The Primer: Week 18 Edition (2026 Fantasy Football)

Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals

• CIN -7.5, O/U 44.5
• Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals Player Prop Bets via BettingPros

Week 18 Motivation: Both of these teams have been eliminated from playoff contention. I expect them to both play their starters throughout this game as they have been doing.

Browns Players & Weekly Rankings

Bengals Players & Weekly Rankings

Must-Start

These are no-brainer MUST starts.

• Joe Burrow
• Chase Brown
• Ja’Marr Chase
• Tee Higgins
• Harold Fannin Jr.*

*Harold Fannin is dealing with a groin injury. He opened this week with a DNP. I’ll update his status on Friday.*

Strong Starts

Here are players that should be in starting consideration for most fantasy teams.

N/A

Fantasy Football Flex & Deep Plays to Consider

Let’s fill out those flex spots.

Shedeur Sanders (QB)

• Since Week 12 as Cleveland’s starter:
  • Only one week higher than QB18 in weekly scoring
  • Among 29 qualifying quarterbacks:
    • 18th in passing yards per game
    • 16th in yards per attempt
    • 27th in catchable target rate
    • 20th in hero throw rate
• Since Week 13, Cincy’s pass defense:
  • Fifth-most yards attempt
  • 15th in passing touchdowns (tied)
  • 15th in passer rating
• Week 18 final thought: Sanders is a QB2 with QB1 upside if this game turns into a shootout.

Dylan Sampson (RB)

• Last week for Sampson:
  • 36% of the snaps
  • 14 touches and 27 total yards
  • 25% route share
  • All three of the team’s red zone rushing attempts
• Since Week 13, Cincy’s run defense:
  • 11th-most rushing yards per game
  • Highest explosive run rate
  • Fourth-most yards after contact per attempt and yards before contact per attempt
• Week 18 final thought: Sampson is a low-end flex play/RB3.

Raheim Sanders (RB)

• Last week for Sanders:
  • 42% snap share
  • Nine touches and 31 total yards
  • 32.1% route share (two targets)
  • Zero red zone rushing attempts
• Since Week 13, Cincy’s run defense:
  • 11th-most rushing yards per game
  • Highest explosive run rate
  • Fourth-most yards after contact per attempt and yards before contact per attempt
• Week 18 final thought: Sanders is a low-end touchdown-dependent flex play (deep league only).

Concerning Starts & Players to Fade

Players in consideration for lineups, but temper your expectations this week.

Jerry Jeudy (WR)

• Since Week 12 with Shedeur Sanders under center:
  • Only two games with double-digit PPR points
  • Four weeks as WR59 or lower in weekly scoring
  • 15.3% target share
  • 38.2 receiving yards per game (1.29 YPRR)
  • 20.2% first-read share
  • Zero red zone targets and five deep targets
• Since Week 13, Cincy against perimeter wide receivers:
  • Ninth-fewest PPR points per target
  • Seventh-lowest passer rating when targeted
• Week 18 final thought: Jeudy is a WR4 with WR2/3 upside if this game turns into a shootout.

CAR vs. TB | SEA vs. SF | TEN vs. JAC | IND vs. HOU | CLE vs. CIN | NO vs. ATL | GB vs. MIN | DAL vs. NYG | DET vs. CHI | NYJ vs. BUF | LAC vs. DEN | MIA vs. NE | ARI vs. LAR | WAS vs. PHI | KC vs. LV | BAL vs. PIT

New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons

• ATL -3, O/U 45
• New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons Player Prop Bets via BettingPros

Week 18 Motivation: Both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention. I expect both squads to play their players in full time capacities as they have been doing.

Saints Players & Weekly Rankings

Falcons Players & Weekly Rankings

Must-Start

These are no-brainer MUST starts.

• Bijan Robinson
• Drake London
• Kyle Pitts

Strong Starts

Here are players that should be in starting consideration for most fantasy teams.

Audric Estime (RB)

• Last week:
  • RB13 (PPR)
  • 78.8% snap rate
  • 64.5% route share (3.7% target share)
  • Estime had the team’s only red zone rushing attempt
  • Finished with 15 touches and 98 total yards
• Since Week 13, Atlanta run defense:
  • Eighth-highest explosive run rate
  • Third-highest missed tackle rate
  • Ninth-highest yards after contact per attempt
• Week 18 final thought: Estime is an RB2/3 that could easily be a solid RB2 if he can get in the endzone.

Juwan Johnson (TE)

• Since Week 9 (with Tyler Shough starting):
  • TE8 in fantasy points per game
  • Among 44 qualifying tight ends:
    • 16th in target share (16.7%)
    • Fifth in receiving yards per game (52.1)
    • Eighth in YPRR (1.95)
    • 14th in first-read share (18.7%)
• Since Week 11, Atlanta vs. tight ends:
  • 14th-most yards per target allowed
  • 15th in fantasy points per game
• Week 18 final thought: Johnson is a rock-solid TE1.

Fantasy Football Flex & Deep Plays to Consider

Let’s fill out those flex spots.

Tyler Shough (QB)

• • Since Week 10:
    • QB12 in fantasy points per game
    • Among 33 qualifying quarterbacks
      • Second in CPOE
      • Eighth in passing yards per game
      • 16th in yards per attempt
      • Tenth in catchable target rate
  • Since Week 13, the Atlanta pass defense:
    • 18th in yards per attempt allowed
    • 17th in CPOE
    • 15th in passing touchdowns
    • Seventh-lowest pressure rate generated

• Week 18 final thought: Shough is downgraded to a solid QB2 with Chris Olave out for the season finale. Shough should still post a decent stat line, but losing Olave takes away his ceiling this week. 

Concerning Starts & Players to Fade

Players in consideration for lineups, but temper your expectations this week.

Kirk Cousins (QB)

• Since Week 12 (among 28 qualifying quarterbacks):
  • QB16 in fantasy points per game
  • 12th in passing yards per game
  • 23rd in CPOE and hero throw rate
  • 14th in fantasy points per dropback
• New Orleans’ pass defense since Week 13:
  • Sixth-fewest passing yards per game
  • Fifth-fewest yards per attempt
  • Second-lowest CPOE
• Week 18 final thought: Cousins is a lackluster QB2.

CAR vs. TB | SEA vs. SF | TEN vs. JAC | IND vs. HOU | CLE vs. CIN | NO vs. ATL | GB vs. MIN | DAL vs. NYG | DET vs. CHI | NYJ vs. BUF | LAC vs. DEN | MIA vs. NE | ARI vs. LAR | WAS vs. PHI | KC vs. LV | BAL vs. PIT

Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings

• MIN -7, O/U 35.5
• Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings Player Prop Bets via BettingPros

Week 18 Motivation: The Packers are locked in to No. 7 seed. They will be resting their starters and mailing in Week 18. The Vikings have been out of playoff contention. They will likely play their starters for most of the game.

Packers Players & Weekly Rankings

Vikings Players & Weekly Rankings

Must-Start

These are no-brainer MUST starts.

N/A

Strong Starts

Here are players that should be in starting consideration for most fantasy teams.

Aaron Jones (RB)

• • Since Week 14:
    • 18.3 touches and 74.3 total yards per game
    • RB29 in fantasy points per game
    • 4.6% explosive run rate and 14% missed tackle rate
  • Since Week 13, the Green Bay run defense:
    • Second-most rushing yards per game allowed
    • Sixth-highest rushing success rate allowed
    • Eighth-most yards before contact per attempt

• Week 18 final thought: Jones is a volume-based RB2 with a nice matchup. He could be an RB1 this week.

Fantasy Football Flex & Deep Plays to Consider

Let’s fill out those flex spots.

N/A

Concerning Starts & Players to Fade

Players in consideration for lineups, but temper your expectations this week.

J.J. McCarthy (QB)

McCarthy’s status (hand) for Week 18 is up in the air. I’ll update his outlook on Friday.

Justin Jefferson (WR)

Justin Jefferson‘s outlook and status for Week 18 hinge on JJ McCarthy’s health. If we get another start from Max Brosmer, Jefferson isn’t startable in Week 18. I’ll update his outlook on Friday, once we have more news about McCarthy.

*The Packers essentially have nothing to play for this week. They could play their starters 1-2 series and then pull them or sit them all. I can’t trust anyone in this offense for Week 18. I’ll continue to update the situation as we get more news, but right now I can’t trust anyone on Green Bay’s roster.*

CAR vs. TB | SEA vs. SF | TEN vs. JAC | IND vs. HOU | CLE vs. CIN | NO vs. ATL | GB vs. MIN | DAL vs. NYG | DET vs. CHI | NYJ vs. BUF | LAC vs. DEN | MIA vs. NE | ARI vs. LAR | WAS vs. PHI | KC vs. LV | BAL vs. PIT

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

• DAL -3.5, O/U 51.5
• Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants Player Prop Bets via BettingPros

Week 18 Motivation: Dallas and New York are both eliminated from playoff contention. I expect all of their starters to be full gos this week.

Cowboys Players & Weekly Rankings

Giants Players & Weekly Rankings

Must-Start

These are no-brainer MUST starts.

• Dak Prescott
• Javonte Williams
• CeeDee Lamb
• George Pickens

Strong Starts

Here are players that should be in starting consideration for most fantasy teams.

Jaxson Dart (QB)

• Since Week 4:
  • QB8 in fantasy points per game
  • 7.2 rushing attempts and 41.4 rushing yards per game (nine rushing tds)
  • Among 42 qualifying quarterbacks;
    • 30th in yards per attempt
    • 28th in passing yards per game
    • 17th in catchable target rate
    • Ninth in hero throw rate
• Dallas pass defense since Week 13:
  • Sixth-most passing yards per game
  • The highest yards per attempt
  • 2nd-highest CPOE and passer rating

• Week 18 final thought: Dart is a strong QB1.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB)

• Since Week 15:
  • 17 touches and 77.4 total yards per game
  • RB21 in fantasy points per game
  • 69.2% of the running back red zone rushing attempts
• Dallas run defense since Week 13:
  • Third-highest explosive run rate
  • 10th-highest missed tackle rate
  • Ninth-most yards before contact per attempt
• Week 18 final thought: Tracey is a volume-based RB2 with RB1 upside this week.

Wan’Dale Robinson (WR)

• Since Week 4: WR14 in fantasy points per game (PPR)
  • In his 11 games played in that span with Dart:
    • 28.7% target share
    • 54.5 receiving yards per game (1.67 YPRR)
    • 32.1% first-read share
    • 10 RZ targets and 10 deep targets
• Since Week 13, Dallas vs. slot receivers:
  • Sixth-most PPR points per target
  • Ninth-most receiving yards per game
• Week 18 final thought: Robinson is a WR2 with WR1 upside.

Fantasy Football Flex & Deep Plays to Consider

Let’s fill out those flex spots.

Darius Slayton (WR)

• Since Week 4 (with Jaxson Dart under center)
  • 17.1% target share
  • 43.3 receiving yards per game (1.72 YPRR)
  • 15.1 aDOT (12 deep targets)
  • 21.1% first-read share
• Since Week 13, Dallas pass defense:
  • The most PPR points per target allowed to perimeter wide receivers
  • Seventh-highest deep ball completion rate
  • Eighth-most deep passing yards per game allowed
• Week 18 final thought: Slayton is a WR3/4 with WR2 upside if Dart looks for him deep this week.

Concerning Starts & Players to Fade

Players in consideration for lineups, but temper your expectations this week.

Jake Ferguson (TE)

Jake Ferguson opened this week with a DNP (calf). I’ll update his status on Friday, but he could easily miss Week 18.

Theo Johnson (TE)

Theo Johnson missed Wednesday’s practice (illness). I’ll update his outlook for Week 18 on Friday.

CAR vs. TB | SEA vs. SF | TEN vs. JAC | IND vs. HOU | CLE vs. CIN | NO vs. ATL | GB vs. MIN | DAL vs. NYG | DET vs. CHI | NYJ vs. BUF | LAC vs. DEN | MIA vs. NE | ARI vs. LAR | WAS vs. PHI | KC vs. LV | BAL vs. PIT