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Week 18 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Preview

Top Fantasy WRs for Week 18

If you are debating who to start and sit in your fantasy lineup, this should help for WRs

With the craziness of Week 18 and teams sitting players, let's take a look at the WRs for the week

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens

Zay Flowers, Ravens

The Browns have supplied a plus matchup for WRs this season. Flowers went off against them in Week 8, when he tallied 7-115 at Cleveland.

Jerry Jeudy, Browns

Jeudy’s already set career highs in catches (84) and yards (1,166). Now, game script should turn up plenty of passing for the Browns at Baltimore. But Jeudy's outlook looks murky with the team potentially ready to play QBs Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe.

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals

Chase has remained the top option for Joe Burrow despite Tee Higgins three TD performance last week. Even with Joey Porter Jr. back for the Steelers, Chase’s nearly 30% of snaps from the slot makes him an easy target for Burrow. Expect plenty of volume and a potential WR1 overall week.

Tee Higgins, Bengals

Higgins exploded for three TDs last week as Joe Burrow’s main red zone threat. He will play outside for the game and may draw Joey Porter Jr. when Ja’Marr Chase moves into the slot. Even so, the Bengals passing and need to win to get i the playoffs makes him a rock solid WR1 this week.

George Pickens, Steelers

The Steelers are in the playoffs, and could still win the division if the Ravens lose the game directly before them on Saturday. Even if the Ravens win, a Steelers victory secures the 5 seed so that they go to Houston in the first round of the playoffs instead of Baltimore. Pickens didn’t do much in his first game back from his hamstring injury, and the Steelers may still lean to letting him sit at times. His big play potential makes him a WR2 this week.

Calvin Austin, Steelers

The Steelers are in the playoffs, and could still win the division if the Ravens lose the game directly before them on Saturday. Even if the Ravens win, a Steelers victory secures the 5 seed so that they go to Houston in the first round of the playoffs instead of Baltimore. Austin could be an option as a deep threat who could score a long TD. WR5 with upside.

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons

Drake London, Falcons

Even though rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. hasn’t passed for big numbers yet, his two starts have produced 21 targets and 12 catches for London. This week brings a Panthers defense that has allowed 3+ WR TDs to two of its past three opponents. London also posted a 6-74-1 receiving line in their Week 6 meeting.

Adam Thielen, Panthers

Thielen has caught 5+ balls in five straight appearances, even while drawing only 6 targets each of the past two weeks. Atlanta heads into this clash as a negative scoring matchup for RBs, the second-most friendly WR scoring matchup, and an 8-point favorite. That all makes it a high-upside spot for Thielen.

Darnell Mooney, Falcons

Mooney fell from 5 to 2 receptions in Michael Penix’s second start and trailed well behind Drake London in targets (12-5). But he ran just 1 fewer route and has showed the upside to remain in WR3 range. The big question will be whether Atlanta leans back toward the run if game flow goes as the 8-point Vegas line in the Falcons’ favor expects.

Xavier Legette, Panthers

Legette turned his 5 catches into just 28 yards last week. But that marked his fourth game of 8+ targets among the past four. This week brings an Atlanta defense that’s been the second-friendliest WR matchup by our adjusted fantasy points allowed. The Falcons are also 8-point favorites. That kind of game flow would likely juice Carolina’s passing volume, especially with RB Chuba Hubbard out.

Jalen Coker, Panthers

Despite his Week 15 spike (4-110-1 vs. Dallas), Coker remains clearly behind Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette among Carolina WRs. He gets an upside matchup against the Falcons but is also coming off two straight 2-catch games – as well as 3 catches or fewer in four of his past five games.

Ray-Ray McCloud, Falcons

McCloud has totaled just 5 targets across Michael Penix Jr.’s first two starts after getting 6+ in three of Kirk Cousins’ final four appearances.

Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys

Terry McLaurin, Commanders

McLaurin was locked up by Falcons CB A.J. Terrell last week, catching just one of seven targets for five yards. It was just the second time since Week 3 that McLaurin finished outside the top 24 WRs in PPR points. Expect a bounce-back on Sunday against the Cowboys' 25th-ranked WR defense. McLaurin posted a 5-102-1 line vs. Dallas back in Week 12.

Olamide Zaccheaus, Commanders

Zaccheaus has emerged as Washington's No. 2 WR over the last two games, registering a 75% route rate and 24% target share. He's finished WR6 and WR13 in PPR points in those weeks. Don't bank on that level of production in Week 18, but Zaccheaus' usage in this hot Commanders passing game makes him an interesting WR4 or Flex option.

Brandin Cooks, Cowboys

Cooks set or tied season highs last week with eight targets, four catches, and 52 yards. He's the favorite to lead the CeeDee Lamb-less Cowboys in targets in Sunday's finale vs. the Commanders. But the upside here isn't exciting. Cooks is averaging just 10.6 yards per catch on the season.

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Jayden Reed, Packers

Reed drew only 2 targets in a Week 11 matchup at Chicago. He's coming off a one-catch effort at Minnesota and remains a low-floor option.

Romeo Doubs, Packers

Christian Watson (knee) missed Week 17 and has a chance to sit out Week 18, too. With Watson sidelined, Doubs set a season-high in target share (36%) last Sunday.

Dontayvion Wicks, Packers

Wicks’ value is tied to the status of Christian Watson, who’s aiming to return from a knee injury. Only if Watson sits will Wicks become a deep-league fantasy option vs. Chicago. The Bears have allowed the fewest catches to enemy WRs.

D.J. Moore, Bears

Moore’s hit 8+ targets and 6+ catches in five straight. A pass-tilted game script should remain in the cards this week at Green Bay.

Keenan Allen, Bears

Allen's proved voltile of late, right alongside the play of Caleb Williams. Since Week 14, his PPR finishes have gone: WR44, WR14, WR2, and WR53.

Rome Odunze, Bears

Odunze’s finished outside the top-50 PPR WRs twice over the past three weeks. Caleb Williams’ hot and cold play continues to make his fellow rookie a low-floor, moderate-ceiling Flex.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts

Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars

Thomas Jr. has been marvelous as a rookie and has continued performing with Mac Jones at QB. He now has five straight games with double-digit targets. He has scored in four of those five. Jones should look Thomas’ way again against a Colts defense who just gave up a top WR performance to Malik Nabers. Locked in WR1.

Michael Pittman Jr., Colts

Pittman came alive with Joe Flacco back at QB, his first with double-digit targets. He also caught his first TD since Week 6. With Flacco back at the helm and the Jaguars a bottom-three team against fantasy WRs, it is an ideal spot for Pittman as a solid WR2.

Josh Downs, Colts

Downs didn’t benefit as much from the Joe Flacco bump, only catching three of four targets for 22 yards last week. He could do better against a bottom-three Jaguars pass defense, especially if the Colts get down early. Downs is a WR3 this week who will need volume to come through.

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

Kayshon Boutte, Patriots

Boutte has remained the top target bet among Patriots WRs, but that has mean just one game of more than 6 all season. That one did come at Buffalo two weeks ago and produced a 5-95-1 receiving line. Although Buffalo wasn’t resting starters for that one, it was missing both starting safeties and CB Rasul Douglas. The matchup will be similarly cushy this week, adding upside. But Boutte has reached 50 receiving yards in a game only twice. He has also fallen short of 30 receiving yards in three of his past five outings.

Demario Douglas, Patriots

Douglas has followed a string of three straight games with 50+ yards by falling short of 50 yards each of the past four contests. His 4 catches in the narrow loss at Buffalo produced just 33 yards.

Khalil Shakir, Bills

The Bills have showed in the past an ability rack up usable fantasy numbers for their starters even when playing them sparingly at the start of meaningless late-season contests. But this week’s rest scenario makes Shakir a weak bet for opportunities and production. Avoid him if possible.

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles

Malik Nabers, Giants

Nabers has remained a strong bet for target safety. Last week showed us there’s at least the capacity for upside in QB Drew Lock. That combo makes the rookie an easy – and high-ceiling – play against an Eagles squad resting up for the playoffs.

Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants

Robinson posted a nice like – 5-71-1 – last week despite just 6 targets. But the Giants attempted only 23 passes for that game. Expect more this week, though a resting Eagles squad might not push New York into 30+ attempts. Robinson typically needs good target volume to be relevant. He did, at least, garner 9+ looks in three straight contests before last week.

New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Evans, Buccaneers

Evans needs five catches and 85 receiving yards on Sunday for his 11th straight 1,000-yard season -- and a $3 million bonus. QB Baker Mayfield wants to get him there. And the Saints' 16th-ranked WR defense won't provide much resistance.

Jalen McMillan, Buccaneers

McMillan is red hot, totaling 19 catches for 242 yards and six TDs over his last four games. He's an upside WR3 for Sunday's plus matchup against the Saints. The Bucs' 28.75-point implied total is third highest on the week.

Chris Olave, Saints

Olave has been medically cleared from his concussion but is still working back into football shape. If he plays this weekend, there's a chance it's not a full slate of snaps. And QB Spencer Rattler adds more risk. On the plus side, Olave could dominate targets in a game that will very likely find the Saints playing catch-up. They're 13.5-point underdogs to the Buccaneers.

Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans

Calvin Ridley, Titans

Ridley has totaled just 16 targets over his last three games, falling behind TE Chig Okonwko in the pecking order. Ridley has still topped 13 PPR points in two straight, though. He's in a nice spot in Week 18 against the Texans, who rank 22nd in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs and could pull some starters early in a game that means nothing to them.

Nico Collins, Texans

Texans HC Demeco Ryans hinted early in the week that starters will play in Sunday's meaningless finale vs. the Titans but could be pulled early. Collins is certainly one of the guys who could get some rest. It leaves him as a risky Week 18 fantasy start -- although he could do enough to pay off even if he only plays half the game.

John Metchie, Texans

Metchie is coming off a 5-48-0 line on a season-high eight targets last week. He could see an increased role on Sunday if the Texans pull WR Nico Collins early. But that'd also likely mean that Metchie would be catching passes from QB Davis Mills.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Titans

Westbrook-Ikhine has been held under 40 yards in four straight games, averaging just 3.8 targets and 2.0 catches per game over that span.

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals

Jauan Jennings, 49ers

All 49ers WRs took a projection a hit this week, as Brock Purdy will sit out. In his place: Josh Dobbs. While he’s flashed in limited career action, he’s ultimately managed underwhelming marks of 5.8 YPA and a 62.3% completion rate.

Deebo Samuel, 49ers

Samuel drew only one target in a high-scoring loss to Detroit on Monday night. His volatility will remain with Josh Dobbs under center.

Ricky Pearsall, 49ers

Pearsall surprisingly posted his best game of the season on Monday night (8-141-1). None of his production came alongside Josh Dobbs, however, who was forced to play in the fourth quarter. Treat Pearsall as a deep-league Flex.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals

Harrison's hit 8 targets in four of his past five matchups. He's topped 10 PPR points only twice over that stretch, however. He’s a low-end WR2/WR3 in a tough matchup vs. San Francisco.

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos

Courtland Sutton, Broncos

If the Broncos win, they will secure a spot in the playoffs. If they lose, it becomes much harder. Sutton should be able to have a field day with the Chiefs back-up defense. A deep shot or two from Bo Nix should be enough to a solid WR1 day for Sutton.

Marvin Mims, Broncos

If the Broncos win, they will secure a spot in the playoffs. If they lose, it becomes much harder. Mims broke out last week and perhaps Sean Payton is figuring out how to use the talented WR. Expect more looks for Mims this week, though production, and even a TD, won’t always happen. He is a WR4 with some upside.

Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks

Try to ignore JSN’s numbers from last week’s offensive debacle. They followed two straight 12-target outings, which followed five other games in a row with 74+ yards. He faces a Rams secondary that hasn’t been scary at full strength and will likely rest some starters this week.

DK Metcalf, Seahawks

Metcalf’s target shares have fallen off and led to six straight games of 4 receptions or fewer – including just 3 receptions in each of his past three. Big-play upside remains, and Seattle’s in a good spot this week against a Rams team resting some starters for the playoffs. But Metcalf’s no more than a WR3-level play.

Tutu Atwell, Rams

Atwell should start this week for a Rams offense resting starters. And playing with QB Jimmy Garoppolo positions him better than most backup QBs would. Of course, it’s impossible to know what the target distribution will look like this week. And Atwell has just three games all season with more than 5 targets. He hasn’t garnered more than three looks in a game since Week 6. Atwell’s big-play speed makes him interesting as a DFS tourney consideration.

Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders

Ladd McConkey, Chargers

McConkey pumped out a ceiling performance last week, smoking the Patriots for an 8-94-2 line. He's had a solid floor almost all season, catching 5+ balls in 10 of his last 12 games. The Raiders have been surprisingly tough against WRs, ranking fifth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs on the season and seventh over the last five weeks. But McConkey remains a safe bet in the always-tricky Week 18.

Jakobi Meyers, Raiders

Meyers is at a career-high 904 receiving yards and needs six more catches to set a new career high there. He draws a Chargers defense that ranks 18th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs on the season and 22nd over the last five weeks.

Quentin Johnston, Chargers

Johnston has topped 51 receiving yards in just one game all season. He's at least produced 5 catches and 45+ yards in three of his last four. WR Josh Palmer's absence in Sunday's finale vs. the Raiders could push an extra target or two to Johnston. Vegas has been surprisingly tough against WRs, though, ranking fifth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs on the season and seventh over the last five weeks.

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

Tyreek Hill, Dolphins

The Dolphins are planning to start QB Tyler Huntley for another week. He fed Hill 9 targets last week at Cleveland, but there’s still added risk here. The good news: Miami will be going all out, as they need a win (and some help) to make the postseason.

Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins

HC Mike McDaniel indicated that Waddle has a chance to return from a knee injury. If so, he'll be just a deep-league Flex option with Tyler Huntley under center.

Davante Adams, Jets

Last week at Buffalo, Adams was hurt by an ineffective Aaron Rodgers. We project Rodgers for a better outcome vs. Miami, especially as he chases TD No. 500. Sunday might also be the final game Rodgers and Adams play together. Recall that Adams entered Week 17 as one of the hottest WRs in all of fantasy.

Garrett Wilson, Jets

The third-year WR emerged with a nice day in Week 17, but note that 2 catches, 21 yards, and 1 TD came from Tyrod Taylor. Wilson ultimately projects as a WR2 for a neutral matchup vs. Miami.

Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions

Justin Jefferson, Vikings

Jefferson has a chance to explode against a Lions secondary that has weakened over the past few weeks. He has five TDs in the last four games and at least seven receptions in each of those games. His targets gives him a solid floor, but a multi-TD week is possible in a potential shootout. WR1.

Jordan Addison, Vikings

Addison has five TDs over the past four games and has become more consistent as a target for Sam Darnold over that period. He has at least eight targets in each of those games as well. In a potential shoot-out, TD potential is high for Addison who has become a solid red zone option for the offense. WR2 with upside.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions

St. Brown has at least 60 yards and a TD in each of the last three games. He also has at least five catches in each of the last nine games. St. Brown has a high floor, but we saw his ceiling a few weeks ago against the Bills when he had 193 yards receiving. In a potential shoot-out, his a high-end WR1.

Jameson Williams, Lions

Williams has earned the trust of the coaching staff and Jared Goff. He is a solid WR2 option in a potential shoot-out. Williams has scored in each of the last three games. His deep receiving ability along with run after the catch potential gives Williams plenty of upside this week.

Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format including redraft, dynasty, devy, IDP, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance.