ yards in two straight. He's finished as a top-13 fantasy QB in three of his last five games. However, Shough gets a tricky Week 18 matchup against the Falcons, who held him to 243 scoreless passing yards on 5.7 yards per attempt back in Week 12. And he'll be without No. 1 target Chris Olave.
16. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
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Lack of volume remains the primary concern for Young, but Week 18 offers an elite matchup against a Tampa Bay defense that allows the third-most fantasy points to QBs. Young threw for 191 yards and 2 TDs against this defense in Week 16 and sits firmly in mid-range QB2 territory in a battle for the NFC South crown.
17. Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns
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Sanders has finished QB18, QB25, QB2, QB31, QB21, and QB20 in six starts. He’s a fantasy QB2 despite a nice scoring matchup vs. Cincinnati.
18. Tanner McKee, Philadelphia Eagles
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McKee does have one start behind him: Week 18 of last year. He posted 269 yards, 2 TDs, and a QB14 fantasy finish. There's potential to do similar against Washington this week if you wanna take a shot in a salary-cap lineup.
19. J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
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McCarthy could return from injury this week for the coaching staff to get one last look at him this season. Playing against the Packers' back-ups on defense would be a boost for McCarthy, but he still hasn't shown enough to be more than a QB2.
20. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
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Ward has made significant strides down the stretch. He's now tossed two TDs in four consecutive games. The Jaguars limited Ward to 141 scoreless yards back in Week 13, but that was the last time he failed to throw multiple TDs in a game. Jacksonville is a neutral matchup, but will be playing all out to win the AFC South. View Ward as a modest QB2 in Superflex leagues.
21. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford
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Matthew Stafford
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HC Sean McVay has said that Stafford will start vs. Arizona. With the division out of reach, though, there's a real chance he doesn't play all four quarters.
22. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
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Cousins has cracked the top-12 QBs in fantasy points in just two of his seven starts. He remains an option only in superflex leagues in a Falcons offense that revolves around RB Bijan Robinson.
23. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Rodgers got the Ravens for 284 yards and 1 TD back in Week 14. But WR D.K. Metcalf accounted for over half of that yardage. He won't play in Sunday night's rematch. And neither will TE Darnell Washington. It leaves Rodgers with a tough task, although Baltimore's pass defense has continued to struggle. It allowed a 380-2-1 passing line to Drake Maye and 288-1-0 to Malik Willis over the last two weeks.
24. Trey Lance, Los Angeles Chargers
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The Chargers will be resting most of their starters, including Justin Herbert. Trey Lance will draw the start and faces an unenviable task against a Denver defense that allows the 10th-fewest fantasy points to QBs. Lance's last start was with Dallas in last year's season finale. Lance threw for 244 scoreless yards and chipped in 26 on the ground in that game. His rushing upside makes him an interesting Superflex option, but Lance's passing numbers should be fairly tame in this matchup.
25. Quinn Ewers, Miami Dolphins
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Ewers pilots a Fins offense that’s sixth-lowest in pass rate over expected. There’s at least a chance at boosted volume this week with the Fins hitting the road as 10.5-point underdogs.
