NFL DFS Week 18 Example Lineups: Top Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel Contests
Published: Jan 05, 2025
Updated: Sunday, Jan. 5 at 11:45am ET
Welcome to the NFL Week 18 main slate DFS Example Lineups! We've got you covered for both DraftKings and FanDuel and we have them for both cash games and GPP tournaments. By now you should have read through the DFS Playbook, the DFS Dart Board and all the DFS coaching pieces, so let's get to it and build ourselves some winning DFS lineups.
As always, please allow me to remind you – In addition to the primary DFS pieces, be sure to check out other articles on Fantasy Alarm that can aid in your research. You've got Andrew Cooper's Target Report and the WR/CB Match-Up Report from Eric Romoff, both of which can help you choose the right receivers and tight ends. You also want to check out all the DFS tools here at Fantasy Alarm as well. The lineups built below are an example of what can be put together by following the content we have put out this week and using our NFL DFS tools like our NFL DFS Projections, Lineup Generator and DFS Rostership Percentages.
**Be sure to check the Playbook and Dart Board for late changes
Best of luck to you this week and let's make some money!
NFL Week 18 Sunday Morning Notes
Titans RB Tony Pollard, listed as questionable for Sunday due to an ankle injury, is expected to play vs. the Texans
Panthers activated RB Miles Sanders (ankle) from injured reserve.
Bills ruled out WR Amari Cooper (personal) for Week 18 against the Patriots.
Chargers ruled out Joshua Palmer (foot) for Week 18 against the Raiders.
Saints ruled out WR Chris Olave for Sunday’s game vs. the Buccaneers
Lions activated WR Kalif Raymond from injured reserve.
George Kittle (ankle/hamstring) is questionable for Week 18 against the Cardinals.
Eagles activated TE Dallas Goedert from Injured Reserve.
Players listed out for Week 18 include Jalen Hurts, Derek Carr, Kendre Miller, Jamel Dean, Antoine Winfield, Jaycee Horn, Josey Jewell, Jaire Alexander, Quay Walker, Evan Williams, Denico Autry, Shaq Mason, Tyler Boyd, Amani Hooker, Arden Key, Tyjae Spears, Walker Little, Anthony Richardson, Marshon Lattimore, Mecole Hardman, Isiah Pacheco, Jawaan Taylor, Gus Edwards, Joshua Palmer, Ameer Abdullah, Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, Patrick Jones, David Montgomery, Emmanuel Moseley, Terrel Bernard, Ben Brown, Christian Gonzalez, Jabrill Peppers, Ahmad Gardner, Evan Neal, John Michael Schmitz
NFL Weather: Week 18 DFS Impact
Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans
- Scattered rain showers are possible, though the heavy rain is supposed to be both before and after the game.
**Cold weather in Green Bay, Philadelphia, New England and New York, but no precipitation so no major effect on the game.
NFL Week 18 GPP Stacks
Ranked in order of favorite.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan or Bucky Irving (MVS coming back)
- Minnesota Vikings: Sam Darnold, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison or T.J. Hockenson (Gibbs or St. Brown coming back) – FANDUEL ONLY
- Detroit Lions: Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams or Jamyr Gibbs (Jones of Jefferson coming back) – FANDUEL ONLY
- Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix, Drake London, Bijan Robinson or Darnell Mooney or Kyle Pitts (Sanders or Thielen coming back)
- Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims (Steele coming back)
- Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed or Tucker Kraft (Swift coming back)
- Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, Olamide Zaccheaus or Zach Ertz (Dowdle coming back)
- Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, Adam Thielen, Jalen Coker or David Moore (Bijan coming back)
- Indianapolis Colts: Joe Flacco, Michael Pittman, Josh Downs or Adonai Mitchell (Etienne or Thomas coming back)
- Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison or Greg Dortch (Guerendo coming back)
- Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston or Derius Davis (Mattison coming back)
- Seattle Seahawks: Geno Smith, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DK Metcalf (Corum coming back)
- Dallas Cowboys: Cooper Rush/Trey Lance, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert or Jake Ferguson (Robinson coming back)
- San Francisco 49ers: Joshua Dobbs, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall or George Kittle (McBride or Carter coming back)
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Mac Jones, Brian Thomas, Parker Washington or Brenton Strange (Taylor coming back)
- New Orleans Saints: Spencer Rattler, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Foster Moreau or Kevin Austin (Irving or Evans coming back)
- Miami Dolphins: Tyler Huntley, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle or Jonnu Smith (Hall or Adams coming back)
- Las Vegas Raiders: Aiden O'Connell, Brock Bowers, Jakobi Meyers or Tre Tucker (Dobbins coming back)
- Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, Keenan Allen, DJ Moore or Rome Odunze (Jacobs/Wilson coming back)
- New York Giants: Drew Lock, Malik Nabers, Wan'Dale Robinson (Gainwell/Shipley coming back)
- New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson or Allen Lazard (Achane coming back)
- Kansas City Chiefs: Carson Wentz, DeAndre Hopkins, Justin Watson or Noah Gray (Sutton coming back)
- Buffalo Bills: Mitchell Trubisky, Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins or Dawson Knox (Stevenson coming back)
- Philadelphia Eagles: Tanner McKee, Jahan Dotson, Grant Calcaterra (Tracy or Nabers coming back)
- Tennessee Titans: Will Levis, Calvin Ridley, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine-Ihkine (Mixon coming back)
- Los Angeles Rams: Stetson Bennett, Jordan Whittington, Tutu Atwell (Charbonnet coming back)
- Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud/Davis Mills, Nico Collins, John Metchie (Pollard/Chestnut coming back)
- New England Patriots: Drake Maye, Demario Douglas, Hunter Henry or Kayshon Boutte
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Top Picks for Week 17 DraftKings & FanDuel
QB Coach | RB Coach | WR Coach | TE Coach | DST Coach | Watch List | Dart Board
| Pos | Player | Team | Opponent | Salary | Proj. Draft% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Sam Darnold | SEA | LA | $8,100 | - |
| Pivot | Geno Smith | LV | LAC | $7,200 | - |
| RB | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | MIN | $8,800 | - |
| Pivot | J.K. Dobbins | LAC | LV | $7,500 | - |
| RB | Carson Steele | KC | DEN | $4,300 | - |
| WR | Justin Jefferson | MIN | DET | $9,500 | - |
| Pivot | Mike Evans | TB | NO | $8,900 | - |
| WR | Jordan Addison | MIN | DET | $7,100 | - |
| Pivot | Courtland Sutton | DEN | KC | $7,300 | - |
| WR | Jameson Williams | DET | MIN | $6,500 | - |
| Pivot | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | SEA | LA | $5,600 | - |
| TE | Payne Durham | TB | NO | $4,900 | - |
| Pivot | Brock Bowers | LV | LAC | $7,300 | - |
| FLEX | Marvin Mims | DEN | KC | $5,600 | - |
| Pivot | Tony Pollard | TEN | HOU | $6,700 | - |
| DST | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TB | NO | $4,900 | - |
| Pivot | Miami Dolphins | MIA | NYJ | $4,400 | - |
| $59,700 |
Player News
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.