The San Francisco 49ers defense/special teams unit will close out the 2024 campaign against the Cardinals in Arizona. To the surprise of nobody the 49ers did fantasy managers no favors in Week 17, sacking Detroit's Jared Goff twice but forcing no turnovers and allowing 40 offensive points. San Francisco has it easier in Week 18, facing a Cardinals offense that is nearly exactly average in points per game. They've performed similarly in turnovers lost while being eighth-stingiest in sacks allowed. San Francisco's starting defense is mostly healthy, with nickel Deommodore Lenoir (shoulder) out, linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) doubtful, and safety Ji'Ayir Brown (ankle) questionable. Arizona's offense has a tackle and a wideout listed as questionable, but more importantly, both of their top running back options -- James Conner and Trey Benson -- are on Injured Reserve. The 49ers are RotoBaller's 11th-ranked option in Week 18.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody will spend the final game of his turbulent 2024 season in Arizona to face the Cardinals. The former third-round pick has had a rough couple of weeks. In Week 18 against Detroit, Moody missed field goals from 51 and 58 yards, while missing one extra point out of five chances. In Week 17 against Miami, Moody missed from 41 yards after hitting from 21 yards while connecting on both extra-point attempts. Moody had accuracy issues on the road even before that, which makes Sunday an important chance to demonstrate competence ahead of the 2025 campaign. Arizona has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to kickers this season. Moody -- tenuously clinging to his job -- is RotoBaller's 15th-ranked kicker in Week 18.

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Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet hasn't been a reliable fantasy option throughout the 2024-25 campaign. He finished last year by catching a career-high 73 passes for 719 yards while amassing six touchdowns. Unfortunately, the 25-year-old has struggled this season, totaling 45 grabs for 471 yards and four touchdowns. To be fair, the Bears offense hasn't been the best. However, Kmet can't be trusted in Week 18 versus the Packers, so fantasy managers can keep him out of the lineup. The same can be said for those considering his services for DFS contests.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore had the best season of his career in 2023-24, amassing career-highs in receptions (96), yards (1,364), and touchdowns (eight). However, his production has decreased significantly during his second year in the Windy City. With the Bears capping off a miserable season on Sunday against the Packers, Moore will be looking for his first trip to the end zone since the Thanksgiving loss to the Detroit Lions. Without question, fantasy managers can't keep him out of the starting lineup in Week 18. Still, Moore hasn't been as reliable this year, so he remains a risky fantasy option.

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San Francisco 49ers backup tight end Eric Saubert could make his fourth start of the season in Week 18 at the Arizona Cardinals. Starter George Kittle (ankle, hamstring) is listed as questionable. To date in 2024, Saubert has caught seven of nine targets for 80 yards and a touchdown. Saubert's fantasy ceiling was established in Week 2 of 2022 when he caught one of two targets for a 22-yard touchdown as a member of the Denver Broncos. The eighth-year pro has been a career fantasy nonfactor, though in Week 16 at Miami -- with Kittle on the field -- he caught his third-career touchdown. Arizona has allowed the fourth-fewest half-PPR points per game to tight ends. If Kittle plays, Saubert is unplayable. He's barely more than that if Kittle sits, other than as a bargain-bin DFS shot-in-the-dark.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen is nowhere near the player he once was. However, his first season in Chicago hasn't been a total wash. He's appeared in 14 games, which is a blessing in itself. The wideout also has 67 catches for 719 yards and seven touchdowns, which is better than expected, considering the Bears have first-year quarterback Caleb Williams under center. With Chicago limping to the finish line, the team will look for a strong end to the 2024-25 campaign versus the Packers in Week 18. Unlike Allen's days in Los Angeles, he's no longer an automatic fantasy starter. Still, there is no denying he can get hot, so he warrants consideration for any fantasy lineup.

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New York Giants running back Devin Singletary found the end zone in two of his first three games to begin the 2024-25 campaign. However, he eventually lost the No. 1 job to rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. Things haven't changed, with Singletary getting sporadic work from week-to-week, including amassing just five carries in the win over the Colts in Week 17. It doesn't appear as if head coach Brian Daboll will waive the white flag to close out the season when the Giants play the Eagles on Sunday. As a result, it should be business as usual, with Tracy getting the bulk of the carries and Singletary looking for his leftover scraps.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has had some quality outings throughout his first season in the National Football League. He's appeared in all 16 games for the G-Men, amassing 780 yards and five touchdowns off 178 carries, adding 36 catches for 277 yards and a score. There are some things the rookie will need to improve moving ahead, specifically, his subpar 4.4 yards per carry. Still, Tracy has at least played well enough to warrant fantasy consideration from week-to-week. With the Giants looking to cap off a miserable season, Tracy will have one more chance to make a positive impression heading toward the offseason when the Giants meet the Eagles in Week 18. Head coach Brian Daboll seemingly implied the team was looking to remain competitive on Sunday. However, it's not entirely clear who will play for Philadelphia, meaning Tracy could have an easier path toward production if the Eagles rest some of their core players on the defensive side of the ball.

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (back) has been a part-time player since he arrived in upstate New York in Week 7. The veteran is listed on the injury report with a back issue but fully practiced on Thursday and Friday. Cooper hasn't played 55% or more of the team's snaps in any game this season. That will likely continue in Week 18. The Bills have clinched the second seed in the AFC playoffs. Head coach Sean McDermott said that starters will play a portion of the meaningless game against the New England Patriots. With uncertain playing time, Mitchell Trubisky playing quarterback most of the game, and mediocre play in his time in Buffalo, Cooper shouldn't be anywhere near fantasy football or DFS lineups this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) turned a potential breakout candidate into a season-long disappointment. A recurring knee injury has kept him on the injury report but has not impacted his practice participation. Fresh off one of the worst games of his season, expectations for Kincaid have never been lower entering the regular season finale. The Bills have clinched the second seed in the AFC playoffs and have nothing to play for against the Patriots. Starters, like Dalton Kincaid, won't play their regular allotment of snaps. That includes quarterback Josh Allen, who will start the game but quickly depart. Mitchell Trubisky will take most of the snaps at quarterback. That makes Kincaid and the rest of the starting Buffalo pass-catchers impossible to trust for fantasy football or DFS lineups.

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New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson has had the best season of his career in 2024-25. He's appeared in 16 games, amassing career-highs in receptions (83), targets (129), receiving yards (656), and touchdowns (three). However, the Giants lack of stability at the quarterback spot hasn't allowed him to reach his full potential. The Giants will finish off a miserable year against the Eagles on Sunday. Head coach Brian Daboll implied the team would remain competitive to close out the season. While that should mean Robinson will get his usual allotment of snaps, he's tough to trust with Drew Lock under center, even if the Eagles rest some of their studs on the defensive side of the ball.

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San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (illness, chest) has been removed from the injury report and will try to duplicate his Week 17 breakout in a Week 18 matchup in Arizona against the Cardinals. The 2024 first-round selection was projected in most places as a WR6 or WR7 last week against Detroit but exploded with eight receptions of 10 targets for 141 yards and a touchdown. He added two carries for six yards and even threw one incomplete pass. Pearsall's potential ascendency could face a roadblock on Sunday, as he'll be catching his passes from backup Joshua Dobbs after Brock Purdy (right elbow) was ruled out. On the other hand, Deebo Samuel Sr. (rib, wrist) is also out, perhaps clearing the way for more targets. Consensus rankings have Pearsall just a few slots behind wideout Jauan Jennings given the three-straight zeroes that Pearsall produced following the last time he surged with 15.3 half-PPR points in Week 10. Arizona is the NFL's 10th-toughest matchup for fantasy wideouts. Consider Pearsall a boom/bust WR3 for the final game of his rookie campaign.

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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has been a force to be reckoned with over the last two weeks, rushing 61 times for 343 yards and five touchdowns. Not only that, he's seen 21 or more carries six of the last seven weeks and gets no competition for work. Anthony Richardson (back) had been stealing some goal line opportunities, but the QB has been ruled out, paving the way for Taylor to take on all he can handle with Joe Flacco under center. With the Colts eliminated from the playoffs, it's uncertain if they'll work in some other backs to close out the year, but if not, the matchup is extremely favorable, going up against the Jaguars who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing RBs. The former second-round draft pick projects as a mid-range RB1 for the final week of the season.

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Buffalo's secured second seed in the AFC postseason. Head coach Sean McDermott noted the starters and backups will both play on Sunday against the New England Patriots. While Hollins plays a significant amount of the offensive snaps, he's not as integral to the offense as other receivers like Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman. Hollins could lead a group of practice squad players, and/or Curtis Samuel (ribs) if he's active, for backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky. The Bills (other than running back Ray Davis) are difficult to trust given uncertain playing time and opportunities in the regular season finale.

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Remember the 23-touch coming-out party for Ray Davis in Week 6? A similar opportunity could await the rookie in Week 18. The Bills can't move out of the second seed in the AFC, meaning starters won't play their full allotment of snaps. Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed earlier in the week that both starters and reserves will play. Davis should be in line for at least 12 touches against a bottom-10 run defense in the New England Patriots. Third-down back Ty Johnson should also be heavily involved in the gameplan. Davis can be counted on as an RB2 for fantasy football lineups.

From RotoBaller

What do you get when a team has clinched their playoff seeding entering the final week of the regular season? A blend of starters and backups playing on the football field. Head coach Sean McDermott promised that earlier in the week. That could mean an early exit for Buffalo's most utilized wide receiver, Khalil Shakir. The slot receiver has caught 76 passes for 821 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games. He, alongside Keon Coleman and Amari Cooper (back), can't be depended upon against the Patriots due to uncertain playing time and Mitchell Trubisky playing most of the quarterback snaps.

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is a low-end starting quarterback in Week 18 when the Cardinals host the San Francisco 49ers. Murray and the Cardinals will look to end their season on a high note after watching their playoff hopes dwindle post-bye week. Murray had a solid performance last week, topping 300 yards despite throwing two interceptions. A strong showing in this matchup will help build momentum for the Cardinals heading into next season. With nothing to play for in terms of playoff implications, we can expect the Cardinals to play more freely and open up the playbook to put an exclamation point on their season. Murray should still be viewed as a starter in Week 18.

From RotoBaller

The Buffalo Bills have secured the No. 2 spot in the AFC playoffs, meaning Week 18 will be treated like a preseason game. Head coach Sean McDermott noted earlier in the week that the team plans on using starters and reserves on Sunday against New England. Quarterback Josh Allen will get the start to extend his consecutive starts streak, which dates back to 2018. Fantasy managers should only expect to see Allen for a series before Mitchell Trubisky takes over. The 2017 second overall pick has played 54 snaps across eight blowout games this season. Fantasy managers still playing in Week 18 should look elsewhere for a starting quarterback. Trubisky ranks as a low-end QB2.

From RotoBaller

The New England Patriots defense/special teams has not been a reliable fantasy option this season, and they remain off the fantasy radar in most leagues ahead of Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills. While the Bills are expected to play their reserves, including quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky and Mike White, we can't trust the Patriots D/ST amidst one of their worst seasons in recent memory. New England ranks 29th among defensive units in fantasy points this year, so even if they do play most of their snaps against Buffalo's backups, they're not guaranteed to pad their stats. Plus, there remains a significant possibility that the Patriots play a portion of their backups, too, as they hope to gain film on some of their reserves and potentially remain in position for the draft's No. 1 pick. All in all, there are too many uncertain factors at play, leaving New England as an unfavorable fantasy option for Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook averages a shade over 15 touches per game this season but that number could plummet in Week 18. The Bills have clinched the No. 2 spot in the AFC playoffs. Head coach Sean McDermott said the team plans on using starters and reserves on Sunday against New England. That means more opportunities for backup running backs Ray Davis and Ty Johnson. Cook can't be trusted in any fantasy football or DFS lineups without the proper volume. His day could be finished after a handful of snaps.

From RotoBaller