The final week of the regular 2023 NFL season draws near, with 16 scheduled matches set to ignite the fantasy football arena. Week 18 will see 16 games scheduled, with all of them being divisional matchups.
The first match will be on Saturday, an away game for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Baltimore Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium, kicking off at 4:30 p.m. ET with a -3.5 spread. The Houston Texans versus the Indianapolis Colts will follow closely in the evening, taking on the home team at Lucas Oil Stadium with a -1 spread at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Meanwhile, on Sunday at noon, the Cleveland Browns will clash with the Cincinnati Bengals, who hold a -7 spread at Paycor Stadiu. At the same time in Detroit, the Lions will host Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field, with the Lions holding a -3.5 point spread. The game kicks off on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
The stakes are high as teams vie for playoff berths in this final week of the regular season. While certain teams, like the Browns with their 11-5 record, have secured playoff berths, some are still competing for postseason slots or favorable positions in the NFL draft.
Steelers, Texans expected to win
The first critical matchup of Week 18 will see Ravens’ Tyler Huntley take the reins as quarterback, projecting a shaky performance at 14.7 points. Stocked into the top seed, the Ravens may rest key players, making Huntley and running back Melvin Gordon III potential fantasy standouts.
On the opposite side, Steelers’ quarterback Mason Rudolph is expected to perform poorly, with a projection of 12.2 points. Notable players include Steelers’ Jaylen Warren (RB16, 13.9 points, shaky) and George Pickens (WR23, 12.1 points, average).
The Steelers, needing a win for playoff contention, are poised for a full-scale effort. The final projected score of the game is Steelers 20, Ravens 19, with an Over/Under of 38.9.
The second match on Saturday is a do-or-die clash between the Texans and Colts, with the winning probability favoring the Texans at 53 percent. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (18.3 points, shaky) will lead his team against Gardner Minshew II (QB20, 14.1 points, good) of the Colts.
Jonathan Taylor (RB14, 14.1 points, poor) and Devin Singletary (RB24, 13.0 points, great) will headline the running backs. This matchup determines playoff fate, with the winner advancing and the loser eliminated. Notably, Noah Brown’s potential return adds depth to fantasy options.
Browns, Lions expected to win
Holding the No. 5 seed in the AFC, the Browns will visit the Bengals at Paycor Stadium with a 61 percent win probability. Key player projections include both teams’ quarterbacks, Jake Browning (15.3 points in a poor matchup) and Jeff Driskel (14.4 points in a good matchup).
Lineup locks for the match are Cincinnati’s running back Joe Mixon and Cleveland’s wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Mixon is expected to score 16.4 points in an average matchup, while Chase is anticipated to score 13.5 points in a poor matchup.
The Browns are likely to rest key players in this game. Driskel is set to start at quarterback, while players like Pierre Strong Jr. and Cedric Tillman may see extended play. The already-eliminated Bengals plan to approach this game as they would any other.
However, for the Vikings-Lions matchup in Detroit, both teams have something at stake. The Vikings are eyeing a long-shot chance at a wild-card berth. Meanwhile, the Lions have a potential seed move from No. 3 to No. 2 with a win (if the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys both lose).
Both teams are likely to go in with their starters, especially with Lions coach Dan Campbell indicating usual play. Viking’s running back Ty Chandler faces a tough matchup against the Detroit defense, which has allowed the fewest RB yards and fantasy points.
Ultimately, the Lions are expected to be a clear winner, with a projected score of 27-18. Lineup locks for the game are Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Justin Jefferson and Sam LaPorta.