NFL DFS Week 18 Example Lineups: Top Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel
Published: Jan 08, 2023
How is your NFL Week 18 DFS lineup construction going? Remember, the focus this week is on your cash game build. Yes, we can get a little funky with some GPP lineups and use whatever crazy DFS stacks you want to use, but be sure to put yourself together a strong high-floor, zero-fat cash game lineup and play it in your GPP tournaments as well. You're going to see a ton of DFS bargains and dart-throws this week as people take one last stab at a full-slate and fish for the million-dollar prize. With so many taking random chances, your cash lineups are likely to do better than usual in the GPP format.
That's not to say we can't have a little fun with some of our tournament lineups. Just be sensible about it. You should always be building around a core group of players you believe will do well this weekend. They should be the core for both your cash and GPP lineups. It is the surrounding players where you need to check in with the NFL Week 18 DFS Ownership Projections and see who is projected to be highly-owned and who is not. That's where you likely find the top stacks to use in tournaments.
All set? Let's get to it.
Just a few notes here about the lineups below...
The cash lineups were built solely off the players I put in the Playbook. These are the guys who, unless I have indicated otherwise, offer up the higher floor and will help you cash in your Double-Ups and 50/50s. For GPP tournaments, particularly the large-field ones, you need to find alternative routes to the cash line. I will utilize players from the Playbook and the DFS Dart Board to fill in the gaps, but what I am looking for are some lower-owned stacks that make sense based on expected game flow and other news. You may also see in the GPP lineups, there may be some names I haven't discussed this week on the site, but have talked about during the week on the Fantasy Alarm Show or even on the Fantasy Alarm Sunday Gameday Show on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. You will also notice, though, that others on the site have mentioned some of these players in places such as the position coaches, so it's not like we're trying to hide anything from you. The only time, and I mean the only time you will see a player in a GPP lineup who hasn't been discussed is if we are using a stack and need a player from the other team coming back. But it's rare when that happens.
Again, these lineups are meant to serve as examples for you; a sounding board, as I said. They are not meant for you to plug in as your own. That's the lazy way and we don't condone it. We are trying to teach you how to be a better DFS player; we aren't lineup-sellers. You should be creating your own lineups using all the information we provide you throughout the week and then coming here to see if there is anything you may have missed or simply for an alternative perspective.
Best of luck to you this week and let's make some money!
SUNDAY MORNING NOTES:
According to Adam Schefter:
Ravens’ HC John Harbaugh officially ruled out QB Lamar Jackson for Sunday’s game vs. the Bengals.
Giants officially activated QB Davis Webb from their practice squad, a sign that the team could opt to hold out Daniel Jones vs. the Eagles.
Dolphins have elevated QB Mike Glennon to their active roster for Sunday’s game vs. the Jets.
Dolphins’ HC Mike McDaniel announced that Skylar Thompson will start Sunday vs. the Jets.
Ravens’ standout J.K. Dobbins will not play today vs. the Bengals
49ers’ WR Deebo Samuel is off the injury report and expected to return Sunday vs. the Cardinals.
Browns downgraded DE Jadeveon Clowney to out for Sunday’s game vs. Pittsburgh.
Players ruled out for Sunday include Tua Tagovailoa, Duane Brown, Carlton Davis, DonoVan Smith, Vita Vea, Leonard Williams, Lane Johnson, Josh Sweat, Lamar Jackson, Justin Fields, Jack Conklin, Tyler Biadasz, Brian Robinson, Nick Foles, James Conner, DeAndre Hopkins, Aaron Donald
Other News:
49ers activated RB Elijah Mitchell from injured reserve.
Seahawks placed RB Travis Homer on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain.
Robbie Anderson (back) will not play in Week 18 against the 49ers.
Seahawks TE Noah Fant (knee) was removed from the injury report and will play in Week 18 vs the Rams.
Harrison Smith (knee soreness) has been declared out for Week 18 against the Bears.
Lions CB Jeff Okudah (elbow) is questionable for Week 18 vs the Packers.
Dolphins CB Xavien Howard (knee) is questionable for Week 18 vs the Jets.
POTENTIAL WEATHER CONCERNS:
LAR/SEA – expect some rain during the game, but not a major factor
GPP STACKS:
As a reminder, when you're stacking in GPP, you always want to run someone back from the opposing team. One-sided games often turn to a running back seeing higher-than-usual volume or the back-ups start to play. For a stack to really pop, the other team needs to keep things competitive.
Chalk Stacks (Expect High Ownership):
*Bills: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Isaiah McKenzie or Dawson Knox or Gabe Davis (Stevenson or Meyers coming back)
*Bengals: Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins or Joe Mixon (Andrews or Dobbins coming back)
*Eagles: Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith or Dallas Goedert or Miles Sanders (Breida coming back)
Cowboys: Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard or Dalton Schultz (McLaurin or Dotson coming back)
*49ers: Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk or Christian McCaffrey or Deebo Samuel (Dortch coming back)
Seahawks: Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, Kenneth Walker or Tyler Lockett (Higbee or Akers coming back)
Lions (FanDuel Only): Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, D'Andre Swift or Jamaal Williams or Brock Wright (Watson or Jones coming back)
Packers: (FanDuel Only): Aaron Rodgers, Christian Watson, Aaron Jones or AJ Dillon or Romeo Doubs (Swift or ARSB coming back)
Possible Lower-Owned Stacks:
Vikings: Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook or TJ Hockenson (Montgomery coming back)
Browns: Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb, Amari Cooper or Donovan Peoples-Jones or David Njoku (Harris or Pickens coming back)
Steelers: Kenny Pickett, George Pickens, Diontae Johnson or Najee Harris (Chubb or Cooper coming back)
*Panthers: Sam Darnold, DJ Moore, Chuba Hubbard or Terrace Marshall Jr or Shi Smith (Kamara or Olave coming back)
Saints: Andy Dalton, Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara or Taysom Hill or Juwan Johnson (Moore or Hubbard coming back)
Rams: Baker Mayfield, Tyler Higbee, Van Jefferson or Cam Akers (Metcalf or Walker coming back)
*Chargers (Only if Ravens Win): Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler or Mike Williams (Jeudy or Sutton coming back)
Broncos: Russell Wilson, Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton or Albert Okwuegbunam (Allen or Ekeler or Williams coming back)
Dart Throw Stacks:
*Jets: Joe Flacco, Garrett Wilson, Tyler Conklin or Michael Carter (Hill or Waddle coming back)
Dolphins: Skylar Thompson, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle (Wilson or Conklin coming back)
Patriots: Mac Jones, Jakobi Meyers, Rhamondre Stevenson or Damien Harris (Diggs or McKenzie coming back)
Ravens: Tyler Huntley, Mark Andrews, JK Dobbins or Demarcus Robinson (Chase or Higgins coming back)
Texans: Davis Mills, Brandin Cooks, Chris Moore or Jordan Akins (Pittman or Moss coming back)
Colts: Sam Ehlinger, Michael Pittman, Parris Campbell or Zack Moss (Cooks or Moore coming back)
*denotes favorite
**EXAMPLE LINEUPS WILL POST AROUND 12PM ET**
| Pos | Player | Team | Opponent | Salary | Proj. Draft% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Joe Burrow | CIN | BAL | $8,200 | 10.4% |
| Pivot | Joe Flacco | CLE | PIT | $6,200 | 0.9% |
| RB | Aaron Jones | MIN | CHI | $7,400 | 14.4% |
| RB | Tyler Allgeier | ATL | TB | $6,500 | 16.9% |
| Pivot | Najee Harris | LAC | DEN | $7,200 | 14.2% |
| WR | Ja'Marr Chase | CIN | BAL | $8,500 | 16.0% |
| Pivot | Justin Jefferson | MIN | CHI | $9,000 | 11.2% |
| WR | DK Metcalf | PIT | CLE | $7,200 | 12.6% |
| WR | George Pickens | DAL | WAS | $5,900 | 2.7% |
| Pivot | Garrett Wilson | NYJ | MIA | $7,100 | 8.2% |
| TE | George Kittle | SF | ARI | $7,600 | 9.4% |
| Pivot | Tyler Conklin | LAC | DEN | $5,100 | 3.2% |
| FLEX | Jonathan Williams | WAS | DAL | $5,000 | 5.9% |
| Pivot | Jamaal Williams | NO | CAR | $7,000 | 1.3% |
| DST | Denver Broncos | DEN | LAC | $3,600 | 4.2% |
| $59,900 |
Player News
Panthers released TE Jordan Matthews.
Matthews converted to tight end a few years ago and hasn’t made much noise at the position. The change has, however, likely kept him in the league for a few more seasons. He appeared in four games with the Panthers last year but didn’t record any stats on offense. The Panthers also released or waived WR Dax Milne, C Andrew Raym, and TE Colin Granger.
Dolphins released LS Blake Ferguson.
The team also waived CB Ryan Cooper Jr., DT Neil Farrell and OL Chasen Hines. Ferguson has been the team’s long snapper for five seasons and earned a three-year contract extension just before the 2023 season. He should be able to find work snapping footballs farther than the average snap elsewhere in the league.
DetroitLions.com’s Tim Twentyman believes rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa “could make his earliest impact on special teams.”
It’s not much of a surprise, as most rookies cut their teeth with special teams duties. Twentyman mentioned return duties as a possibility, though the former Razorback never returned kicks or punts in college. At 6'4/212 with 4.43 wheels, TeSlaa is an explosive athlete who never translated his physical traits to on-field production at Arkansas. The Lions clearly saw potential for him to do so in the pros and traded two future third-round picks to move up to No. 70 overall for him. It’s going to be a slow burn for TeSlaa in the pros, making him a dynasty-only fantasy option.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team does not “have any feelings on competition” when asked about the quarterback room.
O’Connell was asked about a potential quarterback competition on the Rich Eisen Show Wednesday and was unclear on whether J.J. McCarthy would have to compete to start. He said, “we’ve got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase.” O’Connell discussed first putting Brett Rypien and the newly acquired Sam Howell in a position to play before any competition would occur. He continued that McCarthy is “owning it” this offseason and is taking snaps from starting center Ryan Kelly. After missing last season with a torn meniscus, McCarthy has been ramping up workouts in the offseason and is the front-runner to start for the Vikings in 2025. As of now, Howell looks to be reinforcement at the backup spot in case it turns out McCarthy is not ready to start.
Texans re-signed DT Foley Fatukasi.
Fatukasi initially joined the Texans last offseason on a one-year contract. The 30-year-old was a rotational defensive lineman, tallying four tackles for loss and one sack. He returns to Houston for 2025, where he will be a part of a deep Texans front seven.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Tyreek Hill’s second wrist surgery was part of the original plan and his timeline remains unchanged.
Hill announced the second surgery on social media and Pelissero quickly added some context to the situation. The speedy receiver suffered the wrist injury just before the start of the season and it lingered throughout the year, though he never missed a game because of it. If the second surgery truly is a non-story, an offseason to recover might be what Hill needs to return to form after a down 2024 season. On the other hand, Hill is 31 years old, played his worst football last year, and his offense prioritized targets for Jonnu Smith and De’Von Achane. As it stands, Hill might have the highest risk-reward split in fantasy drafts.