It's time to set our Week 18 fantasy football lineups and identify our favorite DFS plays and fades.
Below, you'll find tiers and rankings for every position, including analysis, implied point totals, betting spreads and more.
For adjustments after the timestamp below, check out PFF's weekly rankings and projections.
Last updated: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5
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KEY:
- SOS: PFF's Fantasy Strength of Schedule (SoS) metric provides a league-wide, season-long view of opponent matchups for each fantasy position.
- OL Pass-Block Advantage (OL PBA): offensive-line pass blocking matchup; derived from the OL/DL Matchup tool (pass blocking advantage — the higher the number, the better the matchup for the offensive line, and vice versa).
- OL Run-Block Advantage (OL RBA): offensive-line pass blocking matchup; derived from the OL/DL Matchup tool (run-blocking advantage — the higher the number, the better the matchup for the offensive line, and vice versa).
- WR/CB Matchup Advantage (WR/CB MU): wide receiver versus cornerback matchup; derived from the WR/CB Matchup tool (matchup advantage grade — the higher the grade, the better the matchup for the receiver, and vice versa).
- TE Matchup Advantage (TE MU): tight end versus linebackers and safeties; derived from the TE Matchup tool (matchup advantage — the higher the number, the better the matchup for the tight end, and vice versa.
- Projections: from PFF projections tool.
- Injuries: Q = Questionable; D = Doubtful (typically removed from ranks on Saturday); GTD = game-time decision
JUMP TO A POSITION RANKING:
QUARTERBACKS
| Tier | Rank | Player | Opponent | Total | Spread | Implied Points | QB SOS | OL PBA | PPR | Injury Status |
| 1 | QB1 | Josh Allen | NYJ | 42.0 | -16.5 | 29.25 | 7.8 | 12 | 25.9 | |
| 1 | QB2 | Kyler Murray | SEA | 48.0 | -6.5 | 27.25 | 7.0 | 19 | 24.2 | |
| 1 | QB3 | Tom Brady | CAR | 41.5 | -8.0 | 24.75 | 4.9 | 32 | 23.0 | |
| 1 | QB4 | Patrick Mahomes | @DEN | 44.5 | -10.5 | 27.50 | 3.0 | 37 | 22.2 | |
| 2 | QB5 | Justin Herbert | @LV | 49.5 | -3.0 | 26.25 | 4.7 | 0 | 21.5 | |
| 2 | QB6 | Matthew Stafford | SF | 44.5 | -4.5 | 24.50 | 4.3 | -8 | 19.2 | |
| 2 | QB7 | Dak Prescott | @PHI | 43.0 | -7.0 | 25.00 | 4.0 | 3 | 18.2 | |
| 3 | QB8 | Aaron Rodgers | @DET | 45.0 | -3.5 | 24.25 | 8.8 | 12 | 22.2 | |
| 3 | QB9 | Trey Lance | @LA | 44.5 | 4.5 | 20.00 | 2.2 | -47 | 15.5 | |
| 4 | QB10 | Taysom Hill | @ATL | 40.5 | -4.0 | 22.25 | 6.4 | 11 | 19.1 | |
| 4 | QB11 | Justin Fields | @MIN | 44.5 | 3.5 | 20.50 | 3.5 | 26 | 17.0 | |
| 4 | QB12 | Russell Wilson | @ARZ | 48.0 | 6.5 | 20.75 | 5.2 | -18 | 19.8 | |
| 4 | QB13 | Jalen Hurts | DAL | 43.0 | 7.0 | 18.00 | 1.4 | 2 | 19.1 | Q |
| 4 | QB14 | Derek Carr | LAC | 49.5 | 3.0 | 23.25 | 5.9 | -21 | 18.9 | |
| 4 | QB15 | Kirk Cousins | CHI | 44.5 | -3.5 | 24.00 | 5.3 | -18 | 16.6 | |
| 4 | QB16 | Tyler Huntley | PIT | 41.5 | -5.5 | 23.50 | 4.3 | -36 | 17.0 | |
| 5 | QB17 | Ryan Tannehill | @HST | 43.0 | -10.0 | 26.50 | 7.3 | -16 | 21.4 | |
| 5 | QB18 | Mac Jones | @MIA | 40.0 | -6.5 | 23.25 | 4.3 | 17 | 15.9 | |
| 5 | QB19 | Carson Wentz | @JAX | 44.0 | -15.5 | 29.75 | 10.0 | 8 | 17.2 | |
| 6 | QB20 | Davis Mills | TEN | 43.0 | 10.0 | 16.50 | 3.9 | 1 | 15.7 | |
| 6 | QB21 | Tua Tagovailoa | NE | 40.0 | 6.5 | 16.75 | 3.4 | -21 | 15.0 | |
| 6 | QB22 | Matt Ryan | NO | 40.5 | 4.0 | 18.25 | 1.0 | -25 | 17.0 | |
| 6 | QB23 | Jared Goff | GB | 45.0 | 3.5 | 20.75 | 1.5 | -24 | 12.2 | Q |
| 6 | QB24 | Zach Wilson | @BUF | 42.0 | 16.5 | 12.75 | 3.0 | -12 | 12.2 | |
| 6 | QB25 | Taylor Heinicke | @NYG | 38.0 | -7.0 | 22.50 | 4.7 | 31 | 15.2 | |
| 6 | QB26 | Ben Roethlisberger | @BLT | 41.5 | 5.5 | 18.00 | 7.0 | -11 | 13.9 | |
| 6 | QB27 | Sam Darnold | @TB | 41.5 | 8.0 | 16.75 | 1.9 | 10 | 12.8 | |
| 7 | QB28 | Trevor Lawrence | IND | 44.0 | 15.5 | 14.25 | 2.3 | 7 | 14.5 | |
| 7 | QB29 | Drew Lock | KC | 44.5 | 10.5 | 17.00 | 2.5 | -7 | 13.5 | Q |
| 7 | QB30 | Case Keenum | CIN | 38.0 | -5.5 | 21.75 | 4.8 | -4 | 14.7 | |
| 7 | QB31 | Brandon Allen | @CLV | 38.0 | 5.5 | 16.25 | 0.0 | -42 | 8.8 | |
| 7 | QB32 | Jake Fromm | WAS | 38.0 | 7.0 | 15.50 | 6.1 | -14 | 3.7 | |
| 8 | QB33 | Jordan Love | @DET | 45.0 | -3.5 | 24.25 | 8.8 | 12 | 3.9 |
Removed from ranks: Joe Burrow (won't play with No. 4 locked); Lamar Jackson (questionable — ankle, DNP Wednesday); Jimmy Garoppolo (questionable — thumb, LP Wednesday)
Tier 1 – Josh Allen, Kyler Murray, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes are all playing in games with playoff implications and should be full-go in Week 18.
Tier 2 – Justin Herbert is in a must-win game on Sunday night against the Raiders that would secure a playoff berth for the Chargers.
Tier 2 – Matthew Stafford and the Rams would fall to the fifth seed if they lose and the Cardinals win. Both teams play in the late window, so Stafford isn't in danger of missing snaps against the 49ers.
Tier 2 – Dak Prescott and the Cowboys can't drop further than the fourth seed with the division already clinched. However, they could move up as high as No. 2 with losses by the Buccaneers and Rams.
Tier 3 – Aaron Rodgers is supposed to play Sunday, but with the No. 1 seed and a bye already locked, he likely won't finish the game. He has an opportunity to earn up to $300,000 in contract incentives if he is in the top three for completion percentage, yards per attempt and touchdown passes ($100,000 each). All are within reach, so maybe we see Rodgers for a half against the Lions.
Tier 3 – Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are in the playoffs, and their seeding doesn't matter much. Whether they finish sixth or seventh, they must go on the road. Don't expect the Eagles' starters to play long against the Cowboys, if at all. If Hurts doesn't play, Gardner Minshew will get the start, but he could be down multiple weapons. Boston Scott, Jordan Howard and Dallas Goedert are all on the reserve/COVID-19 list at the moment.
Tier 3 – Trey Lance could give way to Jimmy Garoppolo if his thumb is ready. Garoppolo was limited in Wednesday's practice and is questionable for the matchup against the Rams.
Tier 4 – Taysom Hill gets a Falcons defense struggling to defend the run, allowing 29 regulation rushing attempts per game over the past six weeks. If the Saints win and the 49ers lose, New Orleans punches a ticket to the playoffs. Both teams play late, so the Saints' starters should play their usual snaps.
Tier 4 – Derek Carr and the Raiders face off with the Chargers in a win-and-in game on Sunday Night Football. If the Colts somehow lose to the Jaguars earlier in the day, the Raiders could rest starters.
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