RADIO
Welcome back RotoBallers! As we head into Week 18 of the NFL season, what a ride it has been. Fantasy managers that play their season into Week 18 will look to seal the deal and secure a championship as we close out the 2021 season that has been full of ups and downs.
Listed below will be some players who could be in for a disappointing performance relative to their overall expectations. No matter how bad of a matchup some of these players may have, fantasy managers likely aren't in a position to leave them on their bench.
Having said that, there are a couple of guys who are by no means a must-start in Week 18.
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Who Should I Bench or Sit in Week 18
QB - Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tagovailoa will take on the stingy pass defense of the Patriots that have given up the fourth-fewest passing yards, fourth-fewest passing touchdowns, and second-fewest yards per attempt through 17 games of action. The former fifth-overall pick has shown a lot of improvement this year, but in his past three games, he has struggled with turnovers and has seen limited production as a passer. With the Patriots being notorious for taking away a team’s best offensive weapon, Tagovailoa may not be able to rely as much on rookie sensation Jaylen Waddle in this one, who has been his safety blanket this year.
He has thrown for over 200 yards just one time in the past three weeks (205 yards) while tallying just three passing touchdowns in that span. With four interceptions and a fumble in his past three games, it is hard to be confident in starting the former Alabama collegiate star in this one. At best, he is a low-end QB2 going against a defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
Should I Start Michael Carter in Week 18?
Carter was a full participant at practice on Thursday which will likely put him in line to play in Week 18 after suffering a concussion after three carries for 54 yards against Tampa Bay in Week 17. Carter once again faces a tough matchup as the Jets travel to Buffalo to go against the Bills, who held the rookie to 16 carries for 39 yards in their first meeting of the season. Carter is a great talent, that is obvious from what we have seen from him this season. However, going up against the tough Bills defense is worrisome as the Jets offense figures to struggle on the road in a tough stadium to play in.
The Bills have seen their rushing defense numbers plummet over the past few weeks, as it wasn't long ago that they were among the league’s best at stopping the opposing team’s rushing attack. Against stronger run defenses, Carter has been extremely touchdown-dependent. We have seen lines such as 11 carries for 37 yards against New England, 13 carries for 49 yards against Indianapolis, and eight carries for 18 yards against Miami. Considering the Jets scored just 17 points in their previous meeting with Buffalo and figure to be playing from behind, it is hard to solely rely on Carter finding the end zone in this game.
Should I Start Chuba Hubbard in Week 18?
Hubbard draws another tough matchup against the Buccaneers to close out his rookie season, which is the same team he carried the ball just six times for nine yards in their previous meeting. Hubbard was once highly valued by fantasy managers in the absence of Christian McCaffrey, but in the second half of the season, he has hit the rookie wall that so many first-year players have experienced. The former Oklahoma State product eclipsed 50 rushing yards for the first time since Week 8 last week against the Saints, and his fantasy day was saved by a 21-yard touchdown run.
The Bucs have given up the third-fewest rushing yards this season, and have allowed the fifth-fewest rushing touchdowns with 11. Hubbard will almost certainly need to find the end zone in this one, as he hasn't been much of a factor in the passing game since Ameer Abdullah arrived in Carolina. In standard-sized leagues, Hubbard is a risky start because of his low floor and limited ceiling, so he is at best a FLEX option as we close out the 2021 campaign.
Should I Start Amari Cooper in Week 18?
Cooper draws a nightmare matchup with Darius Slay and the Eagles secondary in Week 18, who have allowed the fewest yards per reception this season. Cooper was locked up in their previous meeting all the way back in Week 3, where he turned four targets into three receptions for 26 yards. Cooper publicly displayed his frustration with his lack of targets prior to Week 16, where he was then targeted 11 times for seven receptions, 85 yards, and a touchdown.
He had another miserable performance in Week 17 as he caught just three passes for 18 yards, but found the end zone to somewhat salvage his fantasy day. With the current state of the Dallas offense, it is hard to trust Cooper in this matchup, especially considering the Cowboys could opt to sit their starters for a portion of this game. Even with Michael Gallup out of action, it is hard to trust the former Alabama product. Cooper and CeeDee Lamb are extremely talented players, but it wouldn't be out of the question to consider sitting them in Week 18. Dalton Schultz could be the most attractive option among the Dallas pass-catchers, as the Eagles have given up some big games to tight ends this year.
Lowest passer rating allowed in single coverage this season:
1. Darius Slay (25.4)
Slay has been the definition of lock down this year. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zg5P9gJQFs
— Word On The Birds (@WordOnTheBirds) January 7, 2022
Should I Start DeVonta Smith in Week 18?
Smith will draw a tough matchup with a fellow Alabama collegiate star, Trevon Diggs, in Week 18 as the Eagles host the Cowboys. The rookie has struggled to find consistency this year as the Eagles switched to an extremely run-heavy game plan this season, which has ultimately left Smith with a limited opportunity to make plays. In the first meeting with the Cowboys in Week 3, Smith was only able to catch three passes for 28 yards in what was a pass-heavy game script in a blowout loss. Since Week 11, he hasn't caught more than five passes in a game and has only found the end zone one time.
Not to mention, the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner has only eclipsed 100 receiving yards on two occasions this season, so there just isn't much upside for his fantasy production in the current state of the Philadelphia offense. Smith isn't a must-bench, but it is hard to imagine that the Eagles' game plan is to attack the cornerback with a league-high in interceptions this season. It is safe to assume Smith will once again be limited in terms of volume, which puts him into FLEX-territory at best in Week 18.
Most interceptions in single coverage:
🥇 Trevon Diggs - 6
🥇 J.C. Jackson - 6 pic.twitter.com/52A1fYwxJz— PFF (@PFF) January 5, 2022
Should I Start Mike Gesicki in Week 18?
Gesicki’s fantasy production has fallen off a cliff since his hot start to the season, so it is extremely hard to trust him against the Patriots in Week 18. The Patriots have given up the fewest PPR fantasy points to tight ends this season and held Gesicki to a donut all the way back in Week 1. The big tight end hasn't found the end zone since Week 7, which is extremely concerning because he has been able to get some high usage in the passing game for the tight end position.
He has averaged nearly seven targets per game since Week 9 and has failed to surpass 60 receiving yards in that span. It is hard to imagine his breakthrough game comes against the league’s best in terms of defending tight ends, but he isn't a must-bench option when you consider the landscape of the position in terms of fantasy production. There aren't many options who have gotten better usage than Gesicki this season, so he will remain a TE1, but be careful starting him this week.
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