It’s time for Week 18 in the National Football League, or the regular-season finale in the first weekend of the new year.
If your fantasy league determines a champion in Week 18, well, my condolences. Some of the contenders will be resting key personnel, and some of the lesser teams have injury issues, and will not be pushing stars to play in meaningless games. As such, it’s a tricky weekend for fantasy footballers.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@danieledobish), or check out our start/bench list for Week 18:
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs: The Broncos are a double-digit favorite over the Chiefs, as the two-time defending Super Bowl champions are expected to rest key personnel. Nix and the Broncos should have a little less resistance than usual. Plus, Denver is still in the mix for a postseason spot, so Nix and the passing game will be all gas and no brakes in the regular-season finale.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons: Earlier in the season, Young was benched in favor of QB Andy Dalton. Young watched and learned for a few weeks before seizing his starting role back. He has looked like a brand new player with a lot of confidence, and Young might have had the “b-word” label placed on him prematurely. Young will be facing a Falcons defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing signal callers.
Sit ‘Em
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears: The Bears allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. While the Packers will be jockeying for playoff seeding with plenty to play for, it’s a tough matchup. Love completed 13 of 17 passes for 261 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, adding one rushing TD in the first meeting in Chicago Nov. 17. It’s going to be tough sledding all afternoon for Love and this Packers teammates.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans: The Texans are locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs. While head coach DeMeco Ryans said this week that he has no plans to sit anybody, it seems rather specious. Stroud and the Texans have nothing to play for, and there is little reason to risk a potential injury to Stroud or other key personnel with nothing really left the play for until the wild-card round.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: The Cardinals saw James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson (ankle) land on the Reserve/Injured list, so it’s between Carter and DeeJay Dallas to handle the backfield chores against the Niners. The former UNC Tar Heel racked up 70 rushing yards on 13 carries, or 5.4 yards per tote, in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Rams. He also had 81 total scrimmage yards. The Niners allow the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tailbacks, so Carter could be a surprising contributor in seasonal leagues and DFS play.
Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills: Surprisingly, the Bills allow the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. While Rhamondre Stevenson had one of his best performances of the second half of the season in Buffalo in Week 16, posting 60 rushing yards and a touchdown, he also lost a fumble. In Week 17 against the Chargers, Stevenson had just two carries for one yard, while Gibson shined with 63 yards on 12 carries. Gibson has back-to-back games with 10 or more carries for the first time this season.
Sit ‘Em
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans: Pollard went over 1,000 rushing yards last week in Indianapolis, although he was good for just 35 rushing yards and 40 total scrimmage yards. The eight carries tied a season low for Pollard. In the first meeting in Houston, Pollard had 119 yards and a score on 24 rushing attempts. While that’s all well and good, the Texans allow the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles: The Giants have nothing to play for in the regular-season finale, but Tracy continues to audition for a big role in 2025. He had 59 rushing yards and 73 total scrimmage yards, his best rushing performance since Nov. 10 against the lowly Carolina Panthers in Munich. The Eagles allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. It should by tough sledding for Tracy, even against some backups potentially.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions: The first of our two starting wideouts come from the Detroit-Minnesota game. The emerging wideout managed 66 receiving yards on three grabs in the first meeting in the Twin Cities. He has managed a score in two straight, while finding the end zone five times in the past four outings. As a PPR fantasy option, Addison has been a ball of fire, but he is a strong start in standard play, too.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings: The former standout from the University of Alabama is starting to really shine. He had scored in three consecutive games, posting three receiving scores and one rushing touchdown. Williams has been on fire since returning from a two-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances police. He also has five or more receptions in five of the past six contests.
Sit ‘Em
Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders: The Bolts are under the dome at Allegiant Stadium to battle the Silver and Black. “Q-Money” is facing a surprisingly stout Raiders pass defense allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points. Not only does Johnston have to deal with the Raiders defense, but he is also battling for targets behind rookie Ladd McConkey. Johnston has been respectable with five or more receptions for 45 or more yards in three of the past four outings.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears: Reed has been extremely erratic, and that’s not exactly what you want when the fantasy season matters most. He had just a single reception for six yards on four targets last week in Minnesota, and he has 34 or fewer receiving yards in six of the past seven games. The Bears are stingy in the pass game, allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. He has a touchdown in the first meeting with Chicago, but he was limited to two catches and 23 yards.
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys: The veteran has had quite the resurgence this season, and he is coming off a giant showing against Atlanta last Sunday with six grabs for 72 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Ertz has found the end zone five times in the past six games, including a game with six grabs for 38 yards and score against the Cowboys at Northwest Stadium in Week 12. He can be trusted as a low-end TE1 in fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals have had a difficult time holding down opposing tight ends, allowing the most fantasy points in 2024. The Bengals have allowed 103 receptions for 1,029 yards and nine scores to tight ends this season, including six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown on seven targets in Week 13 in Cincinnati. Freiermuth had a season-high seven receptions against the Chiefs on Christmas Day.
Sit ‘Em
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders: The Cowboys appear to be leaning toward a two-QB system for Week 18, as Cooper Rush is expected to give way to Trey Lance for some snaps in the finale. That’s not great for consistency on offense, and it’s going to be tough for Ferguson to establish rapport with anyone. He missed the first matchup with Washington due to injury.
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: The Arizona offense might be a little disjointed with the team down to its third tailback. In what is a meaningless game between two squads eliminated from the postseason, don’t expect McBride to do much. The Niners defense allows the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends. McBride had an enormous Week 17 showing on the road against the Rams, reeling in 12 receptions for 123 yards and a score on 16 targets, but the 49ers should knock him down a peg.
