It is about that time in the week where you need to lock in who is going to be in your fantasy football lineups going into this weekend’s slate of games in the NFL. We have reached the last week of the regular season and it is important to put in the players that will get you the maximum number of points to help you win your league. Here are the players you should start heading into week 18:
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers has been unreliably for the majority of the fantasy season. The Packers are coming off a drubbing of the Minnesota Vikings, 41-17, at home. Rodgers was able to find the endzone twice in that game with one coming through the air and the other on the ground.
There is reason for optimism for Rodgers to produce his best fantasy outing of the season with Green Bay taking on the Lions this weekend. The last time the Packers faced off against Detroit was earlier in the season where the Lions shutdown the Packers offense in a 15-9 win. Outside of that game, Detroit’s defense has allowed the most fantasy points to the quarterback position this season.
Rodgers had one of his worst games the last time out against Detroit as he went on to throw only one touchdown and three interceptions. With a postseason berth on the line for both teams, expect this game to provide a lot of fireworks. When the postseason is on the line, Rodgers likes to turn it up a notch.
Running Back Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams
Cam Akers had a slow start to the fantasy season after many fantasy owners had faith in the Rams running back after what they saw in the Super Bowl. After his slow start, Akers has recently been on a tear as he has quickly become the Rams leader in the backfield. The 23-year old running back has posted 13 or more fantasy points in four out of the last five games.
The production continues to increase for Akers in the Rams backfield and the matchup this week sets up for yet another explosion for the former Florida State product. Los Angeles will be going up against the Seattle Seahawks to close out the season. Seattle’s defense has allowed the second-most fantasy points in the league to the running back position.
Pair a great matchup and a increased workload in the backfield Akers is a must-start heading into the final week of the regular season.
Wide Receiver Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
Christian Watson was on a tear that we saw Akers was on before coming back down to earth in the last few weeks. In his last three games, Watson has averaged just 7.2 fantasy points per game. Last week, he was only able to rack up one reception for 11 yards. The target share continues to be there for the rookie wide receiver as he had five targets on the day against Minnesota.
It has been hard to figure out who is the clear WR1 in this Green Bay offense. It has been a shuffle of three wide receivers for the majority of the season: Watson, Allen Lazard and Romeo Doubs. The rookie wide receiver will look to get back on track against a Lions defense that is allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to the wide receiver position. Detroit has also given up 14 touchdown catches on the year against wide receivers.
Rodgers has already been slated as a start of the week and we are pairing that with one of his go-to targets. Look for Watson to find the endzone in this matchup as Watson will want to produce to help lift Green Bay into the playoffs with a win over Detroit.
Tight End Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
Tyler Higbee has been one of the more consistent tight ends to start in fantasy football. He did have a dud in week 17 where he finished with just 4.1 fantasy points. Higbee, in the 31-10 loss to the Chargers, had three receptions for 11 yards.
Higbee will have a chance to get back on track against a Seattle defense that has surrendered at least 10 fantasy points to tight ends in 12 outings this season. In Los Angeles’s last matchup against Seattle, Higbee only had two receptions for 14 yards. John Wolford was the starting quarterback in their last matchup and this go-around it will be Baker Mayfield.
Higbee has the opportunity to put up big-time numbers against a Seahawks defense that has struggled against tight ends in fantasy terms.
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