NFL Week 18 DFS Contrarian Picks: Jayden Daniels, Jauan Jennings, More
NFL Week 18 is here and it’s our last chance to build some winning DFS lineups off a full slate of games. We have 13 games on DraftKings and 14 on FanDuel, thanks to their use of the Sunday Night Football game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.
Obviously, everyone playing on FanDuel is going to use the chalk from that game which makes your DFS contrarian picks that much more important. We’ve been diving into the matchups all week long and have just checked in with the most recent NFL DFS Ownership projections so it’s time now to check in with some of our favorite contrarian picks.
Remember, having the right DFS contrarian picks in your lineups is important if you want to take down the big GPP money, but it’s more than just looking at our ownership projections and seeing who is expected to be lower-owned. The matchups need to be on-point as well. In fact, we’re looking for situations that are even more favorable, yet the public has not yet unearthed it.
Last week was a mixed bag due to so much chalk hitting. Once you start seeing all the high-owned layers racking up fantasy points, the contrarian plays have a tougher time moving the needle. We did okay with Tua Tagovailoa and Grant Calcaterra, but both Rachad White and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine-Ihkine were both busts. It happens.
But that was last week and we’re onto a new one here. Let’s get to our favorite NFL Week 18 DFS contrarian picks:
NFL Week 18 DFS Contrarian Picks
- Jayden Daniels, QB Washington Commanders ($7,800 DK; $8,700 FD)
- Tyler Allgeier, RB Atlanta Falcons ($4,900 DK; $5,700 FD)
- Jauan Jennings, WR San Francisco 49ers ($5,800 DK; $6,800 FD)
- Jonnu Smith, TE New Orleans Saints ($5,800 DK; $6,300 FD)
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Ryan Ramczyk retired after eight seasons in the NFL.
Ramczyk served as a stalwart member of the Saints’ offensive line from 2017-2023, battling through deteriorating cartilage in his knee. He was sidelined by the issue for the full 2024 season. Ramczyk’s NFL accolades include a spot on the 2017 PFWA All-Rookie Team, two second-team All-Pro nods (2018 and 2020) and one first-team All-Pro (2019) spot.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Minnesota OT Aireontae Ersery is a player that “teams like a lot more than the media knows.”
Rapoport suggests that Ersery could make his way into the late first round, connecting him with the tackle-needy Chiefs. Ersery performed more consistently as a run-blocker than as a blindside pass protector over the last two seasons, but notably allowed just a 3.0 percent quarterback pressure rate last year, the 10th-lowest among Power Five left tackles with at least 400 pass-protection snaps.
Beat reporter Scott Bair reports that Bears DC Dennis Allen asked slot CB Kyler Gordon to learn a second position, either on the perimeter or at safety.
The Bears’ previous coaching staff spent two seasons trying this experiment before allowing Gordon to blossom in a full-time slot- and box-coverage role last season. Perhaps, Allen can succeed where others have failed. His intent is to “find some more playing time” for Gordon, which is understandable given Gordon’s significant on-field impact last year.
Bills signed CB Tre’Davious White, formerly of the Ravens, to a one-year, $6.8 million contract.
White, now 30 years old, returns to the team that drafted him in the 2017 NFL Draft’s first round. White was a force to be reckoned with early in his career, but a 2021 ACL tear and a 2023 Achilles tendon rupture have reduced his play quality. White will now compete for the Bills’ No. 2 perimeter role.
Bills waived TE Armani Rogers.
This is unfortunate. Rogers recently ruptured his Achilles tendon for the second time in three years. He showed promise as a 2022 rookie, earning a 65.3 PFF receiving grade and a 68.0 PFF run-blocking grade, but the injuries are taking their toll. The Bills also released DT Branson Deen.
Titans waived OT Nicholas Petit-Frere.
The team signed C Sam Mustipher and OT Oli Udoh in corresponding moves. Petit-Frere failed to meet expectations after the Titans spent a third-round pick on him in 2022, allowing 35-plus quarterback pressures in 2-of-3 NFL seasons.