This is the best week to play GPPs. We say that because it’s the wildest slate of the season. This is the only time we know players will be rested, but it’s still unclear who that will be. That always opens up many GPP options, and it’ll be interesting to see who plays. Even with the uncertainty, we’ll try our best!
NFL Week 18 DFS GPP Lineup Advice & Picks
The players below are ones I’m looking at for GPP considerations for Week 18:
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Tyrod Taylor (QB – NYG): $5,300 vs. PHI
I’ve always been a big fan of Tyrod’s game, and it’s about time that the Giants started him. The veteran scored 23 DraftKings points filling in last week, and we’ve seen the dual-threat quarterback play like that in the past. The main reason we believe he can duplicate that sort of game is this matchup; Philly is surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. It’s also a game where the Giants are expected to play catch-up, which only adds to Taylor’s intrigue.
Sam Darnold (QB – SF): $5,200 vs. LAR
Here we are with the Week 18 shenanigans. San Fran is the most likely team to sit players, and that’ll likely mean Darnold as their starting quarterback. This guy has been a risky DFS option in the past, but it’s possible he found something with this new team. The price is what really makes him an enticing GPP option though, because it’s hard to find a starting quarterback with this sort of potential at just over $5,000.
FanDuel
Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAX): $7,500 at TEN
T-Law has been inconsistent all season, but he’s found some form recently. The former top pick has at least 20 FanDuel points in four of his last six games while scoring at least 25 FD points in three of those! That’s the stud we’ve been waiting to see, and that tremendous form should continue against Tennessee. The Titans own a 21st OPRK against opposing signal-callers, with Lawrence himself collecting 32 FD points against them just last month.
Derek Carr (QB – NOS): $6,800 vs. ATL
Carr has been an underrated DFS option throughout the last two months. The Saints signal-caller has scored at least 16 FanDuel points in nine of his previous 12 outings. That’s quite the total from a sub-$7K player, and we’ve seen Carr play like this throughout his career. The matchup with Atlanta is fantastic too, as they’ve been allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Running Backs
DraftKings
Tony Pollard (RB – DAL): $6,500 at WAS
Nobody will want to use Pollard after what we’ve seen this season, but this is one of the few teams playing for something. That means he should be guaranteed his usual 15 carries and 3 to 5 targets. That sort of role makes him an excellent option at just $6,500 because Dallas is projected to score nearly 28 points against a 31st-ranked Commanders defense. In their one matchup earlier in the year, Pollard totaled 22 DraftKings points!
Jordan Mason (RB – SF): $4,600 vs. LAR
No one knows what the 49ers will do, but we do know Christian McCaffrey will sit. Most people will assume that Eli Mitchell will get all the work, but Mason is a great contrary play if he becomes the guy. This talented back has averaged 5.6 yards per carry throughout his career and should be $3,000 more if he’s going to be the every-down back for San Fran in this meaningless game.
FanDuel
Khalil Herbert (RB – CHI) : $7,000 at GB
This Bears backfield has been challenging to figure out, but Herbert has stolen this job in the final month of the season. Herbert had 18 and 20 carries in his two most recent outings, scoring 19 and 20 FD points in those games. We know this guy can be a stud in a full workload, and we don’t mind that the Packers have a 26th OPRK against opposing rushers.
Pierre Strong (RB – CLE): $4,600 at CIN
Here we are with another punt play. Kareem Hunt is the backup running back in Cleveland, but he’s just as valuable as Jerome Ford. They might have both of those guys resting, leaving Strong as the only rusher left. If you could get double-digit carries from a $4,600 player, you can do whatever you want with the rest of your lineup. Strong also averages 5.5 yards per carry throughout his career and could be a massive find if he stumbles into a full workload.
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Greg Dortch (WR – SF): $4,600 vs. SEA
With Marquise Brown injured, Dortch has found himself as Kyler Murray‘s top target once again. We saw glimpses of that at the end of last season, and Dortch averaged 6.0 receptions on 8.3 targets over the final three games of last year. The same thing is happening this year, with Dortch scoring 15 and 13 DK points in his two most recent outings. Facing Seattle is a sensational matchup too, as they’re posting a 23rd OPRK against opposing wideouts.
Willie Snead (WR – SF): $3,000 vs. LAR
If you want to go with the risky San Fran stack, Snead might be the best option out there. He used to be a sneaky receiver for the Saints a few years ago, and he’s now one of the last receivers on this 49ers roster. If they choose to rest all their starters, Snead could be the slot guy and get double-digit targets playing nearly every snap. Finding a minimum-priced player worth rostering is nearly impossible, but Snead could be a sneaky punt play in this wild week.
FanDuel
Romeo Doubs (WR – GB): $6,100 vs. CHI
This Packers receiving group has been dismantled by injuries, with Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Dontayvion Wicks all nicked up. We’re unsure who will suit up, but Doubs is the only guy not on the injury report. He’s also been their most consistent option, averaging 11 FanDuel points per game. If he’s the only one of those guys that takes the field against this 27th-ranked Bears secondary, Doubs will be one of the best options on the slate since Green Bay is actually playing for something.
David Bell (WR – CLE): $5,000 at CIN
Cleveland is one of the teams likely to rest players, which could put Bell in a prominent role. This guy saw a career-high 58% snap share last week with Amari Cooper out, and he might be out there on every down if the Browns are resting starters. He’s the most likely candidate to take over as the top guy, and getting that sort of role from a $5K player is remarkable.
Tight Ends
DraftKings
Taysom Hill (TE – NOS): $4,600 vs. ATL
Hill is always a great GPP option because of his sky-high ceiling. No other tight end could get double-digit carries, and Hill scored at least 11 DraftKings points in six of his last 11 games. He also had some duds in that span, but we love a versatile player like this in GPP tournaments. The matchup with Atlanta is terrific too, as they’re allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. In their matchup earlier this year, Hill had seven carries and a season-high 55 receiving yards!
FanDuel
Tucker Kraft (TE – GB): $5,300 vs. CHI
The Packers have seen a starting receiver go down every week, which has allowed this rookie to thrive. Kraft has gotten at least four catches and 48 receiving yards in four straight fixtures. Not many tight ends can match that floor, with Tucker averaging 10 points per game in that span. That’s incredible from a player outside the top 12 in terms of salary, especially since Chicago sits 20th in total defense this year.
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
Los Angeles Rams D/ST: $2,600 at SF
This sounds risky on the surface, but this could be a sneaky D/ST in a GPP, especially because San Francisco might rest all of their starters. It looks like a terrifying matchup, but facing a turnover machine like Sam Darnold could lead to a big day for this Rams defense. Spending just $2,600 on a D/ST allows you to do whatever you want with your lineup, and it’s worth the risk with Darnold behind center.
FanDuel
Las Vegas Raiders D/ST: $3,700 vs. DEN
Vegas is too cheap. This has been a top 5 D/ST over the last two months, and they’re ranked eighth in total defense on the year. The Raiders are also fifth in fantasy points scored and should never be below $4K, no matter who they play. Getting to face Denver without Russell Wilson only adds to their intrigue, because the Raiders are a 2.5-point favorite in a game with a 37.5-point total.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
