NFL DFS value picks for Week 18

The final week of the NFL regular season is always crazy in DFS, because a handful of teams are going to be resting players, which will present plenty of value. Of course, not everything is set in stone, as some teams could say they will rest starters, but still play them the entire first half of the game. 

Let’s look at some of the best salary-saving plays for Week 18.

Quarterback | Week 18 DFS Values

Trey Lance @ Los Angeles Rams

($5,500 on DraftKings)

Trey Lance was the premiere value play of the Week 17 slate, and although he got off to a slow start, the rookie finished with a very strong fantasy showing against the Texans. He completed 16-of-23 passes for 249 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while adding 31 rushing yards on eight carries. In two and a half games as the quarterback for San Francisco this season, Lance is averaging 0.64 fantasy points per dropback, which would actually lead the league if he played enough games to qualify. In those three contests, Lance is averaging 18 fantasy points per game, but keep in mind that in his Week 4 contest against Seattle, he only played in the second half. The offensive game plan was rather conservative by San Francisco but as long as Jimmy Garoppolo remains sidelined, Lance easily slides in as the top value quarterback for the second straight weekend.

Running Back | Week 18 DFS Values

Sony Michel vs. San Francisco 49ers

($6,000 on DraftKings)

For as long as he was operating as the Rams clear lead running back, Darrell Henderson was always underpriced. And after two weeks of elite usage as Los Angeles’ new lead running back, Sony Michel is, you guessed it, underpriced. Since Week 13, Michel is averaging 23.4 touches per game, while logging around 90% of the offensive snaps. During that span, Michel is the RB4 in fantasy, averaging nearly 17 fantasy points per game, while leading the NFL in carries (108) and red zone carries (25), and ranking fourth in carries from inside the 5-yard line (5). While it does look like Cam Akers will make his season debut in the Week 18 finale, it is highly unlikely he plays meaningful snaps, which means Michel should still see one of the best roles of any running back in all of football. 

Samaje Perine @ Cleveland Browns

($6,500 on FanDuel)

Cincinnati was already a candidate to rest starters, but either way, the team will at least be without Joe Mixon, who tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday. As long as Samaje Perine doesn’t land on the Reserve/COVID-19 List himself before Sunday, the veteran will operate as the lead back for the Bengals. And even if Cincinnati rests some of their other key starters, Perine will get volume, regardless of how bad the offense could possibly be. Perine has shown a ceiling when he’s the lead back, as we saw back in Week 16 of last season when he carried the ball 13 times for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Wide Receiver | Week 18 DFS Values

Antoine Wesley vs. Seattle Seahawks

($4,100 on DraftKings)

You definitely feel better about Antoine Wesley if Rondale Moore remains sidelined, but if we’re being honest, the Cardinals haven’t been using Moore correctly all year long anyway. Wesley has filled in for both Moore and DeAndre Hopkins admirably, scoring three touchdowns over his last two games, while seeing a respectable 17 targets over the last three weeks. And during that three-week span, Wesley’s five end-zone targets are tied for the second most among all wideouts in the NFL. He also has five targets of 20 yards or more down the field during that stretch, good for the sixth in the league, and given the fact that Wesley is seeing targets both in the end zone and deep down the field, there is plenty of upside for our DFS lineups. 

Cyril Grayson vs. Carolina Panthers

($5,600 on FanDuel)

With Chris Godwin out for the season, Leonard Fournette on injured reserve and Antonio Brown suddenly gone, Cyril Grayson has emerged as the No. 2 receiver for Tom Brady, which is very, very valuable. Brady clearly trusts Grayson, as he targeted him eight times Sunday, resulting in six receptions for 81 yards and a game-winning 33-yard touchdown with just seconds remaining. Grayson logged a solid 64% of the snaps, and that was with Brown still playing around 35% of the snaps. Grayson has 4.38 speed and actually faced this same Carolina defense back in Week 16, resulting in three catches for 81 yards. 

Tight End | Week 18 DFS Values

John Bates @ New York Giants

($3,000 on DraftKings)

John Bates has been splitting reps at tight end with Ricky Seals-Jones lately, but RSJ left Sunday’s game with a neck injury and did not return. Bates ended up logging 92% of the snaps and running a route on 35 of Washington’s 42 dropbacks, good for the sixth among all tight ends in Week 17. Admittedly, Bates doesn’t have the highest ceiling in the world but when it comes to value tight ends, we are really looking for pass routes and a chance at finding the end zone. Bates checks off both boxes.