Congratulations, Week 18 is here and that means we all have one extra week to make some DFS picks. Week 17 may have been the championship week for most leagues, but Week 18 gives you a chance to make some extra money in DFS.
This week I chose to switch it up and give you my top picks for DraftKings, so you don’t have to second guess your lineup. Week 18 is a tough one since many players will be resting. But, there are some top games this week including the Colts at Jaguars, Steelers at Ravens, and Chargers at Raiders.
Lots of must-win games, so that means Justin Herbert, Derek Carr, Najee Harris, Michael Pittman Jr., and Josh Jacobs, to name a few, will need to put up huge numbers this week. On that note, let’s get into my picks of the week.
Just as a reminder, DraftKings has a salary base of $50,000 for full roster lineups.
Week 18 DFS Picks:
Quarterbacks
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers $7,100
Herbert is my number one quarterback this week when it comes to fantasy. This is a must-win for the Chargers and the last time Herbert faced the Raiders he had three touchdowns. This game will be a shootout and I expect Herbert to throw for multiple touchdowns and over 300 passing yards.
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders $5,600
Carr is highly underpriced this week with what’s at stake for him and the Raiders. The Raiders offense has been quiet the last few weeks, but remember this is a divisional game. Even if the Chargers look better on paper, the Raiders know who to play them. I expect Carr to air the ball out like he did the first three weeks of the season. Also, he will have Darren Waller back.
Other Value Pick: Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts $5,800
Running Backs
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers $7,200
The Steelers are also in a must-win game and Harris showed up on Monday night to beat the Browns. This week he has the Ravens and I expect the Steelers to run the offense through Harris once again. Harris had 188 yards and a touchdown last week. He kept the Steelers at a great pace last week and he should do the same again this week. With a lot of the other top running backs not playing heavy minutes this week, Harris is sure to be the most productive.
Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills $6,000
Devin Singletary has come out of nowhere the last couple of weeks. But, he is showing why he should be the number one back in the Bills offense. Zack Moss has lost all his carries the last few weeks and Singletary is certainly the number one option. The Bills have the Jets this week who have the worst fantasy rushing defense in the league. I expect a couple of touchdowns from Singletary this week.
Other Value Pick: Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders $6,500
Wide Receivers
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions $6,800
Amon-Ra St. Brown has been a league winner the last couple of weeks. He is in my running for pickup of the year. This week he will face the Packers defense who have nothing to play for since they have the number one seed locked up. This will be a great opportunity for St. Brown to have a huge fantasy game and stack up some stats.
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts $5,900
Pittman is another player that will need to go off this week for his team. Jonathan Taylor can’t carry the team by himself. However, the Colts have the Jaguars this week, who have no reason to win this week. It will benefit them if they lose so they can lock in the number one draft pick. This means Pittman has a golden opportunity to go off this week and secure a win for his team and keep their playoff hopes alive.
Braxton Berrios, New York Jets $4,900
There is a good chance that Elijah Moore comes back this week, but if he doesn’t Braxton Berrios is the most valuable WR3 or flex option this week. Over the last couple of weeks, Berrios has been the most consistent receiver for the Jets. He does have a tough matchup against the Bills, but he does have the highest upside of the options left on the board.
Other Value Pick: Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons $5,600
Tight End
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers $4,600
Pat Freiermuth has not been the most consistent as of late, but at the price, he has a great matchup. At this price, you can afford some higher-end running backs and receivers. Also, the Ravens are the 8th worst fantasy defense against tight ends. This is the best value at the tight end position this week.
Other Value Pick: Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams $4,000
Defense
Indianapolis Colts $3,800
Like I said before the Jaguars have no reason to win this game. The Colts are going to dominate the Jaguars. I see this as a pre-season game and the Colts will blow the Jaguars out of the water. The Colts need this win to keep their playoff hopes alive, so they are going to come out with no mercy.
Other Value Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers $3,000
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