49ers WR Deebo Samuel (ankle, knee) practiced fully to end the week and doesn't carry an injury tag in anticipation of Week 18 vs. the Cardinals. We'd be surprised if Samuel saw a full workload coming off a 3-week absence in the game the 49ers should control. But he's always capable of making his fantasy day with 1 big play. As such, consider the veteran a low-end WR3/flex option with some risk.
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (knee, ankle) doesn't appear on the team's final injury report. He should be all set to go for Week 18 vs. the Cardinals. McCaffrey has dealt with these issues for several weeks now without missing a game. The 49ers still have a shot at NFC's #1 seed, so we're expecting CMC to play as long as he's able. McCaffrey is obviously an elite fantasy play vs. the Cardinals' 30th-ranked RB defense.
Cardinals RB James Conner (knee, shin) has been officially ruled out for Week 18 vs. the 49ers. Given that the 49ers' defense ranks as the single-toughest matchup for opposing RBs in adjusted fantasy points allowed this season, we don't believe any other Cardinals RB is worthy of fantasy consideration this week. You can avoid this backfield altogether.
Seahawks TE Noah Fant (knee) practiced fully on Friday and doesn't appear with an official injury designation ahead of Week 18. The veteran has mustered just 4 catches on 6 targets over the past 2 weeks. TE Colby Parkinson actually ran more routes (28 to 21) and tallied more targets (7 to 3) last week. We consider Fant a low-end TE2 for fantasy purposes. There are likely better options available.
Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett (shin) is officially listed as questionable for Week 18 vs. the Rams. Though he was quiet last week in his return from injury, the veteran wideout averaged 7.7 targets per game through Week 15 with a 23.5% target share that ranks 2nd on the team. He's a fairly integral part of this 'Hawks passing attack and should be a high-end WR3/flex candidate should he suit up on Sunday.
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker (ankle, illness) practiced fully on Friday and doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Week 18 vs. the Rams. The Seahawks aren't backing off Walker down the stretch: He's carried a whopping 49 times over the past 2 weeks. He should be in for heavy volume again this Sunday with the 'Hawks 6.5-point home favorites against the Rams. Consider the rookie a solid RB1 in your fantasy lineups.
Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy (ankle) logged full practice on Friday and doesn't carry an injury tag ahead of Week 18 vs. the Chargers. Jeudy ranks as the WR8 overall in PPR since Week 13 with 39 targets in that span. The Chargers' defense presents a tough draw, ranking 5th-best in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA over the last 3 weeks. Volume alone should keep Jeudy within WR2 consideration in fantasy lineups this week.
Cowboys RB Tony Pollard (thigh) practiced fully all week and doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Week 18 vs. the Commanders. Pollard is once again a top-10 RB candidate for fantasy managers this week. Though the Commanders' defense ranks as the 2nd-worst matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs over the course of the whole season, it's important to note that they're 30th in Football Outsiders' run defense DVOA since Week 15. The matchup isn't nearly as bad for Pollard as season-long data would suggest.
Commanders RB Brian Robinson (knee) has been ruled out for Week 18 vs. the Cowboys. RBs Jonathan Williams and Jaret Patterson figure to carry the workload on Sunday. The Cowboys' defense rank as the 4th-toughest matchup for opposing RBs in adjusted fantasy points allowed this season. It would've been tough to trust Robinson or Antonio Gibson, who underwent foot surgery on Thursday, in this game for fantasy purposes. We feel even more skittish about the backups. Neither Williams nor Patterson is anything more than speculative RB3/flex consideration.
Eagles RB Miles Sanders (knee) practiced fully on Friday and doesn't carry an injury tag ahead of Week 18 vs. the Giants. The soon-to-be free agent has struggled significantly over the last 3 weeks, but this upcoming matchup presents a good "get right" opportunity. Though the Giants' defense ranks 3rd-best in Football Outsiders' run defense DVOA over the last 4 weeks, Sanders torched them for 144 yards and 2 TDs in Week 14. Consider Sanders a low-end RB1 in Week 18.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (right shoulder) practiced in a limited fashion all week and is officially questionable for Week 18 vs. the Giants. The Eagles could secure the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win on Sunday. The sense of urgency to win might be enough to see Hurts back under center for the first time since Week 15. Hurts ranks 3rd among QBs in rushing yards per game (54.9), and last he played the Giants in Week 14, he posted 30.4 points. We consider him a top-5 QB in Week 18 if he gets the green light.
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson (hip) practiced fully on Friday and doesn't appear on the final injury report ahead of Week 18 vs. the Browns. Though the veteran has scored nary a TD this season, Johnson's team-high 26.2% target share (8.5 targets per game) makes him a quality WR3/flex option on volume alone. This should serve as a good counterbalance to the Browns' defense ranking as the 6th-toughest matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs.
Saints TE Taysom Hill (back) and Juwan Johnson (quadriceps) finished the practice week with limited participation and are both officially questionable for Week 18 vs. the Panthers. Should either receive the green light to play, Johnson is the player worthy of most consideration in fantasy lineups. Though the Panthers' defense ranks as the 8th-toughest matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs, Johnson's 26.8% target share over the last 3 weeks is tied for the team lead with WR Rashid Shaheed. Johnson is a high-end TE2/streaming candidate in Week 18.
Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) practiced fully on Friday and doesn't carry an injury tag ahead of Week 18 vs. the Jets. The second-year wideout isn't as appealing of a fantasy option this week as he usually is. With rookie QB Skylar Thompson set to be the starter and the Jets' defense being the single-toughest matchup for WRs in adjusted fantasy points allowed this season, we feel Waddle is more of a high-end WR3/flex option in lineups.
To no one's surprise, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (knee) has been ruled out for Week 18 vs. the Bengals. HC John Harbaugh said on Friday that "Lamar's working as hard as he can. The trainers are working as hard as they can... That's where we're at. He won't be playing in this game, we're hopeful for next week," signaling a chance we see the former MVP in the playoffs. It's also worth noting that QB Tyler Huntley (right shoulder, wrist) only managed limited practice all week and is listed as questionable. Separate quotes from Harbaugh indicate that Huntley will be good to go, however. We don't feel Huntley is worth much fantasy consideration this week as he's scored less than 13 fantasy points in 4 consecutive games.
Bills TE Dawson Knox (hip) practiced fully on Friday and doesn't appear on the team's final injury report ahead of Week 18 vs. the Patriots. Though Knox put up a zero in a Week 13 last time these teams faced off, the Pats' defense has allowed 10 TE scores this season, tied for 2nd-most in the NFL. We feel Knox is a mid-TE2/streaming consideration in fantasy lineups this weekend.
Bills QB Josh Allen (ankle, right elbow) upgraded to full practice again on Friday and doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Week 18 vs. the Patriots. With AFC playoff seeding still being a factor in this game, it stands to reason that Allen and all other key starters will play the full compliment of snaps. Fire up Allen as a no-doubt QB1, per usual.
Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers (shoulder) is officially listed as questionable for Week 18 vs. the Bills after limited practice all week. Fellow WR DeVante Parker (concussion) logged full practice on Friday and has been removed from the final injury report. It seems as though we'll see Parker on the field on Sunday for the first time since Week 14 vs. the Cardinals. That said, Meyers is the player of the two who carries the most fantasy value. He's played through this shoulder injury for a few weeks now and we feel pretty confident that he'll suit up. The Bills' defense ranks as the 11th-best matchup for WRs in adjusted fantasy points allowed this season, and Meyers carries a team-leading 27% target share over the last 2 weeks. Consider Meyers a solid WR2 in Week 18.
The Athletic's Vic Tafur believes there's a "good chance [Raiders RB Zamir] White will get his first serious action of the season" vs. the Chiefs on Saturday. RB Josh Jacobs is listed as questionable with hip and oblique injuries and missed Wednesday and Thursday's practices due to a personal issue. The Raiders have nothing to play for in the finale, so it'd make sense for them to get a look at White -- especially with Jacobs set to hit free agency in March. White is only worth considering in Saturday DFS contests, but Jacobs' floor and ceiling is lower in Week 18 than it's been all season.
Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell said Friday that his regulars will start this weekend's game vs. the Bears but that there's a plan to potentially pull them early to get backups some reps, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. The Vikings can't get the NFC's #1 seed and can only climb from #3 to #2 with a 49ers loss to the Cardinals. QB Kirk Cousins, RB Dalvin Cook, WRs Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen and TE T.J. Hockenson are candidates to leave Sunday's game early.
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