Fantasy

1/7/23

10 min read

Wheeler's Week 18 Fantasy Football Rankings

By Kev Wheeler

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Below you’ll find my Week 18 fantasy football rankings for PPR/Half-PPR leagues. Included are my top-25 QB Rankings, top-50 RB Rankings, top-60 WR Rankings, and top-18 TE Rankings. I actually submit these rankings to two different rankings competitions, one with PPR scoring, the other Half-PPR. They are far more accurate for PPR simply because PPR scoring is less influenced by touchdowns.

Matchups matter much less this week, it’s more about motivation and snaps. Playoff implications and contract incentives will dictate opportunity in Week 18. The playoff implications are described at the end of this article. 

Quarterback

Patrick Mahomes would pass the all-time single-season passing record with 430 yards passing this week against the Raiders. Mahomes just wants to win to clinch the number 1 seed, but there’s no reason he can’t accomplish both. 

The Cowboys' total weekly points since getting Dak Prescott back from injury: 24, 49, 28, 40, 28, 54, 27, 34, 40, 27. 

The Las Vegas Raiders benched Derek Carr in favor of Jarrett Stidham to finish out the season, and Stidham responded with a 28-point (QB3) game. Davante Adams absolutely did NOT quiet-quit as I suspected.

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Running Back

Detroit Lions RB Jamaal Williams needs six yards rushing for 1,000 total rushing yards and a $250,000 bonus. 

https://twitter.com/Browns/status/1611512942360420353?s=20&t=b-5k7WbOQ2ICBytCofTotQ

Bengals RB Samaje Perine needs 124 yards rushing to get a $100,000 bonus.  

Derrick Henry has already hit a $500,000 incentive for 1,300 yards rushing. Henry did not play against the Cowboys in Week 17, but now Tennessee's playoff bid is on the line against the Jaguars.

Wide Receiver

Jaguars WR Zay Jones currently has 78 catches for 802 yards. He can receive $250,000 for 80 receptions, and another $250,000 for 90. He also can land $500,000 for getting to 900 yards receiving. 

Jacksonville WR Christian Kirk currently has 78 catches for 1,009 yards. He can earn $500,000 incentives at 80 and 90 catches, and 1,100 yards receiving.

Buffalo slot receiver Isaiah McKenzie needs two receptions to add $100,000 to his salary and 46 yards receiving to hit the next yardage threshold for another $100,000. 

Chargers WR DeAndre Carter needs four receptions for $100,000 and 55 yards receiving  for an additional $100,000. 

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CeeDee Lamb has had three straight 100+ receiving yard games. The Cowboys still have a slim shot at the 1 or 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, so they will probably start strong and get a solid lead before resting their major players. 

The Texans have allowed one WR1 (top-12) performance this year, and it came back in Week 1 (Michael Pittman Jr.). I doubt Pittman is able to repeat that feat this week, but it would be a fitting way to end this season.

Since Week 11, A.J. Brown is WR3 Overall and DeVonta Smith is WR5. Over this same stretch, they are averaging 37.8 PPG combined.

Tight End 

Bengals TE Hayden Hurst currently has 48 catches and 400 yards, he’s looking to earn $125,000 for 50 catches. His other bonuses seem way out of reach.

Rams TE Tyler Higbee is looking to earn an additional $125,000 with 13 more yards receiving to get to 600 total.

Chargers TE Gerald Everett needs five receptions to earn an additional $250,000.

When examining these rankings, consider that I am really only looking at positional ranks, not flex or overall rankings. When it comes to who you start in the flex, a lot will depend on your specific league rules and roster construction. If players are ranked within three spots of each other, the difference between them is negligible.

Good luck this week!

NFC Playoff Picture

The Philadelphia Eagles are looking to clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed, home-field advantage and a first-round bye against the playoff-bound New York Giants, who are locked in as the sixth seed. 

The San Francisco 49ers are currently the second seed, but could clinch the NFC top seed with a win and a Philadelphia loss. The Vikings are currently the No. 3 seed, and they can be the No. 2 seed with a win and 49ers loss.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinched the NFC South title after a comeback win over Panthers.

The Dallas Cowboys are looking at the fifth seed unless the Eagles and 49ers lose. They could then clinch the top seed with a victory in Washington. They could also clinch the NFC East division title and the second seed with a win and the Eagles losing. 

The Green Bay Packers clinch a playoff berth with a win. The Packers host the playoff hopeful Detroit Lions, who need a win and a Seattle Seahawks loss. The Seahawks need a victory and a Packers loss to clinch the last Wild Card spot. 

AFC Playoff Picture

The AFC playoffs are less clear after the NFL chose not to finish the Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals contest from Week 17, and a resolution passed by the owners that affects the sites of some potential matchups depending on who faces who.

Kansas City and the Buffalo Bills are still in contention for the number one overall seed. Kansas City will clinch the top seed with a win, while Buffalo needs to win and Kansas City to lose to clinch the top spot.

The Bills and Bengals have the same scenario for the two and three seeds. Buffalo clinches at least the second seed with a win, but a Bills loss and Bengals win gives Cincinnati the two and Buffalo the three.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans meet to determine who wins the AFC South and the fourth overall seed.

The Chargers and the Ravens are sitting at the fifth and sixth seeds respectively. New England holds the seventh seed, but the Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers and Jaguars (if they lose vs. Tennessee) all have pathways to taking it.

WATCH: 2022 Rookies to Draft Early Next Fantasy Season

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Kev Wheeler

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Kev Wheeler is a former high school baseball and football coach who has been a fantasy football addict for more than 25 years. As a coach, Wheeler's teams accomplished five county and two regional championships. Wheeler has translated his on-field success to the fantasy football arena.