It’s the final week of the NFL regular season, and for fantasy football players — especially Daily Fantasy Sports grinders — Week 18 always presents a unique puzzle. Resting starters, uneven motivation, late scratches, and unexpected usage spikes create volatility that can either sink careless lineups or launch sharp players to the top of the leaderboards. This week’s 13-game Monday morning (Australian time) Draftstars slate amplifies that chaos, with the NFL scheduling six early games and seven late games, and every single matchup coming from within the same division.
From an NFL DFS perspective, that divisional familiarity often tightens game plans defensively, but it also creates leverage spots where offensive coordinators exploit known weaknesses. Several teams still have seeding incentives, while others are evaluating rookies or fringe players — a perfect storm for DFS value. The early window features high-interest totals such as Cowboys vs Giants (49.5), Titans @ Jaguars (47.5), and Saints @ Falcons (44), while the late slate is highlighted by Lions @ Bears (50.5) and Dolphins @ Patriots (45.5).
With $15,000 guaranteed and $1,500 to first on Draftstars, winning lineups in Week 18 won’t be built by playing it safe. Instead, success comes from intentional stacking, correlated game environments, and embracing volatility where others hesitate. Below, we break down each position, expand on the best fantasy plays, and outline the strategies needed to attack this slate correctly.
NFL 2025-26 Daily Fantasy Tips: Week 18 Monday
Quarterbacks
Drake Maye — $16,260
Drake Maye profiles as the highest-upside quarterback on the slate, but he also carries legitimate risk. New England are still technically alive for the top seed, though realistically they are more likely to land the #2. That uncertainty introduces the possibility of Maye being limited or benched early if results elsewhere go their way. However, as long as the game remains competitive, Maye’s fantasy ceiling is enormous.
Over the past six weeks, Maye has averaged 285 passing yards per game, added 38 rushing yards per game, and accounted for 15 total touchdowns in that span. His dual-threat ability is what separates him in DFS — particularly on Draftstars, where rushing production provides a crucial floor. Miami’s defence has struggled mightily against mobile quarterbacks, ranking bottom five in QB rushing EPA allowed and surrendering explosive plays on broken coverage.
At home, in a must-monitor late-window game, Maye has slate-breaking potential. The risk of reduced second-half snaps keeps his floor low, but his ceiling is unmatched. Stacking with Hunter Henry remains the most reliable correlation, especially in red-zone situations.
Caleb Williams — $14,040
Caleb Williams stands out as the “safer” quarterback option, and one of the strongest point-per-dollar plays on the slate. The Bears head to Detroit in ideal indoor conditions against a Lions defence that has been decimated by injuries and fatigue. Over the past month, Detroit ranks bottom three in yards per play allowed and has conceded multiple passing touchdowns in four straight games.
Williams has quietly found his stride late in the season, averaging 262 passing yards, 2.1 total touchdowns, and adding consistent rushing production. His chemistry with multiple weapons allows for flexible stacking options, and his ability to extend plays is particularly damaging against a Lions pass rush that struggles to contain mobile quarterbacks.
The added narrative of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson facing his former team only strengthens the case. Expect creative play-calling and aggressive early-down passing. Williams can anchor both balanced builds and aggressive game stacks, making him one of the most versatile quarterbacks available.
QB Strategy
Week 18 quarterback strategy revolves around monitoring motivation and embracing uncertainty. Paying up for ceiling is viable, but mid-range quarterbacks like Williams offer stability without sacrificing upside. Stacking remains essential — naked quarterbacks are suboptimal in a slate this volatile.
Running Backs
Chase Brown — $13,250
Chase Brown continues to be mispriced relative to his production. Over the past five weeks, Brown has averaged 19.6 touches, 123 total yards, and has scored six touchdowns, firmly placing him among the league’s most productive backs down the stretch. Cleveland’s run defence remains their primary weakness, ranking bottom ten in yards per carry allowed since Week 10.
Cleveland also enters this matchup off an emotional, season-defining win last week, with nothing tangible left to play for. That situational edge heavily favours Cincinnati. Brown’s involvement in the passing game — averaging 4.2 targets per game — adds valuable Draftstars scoring insulation.
With premium backs carrying question marks or tough matchups, Brown profiles as a legitimate RB1 at a discounted salary.
D’Andre Swift — $10,920
D’Andre Swift fits perfectly into Bears-heavy stacks. While his workload has been slightly reduced with Kyle Monangai earning touches, Swift has become more efficient, averaging 5.1 yards per carry over the last four games. Detroit’s interior defensive injuries have left them vulnerable to explosive runs and receiving backs leaking into space.
Swift’s fantasy value is enhanced by game script. If the Bears control this matchup as expected, Swift should see consistent early-down work and goal-line opportunities. He also remains a capable receiver, recording three or more receptions in five of his last seven games.
He carries volatility, but his ceiling makes him a strong RB2 option in correlated builds.
Aaron Jones — $9,250
Aaron Jones is no longer the explosive force he once was, but opportunity and narrative converge here. Facing his former team in a game where Green Bay is resting starters, Minnesota should lean heavily on Jones to control tempo. Over the last three games, Jones has averaged 18 touches per game, with consistent red-zone involvement.
The Packers’ defence was just gashed by Derrick Henry, and Jones’ familiarity with the scheme adds confidence in his usage. At this salary, he offers strong volume-based value with touchdown equity.
RB Strategy
Prioritise volume and motivation at running back. Week 18 rewards backs with secure workloads and pass-game involvement. Avoid uncertain committees unless stacking dictates otherwise.
Wide Receivers
Puka Nacua — $17,750
Puka Nacua is the ultimate conditional play this week. If Seattle beats San Francisco on Saturday, the Rams retain a path to the 5-seed, making Nacua a premium option. If not, he becomes an avoid due to rest risk. When active, Nacua remains one of the league’s most dominant fantasy receivers, averaging 9.8 targets, 104 yards, and 0.8 touchdowns per game.
Arizona’s secondary has allowed explosive plays all season, particularly to receivers who win after the catch. Nacua’s ceiling justifies the salary — but only with confirmed motivation.
Michael Wilson — $12,560
Michael Wilson steps into the clear WR1 role with Marvin Harrison Jr. sidelined. Over the last two games without Harrison, Wilson has seen 27% target share, turning volume into production. Regardless of Rams’ personnel decisions, Arizona is expected to air it out with Jacoby Brissett under center.
Wilson pairs well with Rams stacks or can be used as a standalone option. His red-zone usage elevates his touchdown probability, making him one of the stronger mid-range receivers.
Luther Burden — $9,630
Luther Burden announced himself last week with 8 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown, and while regression is likely, opportunity remains. With Rome Odunze questionable, Burden should continue to see meaningful snaps and targets.
Detroit’s secondary struggles against slot receivers, and Burden’s yards-after-catch ability gives him slate-breaking upside at a modest salary. He fits perfectly as a WR3 or as part of a Bears stack.
WR Strategy
Wide receiver is the deepest position on the slate. Correlate with quarterbacks wherever possible and don’t be afraid to roster multiple receivers from the same team in high-total games.
Tight Ends
Colston Loveland — $8,280
Colston Loveland has quietly emerged as one of the most reliable tight ends on the slate, particularly from a role stability and red-zone usage perspective. Over the past six games, Loveland has averaged 6.3 targets per game, converting that into four double-digit Draftstars scores, which is elite consistency at a volatile position. His route participation has also trended up, regularly clearing 80% of offensive snaps, a key indicator of sustainable fantasy production.
The matchup further elevates his profile. Detroit’s defence is missing Brian Branch and has struggled mightily against tight ends, ranking bottom five in yards per target allowed to the position over the second half of the season. Linebacker coverage has been a persistent issue, and Loveland’s ability to win in the intermediate middle of the field aligns perfectly with where Detroit is weakest.
From a roster construction standpoint, Loveland works exceptionally well in Bears stacks with Caleb Williams, but he also stands on his own as a high-floor, mid-range tight end option. In a slate full of uncertainty, his snap share, target role, and touchdown equity make him one of the safest tight ends available without sacrificing upside.
Hunter Henry — $8,070
Hunter Henry continues to be a quietly effective DFS option, particularly when factoring in red-zone involvement and touchdown equity. Over his last seven games, Henry has scored five touchdowns, with the majority of his targets coming inside the 20-yard line. While his overall target volume sits closer to 4–5 looks per game, those opportunities are highly valuable, especially on Draftstars where touchdowns are king.
Henry’s chemistry with Drake Maye has been evident in high-leverage situations. Maye consistently looks Henry’s way on third downs and in condensed field scenarios, which keeps Henry viable even when game script becomes unpredictable. Miami’s defence has also struggled against tight ends, allowing multiple TE touchdowns over the past month due to breakdowns in zone coverage.
While Henry’s yardage floor is lower than Loveland’s, his touchdown-dependent upside pairs perfectly with Maye stacks and game environments where New England pushes the pace early. He’s an excellent tournament tight end who doesn’t require a ceiling game to pay off his salary.
TE Strategy
Tight end is a position where certainty beats athleticism in Week 18. With many teams resting starters or rotating personnel, prioritising tight ends with stable snap shares, clear route roles, and red-zone usage is critical. Chasing cheap, low-volume options is a losing strategy in this slate.
Both Loveland and Henry fit optimal builds because they are actively schemed into their offenses, rather than relying on broken plays. When stacking quarterbacks, tight ends should be strongly considered as primary or secondary stacking partners, particularly in divisional matchups where defensive familiarity forces offenses to lean on trusted middle-of-the-field options.
In short: pay for role clarity, not name value.
Defence / Special Teams
Houston Texans — $6,610
The Texans’ defence draws one of the most attractive Week 18 matchups on the board, facing rookie quarterback Riley Leonard in a game with clear divisional stakes. Houston is still pushing for the AFC South title, which removes any concern about effort or snap limitations. Expect an aggressive defensive approach from the opening drive.
Over the past five weeks, Houston ranks top six in pressure rate, and Leonard has struggled heavily when forced off his first read, taking sacks at an elevated rate and committing turnovers under pressure. Rookie quarterbacks making late-season starts are particularly vulnerable to disguised coverages and delayed blitzes — two areas Houston excels in.
From a fantasy standpoint, this is the ideal D/ST profile: motivated team, inexperienced quarterback, sack upside, and turnover potential. Houston may not be cheap, but they carry legitimate top-score-at-the-position upside, which is exactly what you want in tournaments.
Minnesota Vikings — $6,460
Minnesota’s defence enters Week 18 in elite form, averaging 12.2 Draftstars points per game over the past five weeks, driven by relentless pressure and opportunistic secondary play. This week, they face Clayton Tune and a Packers offense resting key starters, creating one of the most lopsided trench matchups on the slate.
The Vikings generate pressure without blitzing heavily, allowing them to flood coverage zones while still collapsing the pocket. Tune has historically struggled in these situations, posting poor efficiency numbers when pressured and turning the ball over at a high rate.
Game script also favours Minnesota. With Green Bay unlikely to push offensively, the Vikings should consistently pin them deep, creating additional sack and turnover opportunities. Minnesota profiles as both a high-floor and high-ceiling D/ST option, making them viable in all contest types.
D/ST Strategy
Target inexperienced quarterbacks and motivated defences. Avoid resting teams or low-pressure units.
Slate Strategy & Roster Construction
Week 18 is about embracing chaos intelligently. Monitor late news aggressively, build around motivated teams, and use stacking to capture ceiling outcomes. Avoid balanced “safe” builds — first place requires volatility.
Final Thoughts
This slate rewards preparation, discipline, and flexibility. Lean into motivation, trust usage trends, and don’t be afraid to pivot late. Week 18 is uncomfortable — and that’s exactly where DFS edges are found.
Suggested Draftstars NFL Lineup
