Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em



Fantasy Football: Start Em, Sit Em: Week 18

Rather than quickly listing start em and sit em players on my Week 18 NFL Picks page, I thought I’d devote a new page for this. Follow @walterfootball for updates.







Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) at Denver Broncos (7-9)

Start Em:
  • Darrel Williams, RB, Chiefs
    The Broncos struggle against the run.

  • Javonte Williams, RB, Broncos
    I’m going to continue to start Javonte Williams because he’s so good.

  • Obvious Starts:
    KC: QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Tyreek Hill, TE Travis Kelce.
    DEN: TE Noah Fant.

    Sit Em:
  • Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Chiefs
    Clyde Edwards-Helaire is out for Saturday’s game.

  • Mecole Hardman, WR, Chiefs
    Mecole Hardman has seen a dip in snaps recently.

  • Broncos Receivers
    It’s hard to trust these guys with Drew Lock or an injured Teddy Bridgewater.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Dallas Cowboys (11-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    DAL: None.
    PHI: None.

    Sit Em:
  • All Starters
    This game is meaningless for both teams, so they could sit their starters.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Green Bay Packers (13-3) at Detroit Lions (2-13-1)

    Start Em:
  • Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions
    Amon-Ra St. Brown is emerging as the next Hines Ward.

  • Obvious Starts:
    GB: None.
    DET: RB D’Andre Swift.

    Sit Em:
  • Packers Starters
    The Packers are likely to rest their starters.

  • Brock Wright, TE, Lions
    I’m not buying Brock Wright as a viable replacement for T.J. Hockenson.






    Chicago Bears (6-10) at Minnesota Vikings (7-9)

    Start Em:
  • Darnell Mooney, WR, Bears
    We just saw what the Packers’ receivers did to Minnesota’s secondary.

  • Obvious Starts:
    CHI: RB David Montgomery.
    MIN: RB Dalvin Cook, WR Justin Jefferson.

    Sit Em:
  • No one of note

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Indianapolis Colts (9-7) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    IND: RB Jonathan Taylor, WR Michael Pittman.
    JAX: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Dare Ogunbowale, RB, Jaguars
    Some may want to start Dare Ogunbowale, but the Colts are stellar against the run.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Tennessee Titans (11-5) at Houston Texans (4-12)

    Start Em:
  • D’Onta Foreman, RB, Titans
    The Texans can’t stop the run.

  • Obvious Starts:
    TEN: WR A.J. Brown.
    HOU: WR Brandin Cooks.

    Sit Em:
  • Julio Jones, WR, Titans
    Julio Jones looks like a shell of his former self.

  • Texans Running Backs


    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Washington Redskins (6-10) at New York Giants (4-12)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    WAS: None.
    NYG: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Terry McLaurin, WR, Redskins
    The Giants cover receivers very well.

  • Giants Offense
    I can’t think of a single Giant I’d want to start, including Saquon Barkley.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7-1) at Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    PIT: RB Najee Harris, WR Diontae Johnson.
    BAL: WR Marquise Brown, TE Mark Andrews. Sit Em:
  • Ravens Running Backs
    The Steelers are horrible against the run, but the Ravens split touches with their running backs.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) at Cleveland Browns (7-9)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    CIN: None.
    CLE: RB Nick Chubb, RB Kareem Hunt (PPR), TE Austin Hooper.

    Sit Em:
  • Bengals Starters
    Cincinnati’s starters won’t play very much.

  • Jarvis Landry, WR, Browns
    Baker Mayfield has been terrible the past two months.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    New England Patriots (10-6) at Miami Dolphins (8-8)

    Start Em:
  • Hunter Henry, TE, Patriots
    The Dolphins have struggles against tight ends.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NE: RB Damien Harris, Patriots Defense.
    MIA: WR Jaylen Waddle.

    Sit Em:
  • Mike Gesicki, TE, Dolphins
    The Patriots are stellar against tight ends.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    New York Jets (4-12) at Buffalo Bills (10-6)

    Start Em:
  • Michael Carter, RB, Jets
    The Bills aren’t very good against the run.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NYJ: Braxton Berrios (PPR).
    BUF: QB Josh Allen, WR Stefon Diggs, TE Dawson Knox.

    Sit Em:
  • Cole Beasley, WR, Bills
    Cole Beasley may not see many snaps if the Bills are ahead.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Carolina Panthers (5-11) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    CAR: WR D.J. Moore.
    TB: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Panthers Running Backs
    The Panthers split carries, and it’s tough to run on the Buccaneers.

  • Buccaneers Offense
    The Buccaneers may sit their starters. Bruce Arians said otherwise, but he could always change his mind.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    New Orleans Saints (8-8) at Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    NO: QB Taysom Hill, RB Alvin Kamara.
    ATL: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Falcons Offense
    The Saints have a great defense, so it’s hard to like anyone on Atlanta this week.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Seattle Seahawks (6-10) at Arizona Cardinals (11-5)

    Start Em:
  • Christian Kirk, A.J. Green, WRs, Cardinals
    The “other” Arizona receivers are in play with DeAndre Hopkins sidelined.

  • Obvious Starts:
    SEA: QB Russell Wilson, WR D.K. Metcalf, WR Tyler Lockett.
    ARZ: QB Kyler Murray.

    Sit Em:
  • No one of note

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    San Francisco 49ers (9-7) at Los Angeles Rams (12-4)

    Start Em:
  • Van Jefferson and Odell Beckham, WRs, Rams
    The “other” Rams receivers are good options versus San Francisco’s terrible cornerbacks.

  • Obvious Starts:
    SF: RB Elijah Mitchell, WR Deebo Samuel, TE George Kittle.
    LAR: QB Matthew Stafford, WR Cooper Kupp.

    Sit Em:
  • Sony Michel, RB, Rams
    It’s difficult to run on the 49ers.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Los Angeles Chargers (9-7) at Las Vegas Raiders (9-7)

    Start Em:
  • Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders
    The Chargers are very weak to the run.

  • Hunter Renfrow, WR, Raiders
    Renfrow will continue to receive more targets in the wake of Henry Ruggs’ departure.

  • Obvious Starts:
    LAC: RB Austin Ekeler, WR Keenan Allen, Chargers Defense.
    LV: TE Darren Waller (if he plays).

    Sit Em:
  • No one of note

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis





    NFL Picks - Nov. 20


    2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20


    NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19


    Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4