Playing for an NFL fantasy football championship in Week 18? Setting your lineups for championship week can be stressful, but we’re here to make those Start 'Em/Sit 'Em decisions a little easier. But, seriously, petition your commissioner to move your championship to Week 17, as the final week of the season often allows the top players to sit out.
Start 'Em
- QB: Jordan Love
- RB: James Conner
- WR: DJ Moore
- TE: Jake Ferguson
Sit 'Em
- QB: Tua Tagovailoa
- RB: Brian Robinson Jr.
- WR: Puka Nacua
- TE: Kyle Pitts
Here’s our Week 18 NFL Start 'Em/Sit ‘Em advice.
START
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers:
Love lit up the Minnesota Vikings last week, tossing for 256 yards and three touchdowns and running in a fourth score.
Bo Melton has 4.34 speed and Jordan Love is giving him a chance🤝💥 pic.twitter.com/87zZXxRtcQ
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) January 1, 2024
The first-year starter has scored at least 20 fantasy points in seven of his past eight contests, and went off for 29 points in Week 1 against Chicago. Fire up Love as a certified QB1 in Week 18.
START
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals:
"The Terminator" has turned his game up a notch of late, totalling at least 17.9 fantasy points in each of his past four games. His name is Conner, and he's been tearing up the league over the past month. Start him if you want to win.
What a throw and catch by Kyler/James Conner!!
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 31, 2023
MAGIC!pic.twitter.com/Hv3sKyIn3D https://t.co/rIDPB1wqJq
Conner has seen a ton of volume, averaging 21.6 total touches and 109.8 total yards in the last five weeks. He's a great play against a Seahawks defense giving up the most rushing yards per game and third-highest yards before contact since the beginning of December. Start James Conner, and remember "Cyborgs don't feel pain."
SIT
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins:
This is simply a matchup play. Tagovailoa will be without both Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football.
Plus, the Bills have held opposing passers to under 17 fantasy points in four straight games, and allowed just 12.2 PPR points a game to opposing quarterbacks since Week 13. Temper your expectations for Tua in a brutal rivalry game. Look elsewhere for points in your fantasy football championship.
START
DJ Moore, Chicago Bears:
Moore has averaged nearly 18 fantasy points per game in games with Justin Fields this season.
JUSTIN FIELDS TO DJ MOORE FOR THE TOUCHDOWN ON 4TH AND 13!!!pic.twitter.com/AI8F5I4IMe
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 10, 2023
He walks in to a fantastic matchup against a Packers defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers over the past 6 weeks. Moore's scored over 22 fantasy points in five of his last seven games. He's a must start in Week 18.
SIT
Brian Robinson Jr, Washington Commanders:
Robinson has failed to score more than 11.6 fantasy points over the past three weeks. He's finished outside the top-25 running backs in that span and needs to be kept on your bench in championship week.
While the Cowboys have been more susceptible to running backs of late, Robinson scored just 8.4 points against them in Week 12. Dallas' front seven will be ready to tee off in a must-win contest for the Cowboys. Bench the Alabama product in a game where the Commanders should trail from the jump.
SIT
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams:
Puka Nacua has been a fantasy league winner, lighting the NFL world on fire.
The fifth-round pick out of BYU needs just four catches and 29 yards to break the rookie receiving records. With Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp on the bench, Puka will play long enough to break the records, but will likely be pulled there after. Start Puka Nacua is just too risky in Week 18, sit him.
START
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys:
With six targets in each of his past five games, Jake Ferguson has been a consistent presence in the Dallas Cowboys passing attack.
JAKE FERGUSON FOR THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/JE8yX1TfBl
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) December 1, 2023
He's scored at least seven fantasy points in each of the last five weeks, and is a safe fantasy play in Week 18. Expect Ferguson to get a heavy dose of targets in favorable matchup against the Washington Commanders.
SIT
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons:
The most mercurial fantasy football player in recent history, Kyle Pitts is a must-sit heading into Week 18. Pitts finished with just one catch last week, and now has a terrible matchup against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have held opposing tight ends to under 8 fantasy points in five of the last six weeks.
Arthur Smith's offensive gameplan remains a perplexing mystery. Pitts saw only two targets against the Saints way back in Week 12, and is impossible to trust in your fantasy championship game. Sit him.
