Week 18 Fantasy Football Rankings: Final Season Position-by-Position Review

The final week of the NFL season brings with it the final week in fantasy football, with some managers battling for league championships and others playing out the stretch, hoping to avoid a last-place finish.

With several superstars still playing thanks to meaningful, high-stakes games, the must-starts dominate the top of positional rankings but other, resting starters have opened up the opportunity for lesser-recognized players to enter the top 10 and potentially prove the difference between victory and defeat.

Throw in a few sleepers along the way and you have one last, end-of-season positional review.

Quarterback rankings for Week 18 are:

1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns
2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints
4. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys
5. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
6. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
7. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
8. Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
9. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
10. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons

Sleeper: Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers

Penix has not put up blockbuster numbers in his first two starts. Still, he averaged nearly seven yards per completion and has a favorable match-up against a Carolina Panthers team that has allowed 11 passing touchdowns in their last four games.

The Falcons may ride their run game against a team giving up a league-leading 29.65 points to opposing running backs, but the team also allows the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks at 20.18 per game.

With so many top-tier fantasy QBs still playing thanks to the number of meaningful games left in Week 18, Penix is a desperation start for managers facing uncertainty surrounding their signal callers, be it due to injury or coach's decision.

Running back rankings for Week 18 are:

1. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
3. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns
4. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
5. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
6. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams
7. Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
8. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
9. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints
10. Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers

Sleeper: Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers

It has been a forgettable fantasy season for Mattison, who has struggled with missing tackles and after-contact yardage. He has not finished better than 17th at his position this season and in Week 17, carried 10 times for 32 yards, ending his day ranked 42nd among running backs.

He hasn't been a touchdown scorer, either, finding the end zone just four times in 2024.

With Ameer Abdullah and Sincere McCormick out in Week 18, Mattison will be the workhorse for a bad Raiders offense.

Add that to a Chargers defense that has given up 21.93 points per game to the position and allowed three total touchdowns to running backs the last four weeks, and the former Viking will have a chance to finish his season on a positive note.

Managers struggling to replace Chase Brown (questionable), Alvin Kamara (doubtful), Saints backup Kendre Miller (out), or Tony Pollard (questionable) should feel comfortable enough taking a chance on Mattison as a sleeper.

Wide receiver rankings for Week 18 are:

1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
2. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
4. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints
5. George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
6. Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams
7. Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
8. DJ Moore, Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
9. Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
10. Davante Adams, New York Jets at Miami Dolphins

Sleeper: Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Joe Flacco will start Sunday's game against Jacksonville, which means Alec Pierce is a near must-start, despite being available in over 85 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.

With the veteran under center again last week, Pierce finished 10th in standard and 11th in PPR leagues last week, catching six balls for 122 yards and a touchdown.

Pierce stretches the field and brings that explosive deep play opportunity Flacco has favored throughout his career. He has benefited exponentially from having the former Super Bowl MVP at QB and against a Jaguars team that is 25th against WRs and yielding nearly 36 points to opposing wide receivers should have another big day.

Tight end rankings for Week 18 are:

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
2. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers
3. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
4. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys
5. Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
6. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns
7. TJ Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
8. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
9. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
10. Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

Sleeper: Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams

Fant has been a non-factor in fantasy for most of the season. Since Week 13 against the Jets, has seen a whopping two red zone targets. He has not finished in the top 10 among tight ends since Week 3 against Miami.

With all of that, he is still a worthwhile sleeper for managers needing tight end help, thanks to a favorable match-up against the Los Angeles Rams.

The NFC West champions are sixth-worst against opposing tight ends, giving up 14.59 points to the position. With starters resting in Week 18, the Seahawks will have more opportunities to exploit the defense and have a statistically strong day offensively.

Defense/special teams rankings for Week 18 are:

1. Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns
2. Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants
3. Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
4. Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
5. Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys
6. Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
7. Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
8. Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers
9. Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams
10. Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks

Kicker rankings for Week 18 are:

1. Jake Bates, Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
2. Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns
4. Brandon McManus, Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
5. Will Lutz, Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
6. Jason Sanders, Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
7. Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
8. Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
9. Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
10. Riley Patterson, Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers