For most leagues, the fantasy football season is over. However, some leagues still play throughout the end of the regular season. We've got you covered with our fantasy football quarterback rankings for Week 18 of the fantasy football season.
Many key quarterbacks will be rested, with some NFL teams locked into a playoff seed. Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Matthew Stafford, and Joe Flacco will be rested in Week 18. On top of resting starters, there are other quarterback changes to be aware of. The Vikings will return to Nick Mullens after starting Jaren Hall last Sunday, while the Steelers will stick with Mason Rudolph for another week. Let's see where key quarterbacks Justin Fields, Geno Smith, Kyler Murray, Desmond Ridder, and Carson Wentz rank in the regular season finale.
Our fantasy football quarterback rankings for Week 18 are put together by Nick Mariano. In addition to our staff rankings, below you will also find a summary of this week's important fantasy football injury news. There are always critical injuries to track, so check back until kickoff.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Week 18 Quarterback Fantasy Football News and Injuries
- Sam Darnold To Start Against Rams, Brock Purdy To Be Rested
- Tyler Huntley Will Start In Week 18, Lamar Jackson To Be Rested
- Joe Flacco To Be Rested, Jeff Driskel Starting In Week 18
- Nick Mullens Named Vikings Starter In Week 18
- Carson Wentz Will Start For The Rams, Matthew Stafford To Be Rested
- Sam Howell To Start Against Cowboys
- Blaine Gabbert To Start In Week 18
- Patrick Mahomes Won't Play Against Chargers
- Zach Wilson Will Not Play In Week 18
- Tyrod Taylor To Start Season Finale
- Trevor Lawrence Officially Active For Season Finale
- "No Doubt" Kyler Murray Is Returning To Cardinals Next Season
- Derek Carr Playing Well As He Gets Healthy
- Will Levis Questionable For Week 18
- Ryan Tannehill Will Start Against Jacksonville
- Jameis Winston Agrees To Restructure Contract
- Taylor Heinicke Inactive, Desmond Ridder To Start Season Finale
Week 18 Quarterback Rankings Analysis
A new feature has been added to our weekly fantasy football rankings article. Below, you will find our fantasy football outlooks or injury news for key quarterbacks in Week 18, which gives readers a matchup preview of that player and advice on whether to start or avoid for the upcoming week. We provide outlooks for all 32 NFL teams, which can be found on our player profile pages and our fantasy football news desk.
Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Week 18 Quarterback Rankings: 9
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith posted a decent line in a losing effort in Week 17. Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, he completed 23-of-33 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown and took three carries for 33 yards on the ground. Sitting on the playoff bubble, Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals is a must-win game for the Seahawks. Arizona's completion percentage allowed of 69.25% is the second-worst mark in the league, and the team has allowed eight passing touchdowns in the last three weeks.
Several regular starting quarterbacks will be on the bench for the NFL season finale, pushing Smith up the QB ranks. With a thinner field and a soft opponent, Smith looks like a viable DFS pick and could play his way into low-end QB1 territory to secure a playoff berth for Seattle.
Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
Week 18 Quarterback Rankings: 5
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields has had a very productive fantasy season, averaging just under 20 points per game. The Ohio State alum has scored at least 20 points in six of his last eight games, with the two misses coming against top 10 defenses in Cleveland and Minnesota. With the Bears in line to have the number one pick, Fields needs to have a good game if he wants to ensure the team opts to build around him instead of getting a new quarterback on a rookie deal.
The Bears take on the Packers in the final game of the season, who allow the 20th-most points per game to quarterbacks this season. Back in their Week 1 matchup, Fields finished with just under 16 fantasy points on 275 total yards and a touchdown. The Packers rank 28th in defensive DVOA this year, and Fields has scored at least 20 points in every game against a bottom-10 DVOA defense except Week 1. He ranks as a strong QB1 option for Week 18.
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Week 18 Quarterback Rankings: 1
Although there was never much doubt regarding his game status, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (neck) was removed from Friday's injury report ahead of Sunday night's matchup with the Miami Dolphins. Allen sustained a stinger late in Week 17's win over the New England Patriots, but he proceeded to log full activity in each of his three practice sessions. The 27-year-old superstar may not have a strong case in taking home the NFL MVP award this season, but he is certainly a candidate to be fantasy's MVP.
Though Allen holds the second-most turnovers (19) among signal-callers, he leads the way with 24.1 fantasy points per game over 16 contests. Allen lit up Miami for a season-high four passing touchdowns back in Week 4 and should be treated as the top QB1 on Sunday's full slate in a game tied for the highest implied point total (48) despite his recent struggles through the air, with the Bills vying for the AFC East crown.
Week 18 Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings
Rankings are updated until kick-off. Be sure to bookmark our weekly PPR rankings, Half-PPR rankings, and Standard rankings.
QB Tier |
QB Rank |
Player Name |
Pos. |
1 | 1 | Josh Allen | QB |
1 | 2 | Dak Prescott | QB |
1 | 3 | Jalen Hurts | QB |
2 | 4 | C.J. Stroud | QB |
2 | 5 | Justin Fields | QB |
2 | 6 | Tua Tagovailoa | QB |
2 | 7 | Kyler Murray | QB |
3 | 8 | Jordan Love | QB |
3 | 9 | Geno Smith | QB |
3 | 10 | Jared Goff | QB |
3 | 11 | Trevor Lawrence | QB |
3 | 12 | Gardner Minshew | QB |
3 | 13 | Tyrod Taylor | QB |
4 | 14 | Jake Browning | QB |
4 | 15 | Baker Mayfield | QB |
4 | 16 | Derek Carr | QB |
4 | 17 | Sam Darnold | QB |
4 | 18 | Tyler Huntley | QB |
5 | 19 | Nick Mullens | QB |
5 | 20 | Jarrett Stidham | QB |
5 | 21 | Sam Howell | QB |
5 | 22 | Carson Wentz | QB |
5 | 23 | Easton Stick | QB |
5 | 24 | Mason Rudolph | QB |
5 | 25 | Aidan O'Connell | QB |
5 | 26 | Ryan Tannehill | QB |
5 | 27 | Bryce Young | QB |
5 | 28 | Blaine Gabbert | QB |
5 | 29 | Desmond Ridder | QB |
5 | 30 | Bailey Zappe | QB |
6 | 31 | Jeff Driskel | QB |
6 | 32 | Trevor Siemian | QB |
6 | 33 | C.J. Beathard | QB |
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Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.