The final week of the NFL regular season is upon us and we’ll have to operate with caution as some teams have nothing to play for while others are trying to improve their seeding in the playoffs. There are also two games on Saturday that won’t be on the main slate, so we won’t have the Chiefs, Raiders, Jaguars, or Titans to choose from.
For the most part, we’ll want to stack teams that have something to play for or are at least playing their starters. Teams like the Buccaneers and the Giants are tough to trust this week as neither of them can improve their position in the NFC playoff picture in Week 18.
Ahead of the final week of the regular season, here are my favorite stacks for the Week 18 main slate on DraftKings.
Josh Allen ($8,400) + Stefon Diggs ($7,900) + Gabriel Davis ($5,400) or Dawson Knox ($4,200)
Allen has the second-most points per game on DraftKings among QBs on the main slate and he’s scored 24-plus points in three out of his last five games. The Bills could eliminate the Patriots from the playoffs and ensure they don’t finish any lower than the No. 2 seed in the AFC with a win on Sunday.
Diggs is sitting at his lowest salary since Week 3 and he leads the Bills with a 26.9% target share. Davis is a perfect GPP play with his touchdown upside while Knox has earned five-plus targets in three straight games. Isaiah McKenzie is also viable despite the Bills reuniting with Cole Beasley recently.
Bring-back options: Rhamondre Stevenson ($6,700), Jakobi Meyers ($5,100), Tyquan Thornton ($3,300)
The Patriots still have a chance to sneak into the playoffs with a win or loss on Sunday, though, they’ll need losses by the Dolphins, the Steelers, and the Titans. Stevenson is the featured back for the Patriots despite Damien Harris returning, but I expect him to get a decent workload in a vital game. Meyers is the clear No. 1 receiving option, but Thornton and Kendrick Bourne are viable GPP options if DeVante Parker remains out.
Joe Burrow ($7,300) + Ja’Marr Chase ($8,400) + Tee Higgins ($7,600) or Tyler Boyd ($4,600)
Burrow and the Bengals have a chance to get the No. 2 seed if they win on Sunday and the Bills lose to the Patriots while they can’t fall any lower than the No. 3 seed. The star quarterback has posted 25-plus points in three of his last four games and he recorded 28.5 points against a formidable Patriots defense in Week 16.
Chase has garnered 12-plus targets in three of his last four games since returning from a hip injury. Higgins has caught a touchdown in four of his last five games while Boyd is one way to get different with Bengals stacks. Hayden Hurst is also worth considering to differentiate from those using Chase or Higgins.
Bring-back options: J.K. Dobbins ($5,700), Mark Andrews ($5,400), Gus Edwards ($4,500), Demarcus Robinson ($3,600)
Dobbins returned from injury in Week 14 and he’s immediately handled 12-plus rushing attempts in each of his last four games. It’s tough to trust any pass-catchers on the Ravens sans Lamar Jackson, but Andrews and Robinson are the only two I’d even consider using in GPPs. While Dobbins has gotten seven red-zone attempts since returning in Week 14, Edwards has four red-zone attempts, making him a dart throw at the running back position.
Dak Prescott ($6,600) + CeeDee Lamb ($8,200) + Dalton Schultz ($4,500) or T.Y. Hilton ($3,400)
The Cowboys have boasted one of the best offenses in the NFL, ranking top 10 in offensive NEFF. They can still win the NFC East if the Eagles lose on Sunday. Prescott has tossed multiple touchdowns in nine out of his 11 appearances this season and the Commanders are a pass-funneling defense.
While the Commanders are giving up the 18th most points per game to WRs overall, they are allowing the eighth-most points per game to slot WRs, which aids Lamb. Schultz leads the Cowboys with 16 red-zone targets and five red-zone touchdowns this season. Hilton produced four catches for 50 yards in his second game with the Cowboys in Week 17 and they’ll likely want to get him more involved ahead of the postseason.
Bring-back options: Terry McLaurin ($5,900), Brian Robinson Jr. ($5,600), Jahan Dotson ($4,500), Logan Thomas ($3,000)
The Commanders announced that rookie Sam Howell will start at quarterback upon being eliminated from the playoffs. That being said, McLaurin is under $6,000 while the Cowboys allow the fifth-most points per game to WRs. Robinson is questionable to play, so Jonathan Williams could be a salary-relief option at running back if he’s ruled out. Dotson has earned six-plus targets in four straight games while young quarterbacks sometimes tend to target tight ends, making Thomas a viable GPP piece.
Brock Purdy ($5,700) + Brandon Aiyuk ($6,800) + Deebo Samuel ($6,000) or George Kittle ($6,000)
The 49ers still have an outside chance to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC and they want to get Purdy more reps before the playoffs. The rookie quarterback has thrown exactly two touchdowns in each of his first five starts and the Cardinals allow the 10th most points per game to QBs.
Christian McCaffrey is questionable to play, but he’s certainly viable to stack with Purdy if he’s active. Samuel is expected to return on Sunday, though, the 49ers could ease him back as he hasn’t played since Week 14. Aiyuk has scored 13-plus points in three out of his last four games and Kittle has scored five touchdowns in his last three games with Purdy under center.
Bring-back options: James Conner ($6,800), Marquise Brown ($5,300), Greg Dortch ($3,800), Trey McBride ($3,300)
Conner has received 19-plus targets in five straight games for the Cardinals and he’s found the end zone in six of his last seven games. DeAndre Hopkins has been ruled out for Week 18, so Brown and Dortch will operate as the top two WRs for David Blough on Sunday. McBride had his best game as a rookie in Week 17 as he hauled in seven of his 10 targets for 78 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons.