Fantasy Football Week 18 Quarterback Start Decision: Jared Goff, Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson, Michael Penix, Geno Smith and More

For those of you still playing fantasy football in week 18, or for those of you doing DFS, I’m back with another quarterback start decision story.

This week, we’ll discuss Geno Smith, Russell Wilson, Jared Goff, Drake Maye, Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield, Jordan Love, Bo Nix, Joshua Dobbs, Michael Penix, Bryce Young, Justin Herbert, Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold and Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco.

Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.

Important Numbers

Smith is coming off an 8.3-point fantasy showing, and has been under 10 points in two of the past three weeks. He scored 23.4 points in the other contest.

Wilson scored 18.7 fantasy points last week, after scoring 16.4 the week before that. He’s been over 12 fantasy points in eight of his 10 starts.

Goff went for 25.8 fantasy points last week, and has at least 23 points in four straight. He’s only been below 10 fantasy points once all season.

Maye tallied 9.9 points last week, his first time under 10 points since taking over as the team’s starter. He had been over 18 fantasy points in four of the previous five games.

Burrow went off for 37 fantasy points in week 17. He has scored 18 or more points in eight straight games, with over 20 in all but one of those.

Mayfield tallied 34.6 fantasy points last week, and has gone for at least 20 points in four straight. He’s scored in single digits just twice this season.

Love had 14 fantasy points a week ago. He hasn’t scored over 18 points in four straight and has scored in single digits just once in his starts.

Nix tallied 22.9 points last week, his second straight week over 20 points. He has scored at least 14 fantasy points in 12 straight contests.

Dobbs is going to start for the Niners this week. Brock Purdy is out with an elbow injury. Dobbs scored 8.1 fantasy points while getting some playing time last week.

Penix scored 12.2 fantasy points in week 17, which was better than his 7.4-point performance in week 16. Those were the first two starts of his NFL career.

Young went for 16.9 points last week. He has at least 12 fantasy points in seven straight outings.

Herbert had 24.4 points last week, marking his second straight week over 20 points. He has scored 13 or more points in four straight.

Murray had 18 fantasy points last week, a bit down from a 21.4-point outing in week 17. He has 17 or more fantasy points in four of the past five games.

Rodgers had only 2.5 points last week. He scored 15 or more points from weeks 11-15, but had just 12.8 in week 16 before his dud last week.

Darnold went for 25.8 points last week, marking the fifth time in seven games that he went over 20 points. He scored just under 20 points in one of those contests.

Richardson and Flacco are listed together because either could start this week. Richardson is dealing with back spasms. In a start last week, Flacco went for 17.3 fantasy points.

Week 18 Matchups

Burrow and Wilson face off in the second of two Saturday games this week. It’s a tough matchup for Burrow and a pretty favorable one for Wilson.

Young and Penix play against each other on Sunday. Penix has the best fantasy matchup in the league, while Young’s is also very favorable.

Love takes on the Bears in week 18. It’s a very tough matchup on paper but one Love played pretty well in the first time the teams met.

Smith takes on the Rams, who could be sitting some starters. It’s already a slightly above-average matchup for Smith.

Goff and Darnold battle on Sunday night in the game of the week. It’s a pretty favorable clash for Darnold, while being tough on Goff.

Maye faces the Bills, who could be resting some starters as well. Buffalo has been a pretty tough matchup so far this season.

Mayfield goes against the Saints, who are a fairly tough matchup on paper. Herbert faces the Raiders, who are a pretty average fantasy test.

Nix goes up against a slightly above-average Chiefs’ defense. Kansas City could be resting some regulars though.

Dobbs and Murray play in the same game. Both have below-average matchups, with Dobbs’ test being tougher.

Rodgers would take on the Dolphins, who are fighting for their playoff lives and are the toughest matchup for a fantasy quarterback.

Richardson or Flacco would have one of the most favorable matchups against the Jaguars.

Starting Recommendations

I usually discuss fantasy projections in this section, but with a lot of players likely to be ruled out, or not play much this week, I don’t think the projections matter quite as much. You can check them out here.

I tend to trust the players who have delivered all season, and that’s especially true for such a wacky fantasy week.

I like Burrow the best of the big group of quarterbacks. He’s been an elite fantasy option all season, and should put up another huge score to cap things off.

Mayfield has a tougher matchup, but after playing well against the Saints earlier this season, I’m more than comfortable taking him second in this discussion. Even if Mayfield doesn’t end up playing the entire game, he should post a big fantasy score.

I like Goff for the next spot. He was great in the first matchup against Minnesota, so I’m not too worried about the tough matchup. Start Goff confidently this week.

I’d take Darnold here. He’s been good for most of the season, and in a very favorable clash, I think he posts a monster fantasy score. The only thing that makes me a bit worried is a pretty average first showing against the Lions.

I’d then try Nix. He was pretty solid in the first test against the Chiefs, and with several regulars likely sitting, I think Nix will perform really well in week 18.

Give me Love here. It’s a bit risky because he’s underperformed of late, and has a tough matchup, but with the Packers’ recent dominance over the Bears and Love’s first outing against them, I think Love posts a nice fantasy score.

I’d take Murray here. He’s performed pretty well of late, and the matchup is probably a bit better than it actually appears. Murray also played against San Fran when things mattered, so in a more meaningless game, I could see Murray really having a nice fantasy day.

Give me Wilson here. He’s been pretty good the past two weeks, and now faces the team he scored his season high in fantasy points against. Sign me up.

I’d take Herbert here. Herbert has looked great of late and the Chargers likely want to keep things rolling going into the postseason. He didn’t play too well in this matchup the last time the teams played, but that also was week 1, so I’m not too worried about Herbert this week.

Give me Flacco here if he starts. He went off against the Jaguars earlier this season, and would be in store for a similar outing in a meaningless game this time around.

I’d take Young next. He’s been a pretty average fantasy QB over the last month, and in another favorable matchup this week, I expect Young to keep rolling along.

I’d take Richardson next if he ends up playing. He’d use his legs to score a fair amount of fantasy points, and the favorable matchup could mean he delivers a great score if he can connect on a couple big passes.

Give me Maye next if he ends up playing. The matchup is tough on paper, but with the Bills resting players, I think Maye could deliver a good fantasy score.

I’d take Smith here. He was pretty good in this matchup last time around (despite three interceptions), and things should be easier with the Rams resting some guys this week.

I’d take Penix for the next spot. The favorable matchup gives him the edge over the remaining couple players.

I’d take Dobbs over Rodgers for the final spot. Neither have great matchups, but Dobbs’ test is a little bit more favorable, so I trust him a bit more.