We now have reached the ultimate week of hte 2024-2025 NFL season.
For a lot of, meaning fantasy seasons are over and for those who emerged victorious in your league, congratulations! Nonetheless, others are nonetheless seeking to play DFS this week, and there are the few leagues on the market that final into Week 18 to determine championships.
In the event you fall into one in all these latter classes, Week 18 might be powerful to navigate. However we’re right here to assist. Here’s a take a look at the groups with one thing on the road in Week 18 — providing alternatives in each season-long fantasy in addition to DFS — and the groups that is perhaps resting their starters.
Should win groups and matchups
We could have extra on playoff eventualities later this week, however these video games contain groups which can be preventing for his or her playoff lives, or in a single case the highest seed of their convention.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens (Saturday, 4:30 p.m.)
Whereas the Cleveland Browns have been eradicated from playoff competition, the Baltimore Ravens are on the cusp of locking up their division in Week 18. Baltimore can clinch the AFC North title — and the No. 3 seed within the playoffs — with a win or a tie in opposition to Cleveland on Saturday afternoon.
They may additionally clinch the division, and the No. 3 seed, if the Pittsburgh Steelers lose or tie later Saturday evening.
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (Saturday, 8 p.m.)
Whereas each of those groups have one thing on the road on this sport, there are some attention-grabbing eventualities to think about.
Let’s begin with the Cincinnati Bengals. They’re in an absolute “win and get assist” place heading into Week 18. To clinch the ultimate AFC playoff spot the Bengals want a win over the Steelers, after which a Denver Broncos loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in addition to a Miami Dolphins loss or tie in opposition to the New York Jets. With each of these video games approaching Sunday, the Bengals shall be going all out to win this sport.
As for the Pittsburgh Steelers, ought to the Ravens lose earlier within the day, the Steelers have an opportunity to clinch the AFC North with a win over Cincinnati. However even when the Ravens win or tie — which locks up the division for Baltimore — there are nonetheless some seeding eventualities to think about. If the Ravens win or tie in opposition to Cleveland, a Steelers win over the Bengals would clinch the No. 5 seed for Pittsburgh, and a visit to Houston to play the Texans. Pittsburgh may clinch the No. 5 seed if the Los Angeles Chargers lose to the Las Vegas Raiders, however given the seeding implications, anticipate the Steelers to be taking part in to win even when Baltimore wins earlier within the day.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (1 p.m.)
The Carolina Panthers have already been eradicated from the playoffs, however the Atlanta Falcons want a win and a few assist to take the NFC South, and the ultimate playoff spot within the convention. With a win over the Panthers, and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss to the New Orleans Saints, the Falcons are within the playoffs.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Denver Broncos (4:25 p.m.)
Sport replace (Saturday evening): With the Cincinnati Bengals successful on Saturday evening, the Broncos can not again into the playoffs, and now should win on Sunday in opposition to Kansas Metropolis.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have already clinched the highest seed within the AFC, and can seemingly be resting starters.
Issues are a lot completely different on the opposite sideline.
For the third week in a row the Denver Broncos have an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot. All they should do to punch their ticket is win or tie in opposition to Kansas Metropolis.
Denver may again into the playoffs if each the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals lose or tie of their video games, however with a win or a tie they’re in.
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4:25 p.m.)
Whereas the Atlanta Falcons swept the season sequence in opposition to them, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers nonetheless management their very own future with regards to successful the NFC South and clinching the ultimate playoff spot within the convention.
With a win or a tie in opposition to the New Orleans Saints, the Buccaneers are in. Nonetheless, keep in mind that they will nonetheless again into the postseason if the Atlanta Falcons lose or tie earlier within the day. With this sport coming after the sport between the Panthers and the Falcons, the Buccaneers may determine to relaxation gamers if they’ve already clinched a playoff spot due to the ending of the Carolina-Atlanta sport.
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets (4:25 p.m.)
Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets have already been eradicated from postseason competition.
The Miami Dolphins, nevertheless, are alive with a viable path to the playoffs. With a win on this sport — and a Broncos loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs — Miami is within the postseason. Provided that the Denver sport is occurring on the similar time, Miami shall be taking part in to win on this contest.
Whether or not Tua Tagovailoa is underneath heart, nevertheless, stays a query mark because the Dolphins passer offers with a hip harm.
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (8:20 p.m.)
The regular-season finale has some fairly large, however easy, stakes on the road.
The winner of Sunday evening’s sport between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions is the NFC North Champion, and the No. 1 seed within the NFC.
The loser drops to the No. 5 seed, and can go on the street on Wild Card Weekend.
Clinched playoff spot, however probability for higher seeding
Groups in these video games have already locked up playoff spots, however is perhaps seeking to enhance their seed earlier than the Wild Card video games start.
Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys (1 p.m.)
The Washington Commanders are already within the playoffs, however they’re nonetheless taking part in for seeding. Washington can both be the No. 6 seed within the playoffs — and face both the Los Angeles Rams or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — or the No. 7 seed within the playoffs and tackle the Philadelphia Eagles for the third time this season.
With a win over the already-eliminated Dallas Cowboys, the Commanders are the No. 6 seed. They will additionally clinch the No. 6 seed with a tie in opposition to Dallas — and a Inexperienced Bay Packers tie in opposition to the Chicago Bears — or a Packers loss in opposition to Chicago.
Chicago Bears at Inexperienced Bay Packers (1 p.m.)
As with the Washington Commanders, the Inexperienced Bay Packers are already within the playoffs. However each Washington and Inexperienced Bay are preventing for the No. 6 seed.
Washington has the benefit, as laid out above, and controls their future for the No. 6 seed. However the Packers can nonetheless slide into the No. 6 spot with a win over the Bears, and a Washington loss or tie in opposition to the Cowboys.
Inexperienced Bay may clinch the No. 6 seed with a tie in opposition to Chicago, and a Commanders loss to Dallas.
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders (4:25 p.m.)
Sport replace (Saturday evening): With the Pittsburgh Steelers dropping on Saturday, the Chargers can clinch the No. 5 seed with a win or a tie Sunday.
The Los Angeles Chargers have already punched their playoff ticket, however can both slot in because the No. 5 seed, or the No. 6 seed.
However their possibilities on the No. 5 seed are impacted closely by outcomes on Saturday, so they might be locked into the No. 6 seed by the point this sport rolls round.
For instance, if the Ravens lose on Saturday and the Steelers win, Pittsburgh is the AFC North Champion and the No. 3 seed. Baltimore would drop to 11-6 on the 12 months, and with the Chargers starting Week 18 with a 10-6 report, even with a win Los Angeles would lose the tiebreaker in opposition to the Ravens, due to their loss to Baltimore again in November.
Nonetheless, if the Steelers win and the Ravens win or tie, then Baltimore wins the division and takes the No. 3 seed. Pittsburgh would enhance to 11-6 on the 12 months, however in addition they personal a tiebreaker over the Chargers due to an early-season win over Los Angeles.
Which means that relying on outcomes Saturday, Los Angeles may very well be locked into the No. 6 seed earlier than their sport on Sunday, and will relaxation gamers. The one approach the Chargers can transfer as much as the No. 5 seed is that if the Steelers lose on Saturday, which might open the door for them. With a win on Sunday — and a Steelers loss or tie on Saturday — then the Chargers are the No. 5 seed. They may additionally clinch the No. 5 seed with a Steelers loss, and a tie in opposition to the Raiders.
Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams (4:25 p.m.)
Goals of a “winner-take-all” sport between the Rams and the Seahawks to determine the NFC West have been dashed in Week 17.
However whereas the Seahawks have been eradicated, the Rams can nonetheless enhance their seeding relying on ends in Week 18. In the mean time, Los Angeles is the No. 3 seed, they usually can keep there with a win or tie in opposition to Seattle.
Nonetheless, they’d drop to the No. 4 seed with a loss to the Seahawks, and a Tampa Bay win in opposition to New Orleans.
Provided that the No. 4 workforce shall be internet hosting the loser of the Detroit-Minnesota sport, you’ll anticipate Los Angeles to be taking part in to win in opposition to Seattle. Nonetheless, head coach Sean McVay has already introduced that Jimmy Garoppolo will begin instead of Matthew Stafford on Sunday.
Resting starters
Groups on this class are already locked into each the playoffs, and their seed within the bracket. As such, anticipate these 4 groups to be resting starters in Week 18. For instance, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott already indicated that Josh Allen will begin to hold his consecutive begins streak — which is at present the longest lively streak amongst quarterbacks — alive however not play for lengthy in opposition to the New England Patriots.
This consists of Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley is simply 100 yards shy of tying Eric Dickerson’s all-time report for speeding yards in a single season. With the Eagles going through the New York Giants — and their spotty run protection — there was an opportunity Nick Sirianni let Barkley chase the report.
Nonetheless, Sirianni introduced on Wednesday that Barkley and different starters could be resting this week.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Buffalo Payments
Houston Texans
Philadelphia Eagles
Nothing to play for
These groups have been eradicated from playoff competition getting into Week 18. They may select to play starters for season-ending ethical victories, or they may select to sit down some key starters in the event that they wish to deal with their place within the 2025 NFL Draft. Groups gained’t admit that, however there shall be some gamers that sit among the many worst groups. We must always know forward of kickoffs for his or her video games what’s happening with their beginning lineups. They don’t have the identical motivations as potential playoff groups, however they will nonetheless provide some worth for those who’re taking part in DFS.
Arizona Cardinals
Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
New York Jets
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee Titans