2022 Fantasy Football WR/CB Match-Up Report NFL Week 18: Justin Jefferson to Bounce Back in a Big Way
Welcome to the weekly wide receiver/cornerback breakdown for fantasy football Week 18! We will review each of the outside matchups, as well as my 10 favorite matchups in the slot. Then, below the charts in this article, I break down my five absolute favorite matchups to use for DFS purposes. It is the final week of the regular season, and while I don’t think that leagues should end this week, some of you are fighting for championships. This article is also critical for fantasy football DFS players, as this will help you gain a competitive advantage when setting your lineups. Follow me on Twitter (@fightingchance) as well!
| WR CB Matchup Report | |||||
| Left WR vs Right CB | |||||
| Wide Receiver | Team | DK / FD $ | Cornerback | Opp | Matchup |
| DeAndre Hopkins | ARI | $7700 / $8000 | Charvarious Ward | SF | Moderate |
| He missed last week with a knee injury that was suffered late in the week, and given how the Cardinals season has gone, it wouldn't be way out of the ordinary for Hopkins to just call it a year early. Even if he does play, he won't be at 100 percent, the quarterback situation isn't great, and the matchup against the 49ers is among the hardest in football. Hopkins can be a play if this is your fantasy championship, but he isn't a DFS play for the finale. | |||||
| Drake London | ATL | $4900 / $6500 | Carlton Davis | TB | Safe |
| He had been consistent for weeks, but the bottom dropped out some last week for London as he had just five catches for 47 yards, his worst total since Week 12. Terrible time for your fantasy championship especially against a Cardinals secondary that was down their top two corners. Lond has a tougher matchup this week against the Bucs, but his salary has remained low enough that I think he is still a solid bargain option for your DFS GPPs and still should be started if you play a Week 18 championship. | |||||
| Demarcus Robinson | BAL | $3600 / $5600 | Eli Apple | CIN | Risky |
| Whether it is Lamar Jackson or Tyler Huntley, the Ravens passing game has been terrible all season long and is even getting worse as the year progresses. He had just one catch in each of the last two weeks, and even if Jackson does come back, he hasn't played in weeks and I think his accuracy has been a huge problem all year. Robinson had just one catch the first time they played the Bengals and I can't imagine using a Ravens wide receiver in any fantasy contest in Week 18. | |||||
| Stefon Diggs | BUF | $7900 / $8400 | Jonathan Jones | NE | Risky |
| It is hard to know what to expect from the Bills when they play the Patriots, but you would think that they would be inspired to play for their teammate. Diggs did try to fire up his team on the sidelines before the postponement so he could be fired up to get back on the field. On the other hand, and understandably, the entire Bills team might not be in any condition to play with any real passion. I hate to have to write about the potential of football given what happened and I would probably try to avoid Bills players in Week 18 for fantasy. | |||||
| DJ Moore | CAR | $6100 / $7300 | Marshon Lattimore | NO | Safe |
| He now has over 70 receiving yards and a touchdown in three straight games as Sam Darnold has revived Moore's fantasy season at the best possible time. His volume has been great, and he has made the most of the opportunities. Moore had just one catch for two yards in Week 3 against the Saints, but this is a totally different time and different quarterback and Moore is a great DFS option and a must-start if your league championship is this week. | |||||
| Chase Claypool | CHI | $4300 / $5600 | Patrick Peterson | MIN | Risky |
| He was active coming back from a knee injury, but Claypool was only targeted once and didn't come down with it. The talent is great, the situation isn't great though, and Claypool isn't going to make it happen this season. I have some hope that having a full offseason with Justin Fields might give him some chance at success in 2023 but he has no fantasy relevance in DFS or in any Week 18 championship matchups. | |||||
| Ja'Marr Chase | CIN | $8400 / $8500 | Marlon Humphrey | BAL | Safe |
| The Ravens secondary has been really great at the end of the season, and Chase had just seven catches for 50 yards the first time they played the Ravens and that was a game where Higgins was active but didn't really play. How the Bengals will bounce back from last week remains to be seen but I still like Chase for your fantasy championship and DFS for Week 18 | |||||
| Amari Cooper | CLE | $6000 / $7600 | Levi Wallace | PIT | Safe |
| He capped a great fantasy season with three catches for 105 yards and two scores last week despite only having four targets. Cooper had a way better season than I could have ever thought, and perhaps with a full offseason with their quarterback he can be even better next year. He had seven catches for 101 yards against the Steelers in Week 3 and despite a different quarterback, he should have no trouble torching the Steelers again. Cooper will be a dynamite option for the Week 18 DFS contests and any fantasy championship decided this week. | |||||
| Michael Gallup | DAL | $4100 / $5800 | Kendall Fuller | WAS | Moderate |
| When he isn't scoring, he isn't doing much, and Gallup didn't score last week against what should have been a pretty easy matchup against the Titans. In fact, he only had four targets and three catches for 39 yards. He has now hit 40 yards just once in the last five weeks and he had only exactly 40 in that one. It is another pillow soft matchup against the Commanders, but I don't think that he is getting enough volume to warrant any interest in a DFS contest and is even an iffy flex if your league plays a championship in Week 18. | |||||
| Courtland Sutton | DEN | $4800 / $6400 | Asante Samuel | LAC | Moderate |
| He's been decent, but still nothing great as he had just four catches for 44 yards as the Broncos passing game continues to disappoint. I mean it has all season, why should the end of the year be any different. Sutton has had injury issues this season and only one touchdown all season long. He could be a WR3 if your fantasy championship is decided this week, but he is not a DFS option for the season finale. | |||||
| DJ Chark Jr. | DET | Jaire Alexander | GB | Moderate | |
| He has been great in the last month as Chark has three games in the last five over 90 yards and 50 yards in four of the last five. The Lions are trying to make their way in the playoffs, and we know they will fire away on offense both on the ground and in the air. The Lions have been throwing a ton to their tight ends lately, and running the ball well. The Packers have allowed 22 passing touchdowns in 16 games this season, and actually have been playing better towards the end of the season. Chark could be a dart throw in DFS GPPs, but I wouldn't have a ton of exposure there and he could be a flex play if Week 18 is your championship. | |||||
| Christian Watson | GB | Jeff Okudah | DET | Safe | |
| He was able to play last week after the hip injury the week before, but he had just one catch for 11 yards on five targets against the Vikings. Watson hasn't scored in the last three weeks after going on that wild touchdown stretch. You would think another week under his belt and a greaet matchup against the Lions and the motivation to try to secure their playoff spot would have the Packers offense firing on all cylinders. However, it has been focused more on the run game lately, but Watson is the guy that I think has the best chance to have the big game. Watson had two catches the first time they played the Lions, but if someone is going to go off it will be him. I like Watson as a DFS option at a lower priced salary and he is certainly a start in any full season championship matches this week. | |||||
| Brandin Cooks | HOU | $4800 / $6200 | Stephon Gilmore | IND | Risky |
| No one would have guessed coming into the season that Cooks would have had under 600 yards and only two touchdowns with one week during the year. Cooks has made it obvious that he doesn't want to be in Houston and the quarterback situation has been terrible all year long. There's no reason to believe that it will be any better in the season's final week. The Colts have completely given up as you could tell by the game against the Giants last week and Cooks had a great Week 1 against the Colts but I still don't see him as a fantasy option in season long or DFS for Week 18. | |||||
| Michael Pittman Jr. | IND | $6100 / $7300 | Steven Nelson | HOU | Risky |
| He did score a touchdown last week, but Pittman had a less than inspiring six catches for 41 yards. Clearly the Colts have their tee times set up for their golf outings after the season already set as they have looked like they gave up long ago. Sam Ehlinger is going to start and unfortunately, there is no way that you can use Pittman in any fantasy format. The Texans have allowed the fewest passing touchdowns in the league, and this is likely to be a game filled with field goals. It could have been a great season for Pittman, but circumstances outside of his control have made it much more ordinary. | |||||
| Zay Jones | JAC | $5000 / $6600 | Roger McCreary | TEN | Moderate |
| The Zay Jones Experience has really been letting people down in the fantasy playoffs as he has just 38 receiving yards in the last two weeks. Granted, they were tough matchups against the Jets and Texans and we will see how it goes in the final game. Jones had eight catches for 77 yards and a score in Week 14 against the Titans and Tennessee has allowed the second most passing touchdowns in the league with 28. I could definitely see Jones being in some DFS lineups for the two game Saturday slate, and in your lineups if this week is your fantasy championship. | |||||
| Kadarius Toney | KC | $4000 / $6000 | Nate Hobbs | LV | Moderate |
| The injury to Mecole Hardman gave him a little extra opportunity and Toney took advantage of it with four catches for 71 yards against the Broncos He has been disappointing since coming to the Chiefs, but I also don't know if he is fully healthy. He has a world of talent and this can be a high-powered offense, but he has been so inconsistent that he is hard to trust for fantasy. The Raiders secondary is one of the worst in the league so if you have some real guts you can trust Toney for some DFS on the short Saturday slate or season long championships. | |||||
| Davante Adams | LV | $8800 / $9100 | Josh Williams | KC | Safe |
| After a three week slump by his standards, Adams came through big time in Week 17 with seven catches for 153 yards and two scores against a very tough San Francisco secondary. It was shocking as the team had Jarrett Stidham who hadn't been in an NFL game in a while. Can he do this again? It is the last game of the season as they try to spoil the Chiefs getting the bye week in the AFC playoffs. Kansas City has allowed the most passing touchdowns in the league this season, and Adams had three catches for 124 yards and two scores against them back in Week 5. To me, he is a no brainer if this is your fantasy championship and an elite cash and GPP option for the Saturday two-game DFS slate in Week 18. | |||||
| Mike Williams | LAC | $6600 / $7400 | Patrick Surtain | DEN | Safe |
| He is finishing the season strong and came through big in Week 17 with seven catches for 94 yards. He now has been over 65 yards in four straight weeks, although he has only one touchdown over that span. The Chargers have their playoff spot wrapped up and don't have a lot to play for in this one so I wouldn't be surprised if Williams didn't play the whole game in this one. The Broncos have allowed just 17 passing touchdowns, which is third best in the league, and Williams had just two catches for 17 yards against them back in Week 6. I think you can find a better fantasy option than Williams for Week 18 DFS but he still belongs as a starter if this is your fantasy championship. | |||||
| Van Jefferson | LAR | $3900 / $6000 | Tariq Woolen | LAC | Risky |
| Sure, he had his best game of the season with 77 yards, but he had just three catches which is sadly tied for his season high. The Rams pass game has been pretty non-existent for most of the season, and really bad since they lost all of their weapons. The Rams are running most of the time and Jefferson has just ten targets in the last three weeks combined. The Seahawks are fighting for their playoff lives and this game will be in Seattle where the home team always plays better. Jefferson is not a good fantasy option for any contest in Week 18. | |||||
| Jaylen Waddle | MIA | $7300 / $7200 | Sauce Gardner | NYJ | Risky |
| Unfortunately, we are looking at Skylar Thompson at quarterback with the injuries to the top two Dolphins quarterbacks and that isn't good for the fantasy prospects of Dolphins receivers. It is a really tough matchup against the Jets secondary, even though they are eliminated from the playoffs. Sauce has been shutting down receivers all season and now it will be with a bad quarterback. Thompson actually was the Dolphins quarterback the first time they played the Jets and Waddle had just three catches for 23 yards. I would be looking in another direction for my fantasy championships and DFS lineups. | |||||
| Justin Jefferson | MIN | $9100 / $9000 | Jaylon Jones | CHI | Safe |
| Few big players have ever come up smaller in your fantasy playoffs than Jefferson's one catch for 15 yards against a subpar Packers secondary. However, we have to turn the page and just look to this week's game with an even easier matchup against a Bears secondary that can't stop a high school team right now. Jefferson will certainly be looking to get back on track after that dud. He had 12 catches for 154 yards against the Bears the first time, and I think he has a shot at duplicating that. He is one of the best plays on the board and his roster percentage might be down a bit after his performance in Week 17. Let's take advantage of that and score big. | |||||
| Kendrick Bourne | NE | $3400 / $5300 | Tre'Davious White | BUF | Risky |
| A week after his first 100-yard game of the season (hell his first game of over 60 yards), Bourne cam crashing back to Earth hard with just one catch for 16 yards on two targets. The Patriots still have a chance to make the playoffs, but Bourne isn't likely to be a big part of this push. The Bills secondary is still very good and very motivated, and Bourne had just one catch for 15 yards against them back in Week 13. Don't chase those Week 16 points, I've already given too much thought to Bourne in just these few lines. | |||||
| Chris Olave | NO | $6200 / $6700 | C.J. Henderson | CAR | Moderate |
| He was able to play through his hamstring injury, but Olave had just four catches on five targets for 42 yards against the Eagles. It was a tough matchup, and Andy Dalton's skill set does not translate to a ton of fantasy success for a down the field threat like Olave. He is young, exciting, and dangerous as a receiver, but he is not 100 percent healthy, the quarterback stinks, and the matchup isn't ideal. He did have nine catches for 147 yards against Carolina in Week 3, but the Saints are limping to the finish line. If Week 18 is your championship I would play Olave, but he is not a DFS asset for the last week of the year. | |||||
| Darius Slayton | NYG | $4600 / $6000 | Darius Slay | PHI | Risky |
| After being the most reliable receiver on the team for most of the season, Slayton is sliding some down the stretch and had just two catches for 14 yards on only three targets against the Colts last week. That is now three games under 50 receiving yards in the last four and he had just two catches in two of those four. Richie James and Isaiah Hodgins seem to have overtaken him right now, and the Giants don't have anything to play for in this one anyway, so I am assuming it might be a little bit of a conservative play call. Slayton had two catches for 42 yards the last time they played the Eagles, and Philadelphia still has one of the best secondaries in the league. I would probably look for better options if this is your fantasy championship and Slayton will not be a DFS option in any format for the final week. | |||||
| Garrett Wilson | NYJ | $5800 / $7100 | Xavien Howard | MIA | Moderate |
| The legend of Mike White took an awful sideways turn as he was terrible, the Jets were eliminated from the playoffs, and Garrett Wilson had only three catches on 11 targets for 18 yards. It isn't good when you almost have as many yards as targets. I honestly believe Mike White came back too quickly, as he was awfully inaccurate and certainly didn't look like his usual self. Hopefully one more week helps him heal a little and Wilson gets a pretty solid matchup against the Dolphins. He did only have three catches for 27 yards against Miami the first time, but that was with Zach Wilson at quarterback. Garrett remains a solid fantasy play for Week 18 whether it is your championship or DFS contests. | |||||
| A.J. Brown | PHI | $8000 / $8300 | Fabian Moreau | NYG | Safe |
| He didn't quite get the volume that DeVonta Smith did last week, but Brown still had another big game with four catches for 97 yards and a score against the Saints. He was three yards short of his fourth 100-yard game in five weeks, and Brown has been everything the Eagles hoped for when they brought him in this year. He had four catches for 70 yards and a score a month ago against the Giants, and even though they may get healthier this week, New York has nothing really to play for. Brown is a dynamite option for your fantasy championship and Week 18 DFS lineups. | |||||
| Diontae Johnson | PIT | $5200 / $6300 | Denzel Ward | CLE | Moderate |
| He still hasn't scored a touchdown this season. I know the Steelers haven't had the best quarterback play, but for a guy who has 137 targets and 84 catches on the season to not have a touchdown is pretty amazing. The Steelers will be playing for a shot at the wild card and to keep Mike Tomlin's .500 record streak alive against the tough Browns. This one will be low scoring, and I don't expect Johnson to break his touchdown draught in this one. He has fallen off the DFS radar a long time ago but he did have one of his best games with eight catches and 84 yards against the Browns back in Week 3 so if this is your fantasy championship he should still be in your lineups. | |||||
| Deebo Samuel | SF | $6000 / $7000 | Marco Wilson | ARI | Moderate |
| He hasn't played since Week 14, but Samuel practiced a couple of times on a limited basis last week so I believe he will get in there against the Cardinals. However, I think this is more of a case of getting him back in rhythm as he hasn't played in a few weeks and hasn't played much with Brock Purdy. I don't expect Samuel to be his usual part of the game plan. However, if this is your fantasy championship I think you have to start him and hope he finds the end zone against one of the worst teams in football that has already packed it in. Samuel had seven catches against Arizona in Week 11 but I still think there is too much risk to trust him as a DFS option for the regular seaosn finale. | |||||
| DK Metcalf | SEA | $6700 / $7200 | James Ramsey | LAR | Safe |
| It couldn't have come at a worse time as Metcalf had his lowest output of the seaosn with one catch for five yards against Sauce Gardner and the Jets. It was just the second time all season he had only one catch and only four times he had fewer than five. Seattle will be fighting for a playoff spot and Metcalf is going to want to be a big part of that. The Rams are cooked this season, even with a stud like Ramsey and they just gave up a big game to Mike Williams last week. Metcalf torched the Rams for eight catches and 127 yards with a touchdown back in Week 13 and I love this matchup for him as he is on a team with everything to play for against a team ready to pack it in. Metcalf is an elite option if it is your fantasy championship or any DFS contest. | |||||
| Mike Evans | TB | $7400 / $7700 | A.J. Terrell | ATL | Risky |
| Not that anyone cares about my fantasy teams, but Evans was looking useless until I faced him in a fantasy championship and he almost single-handedly beat me with his ten catches for 207 yards and three touchdowns against the Panthers. I think I speak for anyone who played Evans this week when I say SON OF A BITCH! He was playing terribly before this and now the Bucs clinched a playoff spot. Even if he starts at all, I don't expect Evans to play a full game in this one as the Bucs are old and tired and I think they need all the rest they can get. If you believe he will play a lot I would use him in the fantasy championship as Atlanta is pretty terrible, but I think it is best to avoid Evans in all fantasy formats. | |||||
| Treylon Burks | TEN | $4200 / $6400 | Trevon Diggs | JAC | Moderate |
| With a quarterback that could throw the ball a little, Burks had four catches for 66 yards on eight targets and a 20 yard run against the Cowboys. Josh Dobbs will start the game against the Jaguars for the division crown, and that is good news for Burks. He didn't play the last game against Jacksonville, but the Jags are a bottom five defense in passing yards allowed, and while I expect Tennessee to lose, Burks could be a flex if you play a Week 18 championship but is a fairly bad DFS option in the Saturday two game slate. . | |||||
| Terry McLaurin | WAS | $5900 / $7000 | Trevon Diggs | DAL | Moderate |
| It was not a good offensive day for McLaurin and the Commanders as Carson Wentz reminded everyone why he didn't get his job back after he got healthy. It crushed any hopes for McLaurin as he had just two catches for 25 yars and a 12 yard rush. It was his worst game since Week 4 and going back to my fantasy championship not only did Evans crush me but I had McLaurin! I have to believe they go back to Taylor Heinicke this week, which is great for McLaurin. He had that worst game of the season against the Cowboys back in Week 4, but that was a Carson Wentz game. Dallas is still playing for a lot though, while the Commanders have been eliminated from everything. McLaurin is a fine start if this is your fantasy championship but I can't count on an unmotivated team with a bad quarterback for my DFS lineups. | |||||
| Right WR vs Left CB | |||||
| Wide Receiver | Team | DraftKings/FanDuel | Cornerback | Opp | Matchup |
| Marquise Brown | ARI | $5300 / $6800 | Deommodore Lenoir | SF | Moderate |
| He had six catches for 61 yards last week against the Falcons, but that was a cake matchup and DeAndre Hopkins was out. Even if Hopkins misses again, I am not a fan of Brown for DFS purposes this week just because of the matchup. Arizona's best hope for quarterback is Colt McCoy and that's not saying much. This offense is going nowhere fast against the 49ers and Brown is barely a flex play if this is your championship week. | |||||
| Damiere Byrd | ATL | $3000 / $5100 | Sean Murphy-Bunting | TB | Risky |
| The Falcons offense has been terrible all season long, especially throwing the ball and the final week of the year won't be any different. Who knows what they will do at quarterback next year, but Byrd isn't going to be fantasy relevant in any format for the finale of the season. | |||||
| DeSean Jackson | BAL | $3000 / $5100 | Cam Taylor-Britt | CIN | Risky |
| He was the only other wide receiver to have a catch in Week 17 against the Steelers, and it really doesn't matter who the second wide receiver for the Ravens is, they won't be someone to consider for the last week of the season. Baltimore's passing game really makes Mark Andrews fantasy relevant, and that is about it. | |||||
| Gabe Davis | BUF | $5400 / $6400 | Jack Jones | NE | Risky |
| It has been a disappointing season for Davis from a fantasy perspective, and after what happened last week, it is hard to even think about football and it must be even harder for the team to focus on the game. I would likely just avoid the Bills for Week 18 for fantasy purposes. | |||||
| Terrace Marshall Jr. | CAR | $3400 / $5500 | Paulson Adebo | NO | Risky |
| He's had a handful of decent fantasy games throughout the year, but overall Marshall hasn't been fantasy relevant much in 2022 and has just one touchdown on the season. He has shown some flashes that make us hopeful for 2023, but in Week 18 he holds no value in any fantasy format. | |||||
| Equanimeous St. Brown | CHI | $3400 / $5100 | Cameron Dantzler | MIN | Risky |
| He had two catches for 20 yards in Week 17 against the Lions, and while he had just returned from a concussion, St. Brown only topped 50 receiving yards once this season and has only one touchdown to go with just over 300 yards. Even against a terrible Vikings secondary, he isn't worth consideration for the finale of the season. | |||||
| Tee Higgins | CIN | $7600 / $7800 | Marcus Peters | BAL | Moderate |
| You can just hope for the best that there won't be any lingering mental issues for Higgins as he was the one that Damar Hamlin tackled when he was injured. Assuming that he is okay, Higgins has been great all year, and there is no reason to shy away from him for any fantasy purposes in Week 18. | |||||
| Donovan Peoples-Jones | CLE | $4700 / $6300 | Cameron Sutton | PIT | Risky |
| He did catch a touchdown in Week 17, but it also was his only catch of the game. It was, however, his second touchdown in three weeks. Peoples-Jones does have only 46 receiving yards combined in the last three weeks though, making him a very risky option. He had just ten yards against the Steelers the first time, but he watched his usage nearly disappear in the past month so I can't suggest him for DFS games even with a soft matchup. | |||||
| T.Y. Hilton | DAL | $3400 / $5400 | Christian Holmes | WAS | Risky |
| One week after having one long grab, Hilton was more involved int he Dallas offense and finished with four catches for 50 yards on five targets and had the third most looks on the team after Lamb and Schultz. He hasn't been on the team long, but Dak Prescott clearly is looking his way a little bit. His legs are fresh as he hasn't played most of the year and it is a very plus matchup against a terrible Commanders secondary. Hilton is actually a pretty decent dart throw for your Week 18 DFS lineups but you should have better options if your full season league is still going in the final game of the year. | |||||
| Kendall Hinton | DEN | $3500 / $5000 | Michael Davis | LAC | Risky |
| The had no catches in his first game back from injury and Hinton had only two targets. The Broncos passing game has been pretty putrid all season long and we know that only two guys can be fantasy relevant and even they struggle to come through every week. Hinton is not a fantasy option, even against a soft Chargers secondary. | |||||
| Kalif Raymond | DET | Rasul Douglas | GB | Risky | |
| The Lions put up 41 points, Jared Goff threw three touchdowns, and Raymond still only had three catches and three targets. They were good for 40 yards which isn't a bad yards per catch, but this is the final week of the year. The Packers secondary has been better down the stretch and there's no need to consider Raymond if this is your fantasy championship. I really only feel confident about Amon-Ra St. Brown for DFS for the last week and Raymond isn't someone to use for Week 18. | |||||
| Romeo Doubs | GB | Jerry Jacobs | DET | Moderate | |
| He hasn't been great since coming back from injury in Week 15 and Doubs had just three catches for 20 yards in Week 17 against a terrible Vikings secondary. He has been averaging just under four catches and under 40 yards a game in the last three. The Lions secondary is not great, and the Packers will be playing to secure their playoff spot. But honestly, I am not feeling the DFS love for Doubs in the season's final week, although he could likely be your flex if Week 18 is your fantasy championship. | |||||
| Chris Moore | HOU | $4000 / $5500 | Isaiah Rodgers | IND | Risky |
| He had a couple of good games this season when the Texans were out of healthy wide receivers, but Moore has been a dud for most of the year including last week when he had just three catches for 21 yards. The Colts have really packed it in already, but so have the Texans and Moore isn't someone you should give any fantasy consideration to in any fantasy contest for Week 18. | |||||
| Alec Pierce | IND | $3500 / $5500 | Tavierre Thomas | HOU | Risky |
| I have some faith for Pierce next year if the Colts can get him a decent quarterback, because he started out well in 2022. However, it all fell apart as soon as Matt Ryan was benched. He has just 41 receiving yards in the last three weeks combined and the Texans secondary is actually one of the better units in the league. Pierce had no catches against them back in Week 1 and he will not be a guy to use in Week 18 at all. | |||||
| Marvin Jones Jr. | JAC | $3600 / $5500 | John Reid | TEN | Risky |
| He outperformed all of the receivers on the Jaguars we were actually using for fantasy as Jones had jis best game since Week 5 with six catches and 61 yards in Week 17 against the Texans. Jones had over 50 receiving yards in three games this season and two were against Houston. He had just one catch for 22 yards a month ago against the Titans and I don't see him being someone to count on for a fantasy championship or DFS even against a weak Titans secondary as the Jags have three better options than him. | |||||
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | KC | $3900 / $5400 | Sam Webb | LV | Risky |
| It was a usual MVS game where he had a nice amount of targets (7), but it really didn't turn into much in the way of production as he had just two catches for 28 yards. You have listened to me bash Valdes-Scantling most of the season, and it isn't going to stop here. I still don't think he is a very good receiver, however, he does have some good games from time to time. The Chiefs have been flexed to a Saturday game, and the Raiders are one of the worst secondaries in football. He had six catches for 90 yards against them in Week 5 and Jarrett Stidham didn't look bad at quarterback. I wouldn't use him if Week 18 is your fantasy championship, but for a two-game DFS slate Valdes-Scantling will be a lower priced option with the chance to give you a possible big return in a plus matchup. | |||||
| Mack Hollins | LV | $4300 / $5800 | Trent McDuffie | KC | Risky |
| He has two touchdowns since Week 18, and Hollins also only has three games over 50 receiving yards over that span. He has six games of three or fewer catches since the team's Week 6 bye and he had no catches on four targets in the team's Week 5 game against the Chiefs. Even in a short slate of two games for Week 18 Saturday DFS I wouldn't trust Hollins unless you are really trying to save money at a position to pay up for studs at other positions. | |||||
| Joshua Palmer | LAC | $5500 / $5900 | Essang Bassey | DEN | Risky |
| He was targeted just once last week against the Rams and didn't come down with the catch as Palmer continues to not be used as much with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams healthy. The question comes of how much will the Chargers play their starters in this one, especially with the injury trouble both Allen and Williams have had this season and not much to play for in this one. If you subscribe to that, Palmer could have a big fantasy day as he has shown flashes of brilliance when he is the featured receiver. He had nine catches for 57 yards against Denver in Week 6, but he comes with a lot of risk of how much volume he might get. If you are a high roller he could be worth a DFS GPP spot, but could easily come up with not much if Brandan Staley keeps his regulars in all game. | |||||
| Tutu Atwell | LAR | $3400 / $5300 | Michael Jackson | SEA | Risky |
| He did lead the team in targets last week against the Chargers, but Atwell was only good for two catches and ten yards. He has some great speed and playmaking ability, but the Rams offense is just pathetic through the air. He is more of a gadget-like player and is not a fantasy option for Week 18 if you want to win anything. | |||||
| Trent Sherfield | MIA | $3200 / $5200 | D.J. Reed | NYJ | Risky |
| He had his most targets since Week 4, but Sherfield still had just two catches for 30 yards against the Patriots in Week 17. The Dolphins are goin to be on their third quarterback this week with Tua concussed and Bridgewater's finger injury. Sherfield wouldn't have been fantasy relevant even with either of the Dolphins top quarterbacks, and he certainly isn't with Skylar Thompson under center. | |||||
| Adam Thielen | MIN | $5000 / $6100 | Kyler Gordon | CHI | Moderate |
| It was another disastrous game for Thielen as he had just one catch for 16 yards against the Packers and now has just two catches for 22 yards combined in the last two weeks. The matchup does get easier this week against an absolutely terrible Bears secondary, but how much can you trust Thielen? He hasn't had a single game where he topped 75 receiving yards all year, he has had over five catches just three teims since the Week 7 bye, and he has just five touchdowns this season. he had four grabs for 27 yards against the Bears in Week 5 and as soft as this matchup is, I still don't think I'll be using Thielen at all in Week 18. | |||||
| Tyquan Thornton | NE | $3300 / $5400 | Dane Jackson | BUF | Risky |
| He had his biggest game of the season as Thornton had three catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on seven targets against the Dolphins in Week 17. I have been saying for a while that I like this kid's talent, and perhaps if this wasn't the last game of the year I would be a little more bullish on him. However, there's no way that we can put any trust in him in the final week of the year when he has been a no-show for most of it. I'll be interested to see if the Patriots use Thornton more again this week, but we can't bank our fantasy lineups on it. | |||||
| Rashid Shaheed | NO | $4200 / $5800 | Josh Norman | CAR | Moderate |
| After not even getting playing time coming into the season, Shaheed has turned himself into quite a player down the stretch. With his six catches for 79 yards against a tough Eagles secondary, he now has 75+ receiving yards in three of the last four, averaging just over four catches a game in that span. He didn't play the last time the Saints and Panthers met, but Carolina has allowed 24 passing touchdowns this season, which is about middle of the pack in the league. I would continue to use Shaheed as a flex play if this is your championship as Carolina has several injuries to their secondary and I think he is also a viable bargain option for the Week 18 slate of DFS contests. | |||||
| Isaiah Hodgins | NYG | $4500 / $6100 | James Bradberry | PHI | Moderate |
| Who had Isaiah Hodgins being fantasy relevant on their 2022 fantasy football bingo card? No one? I mean the kid just keeps scoring and had four catches for 42 yards against the Colts last week making it four touchdowns in the last five games. Outside of the Vikings game, his usage still isn't great, averaging about five targets a game, but you can't argue with the production. He does have a really tough matchup against an Eagles team that needs to win for home field advantage, but Hodgins did scorea against them back in Week 14. I think he is certainly worth a flex play if Week 18 is your championship and remains a solid dart throw hoping for a touchdown in the final DFS slate of the regular season. | |||||
| Corey Davis | NYJ | $3500 / $5600 | Keion Crossen | MIA | Risky |
| He did have three catches for 45 yards last week which isn't terrible, but it isn't anything that gets you excited from a fantasy perspective. The Jets are eliminated from the playoffs, Mike White's ribs are still injured, and the Jets still spread the ball around a decent amount. Davis had an okay season, and the Dolphins are no great defense, but I wouldn't be focusing on Davis for my fantasy championship or Week 18 DFS contests. | |||||
| DeVonta Smith | PHI | $7500 / $7700 | Nick McCloud | NYG | Safe |
| He remains absolutely scorching as he had nine catches on 13 targets for 115 yards against the Saints on Sunday. That is now four of the last five games where Smith has been over 100 yards and seven straight over 50 receiving yards with four scores in the last five weeks. The Eagles will welcome Jalen Hurts back this week, and will need to win this game to clinch home field. Smith was held to just 64 yards against the Giants back in Week 14 and that was his worst game in the last five weeks. New York might get Adoree Jackson back this week which would help their banged up secondary some, but the Giants really have nothing to play for so I would continue to use Smith in DFS and definitely if this is your fantasy championship. | |||||
| George Pickens | PIT | $5000 / $5900 | Martin Emerson | CLE | Moderate |
| The offense went almost nowhere for most of the game and the Steelers ran the hell out of the ball which didn't leave much for Pickens to do. He finished with two catches for 29 yards which could have been a little more but he stepped out of bounds on one catch and was the first one to touch it coming back in. It has been quite a roller coaster rookie season for Pickens from a fantasy perspective and he had just three catches for 39 yards the first time the Steelers played the Browns. He has matured and developed some since then, but not enough for him to be someone you count on for a fantasy lineup in Week 18. | |||||
| Brandon Aiyuk | SF | $6800 / $7100 | Antonio Hamilton | ARI | Moderate |
| He has had a great chemistry with Brock Purdy and the rookie quarterback continually looked to Aiyuk in the fourth quarter and he finished with nine catches for 101 yards and a score against the Raiders. It was the second straight week where the young receiver topped 80 receiving yards. The Cardinals are an absolutely terrible secondary, and the Niners will be playing for a chance at the one seed in the NFC. I do think that Deebo Samuel will return for this game, but not play a full complement of snaps. If you've been counting on Aiyuk I would continue to do it for your Week 18 championship and he will also be a great DFS play against a Cardinals secondary that is riddled with injuries, has nothing to play for, and has allowed 26 passing touchdowns this season which is fourth most in the league. | |||||
| Tyler Lockett | SEA | $6400 / $6900 | Troy Hill | LAR | Moderate |
| Between a tough matchup against the Jets and probably trying to come back too quickly from a finger injury, Lockett laid a dud in Week 17 with two catches for 15 yards. The Seattle offense didn't do much, but did enough to eliminate the Jets and keep their own playoff hopes alive. I think this game is going to be all about D.K. Metcalf, and I also still don't think Lockett is 100 percent. He had nine catches for 128 yards and a score against the Rams in Week 13, and while I do think he is worth a start if this week is your fantasy championship, with the injury likely still lingering I would go in another direction in DFS contests for the regular season finale. | |||||
| Russell Gage | TB | $4400 / $5700 | Darren Hall | ATL | Risky |
| It was the Mike Evans show on Sunday with Chris Godwin co-starring as Tom Brady shredded the Panthers for over 400 yards and Gage was left with crumbs and just three catches and 33 yards. Julio Jones did return, which cut somewhat into Gage's already limited role. They do play the awful Falcons who have nothing to play for, but the Bucs already won their division and will be the four seed. We could see some regulars sit at some point in this game and I would probably avoid Gage all together. | |||||
| Robert Woods | TEN | $4100 / $5700 | Darious Williams | JAC | Risky |
| He did catch the only touchdown for Tennessee last Thursday, but that offense still wasn't anything to get excited about from a fantasy perspective. If I was to say anything positive, it was that Woods had his most targets since Week 3 and he finished with five catches. However, it was all short yardage stuff as he had just 39 yards in the game which was sadly his second highest total in the last six weeks. He had five catches for 49 yards a few weeks ago against Jacksonville and honestly I think that is the most you can hope for in the season's final week. | |||||
| Jahan Dotson | WAS | $4500 / $5900 | Kelvin Joseph | DAL | Moderate |
| He tied for the team lead in targets, but Dotson was certainly held back by the terrible quarterback play and finished with just three catches for 37 yards in Week 17 against the Browns. It has been a fine rookie season for the young man where he has shown lots of promise and the ability to make the big play and score touchdowns. He had just three catches for 43 yards against the Cowboys with a score back in Week 4, and I feel like if someone is going to make a play in this one it will be Dotson. I worry about using him on a team with nothing to play for against a strong Dallas defense with still a lot on the line. If you play several DFS lineups perhaps he fits in one or two in GPP contests. | |||||
Now, here are my 10 favorite matchups in the slot in Week 18.
| Slot WR vs Slot CB | |||||
| Wide Receiver | Team | DraftKings/FanDuel | Cornerback | Opp | Matchup |
| Tyreek Hill | MIA | $8600 / $8600 | Michael Carter | NYJ | Safe |
| It is hard to be too productive when your quarterback stinks, but Hill still managed four catches for 55 yards and a four yard rushing touchdown against the Patriots. The Dolphins will be looking at Skylar Thompson at quarterback this week, who coincidentally enough was under center the first time these two teams played. Hill had seven catches for 47 yards in that game, so we know that Thompson will look his way plenty again in the season finale. Hill might be too much of a risk with a third string quarterback to help you in DFS lineups, but if you are in a Week 18 championship you have to put him out there and hope for the best. | |||||
| CeeDee Lamb | DAL | $8200 / $8200 | Bobby McCain | WAS | Safe |
| He didn't score, but he continues to ravage opposing defenses as Lamb had 11 catches on 14 targets for exactly 100 yards in Week 17 against the Titans. He now has three straight 100-yard games and two straight with double digit catches and 25 targets in the last two weeks. He had six catches for 97 yards and a score back in Week 4 against the Commanders and the I see no reason why that kind of production isn't doable again. This is a great matchup for Lamb to finish the year and he is an elite option in both your fantasy championship and DFS games for Week 18. | |||||
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET | Keisean Nixon | GB | Safe | |
| He has faded a bit down the stretch, although his fading is still 10-14 fantasy points in PPR scoring. he had four catches for 62 yards on five targets against the Bears, but again Jared Goff was looking to tight ends and running backs for touchdowns. The Lions still have a chance to make the playoffs and that will start with beating the Packers who are on a big hot streak right now and this game is in Lambeau. St. Brown had four catches for just 55 yards back in Week 9 against the Packers. He has to start if this is your season long finale, and I don't mind a little DFS exposure here, but I believe there will be better options at that salary level for your Week 18 lineups. | |||||
| Chris Godwin | TB | $7200 / $7500 | Isaiah Oliver | ATL | Moderate |
| This one is a little precarious as the Bucs could opt to sit folks as they are locked into the four seed, but Godwin has had a great season and is only two grabs away from 100 and 32 yards away from 1,000. He had nine catches for 120 yards against the Panthers last week and now has 25 catches in the last three games. If he plays, I would still feel good going with Godwin in your fantasy championship even if Tom Brady isn't on the field. Godwin is a great short yardage, possession receiver and even a backup can pepper him with targets. The Falcons packed in their season a long time ago, and while Godwin is a fine start in your fantasy championship I wouldn't count on him for DFS no matter who the quarterback is. | |||||
| Keenan Allen | LAC | $6900 / $7500 | K'Wuan Williams | DEN | Safe |
| He had been on a great tear, and not that five catches for 60 yards is bad last week against the Rams, but I think we were all helping for more. The Chargers are pretty locked into the playoffs so not a lot of room to improve here, but the Broncos have absolutely nothing to play for, have had a disaster season, and lost another corner to a concussion last week. Allen didn't play against them the first time, but he is likely to be the most used receiver but is probably a better option if your season long league finishes on Sunday than he is a DFS option. | |||||
| Christian Kirk | JAC | $6200 / $7500 | Amani Hooker | TEN | Moderate |
| He has been terrible the last two weeks with just five catches and 43 yards combined in the Weeks 16-17. However, the team did have tough matchups against the Cowboys and Texans. It gets a lot easier this week against Tennessee who has a myriad of injuries and the Jaguars can win this game and win the division. Kirk had five catches for 45 yards against the Titans in Week 14 so I don't love him as a DFS option but if your leagues are ending this week he is a fine choice as a WR3. | |||||
| Jakobi Meyers | NE | $5100 / $6500 | TAron Johnson | BUF | Moderate |
| He is having a solid end of the season as Meyers has six catches in each of his last two games and has scored in two straight against decent defenses in Cincinnati and Miami. The Patriots can still make the playoffs if they can beat the Bills, although Meyers had just three catches for 22 yards against them in Week 13. Meyers has been pretty inconsistent this season, and the Patriots passing game is not something we often like to focus on for DFS purposes. However, if your league goes until Week 18 for some reason, I can still see Meyers being a viable fantasy option for the finale. | |||||
| Jerry Jeudy | DEN | $6300 / $6600 | Bryce Callahan | LAC | Moderate |
| The Broncos offense has been a challenge all season long, but Jeudy has been getting great volume of late and has 28 catches in the last four weeks. His seven catches last week only added up to 38 yards against the Chiefs in a big disappointment, but the Broncos will finish the year against a team with not much to play for in the Chargers. I am sure that Denver just wants the season to end too and Jeudy probably isn't the best DFS option as who wants to trust Russell Wilson anymore, but in your fantasy championship Jeudy is likely a WR2 or a very high end WR3 at the worst. | |||||
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC | $5400 / $7000 | Tyler Hall | LV | Moderate |
| He hasn't been great of late with just five catches and 48 yards combined in the last two games, but Smith-Schuster still has been the most consistent wide receiver on the Chiefs all season long. The matchup gets a million times easier this week against the Raiders who have allowed nearly 250 yards per game through the air and 24 passing touchdowns this season. The Raiders have nothing to play for this week, and the Chiefs will be trying to secure home field advantage. In any Week 18 championships I can see Juju as your flex and he won't be a bad option in the short two game Saturday DFS slate as he likely won't be rostered much considering his down streak that he is currently on. | |||||
| Richie James | NYG | #N/A | Chauncey Gardner-Johnson | PHI | Moderate |
| The Giants are locked into the playoffs, but Brian Daboll has said he isn't resting anyone in this mostly meaningless Week 18 games. James has been the best receiver on the team the last two weeks with 15 catches for 166 yards and a touchdown after cruising past the Colts. The Giants do get a really tough matchup with the Eagles who need to win to clinch home field advantage in the playoffs, but if there is a weak link in their secondary, it is the slot now with Avonte Maddox out. James had seven catches for 61 yards and a score against Phlly back in Week 14 and I think that James is a sneaky solid DFS play for Week 18 and certainly worth a spot in your fantasy championship lineups. | |||||
Elite
Justin Jefferson vs. Jaylon Jones
I know, I know. He let us down horribly last week. Like in an epic fashion. I didn’t expect Jaire Alexander to come out that motivated, but he clearly did. Jefferson has been on an absolute tear outside of that game, and the Bears have been AWFUL as a secondary. Jared Goff and Josh Allen went HAM on them lately. Despite their end of season performance, the Vikings still have a great passing game and Jefferson should come out wanting to break the fantasy slate after last week’s performance. Some might shy away, but last week has nothing to do with this week, and Jefferson might be the best in the league.
CeeDee Lamb vs. Bobby McCain
Despite their coach seeming to be unaware, the Commanders were eliminated from the playoffs last week, and their secondary has been swiss cheese as they have allowed 25 passing touchdowns this season, fifth worst in the league. Lamb has gone over 100 yards in the last three games and five of the last eight since his team’s bye and hasn’t had fewer than five catches in that span. The Cowboys are still trying for a division title, and Lamb has been a beast. This seems to be set up for another monster game for him.
Affordable
D.K. Metcalf vs. Jalen Ramsey
In a Week 18 contest I always like the team that has something to play for against a team just running out the clock. The Rams secondary hasn’t completely given up, but the Chargers had their way with them last week. Seattle is still fighting for a wild card, and Metcalf had a huge game in Week 13 against Ramsey and the rams with eight catches and 127 yards. The rostership percentage for Metcalf could be down a little after his total dud last week, and he should be in for a huge game on Sunday.
D.J. Moore vs. Marshon Lattimore
He has a touchdown in three straight weeks, he has 70+ yards in three of the last four weeks and is averaging nearly six catches a game over the last three. Sam Darnold has done wonders for Moore’s season and even though the Saints did a great job with Gardner Minshew last week, I think they are beatable. Moore didn’t have a great game the first time against the Saints, but he is hot right now and I am going to finish out the season on his bandwagon.
Bargain Bin
Richie James vs. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
I am a little worried about trusting a Giants receiver in a game that means nothing to them, but coach Brian Daboll has said no one will rest and he gives me the vibes of a coach who wants to win every game. With Avonte Maddox out, Gardner-Johnson has allowed a 77 percent catch rate and four touchdowns in 12 games this season and is just returning from injury. James has had a huge month and had seven catches for 61 yards and a score a month ago against Philadelphia. Give me him on a super low salary.
*Information gathered from research done at Pro Football Focus.