This is one of the most challenging weeks of the season. What’s interesting is that cash game players will be very popular across the board because there will be players in unique spots. This is the only week all year where numerous teams are resting players, and knowing who will sit is as important as anything. We don’t have all that information right now, but we’ll try our best to project who will fill in for some of the resting players. That’ll be a huge theme, so let’s go ahead and get into it!
NFL Week 18 DFS Cash Game Lineup Advice & Picks
The players below are ones I’m looking at for cash game considerations for Week 18:
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Dak Prescott (QB – DAL): $8,000 at WAS
Everyone and their mother will use Dak as their quarterback in cash games. This MVP candidate has been the leading scorer in fantasy over the last two months with a 25-point average, and he’s one of the only players with something on the line. That would make him an enticing option against anyone, but Washington is a wonderful matchup. The Commanders have been allowing the second-most passing yards and fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year.
Geno Smith (QB – SEA): $6,100 at ARI
It’s hard to believe Geno is this cheap. He’s struggled at times this season, but Smith has scored at least 17 DraftKings points in three straight games. He has a 23-point average in that span and should annihilate this Arizona secondary. The Cardinals are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing signal-callers this season. It’s hard to find a $6K quarterback with so much in his favor!
FanDuel
Dak Prescott (QB – DAL): $8,700 at WAS
We rarely include the same player in both sections, but we need to do it for Dak. He’s going to be rostered by everyone because he’s the best quarterback in the best possible matchup. Don’t be the silly person who avoids Prescott in such a premier spot.
Jordan Love (QB – GB): $7,800 vs. CHI
Love looked incredible in primetime on Sunday night, and people will roster him after that showcase performance on national television. He’s shown glimpses of that all year, scoring at least 16 FanDuel points in all but four games. That’s what you’re looking for from a growing quarterback, especially in a matchup like this. Chicago sits 21st in passing yards allowed, and Love dropped 23 FD points in their one matchup despite attempting just 27 passes.
Running Backs
DraftKings
Aaron Jones (RB – GB): $6,300 vs. CHI
It’s been a disappointing season for Jones, but he’s been incredible over the last two weeks. He had at least 20 carries and 120 yards in both of those games, but we haven’t seen him do much in the passing game. This was one of the best pass-catching backs in the NFL over the last five years, and he should return to form soon. We also love that Green Bay is clearly riding him to the finish line, since they’re one of the few teams playing for something. The matchup is the icing on the cake, since the Bears hold a 25th OPRK against opposing backs.
Eli Mitchell (RB – SF): $5,800 vs. LAR
It’s hard to know what to expect from the 49ers, but they’ve already ruled out Christian McCaffrey. Mitchell may sit too, or he could be the feature back. Most DFS managers know that, but they still want exposure to him since C-Mac was the best rusher in the NFL for this elite offense. We’ve also seen Mitchell play at an $8K-level in a full-time role in the past, and he’ll be rostered by everyone if we hear that he’s starting.
FanDuel
Rachaad White (RB – TB): $7,700 at CAR
It’s hard to believe that White is 10th in salary on FanDuel with how he’s been playing. The Buccaneers back has scored at least 12 FD points in 10 of his last 11 games. Only a few players in the NFL can say that, and he should be fed since Tampa is one of the teams playing for their playoff hopes. That means he won’t come off the field, which is terrific since Carolina allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.
Alvin Kamara (RB – NOS): $7,200 vs. ATL
This pricing surprised me more than any other. Kamara has struggled over the past few weeks, but he was the second-best back in the NFL before that poor run. It’s hard to believe that Kamara ranks 17th in salary at the running back position. You’re not going to find many players with this sort of ceiling in this price range, especially against an Atlanta team that posts a 22nd OPRK against opposing rushers.
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL): $9,300 at WAS
This might be the best opportunity we’ve seen all season. Lamb has been the best receiver in the NFL over the last two months, scoring at least 17 DraftKings points in 11 straight games. He’s also showcased a 44-point upside in two of those, and that could be in play against Washington. They’re surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing receivers, and you know Dallas will feed their horse in this must-win game.
Calvin Ridley (WR – JAX): $6,500 at TEN
Ridley has been remarkable since Christian Kirk went down. That’s re-established Ridley as the top target in this offense, and he’s averaged over 10 targets per game since Kirk got injured. He’s also scored at least 22 DraftKings points three times in his last seven outings, and he should never be below $7K with that sort of upside. His best game of the year was against this 25th-ranked Tennessee secondary, where he scored 34 DK points in one of the performances of the year, and that could be on tap again this week.
FanDuel
CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL): $10,000 at WAS
Nothing needs to be said here. Lamb is the best wide receiver in the NFL right now, and he gets one of the best matchups. Almost everyone in cash games will be stacking Lamb with Prescott, and you should too!
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR – DET): $8,800 vs. MIN
The Lions are also one of the top teams playing for something, and they will feed their top receiver in this must-win game. They’ve been doing that all season anyway, with St. Brown ranked third at the position with 17 FanDuel points per game. He’s also gotten at least 19 FD points in three consecutive outings, averaging over 10 targets per game in that span. That’s terrifying for the Vikings because St. Brown scored 22 FD points against them just two weeks ago. The Vikings also post a 24th OPRK against opposing wideouts.
Tight Ends
DraftKings
Evan Engram (TE – JAX): $5,400 at TEN
With Trevor Lawrence likely returning here, we want to use Engram. This guy has been a beast no matter who’s behind center, averaging 9.3 targets across his last six games. His fantasy production has been even better, averaging 18.6 DraftKings points across his last five fixtures. That’s absurd from such an affordable player, and it’s no surprise since he’s being asked to do more in the absence of Kirk.
FanDuel
Jake Ferguson (TE – DAL): $6,000 at WAS
This is one of the few teams that we know will come out and play hard, making Ferguson an easy option for DFS. This has been Prescott’s second-favorite target for most of the season, and Ferguson has averaged 10 FanDuel points per game across his last 10 outings. That’s not a massive total, but it’s great for a player sitting ninth in salary at the weakest position in DFS. The matchup is the best part, because Washington is surrendering the second-most passing yards in the NFL.
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
New England Patriots D/ST: $3,600 vs. NYJ
Why is New England so undervalued? This has been one of the best defenses in the NFL, surrendering the sixth-fewest fantasy points in the league. They’ve been even better in fantasy, averaging 10.3 DK points per game across their last three fixtures. They’ve done that damage against teams like Buffalo and Kansas City, and the New York Jets are the best matchup in the NFL. They’re allowing the most fantasy points to opposing D/STs, with New England entering this game as a 2.5-point favorite in a game with a 30.5-point total!
FanDuel
Dallas Cowboys D/ST: $5,000 at WAS
Everyone is going to use the Cowboys. They’re one of the only teams playing for something, and they should go off against Washington. The Commanders are allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing D/STs. That’s scary since Dallas is the highest-scoring defense in the league, averaging over 10 DK points per game. When they played in Week 12, Dallas had 16 fantasy points!
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
