Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee is set to make his first official NFL start in Week 18 as the team hosts the New York Giants. With both Jalen Hurts (concussion/rest) and Kenny Pickett (ribs) sidelined due to injuries, McKee will lead the offense in what could be a low-pressure environment, given the Eagles are locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. McKee flashed potential in limited action last week, stepping in for the injured Pickett and completing three of four passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns. However, with mostly all of Philadelphia's offensive weapons expected to rest, McKee will have to make the most of a supporting cast consisting primarily of backups. While the Giants defense hasn't been particularly dominant, McKee's success will depend on his ability to adapt quickly and minimize mistakes. He remains a deep-league dart throw in Week 18.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle will look to top off his surprising breakout season in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders with a splash. The 26-year-old has rushed for over 100 yards in four of his last five games and now faces a solid matchup against Washington's 20th-ranked run defense. He will look to solidify his finish as an RB2 on the season. Dowdle is in RB1 territory heading into the season's finale and should be started in any leagues that run into Week 18.

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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra faces the New York Giants in Week 18 and his role will likely be limited but unknown to what extent. With Dallas Goedert (knee) having his 21-day practice window opening this week, there's a chance he plays and sees a few snaps to shake off rust before the playoffs. Additionally, backup C.J. Uzomah (abdominal) was placed on IR, so that now adds E.J. Jenkins to the mix, who could very well see significant playing time. Calcaterra has stepped in admirably during Goedert's absence but has yet to carve out a reliable role in the offense. While the Giants' defense has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to tight ends this season, the uncertainty surrounding Calcaterra's workload makes him a risky fantasy option in Week 18.

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Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott helps host the New York Giants in Week 18. Elliot has booted multiple field goals in three consecutive games, showcasing his reliability despite struggles from beyond 50 yards, where he is just one-for-seven this season. This week, Elliott's opportunities could be impacted by Philadelphia resting key starters with their playoff seed locked in. While the offense may lack its usual explosiveness, Elliott could still find himself in scoring situations, particularly in a matchup against a Giants defense that allows the 11th-most points per game this season. Fantasy managers can count on Elliott's accuracy from within 50 yards, though expectations should be tempered due to the potential of reduced offensive output.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks is a flex option as Dallas' projected top receiver in Week 18. Cooks led the Cowboys in all receiving benchmarks in Week 17, the first game without CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) in the fold. Washington's defense ranks 12th against opposing receivers, and there is uncertainty at the quarterback position, with rumblings that quarterback Trey Lance should see significant reps this week. However, Cooks remains the top receiving option on the active roster and can be started this week.

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (hamstring) was added to the injury report on Friday after being a limited participant in practice. He is officially listed as questionable to face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Week 18. It's hard to gather much information from the Cardinals' injury report given that "limited" could mean a few different things. Wilson could have simply taken a few reps off, but he also could have injured himself in the middle of Friday's session and sat out the rest of the practice. For the time being, he should be viewed as a true game-time decision, which means we might not get confirmation on his status until 2:55 p.m. ET on Sunday. If Wilson does play, he'll likely rank as a low-end WR3 in fantasy football. The 49ers have posted mixed results against pass-catchers in 2024, surrendering the eighth-fewest fantasy points to perimeter receivers but the seventh-most fantasy points to slot receivers. Wilson has played 31.7 percent of his snaps from the slot this season, which is the 27th-highest mark in the NFL. We like his chances to see a respectable target share against a 49ers defense that could rest some of its starters. However, if most of his production comes from the slot, there will be a cap on his touchdown upside.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson will take on an expanded role in Week 18 against the New York Giants, as the team is expected to rest its usual starters, including A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Dotson has struggled to make an impact recently, failing to catch a pass in each of the last two games. However, with the absence of Brown and Smith, Dotson should see a significant increase in targets. This season, Dotson has recorded 12 receptions on 22 targets for 122 yards, along with one rushing attempt for 13 yards. While the Giants boast a middle-of-the-pack pass defense, Dotson's increased volume makes him a potential boom-or-bust option in deeper fantasy formats this week.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Johnny Wilson is poised for an uptick in playing time in Week 18 against the New York Giants. With A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith expected to rest ahead of the playoffs, Wilson could find himself with more opportunities in the passing game. Wilson has not caught a pass in six consecutive games, but he has shown flashes earlier this season, with two receptions for 14 yards, including a touchdown. At 6-foot-7, Wilson's size makes him an intriguing red zone option for Tanner McKee and/or Ian Book. Wilson's potential involvement makes him a speculative play in deeper leagues.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush is expected to start, but backup quarterback Trey Lance is expected to see "significant snaps" in the Week 18 matchup against the Washington Commanders. With the likely split at the quarterback position, neither player is worth starting in any format for fantasy purposes in the season's finale. Rush is an unrestricted free agent following this season, so there is a chance that this is his final game in a Cowboys' uniform.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell is set to take on starting duties in Week 18 against the New York Giants, with Saquon Barkley sitting out to rest for the playoffs. Rookie Will Shipley's status could impact Gainwell's role, as Shipley is still in concussion protocol. If cleared, Shipley is expected to share backfield duties, likely limiting Gainwell's touches. This season, Gainwell has posted 276 rushing yards and one touchdown on 64 carries, adding 14 receptions for 107 yards through the air. Regardless of Shipley's status, the Eagles may elevate Tyrion Davis-Price from the practice squad to provide additional depth, ensuring a mix of backs takes the field. Given the uncertainty surrounding usage and the backup-heavy nature of Philadelphia's lineup, Gainwell is a risky but intriguing option for Week 18, especially in deeper fantasy leagues.

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Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride will look to remain dominant and highly productive during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the San Francisco 49ers. McBride has been the No. 3 tight end in fantasy football this season, posting career-bests in targets (136), catches (104), and yards (1,081). The lone downside of McBride's third NFL campaign has been his lack of touchdowns; he didn't find the end zone until last week's showing against the Los Angeles Rams in which he had 12 catches for 123 yards and the score. The 25-year-old has been Kyler Murray's favorite target within the Arizona offense, and that trend should continue during Sunday's regular-season finale. McBride benefits from a very favorable role on offense, as well as an appealing matchup against the 49ers, who surrendered six catches, 64 yards, and one touchdown to tight end Sam LaPorta last week. He remains a must-start player, ranking as a high-end TE1 once again.

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.'s underwhelming rookie season will come to an end with Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The No. 4 pick has 57 catches for 822 yards and seven touchdowns over the course of 16 games, ranking 34th among wide receivers in fantasy points (PPR) this season. These numbers are solid enough to make him a weekly FLEX option, but managers would have expected a bit more production out of Harrison, who was widely viewed as a generational prospect. Unfortunately for him, the Cardinals, and his fantasy managers, Harrison's season could end on a sour note as he takes on a strong 49ers secondary. San Francisco has struggled against slot receivers this season, but they've allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to perimeter receivers in 2024. Harrison primarily plays on the perimeter, taking fewer than one-fifth of his snaps from the slot. As a result, he could have a lower floor in Week 18. Fantasy managers should continue to view him as a mid-to-high WR3 option in most leagues.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson has been highly unproductive lately, failing to catch any of his five targets over the last four weeks. However, he's back on the fantasy radar given that he could operate as the Rams' No. 1 wide receiver in Week 18 against the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams have already confirmed that they will rest Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp on Sunday, leaving Robinson atop the depth chart while players like Tutu Atwell, Tyler Johnson, and Jordan Whittington also see increased roles. Robinson played at least 85 percent of the offensive snaps in every game that both Nacua and Kupp missed this season, and he'll likely have similar involvement in the Rams' regular-season finale. With that said, he does have a slightly lower floor with Jimmy Garoppolo starting in place of Matthew Stafford. Garoppolo is a proven veteran, but the quarterback change still brings a small amount of uncertainty to Robinson's Week 18 outlook. He should be treated as a mid-to-low WR3 option in fantasy football against a Seahawks defense allowing the fifth-most touchdowns to wide receivers in 2024.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is expected to start in Week 18 against the San Francisco 49ers after James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson (ankle) were both placed on injured reserve. Conner had a minimal role last weekend due to injury, allowing Carter to handle an impressive 72 percent snap share. He thrived with the increased opportunities, rushing 13 times for 70 yards on the ground while adding two catches for another 11 yards through the air. He now has seven targets, seven catches, and 41 receiving yards over his last two contests. Not only is Carter's role favorable but so is his matchup. The 25-year-old is set to face off against the 49ers, who have allowed the 10th-most rushing yards, fourth-most rushing touchdowns, and seventh-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. Carter ranks as a decent RB2 option heading into fantasy football for Week 18.

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Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson remains the No. 2 option on the depth chart, keeping him off the fantasy radar in most leagues ahead of his Week 18 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. There's always a chance the eliminated Bears could give increased snaps to some of their younger players, like Johnson, while reducing the workload for veterans such as running back D'Andre Swift. However, the Bears have stayed pretty quiet about their personnel decisions, and as of Saturday, there's no indication that Johnson's workload will change for the regular-season finale. He has just five carries for eight yards over his last two games, and prior to that, he missed nearly three full contests. As a result, he hasn't caught a pass nor found the end zone since Week 12 against Minnesota. This week, he and Swift will take on a Packers run defense that has allowed the 15th-fewest fantasy points to running backs in 2024, but the third-most catches and receiving yards. Johnson ranks as an RB4 in fantasy football and should continue to be benched in most leagues.

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Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates should benefit from the competitive, high-scoring nature of Sunday night's Week 18 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. With the NFC's No. 1 seed on the line, Detroit will stay highly competitive and keep its foot on the gas pedal for all 60 minutes. This bodes well for Bates, who has thrived in high-leverage situations all year long and benefits when the Lions put up a lot of points. In his first NFL season, Bates ranks eighth among all kickers in fantasy points. He has made a whopping 60 of 63 extra points, plus 25 of 28 field goals. He does have two missed field goals and two missed extra points over his last three games, but fantasy managers shouldn't have any concerns about his accuracy given his track record and high fantasy points total this season. Bates should be deployed as a top-five kicking option for the final week of the 2024 regular season.

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Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison is on track to lead the backfield in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers. While Mattison had taken a backseat to Ameer Abdullah (foot) lately, Abdullah has already been ruled out for Sunday's contest, leaving Mattison in line to draw the start. The Raiders' only other healthy running backs are rookies Dylan Laube and Chris Collier, who have combined for just four touches throughout the entire 2024 season. We can't rule out Las Vegas giving some extra touches to Laube and Collier so that they can get more film on the rookies, but we still anticipate Mattison getting the bulk of the opportunities out of the backfield. He's facing off against a Chargers defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs in 2024, but the seventh-most receptions. Mattison, who is averaging 2.5 catches and 0.4 touchdowns per game, ranks as a low-end RB2 option in fantasy football as he essentially gets the backfield to himself this week.

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker has one more chance to cement himself as a key part of the team's passing attack during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. The wide receiver position will be a key area of discussion in Las Vegas this offseason, and Tucker has an opportunity to make a case for himself on film and in the stat sheet this weekend. He has routinely played north of 90 percent of the offensive snaps lately, and he commanded an impressive eight targets last weekend against the New Orleans Saints. However, he caught just two of those eight targets, adding 24 yards and one touchdown along the way. This week, Tucker faces a Los Angeles defense that has ranked near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers this season. They're slightly better against slot receivers, and fortunately for Tucker, he's played just one-fifth of his snaps from the slot this season. Tucker ranks as a WR4 heading into Sunday's regular-season finale.

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers continues to be an appealing fantasy option, ranking in the WR2 range ahead of Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Meyers is coming off yet another high-volume performance, catching five of his nine targets for 51 yards and a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints last Sunday. He and Brock Bowers continue to be Aidan O'Connell's favorite targets in the passing game. The Chargers rank near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers this season, and they're slightly better against slot receivers than those who play on the perimeter. For context, Meyers has played 30.7 percent of his snaps from the slot, which is the 28th-highest mark in the NFL. Los Angeles' respectable secondary could find itself shorthanded if the Chargers choose to rest some of their starters, but so far, there's no indication that that will happen. Expect the Bolts to play their top defenders, leaving Meyers as a mid-to-low WR2 option on Sunday.

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is a mid-tier WR2 for Week 18 when the Cardinals host the San Francisco 49ers. Harrison Jr. is looking to end his rookie season on a high note after an inconsistent but still productive year. He entered the NFL with very high expectations, which are naturally hard to meet, yet he has still posted over 800 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Harrison Jr. is coming off perhaps one of his best performances, catching six passes for 96 yards against the Rams on Saturday night. Getting quarterback Kyler Murray and Harrison Jr. to build some momentum heading into the offseason will be something the Cardinals will look to do in their regular season finale. Expect Harrison Jr. to be involved early and often in the Cardinals' passing attack.

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