Week 18 NFL DFS Cash Game Lineup Advice & Strategy

The NFL community experienced a somber moment on Monday Night Football in the biggest game of the 2022 regular season in Week 17. In a marquee AFC matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills, with vast playoff seeding implications on the line, Bills safety Damar Hamlin (S – Bills) fell to the ground after experiencing a routine hit, requiring on-field CPR as a result of commotio cordis. The scary incident nearly turned tragic, but Hamlin has since woken up with full cognitive functionality and the ability to breathe on his own. It’s an incredible comeback story and a miracle to see Hamlin in his current state after what we all witnessed on Monday night.

While the Bengals and Bills won’t reschedule the game, there will be a Week 18 slate played to wrap up the regular season this weekend. As a result, the Kansas City Chiefs occupy the coveted one-seed in the AFC, but there have been additional protocols and stipulations enforced surrounding the AFC Championship game potentially being played on a neutral field if the Chiefs wind up winning in the divisional round. We have several play-in games in Week 18, starting with Tennessee at Jacksonville, with several more high-stakes matchups on Sunday.

DFS season is in full swing now that most season-long fantasy leagues are completed, so that means there’s tons of money to be made in the final week of a wildly entertaining and unpredictable NFL season. I’ve identified some of my favorite players on DraftKings and FanDuel, so let’s get right into it and cash out some contests heading into the NFL playoffs!

Quarterbacks

DraftKings

DraftKings maximum salary is set at $50,000

Jalen Hurts (QB – Eagles): $8,200
The Eagles still have to clinch the one-seed in the NFC, so with that at stake, Jalen Hurts is expected to play against the New York Giants on Sunday. Hurts hasn’t played two straight games due to a sprained shoulder suffered against Chicago, but he finished that game with solid production, so there’s little reason to doubt his upside against a bad Giants run defense. Very few players have the consistent 30-point ceiling that Hurts possesses, so fire him up with confidence in a must-win game.

Dak Prescott (QB – Cowboys): $6,600
Dallas isn’t going to mail it in during its Week 18 road trip to Washington. If the 49ers and Eagles lose, the Cowboys could wind up sneaking into the one-seed to clinch home-field advantage and a first-round bye in the NFC. Dak Prescott has thrown plenty of interceptions, but he’s also tossing two to three touchdowns per game, so facing a dispirited Washington secondary creates a big opportunity for Prescott to smash once again in DFS lineups.

Honorable Mention: Geno Smith (QB – Seahawks) ($6,000) has to lead Seattle to a win over the Los Angeles Rams. We’ve seen Smith minimize the mistakes as a passer, which creates value against the Los Angeles Rams’ secondary, which has given up big plays throughout the season.

FanDuel

FanDuel maximum salary is set at $60,000

Joe Burrow (QB – Bengals): $8,200
Joe Burrow is second in the MVP odds race for a reason. The third-year franchise quarterback has seven passing touchdowns in his last two games played, excluding the canceled matchup against Buffalo in Week 17, with at least 250 passing yards and two touchdowns in two of his previous four games. The Bengals have plenty of firepower to pose a legitimate threat to Baltimore, who have an underwhelming offense with the continued absence of Lamar Jackson (QB – Ravens). It creates an easy path for Burrow to rack up production against a Ravens secondary that has given up big plays through the air during most games this season.

Daniel Jones (QB – Giants): $7,400
Daniel Jones has been on a heater for the last couple of weeks. The Giants have already clinched the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs but they could spoil the Eagles’ ability to clinch home-field advantage and a first-round Bye with a win on the road. Jones scored 19 FD points the last time these teams played, so you’re getting a high floor regardless of the outcome in this game.

Honorable Mention: Aaron Rodgers (QB – Packers) ($7,100) hasn’t blown anyone away with his stats this season but he’ll face the best defense for fantasy quarterbacks in a play-in game on Sunday night against Detroit. Rodgers wound up throwing 291 yards in the 15-9 loss to the Lions back in Week 9, which is still his season-high, so he could hit 300 yards and three touchdowns in a must-win game, making Rodgers a massive value in DFS lineups.

Running Backs

DraftKings

Nick Chubb (RB – Browns): $7,500
Yes, it’s been several weeks since we’ve seen Nick Chubb find the end zone. Yet he still handles 15 to 25 touches per game and will face a Pittsburgh Steelers run defense that he previously hung 20.3 DK points on back in Week 3. The Browns aren’t in playoff contention, but the Steelers are, so expect Kevin Stefanski to dial up a run-centric game plan to keep Pittsburgh’s offense on the sideline with Chubb reaching at least 90 rushing yards for the fourth consecutive week.

Dalvin Cook (RB – Vikings): $7,300
Minnesota wants to go into the playoffs with momentum and a win, so expect Kevin O’Connell (HC – Vikings) to scheme up a big game plan for Dalvin Cook. Chicago is a top-three matchup for fantasy running backs and the last time Cook faced the Bears, he scored two touchdowns and logged over 100 scrimmage yards. Fire up Cook at a slight discount in a plus-matchup on the road in Week 18.

Honorable Mention: David Montgomery (RB – Bears) ($6,500) has appeal against an equally bad Minnesota run defense, as he’ll be the primary source for Chicago’s offense without Justin Fields (QB – Bears) under center. Montgomery hit 18.2 DK points per game in their last matchup, which bodes well for his usage in Week 18.

FanDuel

Austin Ekeler (RB – Chargers): $9,400
The Los Angeles Chargers will make their first playoff appearance during Justin Herbert (QB – Chargers) and Brandon Staley’s three-year tenure. Star running back Austin Ekeler has scored two rushing touchdowns in each of his past two games, so expect the Chargers to keep pounding the rock against Denver, which is a unit more susceptible to the run than the pass. You’re paying a premium but it’s justified.

Cam Akers (RB – Rams): $7,300
The Los Angeles Rams have revived Cam Akers’ career with his late-season stretch, as he has scored six rushing touchdowns in his past five games. Akers has also hit at least 118 rushing yards in back-to-back outings and he’ll face the league’s second-worst run defense on Sunday. Akers is a value here and could wind up helping the Rams upset the Seahawks’ playoff hopes.

Honorable Mention: D’Andre Swift (RB – Lions) ($7,100) returned with a vengeance against a bad Chicago run defense in Week 17. Swift averaged 7.1 YPC and scored two touchdowns, including one through the air, eclipsing 20 FD points for the first time in nearly a month. The Lions will get a good matchup against a mediocre Packers run defense in a must-win game, so expect Swift to become a value play at $7,100 on FanDuel.

Wide Receivers

DraftKings

Justin Jefferson (WR – Vikings): $9,100
I’m riding chalk with Justin Jefferson but he needs just under 200 receiving yards to set the new single-season record, which would break Calvin Johnson’s 2012 1,964-yard mark set a decade ago. Jefferson was on a tear before Green Bay shutting him down in Week 17, so against a porous Chicago pass defense that is extremely injured, Jefferson becomes a must-play candidate in all DFS lineups.

DJ Moore (WR – Panthers): $6,100
Sam Darnold’s (QB – Panthers) return under center has been big for DJ Moore, who has hit at least 18.3 DK points in each of his last three games played. Moore is Darnold’s favorite target and he’ll play the Saints in Week 18, seeking revenge after being held to one reception for six yards back in Week 3. At $6,100 on DraftKings, Moore is a solid value with a high floor.

Honorable Mention: Garrett Wilson (WR – Jets) ($5,800) is finally below $6,000 due to four consecutive games under 14 DK points. The Jets will try to end their season on a high note with Mike White (QB – Jets) back under center, despite a bad outing in Week 17. Wilson gets the Miami secondary, which is a top-12 fantasy wide receiver matchup, so I like Wilson’s upside in the final week of the season.

FanDuel

CeeDee Lamb (WR – Cowboys): $8,200
The Cowboys have a lot of incentive to go out and thrash Washington to attempt climbing into the one or two-seed heading into the NFC playoffs. CeeDee Lamb quieted his critics with a huge season for Dallas, serving as Dak Prescott’s favorite target, logging three consecutive 100-yard games with a two-touchdown outing against the Philadelphia Eagles on Christmas Eve. Lamb cooked the Commanders for 18.7 FD points in Week 4, so roll him out as a top blue-chip prospect.

Tee Higgins (WR – Bengals): $7,800
Cincinnati has two WR1s in its offense, as Tee Higgins gets overshadowed by Ja’Marr Chase (WR – Bengals). Joe Burrow has increased his targets to Higgins in recent games, giving him more opportunities to produce in DFS lineups. He is a bit highly-priced on FanDuel but his last full game resulted in an 8-128-1 stat line on nine targets, so I like Higgins a lot against an underwhelming Baltimore secondary in Week 18.

Honorable Mention: Drake London (WR – Falcons) ($6,500) is starting to flourish with Desmond Ridder (QB – Falcons) under center. Both rookies have established a good rapport with each other, and while London was held to five catches for 47 yards against Arizona in Week 17, the rookie wideout will have another opportunity to produce in a top-ten fantasy wide receiver matchup against Tampa Bay’s secondary. The Bucs could sit the majority of its starters due to clinching the division, so London gains even more appeal.

Tight Ends

DraftKings

Tyler Higbee (TE – Rams): $4,400
Baker Mayfield’s (QB – Rams) arrival in the Rams’ offense has renewed Tyler Higbee’s appeal in DFS lineups. The seventh-year tight end has scored three touchdowns in his past three games, but he came crashing down to mediocrity in Week 17 against the Chargers. Seattle is the best fantasy tight-end matchup, so I’m going to invest in Higbee bouncing back in a potential upset spot against the Seahawks.

Honorable Mention: Pat Freiermuth (TE – Steelers) ($3,800) doesn’t necessarily score touchdowns but he moves the chains and has rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett’s (QB – Steelers) trust. At $3.8K on DraftKings, the second-year tight end has appeal as a floor prospect against the Cleveland Browns.

FanDuel

George Kittle (TE – 49ers): $7,600
George Kittle exploded for four receptions, 84 yards, and two touchdowns in his first matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. He’ll get one more opportunity to rack up production against the Cardinals in Santa Clara during Week 18, so with Kittle quickly becoming one of Brock Purdy’s (QB – 49ers) favorite targets, I’m willing to pay significant capital to acquire his upside in FanDuel lineups.

Honorable Mention: Tyler Conklin (TE – Jets) ($5,100) was the only player on the Jets’ offense with relevant production in Week 17. Conklin caught all six of his targets for 80 yards and Mike White is back under center, which means Conklin should draw another double-digit floor outing in a top-three matchup against Miami in Week 18.

Defense/Special Teams

DraftKings

Bills D/ST: $3,800
Not much needs to be said about the motivation that Buffalo’s defense will play with in honor of Damar Hamlin on Sunday at home in Orchard Park. New England is in a must-win scenario but its offense is one-dimensional and tends to sputter, so give me one of the best defensive units in the league playing with added motivation in Week 18.

Honorable Mention: Colts D/ST ($3,100) isn’t a pretty play but there’s no way Houston wants to win and sacrifice its number one overall draft pick in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. Plus, interim head coach Jeff Saturday is playing for a potential contract extension next year, so expect a gritty Colts defense to show up and play hard.

FanDuel

Cowboys D/ST: $4,700
Dallas is another defense that has sputtered due to injuries late in the season. The Cowboys will face the Washington Commanders’ carousel quarterback situation and they should take advantage of the instability and lack of continuity, especially with the one-seed still in play, becoming a value add at $4.7K on FanDuel.

Honorable Mention: Chargers D/ST ($4,100) will face Denver’s offense, which, to be fair, has played better football lately. Quietly, the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense has played great in December, holding its last four opponents to 17 or fewer points.