Week 18 Sunday Fantasy Football Start/Sit Decisions: Should You Start Juwan Johnson, Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Zamir White, Jalen Hurts and More?

The final regular season Sunday of the NFL season is here. Many fantasy football owners have already had their leagues come to a close, but there’s a few of you out there that still need to make some start/sit decisions today.

Let’s dive into the FantasySP “Who Should I Start?” tool and answer some of the biggest questions. 

Because some matchups in week 18 aren’t going to be what they really appear to be, I’m going to avoid talking about the matchup and simply focus on what the players have done recently. Let’s get to it!

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Johnny Mundt Decisions

Minnesota Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt is part of trending decisions with Green Bay Packers’ Tucker Kraft and New Orleans Saints Juwan Johnson.

Mundt had seven targets a week ago, and he scored a touchdown. Kraft has six targets in each of the past three weeks, but could see his value hurt today with Luke Musgrave expected back on the field. Johnson has scored touchdowns in three straight games, and has gotten 19 targets over the past two weeks - Johnson is questionable to play this week with a chest injury.

I’d continue rolling with Johnson, if he’s able to play, of course. Give me Kraft over Mundt - I’d still trust Kraft to score more in the Packers’ offense than Mundt in the Vikings’ offense. All three are decent starting options.

Brandin Cooks vs. Adam Thielen

Dallas Cowboys’ Brandin Cooks and Carolina Panthers’ Adam Thielen are another trending decision. 

Cooks is coming off an eight-target game, and has at least five targets in three of the past four games. He had a touchdown and 60 receiving yards last week. 

Thielen has between 6-8 targets over the past four weeks. He only had 38 yards a week ago. Thielen hasn’t scored since week 6.

Thielen might have the better chance to finish with more yards and catches, but I like Cooks’ chances of scoring a lot more, and that lifts him past Thielen for me in week 18.

Running Back, Wide Receiver Battle

Packers’ Jayden Reed, Saints’ Chris Olave, Las Vegas Raiders’ Zamir White and Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua are all part of multiple trending decisions. They are up against Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs, Jacksonville Jaguars’ Calvin Ridley, Buffalo Bills’ Stefon Diggs and Rams’ Demarcus Robinson.

Reed has at least eight targets over the past three games he’s played in. He’s questionable to play this week with a chest injury.

Olave has 19 targets over the past two weeks. With Alvin Kamara likely out, Olave could be even more involved than usual this week.

White has gotten 67 touches over the past three weeks for the Raiders. He’ll be the workhorse this week with Josh Jacobs out again.

Nacua is one of the few Rams’ offensive stars that will be playing in week 18. He’s gotten at least eight targets in each of the past four weeks. Nacua may only play until he breaks some rookie records, and he needs just four receptions and 29 yards to break two marks, so he could be done in a couple possessions if the team force feeds him.

Robinson has had at least six targets in three of the past four games, with last week being the first time in the past five weeks that he didn’t score a touchdown. He should play a decent amount today, but with his recent surge, the team could also sit him for a good portion of the contest.

Gibbs and David Montgomery have split the Detroit backfield for most of the season. Despite splitting the workload, Gibbs has at least 13 touches over the past four games. The Lions could limit the RB touches for those two with a playoff spot already locked up.

Ridley could be Jacksonville’s top option in the passing game this week, especially if Christian Kirk or Zay Jones cannot play. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is also trending toward playing, which is another positive for Ridley. The veteran wideout has at least eight targets in each of the past four games. 

Diggs has struggled for several weeks in a row now, but still has at least five targets in each of the past four contests. He had 120 yards and three touchdowns the last time he faced off against the Miami Dolphins.

In week 18, I’d trust the stars the most, especially if their team has something to play for. I like Diggs to bounce back and have another big game against Miami, so I’m taking him first. I like Olave next, followed by Reed if he suits up.

I’d roll with White next, and then give Ridley a go. I’d take Robinson, Gibbs and Nacua to round things out. Again, a lot of my decision making has to do with how much I think each guy will play.

Quarterback Debates

There’s a few trending decisions at the quarterback position, so let’s lump all those guys together.

Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray, Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, Cincinnati Bengals’ Jake Browning, New Orleans’ Derek Carr, Green Bay’s Jordan Love, Chicago Bears’ Justin Fields and Lawrence will make up this debate.

For this section, I want to focus on the first matchup these quarterbacks had against their opponents.

Hurts went for 301 passing yards, a touchdown and interception, while rushing for a score and 34 yards on the ground in the last matchup against the New York Giants. 

Murray didn’t play in the team’s last clash with the Seattle Seahawks. He’s tallied 230 and 232 passing yards the past two weeks, with five combined touchdowns and just one pick.

Prescott went off for 331 yards and four touchdowns the last time he met the Washington Commanders. Allen had 320 yards and four touchdowns against the Dolphins in the first meeting.

Browning did not play against the Cleveland Browns last time around. He’s coming off back-to-back subpar performances.

Carr threw for 304 yards, but no touchdowns and a pick in the first meeting with the Atlanta Falcons. Lawrence tallied 262 yards and two touchdowns the last time he faced the Tennessee Titans.

Love opened the season with 245 yards and three touchdowns against the Bears. Fields had 216 yards, a touchdown and a pick in that contest, along with 59 rushing yards.

I like Allen this week and think he torches a battered Dolphins’ defense, so I’d take him first. I like Prescott second and think he ends the regular season on a high note.

I like Murray next, followed by Hurts and Love. I give those three an advantage over the rest because they can add some fantasy points with their running ability.

Give me Carr next, followed by Lawrence if he indeed plays. I’d take Fields and then Browning to finish things off.

Be sure to check out the start/sit tool to see what other fantasy owners are doing in similar situations. Week 18 is a weird one with so many teams resting players, but the start/sit tool can help you make a decision on players you are uncertain about. You can plug in any players and compare them. Best of luck in the final week of the regular season!