Jaguars at Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Playoff scenarios: There are no playoff stakes in this contest.
What we know: Both teams are finishing out the season in this one.
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson will be out for this one and
Joe Flacco will start for Indianapolis.
Key injuries: Richardson (back spasms/soreness, foot) is out for the second straight week after not practicing.
What could change: Now that we know its Flacco at QB, not much. Both teams are looking to close out the season and move on to preparing for the 2025 season.
Fantasy analysis: Josh Downs is the Colts receiver to consider flexing. He is the Colts’ most-targeted wide receiver with 7.23 targets per game, followed by
Michael Pittman Jr. with 6.73.
Bills at Patriots, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Playoff scenarios: The Bills have nailed down the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
What we know: Buffalo quarterback and MVP candidate
Josh Allen will start to keep his consecutive starts streak intact (114, counting the postseason) before quickly giving way to backup QB
Mitch Trubisky. The same could be said for other skill players on Buffalo like running back
James Cook and wide receiver
Khalil Shakir. Bills coach Sean McDermott said Monday the team’s active roster will be a blend of starters and depth players they want to get an extended look at in a game setting.
Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye is expected to play —
even if there is a case to be made to not play him. A loss
clinches the No. 1 pick for New England in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Key injuries: Despite
OC Alex Van Pelt saying he’ll play,
Maye (right hand) was limited all week and is listed as questionable. Patriots tight end
Hunter Henry (foot) has been limited too. Bills wide receiver
Curtis Samuel (rib) is questionable.
Amari Cooper (personal) has been ruled out.
What could change: Sixth-round pick
Joe Milton III has taken some first-team reps this week, so its possible
Maye won’t play the whole way.
Fantasy analysis: The Patriots rank near the bottom of the league in most defensive stats, so
Trubisky could be a QB2 in Superflex leagues this week. There’s really no reason for the Bills to play
Cook. Ray Davis should be the lead back with
Cook out, and he could be a decent flex option against New England. It’s a wait-and-see approach for Bills receivers. If
Cooper and
Shakir sit,
Keon Coleman could be a sneaky flex play this week. While
Henry (who could sit) is fantasy’s TE12 this year (145.4 PPR points), his 9.09 points per game are easy enough to replace with someone like
Pat Freiermuth, Chig Okonkwo, Noah Gray or Mike Gesicki, one of whom should be available in free agency.
Giants at Eagles, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Playoff scenarios: The Eagles are locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
What we know: As it stands now,
Tanner McKee looks to be in line to start for Philadelphia in a game that will do nothing to change their playoff seeding. Coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday he will be
resting some of his starters and one of those will probably be running back
Saquon Barkley, who is
100 yards shy of tying Eric Dickerson’s rushing record. Star wide receivers
A.J. Brown (knee) and
DeVonta Smith (wrist) also look likely to get the game off as they are listed as doubtful. Much of the team’s first-string defense and offensive line are likely to sit or play limited amounts. On the other hand, tight end
Dallas Goedert (knee) had his practice window opened in Week 18 and carries no injury designation.
Key injuries: Eagles quarterback
Jalen Hurts (concussion) remains in the concussion protocol and is out. Backup QB
Kenny Pickett (ribs) did not practice this week and is questionable.
What could change: Who starts for Philadelphia will likely not be known until later this week, but all signs point to
McKee.
Fantasy analysis: Hurts was unable to play in Week 17 as he was in concussion protocol, so he will sit in a meaningless game to rest up for the playo***. After
Pickett left with a rib injury last week,
McKee went 3-for-4 with two touchdown passes. If
Brown and
Smith both sit, there’s no reason to risk playing another Eagles WR with so many unknowns.
Saints at Buccaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Playoff scenarios: With a win or tie, the Buccaneers take the NFC South. With a loss, Tampa Bay needs Atlanta to also lose or tie to clinch the division.
What we know: Tampa Bay controls its path to a playoff spot and quarterback
Baker Mayfield will look to keep rolling with 14 touchdowns in his last four games. After a full session Friday, rookie running back
Bucky Irving was off of the injury report. The Saints have had a ton of offensive injuries and may be relying on recent pickup
Clyde Edwards-Helaire to carry the backfield load with rookie quarterback
Spencer Rattler under center.
Key injuries: Despite being limited in practice the last two days, Buccaneers tight end
Cade Otton (knee) is listed as doubtful. Wide receiver
Sterling Shepard (hamstring) is questionable. Saints wide receiver
Chris Olave (concussion) continues to be a full practice participant and is listed as questionable and tight end
Juwan Johnson (knee) is also questionable. Running back
Alvin Kamara (groin) is tagged as doubtful, while RB
Kendre Miller (concussion) quarterback
Derek Carr (left hand) are both out.
What could change: Both Tampa Bay and Atlanta play at the same time, so the NFC South will be decided in Sunday’s early window.
Fantasy analysis: With
Miller sidelined,
Edwards-Helaire goes from, “Did you know he was on the Saints?” to, “Man, I might need CEH as a Flex RB in Week 18.”
— Ciely
Irving has been rolling and is an RB1 this week. Since Week 6, Irving has averaged 16.97 PPR points and has gone over 100 yards rushing three times.
Chiefs at Broncos, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Playoff scenarios: The Chiefs nailed down the AFC’s No. 1 seed and the first-round bye in Week 17. The Broncos need a win or tie to get in or losses/ties from the Dolphins and Bengals.
What we know: Chiefs coach Andy Reid tends to rest his stars in the final week of the season with a playoff berth/positioning secured — something that has become commonplace for Kansas City — and that will once again be the case. Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes, tight end
Travis Kelce, running back
Kareem Hunt and multiple key defensive players are listed as doubtful.
Carson Wentz is starting at QB for the Chiefs. For
Denver, their season is on the line, so expect all their main cogs to be in the lineup.
Key injuries: Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco (ribs) is out after not practicing all week and missing the latter part of the Week 17 win over the Steelers.
Mahomes has been battling an ankle injury and an extra week of rest should do him some good. Wide receiver
Mecole Hardman (knee) is out after having his practice window opened Wednesday
What could change: Nothing. While Cincinnati plays Saturday, Miami will take the field at the same time as Denver so the final AFC wild card will be determined in the late afternoon window.
Fantasy analysis: The Broncos are ranked second in yards per play allowed and yards per rush allowed and sixth in net yards per attempt allowed. While they are ranked 25th in passing yards per game allowed, trusting
Wentz against Denver, which needs a win to get into the playo***, is tough.
Kelce is aging and is the perfect rest candidate in Week 18, but the Chiefs love throwing to their tight ends.
Noah Gray could see a lot of work and score some solid fantasy points. With
Pacheco out and
Hunt doubtful, expect the Chiefs backfield to be split between
Samaje Perine and Carson Steele.
