NFL Cash Game Lineup Advice: Week 18 (2021)

This is my final article of the NFL season! It’s been one of the wildest seasons I’ve ever witnessed, and we had our fair share of gems and misses throughout the year. That’s just part of the procedure in DFS, though, and it’s essential to keep a good process going because the results will inevitably follow. I want to thank all of you for reading throughout the season, and I look forward to continuing my NBA and MLB work and getting back to football next season. With that in mind, let’s get into this Week 18 finale!

NOTE: In the consideration section, DraftKings price is first, and FanDuel price is second!

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The players below are ones I’m looking at for cash game considerations for Week 18:

Quarterbacks

DraftKings

Kyler Murray (ARI): $7,400, vs. SEA
It’s just strange to see Murray outside the Top-3 in terms of pricing. This is the second-highest scoring quarterback since the beginning of last season, averaging 23.3 DraftKings points per game this year. We like his recent form, scoring at least 22 DK points in four of his last five games. The usage is a significant reason, with Kyler attempting at least 38 passes in all of those while leading all signal-callers in rushing yards. Not to mention, Seattle has surrendered the most passing yards in the NFL!

Taysom Hill (NO): $6,200, at ATL
Speaking of running quarterbacks, let’s get Taysom in here! This guy’s ability to run over defenders gives him a fantastic floor for DFS, and it’s hard to understand why he remains so cheap. Since becoming a regular starter, Hill has scored at least 26 DK points in two of his four starts en route to a 21-point average. You really can’t ask for any more from a player barely cracking $6K, especially in such a tasty matchup. Atlanta ranks 29th in both points allowed and fantasy points surrendered to opposing quarterbacks.

FanDuel

Josh Allen (BUF): $8,800, vs. NYJ
Allen is quite simply the best quarterback in fantasy right now. The Buffalo beast has at least 22 FanDuel points in four straight fixtures, generating a 29-point average in that span. That’s the highest total of any signal-caller in that span, and it’s clear that he’s carrying this Bills team into the postseason. That makes him worthy against anyone, but the Jets happen to be one of the best matchups out there. New York ranks dead-last in both points allowed and yardage surrendered.

Matthew Stafford (LAR): $7,400, vs. SF
Stafford has been struggling in the second half, but this price is silly. The former Lion isn’t even on the first page of quarterbacks, priced ninth at the position. That’s criminal since Stafford has scored at least 16 FD points in 14 games this season while cracking 22-plus in eight of those. That’s the consistency you’re looking for from a cash game quarterback, and you better believe he’ll be slinging the ball around with Los Angeles fighting to win their division and Kupp looking to break records.

In Consideration: Joe Burrow (CIN): $7,200/$7,900, at CLE

Running Backs

DraftKings

Jonathan Taylor (IND): $9,300, at JAX
While it seems rhetorical to have Taylor in every article, this is a cash game article! What are you doing if you don’t use JT in cash games? This dude dominates every rushing category, scoring at least 20 DraftKings points in 12 of his last 13 games. No player has a higher average than that during that span, and we’re talking about Taylor’s floor! The best part of this might be the matchup, though, with Jacksonville ranked 31st in total defense this year. That was on full display when Taylor tallied 27.6 fantasy points in their one meeting just last month.

Devin Singletary (BUF): $6,000, vs. NYJ
It’s hard to believe that Singletary has found himself in the cash game article, but strange things happen near the end of the season. He’s captured the every-down role for the Bills, scoring at least 15 DK points in four straight outings. That alone is incredible from a $6K player, but this game script is the icing on the cake. The Jets surrender the most fantasy points to opposing backs, but Buffalo enters this game as a 16-point favorite. That means Singletary should get all the work he can handle and a handful of goal-line carries as well.

FanDuel

Alvin Kamara (NO): $9,000, at ATL
By his standards, Kamara has had a “down” year, but he’s still a Top-5 running back. It’s apparent in his recent form, scoring at least 15 FanDuel points in six of his last eight games. He’s cracked 23 or more in half of those, showing us why he’s earned this lofty price tag. Facing the Falcons is the main reason we like him, with Atlanta allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. This is also a game where New Orleans is playing for their playoff lives, which should put even more on Kamara’s broad shoulders.

D’Onta Foreman (TEN): $6,900, at HOU
Many people call an Achilles tear the nail in a professional athlete’s career, but Foreman is trying to quiet those skeptics. In his absence, he’s taken over the Derrick Henry role, receiving at least 19 carries in three of the last five games. He’s been productive with that workload, too, rushing for at least 108 yards in all three of those games. That should be easy to duplicate here, with Houston allowing 143.4 rushing yards per game, the most in the NFL.

In Consideration: Nick Chubb (CLE): $7,900/$8,200, vs. CIN

Wide Receivers

DraftKings

Cooper Kupp (LAR): $9,700, vs. SF
Kupp has been in this article almost every week, and it’s easy to see why. He’s running away with every receiving crown for the season and is now looking at setting some NFL records. He needs 12 catches to break Michael Thomas‘s receptions record and 136 receiving yards to break Calvin Johnson’s receiving record. The ladder is the more likely outcome, but you better believe Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford will do everything possible to get him both!

Tyler Lockett (SEA): $6,400, at ARI
Lockett isn’t the most trustworthy guy, but he is at this price tag. We’re still talking about a dude who’s averaging 15.3 DK points per game, playing even better since Russell Wilson returned. In five of his last six games, Tyler has at least 12 DK points, posting a 16-point average in that span. That’s all you can ask for from such an underprice player, particularly with Arizona owning a 27th OPRK against opposing wide receivers. It’s also a good game script, with Seattle likely playing catch-up against the superior team.

FanDuel

Davante Adams (GB): $8,800, at DET
We all know that Kupp is the best receiver this season, but Adams is doing his best to challenge him. Aaron Rodgers best friend comes into this matchup scoring at least 25 FanDuel points in three of his last four games. More importantly, he’s got at least 13 targets in all of those while picking up double-digit receptions in each. That’s the floor you’re looking for from a cash game wideout, and it should continue against the 28th-ranked Detroit defense. The only concern is if Green Bay rests players at all, so be sure to follow reports to see if you can pick anything up!

Diontae Johnson (PIT): $7,600, at BAL
DJ isn’t getting the credit he deserves. This guy has stepped into the Antonio Brown role in Pittsburgh perfectly, and he’s doing it while keeping his shirt on! What makes Johnson such a good cash game option is his role, recording double-digit targets in 12 games this season. Only a handful of players have done that, which led to DJ scoring at least 12 FD points in six of his last seven games. We certainly don’t mind that he faces a Baltimore team surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing pass-catchers, either.

In Consideration: A.J. Brown (TEN): $7,000/$7,400, at HOU

Tight Ends

DraftKings

Mark Andrews (BAL): $7,500, vs. PIT
Andrews is the top-scoring tight end in fantasy, and he’s running away with it with his recent form. Mark has at least 15 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight games, scoring 30 or more in three of his previous four. No tight end is even close to that, and it makes him a reliable option at the least reliable position. Pittsburgh sounds like a tough matchup, but with how much they blitz their linebackers, Andrews should easily be in line for double-digit targets.

FanDuel

Zach Ertz (ARI): $5,600, vs. SEA
Ertz has become fantasy relevant since his trade to the Cardinals, taking on some crumbs left behind from DeAndre Hopkins‘ injury. Zach has at least seven targets in four straight outings, recording at least 42 receiving yards in six of his last seven games. That might not sound like much, but it’s a monster total from a $5,600 tight end. He’s also averaging over 10 FD points per game in that span, too, making him a great option against a Seattle secondary that’s surrendering the most passing yards in the NFL.

In Consideration: George Kittle (TEAM): $6,700/$6,900, at LAR

Defense/Special Teams

DraftKings

Washington Football Team D/ST: $3,100, at NYG
The Giants are abysmal. This team ranks 31st in points scored and total yardage, scoring 19 combined points over the last three games. That’s easy to understand why with Mike Glennon behind center, and they’re surely going to mail it in on the final game of the season. The oddsmakers love this play, too, with Washington entering this matchup as a 6.5-point favorite in a matchup with a 38-point total. That means the WFT team is projected for just 16 points, one of the lowest totals of the season.

FanDuel

Tampa Bay Buccaneers D/ST: $4,200, vs. CAR
Tampa is the highest-priced D/ST on DK and is only 10th on FanDuel. It’s hard to understand why they differ so much, but it makes them a great play on FD. We’re talking about one of the most talented units in the NFL facing one of the most turnover-prone quarterbacks. The Buccaneers rank fifth in fantasy points among D/STs, while Carolina surrenders the second-most fantasy points to opposing D/STs. That was on full display when the Bucs dropped 16 FanDuel points on them two weeks ago in one of their best performances of the season.

In Consideration: Buffalo Bills D/ST: $3,700/$4,500, vs. NYJ

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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.