Fantasy Football Week 18 Wide Receiver Preview: Projections, DFS plays, matchups and more

A 1,000-yard season isn't quite as special as it used to be, with the NFL expanding the season to 17 games. But in Week 18, we're looking for any excuse we can to guarantee some sort of production, especially for teams with nothing to play for.

Chris Olave, Tyler Lockett, Chris Godwin, and Ja'Marr Chase are all within 40 yards of 1,000. They should hit that number easily, but it doesn't guarantee much in the way of Fantasy success. Brandon Aiyuk is the only other WR within 100 yards of the mark. But there are four more wide receivers within 150 yards of 1,000, and they could all hit that in Week 18.

• Week 18 Previews: QB | RB | WR | TE

JuJu Smith-Schuster is most concerned with getting the 2 yards he needs to hit 900 and collect his bonus. Michael Pittman needs 105 against the Texans. No receiver has hit that number against them since Mike Williams in Week 4. Speaking of Williams, he needs 137 yards against the Broncos for his third 1,000-yard season. His career best against them is 117 yards back in 2019. 

Finally, D.J. Moore needs 122 yards to hit the mark in what was a wildly disappointing season until Sam Darnold took over. Despite the tough matchup against New Orleans, I would expect Carolina to give him a chance.

Here is the rest of the Week 18 WR Preview:

Week 18 WR Preview

Who's Out

Numbers to Know

Matchups That Matter

Waiver Wire Targets

DFS Plays

Projections

WR Preview

Who's Out

The following players are not being projected to play in Week 18 at this time. Here's what it means:

Marquise Brown WR

KC Kansas City • #2
Age: 26 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Greg Dortch should dominate targets again, and hopefully he'll be more productive.

Skyy Moore WR

KC Kansas City • #24
Age: 23 • Experience: 3 yrs.

JuJu Smith-Schuster is a solid No. 3 WR while Kadarius Toney is a boom/bust flex.

Jakobi Meyers WR

LV Las Vegas • #16
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Tyquan Thornton is a deep sleeper.

WR Preview

Numbers to Know

• 15.1 -- PPR Fantasy points per game from D.J. Moore when not playing with Baker Mayfield. He's been a monster in the playoffs - if he got you there. 
  
• 34.3 -- Davante Adams didn't flinch with Jarrett Stidham under center, scoring 34.3 PPR Fantasy points on 11 targets. 
• 13.9 --  Saints rookie Rashid Shaheed caught all six of his targets for 79 yards last week. His production has been trending upward and could be a name to remember come next summer.
• 28 -- Desmond Ridder has targeted Drake London the most (28) by far. The next Falcon with the most targets is Cordarrelle Patterson with 12. 
  
• 5 -- Total receptions by Adam Thielen in the last three games. K.J. Osborn has 20 receptions in those three games, outgaining Thielen by 170 yards. 
  

WR Preview

Matchups that matter

Matchups that matter

Allen Lazard WR

NYJ N.Y. Jets • #10
Age: 28 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs DET GB -4.5 O/U 49

OPP VS WR 29th

PROJ PTS 11.9

WR RNK 30th

YTD Stats
REC 56	TAR 94	REYDS 747	TD 5	FPTS/G 11.5

Terry McLaurin WR

WAS Washington • #17
Age: 28 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs DAL DAL -5.5 O/U 41.5

OPP VS WR 28th

PROJ PTS 13.8

WR RNK 23rd

YTD Stats
REC 74	TAR 114	REYDS 1117	TD 4	FPTS/G 13.3

Jaylen Waddle WR

MIA Miami • #17
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs NYJ MIA -1.5 O/U 38.5

OPP VS WR 1st

PROJ PTS 14.3

WR RNK 14th

YTD Stats
REC 70	TAR 112	REYDS 1312	TD 8	FPTS/G 15.6

Christian Kirk WR

JAC Jacksonville • #13
Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs TEN JAC -6.5 O/U 40

OPP VS WR 32nd

PROJ PTS 13.3

WR RNK 19th

YTD Stats
REC 78	TAR 125	REYDS 1009	TD 7	FPTS/G 13.8

WR Preview

Waiver Wire Targets

Week 18 Adds (WR Preview)

Greg Dortch WR

ARI Arizona • #83
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ SF SF -14 O/U 40

OPP VS WR 27th

WR RNK 27th

ROSTERED 20%

YTD Stats
REC 48	TAR 60	REYDS 437	TD 2	FPTS/G 7

Dortch's production in Week 17 was abysmal, but he still saw double-digit targets and every other time he's had this role this season he's been productive. I expect another double-digit target game in Week 18 with much better Fantasy results.

K.J. Osborn WR

NE New England • #17
Age: 26 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ CHI MIN -4 O/U 45.5

OPP VS WR 12th

WR RNK NR

ROSTERED 17%

YTD Stats
REC 55	TAR 84	REYDS 533	TD 5	FPTS/G 8.7

Osborn has been functioning as the Vikings' No. 2 wide receiver and now gets the hapless Bears defense in Week 18. Osborn could also see an increased target share if the Vikings choose to rest Justin Jefferson. Adam Thielen, or T.J. Hockenson.

WR Preview

DFS Plays

Top DFS Play

Garrett Wilson WR

NYJ N.Y. Jets • #17
Age: 23 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ MIA MIA -1.5 O/U 38.5

OPP VS WR 18th

PROJ PTS 11.4

WR RNK 11th

YTD Stats
REC 74	TAR 130	REYDS 1014	TD 4	FPTS/G 12.4

Wilson was still the lead target earner for the Jets in Week 17 and I would expect a bounce-back performance against a Dolphins defense that has been much better against the pass than the run. Hopefully the down game last week holds down his roster rate as well.

Contrarian DFS Play

Greg Dortch WR

ARI Arizona • #83
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ SF SF -14.5 O/U 40

OPP VS WR 27th

PROJ PTS 10.8

WR RNK 27th

YTD Stats
REC 48	TAR 60	REYDS 437	TD 2	FPTS/G 7

It's not often you get a guy projected for double-digit targets at both a low cost and a low roster rate. Shake off last week's chalk disaster and go right back to Dortch in Week18.

WR Preview

Heath's Projections