The Dallas Cowboys defense is coming off of a brutal Week 17 outing in which they surrendered 41 points to the Philadelphia Eagles without quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion, finger) under center. Week 18 will not be any easier, as the Washington Commanders plan to play all of their starters to shoot for the six-seed rather than the seven-seed in the playoffs. The unit played well in Week 12's matchup against Washington, recording four sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions, but there are many better options this week. Look elsewhere for your Week 18 fantasy defense.

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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson has had a disappointing season thus far, as he has failed to record a single touchdown. The 25-year-old has caught 57 passes for 482 yards and despite CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) missing last week's game, he was not the top option in the passing game. Given the lack of weapons in Dallas' offense this week Ferguson can be started in Week 18 but again has a low floor, especially given that quarterback Trey Lance is expected to see significant snaps.

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Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey is coming off of a rough outing in which he made his lone extra point attempt but missed his lone field goal attempt in a blowout loss to Philadelphia. The 29-year-old kicker will look to bounce back in the season's finale against the Washington Commanders, although the Dallas offense looks inept with CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) on the shelf. Aubrey missed two field goals in the previous matchup against Washington and it appears that Dallas may be rotating quarterbacks this week, making it a questionable offensive situation. However, Aubrey is one of the most consistent kickers in the league. He can be started but beware that he has a wide range of outcomes in Week 18.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (finger) fully practiced all week, avoiding an injury designation prior to Week 18's matchup with the Washington Commanders. Tolbert slots in alongside Brandin Cooks to form the starting receiver group in the season's finale after scoring the team's lone touchdown a week ago. The third-year receiver has now caught a touchdown in four of the last six games and caught two passes for 22 yards and a score in the previous game against Washington. He can be started as a deep-league flex option but beware that he has a low floor given the uncertainty at quarterback with Trey Lance potentially due for significant snaps.

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Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith remains an appealing fantasy option ahead of Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New York Jets. There are many moving parts ahead of the Dolphins' regular-season finale, including the injury statuses of key offensive weapons such as Tua Tagovailoa (hip), Jaylen Waddle (knee), and Tyreek Hill (wrist, illness). As it stands, Tagovailoa is expected to be sidelined, leaving Tyler Huntley as the Dolphins' starting quarterback for the second week in a row. Smith saw a significantly reduced target share with Huntley under center last week, catching three of four targets for 26 yards. He had his lowest target total, reception total, yardage total, and snap share since Week 10. However, he managed to snag a touchdown pass in the win, salvaging his fantasy performance and giving him seven consecutive games with double-digit fantasy points (PPR). He ranks as the overall TE4 this season, and while the insertion of Huntley under center does lower Smith's ceiling and floor, we still view the 29-year-old tight end as a top-eight fantasy option at his position heading into Week 18.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver/return specialist KaVontae Turpin should again be involved on offense in Week 18's matchup against the Washington Commanders. Turpin saw four targets and two carries in last week's blowout loss and without CeeDee Lamb (shoulder), the team lacks playmakers. Mike McCarthy will be looking for ways to get the ball into the hands of the speedy special teamer. While opportunities don't always translate into fantasy points, Turpin should see more opportunity than usual and is a deep-league flex option in the season's final game.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee is set to make his first official NFL start in Week 18 as the team hosts the New York Giants. With both Jalen Hurts (concussion/rest) and Kenny Pickett (ribs) sidelined due to injuries, McKee will lead the offense in what could be a low-pressure environment, given the Eagles are locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. McKee flashed potential in limited action last week, stepping in for the injured Pickett and completing three of four passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns. However, with mostly all of Philadelphia's offensive weapons expected to rest, McKee will have to make the most of a supporting cast consisting primarily of backups. While the Giants defense hasn't been particularly dominant, McKee's success will depend on his ability to adapt quickly and minimize mistakes. He remains a deep-league dart throw in Week 18.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle will look to top off his surprising breakout season in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders with a splash. The 26-year-old has rushed for over 100 yards in four of his last five games and now faces a solid matchup against Washington's 20th-ranked run defense. He will look to solidify his finish as an RB2 on the season. Dowdle is in RB1 territory heading into the season's finale and should be started in any leagues that run into Week 18.

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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra faces the New York Giants in Week 18 and his role will likely be limited but unknown to what extent. With Dallas Goedert (knee) having his 21-day practice window opening this week, there's a chance he plays and sees a few snaps to shake off rust before the playoffs. Additionally, backup C.J. Uzomah (abdominal) was placed on IR, so that now adds E.J. Jenkins to the mix, who could very well see significant playing time. Calcaterra has stepped in admirably during Goedert's absence but has yet to carve out a reliable role in the offense. While the Giants' defense has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to tight ends this season, the uncertainty surrounding Calcaterra's workload makes him a risky fantasy option in Week 18.

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Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott helps host the New York Giants in Week 18. Elliot has booted multiple field goals in three consecutive games, showcasing his reliability despite struggles from beyond 50 yards, where he is just one-for-seven this season. This week, Elliott's opportunities could be impacted by Philadelphia resting key starters with their playoff seed locked in. While the offense may lack its usual explosiveness, Elliott could still find himself in scoring situations, particularly in a matchup against a Giants defense that allows the 11th-most points per game this season. Fantasy managers can count on Elliott's accuracy from within 50 yards, though expectations should be tempered due to the potential of reduced offensive output.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks is a flex option as Dallas' projected top receiver in Week 18. Cooks led the Cowboys in all receiving benchmarks in Week 17, the first game without CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) in the fold. Washington's defense ranks 12th against opposing receivers, and there is uncertainty at the quarterback position, with rumblings that quarterback Trey Lance should see significant reps this week. However, Cooks remains the top receiving option on the active roster and can be started this week.

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (hamstring) was added to the injury report on Friday after being a limited participant in practice. He is officially listed as questionable to face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Week 18. It's hard to gather much information from the Cardinals' injury report given that "limited" could mean a few different things. Wilson could have simply taken a few reps off, but he also could have injured himself in the middle of Friday's session and sat out the rest of the practice. For the time being, he should be viewed as a true game-time decision, which means we might not get confirmation on his status until 2:55 p.m. ET on Sunday. If Wilson does play, he'll likely rank as a low-end WR3 in fantasy football. The 49ers have posted mixed results against pass-catchers in 2024, surrendering the eighth-fewest fantasy points to perimeter receivers but the seventh-most fantasy points to slot receivers. Wilson has played 31.7 percent of his snaps from the slot this season, which is the 27th-highest mark in the NFL. We like his chances to see a respectable target share against a 49ers defense that could rest some of its starters. However, if most of his production comes from the slot, there will be a cap on his touchdown upside.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson will take on an expanded role in Week 18 against the New York Giants, as the team is expected to rest its usual starters, including A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Dotson has struggled to make an impact recently, failing to catch a pass in each of the last two games. However, with the absence of Brown and Smith, Dotson should see a significant increase in targets. This season, Dotson has recorded 12 receptions on 22 targets for 122 yards, along with one rushing attempt for 13 yards. While the Giants boast a middle-of-the-pack pass defense, Dotson's increased volume makes him a potential boom-or-bust option in deeper fantasy formats this week.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Johnny Wilson is poised for an uptick in playing time in Week 18 against the New York Giants. With A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith expected to rest ahead of the playoffs, Wilson could find himself with more opportunities in the passing game. Wilson has not caught a pass in six consecutive games, but he has shown flashes earlier this season, with two receptions for 14 yards, including a touchdown. At 6-foot-7, Wilson's size makes him an intriguing red zone option for Tanner McKee and/or Ian Book. Wilson's potential involvement makes him a speculative play in deeper leagues.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush is expected to start, but backup quarterback Trey Lance is expected to see "significant snaps" in the Week 18 matchup against the Washington Commanders. With the likely split at the quarterback position, neither player is worth starting in any format for fantasy purposes in the season's finale. Rush is an unrestricted free agent following this season, so there is a chance that this is his final game in a Cowboys' uniform.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell is set to take on starting duties in Week 18 against the New York Giants, with Saquon Barkley sitting out to rest for the playoffs. Rookie Will Shipley's status could impact Gainwell's role, as Shipley is still in concussion protocol. If cleared, Shipley is expected to share backfield duties, likely limiting Gainwell's touches. This season, Gainwell has posted 276 rushing yards and one touchdown on 64 carries, adding 14 receptions for 107 yards through the air. Regardless of Shipley's status, the Eagles may elevate Tyrion Davis-Price from the practice squad to provide additional depth, ensuring a mix of backs takes the field. Given the uncertainty surrounding usage and the backup-heavy nature of Philadelphia's lineup, Gainwell is a risky but intriguing option for Week 18, especially in deeper fantasy leagues.

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Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride will look to remain dominant and highly productive during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the San Francisco 49ers. McBride has been the No. 3 tight end in fantasy football this season, posting career-bests in targets (136), catches (104), and yards (1,081). The lone downside of McBride's third NFL campaign has been his lack of touchdowns; he didn't find the end zone until last week's showing against the Los Angeles Rams in which he had 12 catches for 123 yards and the score. The 25-year-old has been Kyler Murray's favorite target within the Arizona offense, and that trend should continue during Sunday's regular-season finale. McBride benefits from a very favorable role on offense, as well as an appealing matchup against the 49ers, who surrendered six catches, 64 yards, and one touchdown to tight end Sam LaPorta last week. He remains a must-start player, ranking as a high-end TE1 once again.

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.'s underwhelming rookie season will come to an end with Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The No. 4 pick has 57 catches for 822 yards and seven touchdowns over the course of 16 games, ranking 34th among wide receivers in fantasy points (PPR) this season. These numbers are solid enough to make him a weekly FLEX option, but managers would have expected a bit more production out of Harrison, who was widely viewed as a generational prospect. Unfortunately for him, the Cardinals, and his fantasy managers, Harrison's season could end on a sour note as he takes on a strong 49ers secondary. San Francisco has struggled against slot receivers this season, but they've allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to perimeter receivers in 2024. Harrison primarily plays on the perimeter, taking fewer than one-fifth of his snaps from the slot. As a result, he could have a lower floor in Week 18. Fantasy managers should continue to view him as a mid-to-high WR3 option in most leagues.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson has been highly unproductive lately, failing to catch any of his five targets over the last four weeks. However, he's back on the fantasy radar given that he could operate as the Rams' No. 1 wide receiver in Week 18 against the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams have already confirmed that they will rest Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp on Sunday, leaving Robinson atop the depth chart while players like Tutu Atwell, Tyler Johnson, and Jordan Whittington also see increased roles. Robinson played at least 85 percent of the offensive snaps in every game that both Nacua and Kupp missed this season, and he'll likely have similar involvement in the Rams' regular-season finale. With that said, he does have a slightly lower floor with Jimmy Garoppolo starting in place of Matthew Stafford. Garoppolo is a proven veteran, but the quarterback change still brings a small amount of uncertainty to Robinson's Week 18 outlook. He should be treated as a mid-to-low WR3 option in fantasy football against a Seahawks defense allowing the fifth-most touchdowns to wide receivers in 2024.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is expected to start in Week 18 against the San Francisco 49ers after James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson (ankle) were both placed on injured reserve. Conner had a minimal role last weekend due to injury, allowing Carter to handle an impressive 72 percent snap share. He thrived with the increased opportunities, rushing 13 times for 70 yards on the ground while adding two catches for another 11 yards through the air. He now has seven targets, seven catches, and 41 receiving yards over his last two contests. Not only is Carter's role favorable but so is his matchup. The 25-year-old is set to face off against the 49ers, who have allowed the 10th-most rushing yards, fourth-most rushing touchdowns, and seventh-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. Carter ranks as a decent RB2 option heading into fantasy football for Week 18.

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