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Who should I start for Week 18? Fantasy football outlooks for Michael Penix Jr., Drake Maye, Sam Darnold. Our expert fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks.
With fantasy managers still competing for a championship in the final week of the regular season, some tough lineup decisions will need to be made. Given that some quarterbacks will be resting in Week 18, fantasy managers might need to scan the waiver wire for a quarterback this weekend.
As a result, Michael Penix Jr., Drake Maye, and Sam Darnold are three quarterbacks that managers might turn to in Week 18. All three quarterbacks could be potential options in different formats.
So, should you start Penix, Maye, and Darnold in fantasy this weekend?
Should I Start Michael Penix Jr. for Fantasy Football?
Penix has not been a strong fantasy quarterback option in his first two career starts. He has averaged 9.8 fantasy points in those two games while throwing for less than 225 yards in both those contests. However, the rookie can be a solid QB2 option in Week 18 against the Carolina Panthers.
Michael Penix makes Anthony Richardson look accurate pic.twitter.com/SpxzlTCY5h
— Steven Patton (@PattonAnalytics) January 1, 2025
Carolina has given up the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season and has allowed over 19 fantasy points to a quarterback in four straight weeks. As a result, Penix has some potential in Superflex formats this weekend. The Panthers have also allowed multiple passing touchdowns in four of the past six games.
Should I Start Drake Maye for Fantasy Football?
Maye has been a solid quarterback option for most of his rookie season. He has scored above 18 fantasy points in four of the past six games and has also rushed for at least 30 yards in three of the past four contests. So, he will enter Week 18 as a solid QB2 option against the Buffalo Bills.
The #Patriots list QB Drake Maye (hand) as questionable.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 3, 2025
Maye managed to score 18.4 fantasy points against this Buffalo secondary back in Week 16, and the Bills will likely rest some of their defensive starters in this game. That makes the rookie quarterback an appealing option in Superflex formats. This Bills defense has also allowed multiple passing touchdowns in seven of the past eight games.
Should I Start Sam Darnold for Fantasy Football?
Darnold has been on a roll in fantasy recently, scoring above 21 fantasy points in five of the past seven games. During that span, Darnold has thrown 18 passing touchdowns and only two interceptions. Now, he has a great matchup in Week 18 against a Lions defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks over the past month.
A career year for Sam Darnold 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Le453K7Lda
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) January 3, 2025
As a result, Darnold will be a strong QB1 option this weekend. Detroit is currently banged up in the secondary, and this defense has allowed over 350 passing yards in three straight games. Given how well the Vikings quarterback has played this season, he will be a top-5 play in Week 18.
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