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- Start-Sit Week 18 QB
- Start-Sit Week 18 RB
- Start-Sit Week 18 WR
- Start-Sit Week 18 TE
- Start-Sit Week 18 D/ST
Welcome to the Week 18 edition of fantasy football starts and sits from AllSportsPeople.
"The Decider" is your one-stop shop for fantasy start/sit lineup advice in 2025 -- a unique mashup of rankings and matchup breakdowns to help you make those tough decisions on whom to play and not to play:
- There are several high-drafted fantasy players who should be in lineups every week when they're active. Those are the "regular starts."
- For those borderline options with favorable matchups, they are "stronger starts," while the recommended sits are "weaker starts."
- We're also basing our advice on 12-team, half-point PPR to split the difference between shallow and deep leagues and full-PPR and standard formats.
Going beyond the redraft league starts and sits, "The Decider" also includes some DFS picks for different styles of daily fantasy sports games on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Keep scrolling for how to put the best fantasy football lineups on "the field" for your critical Week 18 game with tips on starts and sits this week.
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Fantasy Football Week 18 Start 'Em: Quarterbacks
Must-start Week 18 QBs
- Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (vs. TEN)
- Jaxson Dart, Giants (vs. DAL)
- Drake Maye, Patriots (vs. MIA)
- Dak Prescott, Cowboys (at NYG)
- Joe Burrow, Bengals (vs. CLE)
- Brock Purdy, 49ers (vs. SEA)
- Jared Goff, Lions (at CHI)
Strong Week 18 QB starts
8. Caleb Williams, Bears (vs. DET): He should play enough in a smash spot with something on the line and put up some pleasing passing opposite Goff.
9. C.J. Stroud, Texans (vs. IND): He has a high floor with 250 and 2 in the works at home.
10. Tyler Shough, Saints (at ATL): He should provide one more solid outing to close his strong rookie finish.
11. Sam Darnold, Seahawks (at SF): He will need to thrown often in a favorable road spota against his former team.
12. Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals (at LAR): The chucking will continue and he's bound to see some backups.
13. Shedeur Sanders, Browns (vs. CIN): The Bengals are giving even to rookies and he can deliver in a good spot for his top inside targets with Burrow putting up numbers.
DFS QB Week 18 pick
- Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (vs. TEN, $6,400 on DraftKings, $8,000 on FanDuel): He has surged into top-half QB1 production down the stretch and can provide one more strong game vs. The Titans' bad pass defense with the division still on the line.
Fantasy Football Week 18 Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks
Weaker Week 18 QB plays
14.Bo Nix, Broncos (vs. LAC): He's getting the resting Chargers, but he just might not need to do much to win before maybe getting a rest late.
15. Lamar Jackson, Ravens (if he plays. At PIT): The Steelers have his number, and this applies if Baltimore sticks with the proxy Tyler Huntley.
16. Cam Ward, Titans (at JAX): He's been putting up the consistent multiple TDs, but it's tough to trust him on the road against a swarming D.
17. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (vs. CAR): He's faded hard from his big 2024, and it won't suddenly shoot up at the end.
18. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (vs. BAL): You can't really feel about this without DK to have it his way.
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Fantasy Football Week 18 Start 'Em: Running backs
Must-start Week 18 RBs
- Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs. NO)
- James Cook, Bills (vs. NYJ)
- Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (vs. SEA)
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (at CHI)
- Saquon Barkley, Eagles (vs. WAS)
- Derrick Henry, Ravens (at PIT)
- Chase Brown, Bengals (vs. CLE)
- De'Von Achane, Dolphins (at NE)
- Breece Hall, Jets (at BUF)
- Kyren Williams, Rams (vs. ARI)
- Javonte Williams or Malik Davis, Cowboys (at NYG)
- Travis Etienne Jr. Jaguars (vs. TEN)
- Jonathan Taylor, Colts (at HOU)
- D'Andre Swift, Bears (vs. DET)
- RJ Harvey, Broncos (vs. LAC)
- Jaylen Warren, Steelers (vs. BAL) Rico Dowdle, Panthers (vs. SEA)
- TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots (vs. MIA)
Strong RB Week 18 plays
18. Rhamdondre Stevenson, Patriots (vs. MIA): The production as a 1-2 punch will continue for him and Henderson as the Dolphins have wilted against the run.
19. Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants (vs. DAL): He should bounce back with hot hand volume to explode on the Cowboys more so than Devin Singletary.
20. Kareem Hunt, Chiefs (vs. LV): It might be his swan song with his original franchise and the Raiders will be plenty giving.
21. Woody Marks, Texans (vs. IND): He ran well on the Chargers and will keep it at home against a reeling defense.
22. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (at SF): He's been their better all-around back all aseason and he can get it done with 50 and a TD on this D.
23. Aaron Jones, Vikings (vs. GB): He should compile well in a finishing revenge game vs. The Packers' second-stringers.
24. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders (vs. KC): It hsasn't been pretty at all as a rookie, but he will get fed often at home, where he plays better overall.
25. Kyle Monangai, Bears (vs. DET): Ben Johnson should keep exploiting the Lions sudden ground leak.
DFS RB Week 18 Picks
- Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs. NO, $8,700 on DraftKings, $9,600 on FanDuel): Robinson has an outside shot at the single-season scrimmage record after a monstrous game vs. The Rams and he'll keep rolling the Saints.
- Breece Hall, Jets (at BUF, $6,200 on DraftKings, $7,300 on FanDuel): Hall eclipsed 1,000 yards last week as a big bright spot in a dark season and he gets to attack a weak run D in his possible last game for New York.
Fantasy Football Week 18 Sit 'Em: Running backs
Weaker RB Week 18 plays
26. Bucky Irving, Buccaneers (vs. CAR): The offense isn't functioning well and there are too many situational touches going around between three backs.
27. Tony Pollard, Titans (at JAX): The Jaguars have been nasty against the run all season.
28. Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks (at SF): Other than long runs, he's had little real reliable value behind the oft-scoring Charbonnet.
29. Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers (vs. BAL): We're already uneasy about Warren after the Browns clunker, so no.
30. Michael Carter, Cardinals (vs. LAR): The Cardinals really need to draft a back to replace James Conner next season.
31. Dylan Sampson, Browns (at CIN): On paper the matchup is great but the usage is a big question mark in a young committee minus Quinshon Judkins.
32. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders (at PHI): The Eagles have tightened the clamps big time vs. The run of late.
33. David Montgomery, Lions (at CHI): He's faded hard as a second back with the team not running and scoring as well.
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Fantasy Football Week 18 Start 'Em: Wide receivers
Must-start Week 18 WRs
- Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals (vs. CLE)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (at SF)
- Nico Collins, Texans (vs. IND)
- CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (at NYG)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (at CHI)
- Puka Nacua, Rams (vs. ARI)
- George Pickens, Cowboys (at NYG)
- Chris Olave, Saints (at ATL)
- Mike Evans, Buccaneers (vs. CAR)
- A.J. Brown, Eagles (vs. WAS)
- Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants (vs. DAL)
- Tee Higgins, Bengals (vs. CLE)
- Jameson Williams, Lions (at CHI)
- Michael Wilson, Cardinals (at LAR)
- Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. GB)
- Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (at TB)
- Jakobi Meyers, Jaguars (vs. TEN)
- Zay Flowers, Ravens (at PIT)
- Terry McLaurin, Commanders (at PHI)
Strong WR Week 18 starts
20. Jauan Jennings, 49ers (vs. SEA): He's feeling it every week with Purdy as their No. 1.
21. Luther Burden III, Bears (at DET): He's looking like their new go-to guy and can destroy the Lions in the slot.
22. Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (at NE): He is their best option still with Quinn Ewers.
23. DeVonta Smith, Eagles (vs. WAS): He should stay hot in a tuneup vs. A weak secondary.
24. Courtland Sutton and 25. Troy Franklin, Broncos (va. LAC): They should finish well for Nix even if it's not huge for either.
26. D.J. Moore, Bears (vs. DET): He should be busy to make downfield plays against a reeling secondary to boost Burden.
27. Parker Washington, Jaguars (vs. TEN): He's hot again with Lawrence and the matchup is terrific overall in coverage.
DFS WR Week 18 picks
- Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. GB, $5,800 on DraftKings, $7,500 on FanDuel): Jefferson needs to have a big game to ensure his 1,000-yard streak and the Packers' reserve corners will get roasted on the road.
- Luther Burden III, Bears (vs. DET, $5,300 on DraftKings, $6,100 on FanDuel): Burden see his No. 21 comment above. He can deliver great ROI at these prices.
- Parker Washington, Jaguars (vs. TEN, $5,100 on DraftKings, $6,200 on FanDuel): See his No. 27 comment above. He can deliver great ROI at these prices.
Fantasy Football Week 18 Sit 'Em: Wide receivers
Weaker Week 18 WR plays
28. Ladd McConkey, Chargers (at DEN): It feels like a clunker for a resting team vs. A tough defense.
29. Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars (vs. TEN): Washington and Meyers will be in the spotlight more again.
30. Deebo Samuel, Commanders (at PHI): You can't extend too much with the way the Eagles' secondary is playing.
31. Jayden Reed, Packers (at MIN): This goes for all the Packers in a meaningless game.
32. Stefon Diggs, Patriots (vs. MIA): It's been a scary ugly week on the field so just avoid regardless of what the team does.
33. Quentin Johnston, Chargers (at DEN): He's in the same McConkey boat.
34. Khalil Shakir, Bills (vs. NYJ): He just isn't seeing the ball enough with Brandin Cooks now in the mix.
35. Chris Godwin, Buccaneers (vs. CAR): It's hard to feel anyone except Evans with Mayfield slumping.
36. Michael Pittman Jr. And 37. Alec Pierce, Colts (at HOU): Riley Leonard against the Texans defense on the road? No thanks.
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Fantasy Football Week 18 Start 'Em: Tight ends
Must-start Week 18 TEs
- Harold Fannin Jr., Browns (if he play, at CIN)
- Trey McBride, Cardinals (at LAR)
- George Kittle, 49ers (if he plays, vs. SEA)
- Dalton Schultz, Texans (vs IND)
- Colston Loveland, Bears (vs. DET)
- Kyle Pitts, Falcons (vs. NO)
- Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at LV)
Stronger Week 18 TE starts
8. Brenton Strange, Jaguars (vs. TEN): The Titans have been more giving of late to the position, so another reason not to like Thomas.
9. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys (if he plays, at NYG): He might go and if he does the matchup is too good to not take a shot after he scored last week.
10. Juwan Johnson, Saints (at ATL): He's been going off as their true No. 2 with Olave of late and that should continue.
11. Theo Johnson, Giants (vs. DAL): This is a start 'em if you've got 'em type of game.
12. Hunter Henry, Patriots (vs. MIA): He comes through in the red zone again.
13. Dallas Goedert, Eagles (vs. WAS): He comes through in the red zone again as well.
DFS TE Week 18 pick
- Juwan Johnson, Saints (at ATL, $4,200 on DraftKings, $5,300 on FanDuel): Johnson is very cheap for his recent usage and production and it opens up a lot for 3X-plus return at other positions.
Fantasy Football Week 18 Sit 'Em: Tight ends
Weaker TE Week 18 starts
14. Tyler Warren, Colts (at HOU): The rookie direction has been off since about midseason, sadly, so let's hope for a big 2026 rebound.
15. Michael Mayer, Raiders (vs. KC): He was huge last week but he didn't do anything without Bowers in the first matchup.
14. Oronde Gadsden II, Chargers (at DEN): Here's not feeling yet another Chargers start with no Justin Herbert.
15. A.J. Barner, Seahawks (at SF): The matchup says yes but the randomness says no.
16. Mark Andrews, Ravens (at PIT): In theory, he and Isiah Likely should be doing more but they are not.
17. T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (if he plays, vs. GB): He's hurt and not getting the looks with Josh Oliver also in the mix.
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Fantasy Football Week 18: Defense/special teams (D/ST) best starts
- Denver Broncos (vs. LAC)
- Houston Texans (vs. IND)
- New England Patriots (vs. MIA)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. TEN)
- Kansas City Chiefs (at LV)
- Buffalo Bills (vs. NYJ)
- Minnesota Vikings (vs. GB)
- Green Bay Packers (at MIN)
- Philadelphia Eagles (vs. WAS)
- Baltimore Ravens (at PIT)
- Cincinnati Bengals (vs. CLE)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. BAL)
- Chicago Bears (vs. DET)
- Cleveland Browns (at CIN)
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DFS Week 18 D/ST pick
- Minnesota Vikings (vs. GB, $3,000 on DraftKings, $3,500 on FanDuel): The Vikings have ripped the hearts out of the Cowboys and Lions of late and will do that same thing to the Packers backups at home.
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