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It's Week 18, finally. The quarterback position has been a roller coaster this season, with a lot of unexpected names having big seasons and others disappointing massively.
It's not always easy to choose who to start and sit at this position, and many fantasy managers probably have multiple QBs they're considering for their starting lineups.
Below, we'll give you the best starts and sits for this week. Some are less obvious than others, as we hope to provide valuable information -- we won't try to justify you starting Jayden Daniels, for example, since you already know to do that.
Week 18 Starts - Fantasy Football Booms
Joe Flacco - QB, Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Another week, another quarterback getting to face one of the worst pass defenses in the last quarter-century. Flacco proved yet again that he still has "it" in Week 17, completing 26 of 38 passes for 330 yards and two passing touchdowns. While he tossed two picks and lost a fumble, for fantasy purposes, those are much less relevant.
Is Joe Flacco elite? pic.twitter.com/mGlW90Jnx2
— Nick Perkins (@NickyPerkss) December 29, 2024
It's... weird to see him still slinging it, but he actually has been getting away with it pretty well. He has an excellent tandem of receivers to throw it to in Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, and since the offensive line has gotten healthier, the team can always lean on the run game and running back Jonathan Taylor to keep the chains moving and pick up big gains.
NFL ANY/A Value through Week 14
The Jaguars' defense is horrible
The Chiefs made a deal with the man above pic.twitter.com/Ls3bji4TEx
— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) December 12, 2024
As you can see from the above graphic (if you look at the "Def." column for the Jags, who are at the number 31 spot), Jacksonville's defense has been remarkably easy to beat. And there's not much reason to think Indy will give up on offense -- it's important to remember that players are still fighting for roster spots and the chance at future contracts.
Baker Mayfield - Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints
Well yeah... of course you want to start Mayfield. But we believe he could easily finish as the overall QB1 this week. Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen isn't pulling any punches, and with TB having such a poor pass defense in recent weeks, it makes sense that he's happy calling pass play after pass play and having his quarterback air it out.
The Panthers have released Baker Mayfield, the team announced. pic.twitter.com/Mr4yToD2lW
— ESPN (@espn) December 5, 2022
It's insane to think he was released by an actual NFL team just two years ago. He punished the Panthers for letting him go by throwing for 359 yards and five touchdowns, completing 27 of his 33 attempts along the way. The veteran sensation shouldn't have much difficulty lighting up a New Orleans Saints team that's battered by injuries on both sides of the ball.
Saints trading CB Marshon Lattimore to Commanders. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/r7yd5SLsTN
— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2024
They also traded their best cornerback away. CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) was dealt to the Washington Commanders, in somewhat of a surprising move. New Orleans' secondary isn't likely to be able to deal with the firepower the Bucs possess, and it's a must-win game -- Tampa Bay could miss the playoffs if they aren't able to win this one. Another chance to crush a divisional rival seems like a great opportunity for a massive game.
Justin Herbert - QB, Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders
The last week of the season is another big week of divisional games, and Herbert will have another shot at embarrassing a team he surely hates, the Las Vegas Raiders. We expect a nice curb-stomping here, with the Chargers headed to the playoffs and playing for a better seed in the AFC while the Raiders just want the season to be over with so they can look forward to next year.
Justin Herbert has the MOST passing yards thru 5 seasons in NFL History….let that sink in.
History.pic.twitter.com/lwtwOiQcJo
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) December 28, 2024
Despite facing a terribly outmatched New England Patriots in Week 17, a team who has also given up on their season (they're 3-13 now), Los Angeles kept their foot on the gas and continued passing heavily even while up by multiple scores. Maybe they've learned that they shouldn't be keeping games close anymore. Herbie threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns in the 40-7 demolition.
It’s a shame that the Chargers have been so poverty recently because Justin Herbert is a top 5 QB and has had to deal with being in debates against “Tua Tagovailoa” instead of Lamar, Allen, Burrow, etc pic.twitter.com/aYu2LWYoIO
— Akash (@YZR_Fantasy) December 28, 2024
So yeah, there's plenty of reason to be hopeful of him having a big day.
Week 18 Concerns - Fantasy Football Busts
Trey Lance - QB, Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
In case you haven't watched Lance play football, we highly recommend you save yourself from the pain of having to see him take snaps and do whatever he does that he thinks resembles playing quarterback. He's apparently expected to take significant snaps at QB in Week 18. Don't curse your eyes by watching it. He has the pocket presence of a third-string high school quarterback starting in his first game.
#Cowboys Trey Lance throws his fourth interception of the game pic.twitter.com/wgpHCT1TZi
— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhifer) August 24, 2024
He does have some rushing upside, but he'll be facing an extremely motivated Washington Commanders defense who will be fighting for better playoff seeding. We see it as much more likely that he throws multiple interceptions than having a fantasy-relevant day. It might be tempting to start him in very deep leagues or deep Superflex/2QB leagues, but you should resist whatever urge you have.
Will Levis - QB, Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans
The Tennessee Titans, who have won just three games this season, will take on the Houston Texans in Week 18. It might be tempting to start Levis, who will be facing a team that will rest a lot of its starters for most of the contest, but we still don't recommend it. It's likely that Levis is still dealing with problems in his throwing shoulder, and he hasn't played in a game since Week 15.
The generational run for Will Levis continues pic.twitter.com/iOeRjh9J1o
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) September 22, 2024
His 2024 season has been generational not in a good way, but through iconic moments of him making absolutely horrible plays. Attempting shovel passes to players well down the field while trying to get out of sacks is never a good idea. Neither are many of the other ill-advised passes he throws.
WILL LEVIS THROWS A PICK-SIX 😬
That’s his 3rd INT today 👀
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/OETkkBqldb— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 15, 2024
He's not good at playing his position, and it shows on a weekly basis during the games that he plays the position. We don't think you should start him, even in Superflex/2QB leagues. He scored -8.44 fantasy points in his last game, so hopefully we didn't need to convince you much.
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