Welcome to Week 18 of the NFL, perhaps the most unpredictable week in the schedule as teams are either gearing up for the playoffs or the golf course.
Our picks this week are clearly aimed at the DFS crowd as most year-long leagues wrapped up their seasons last week.
This week’s game features two teams facing very different realities. The 3-13 Giants, who have been long eliminated from postseason play, trying to end one of their worst seasons ever on a high note versus a 13-3 Philadelphia Eagles team that is locked into the No. 2 spot in the upcoming NFC Playoffs and trying to shield themselves from unnecessary injuries.
Still, there is always money to be made in any football game.
Here are our tentative DFS plays in this game. We say that because some players could be severely limited or even held out on Sunday, so check the news before kickoff.
Giants QB Drew Lock
Drew Lock had a monster game last week against Indianapolis, racking up 37.36 FPS on DraftKings, which was third among quarterbacks last week behind only the unconscious Joe Burrow and the surging Baker Mayfield.
Don’t expect the Giants to rein him in this week against an Eagles defense that should be littered with backups most of the game. Many are wondering if the light has finally gone on for Lock or was last week was simply an anomaly.
We’re thinking a little of both. He appeared to be in complete control last week and it reminded us of his two-game starting stretch for the Seahawks last December when he held his own against the 49ers and then beat the Eagles with solid showings.
Giants WR Malik Nabers
Malik Nabers really stepped things up last week with 39.10 FPS on DK, second only to the Bengals’ Tee Higgins (44.10). He seemed to click with Lock under center and is developing into a more versatile and reliable player.
Expect the Giants to continue to pepper Nabers with targets and, as you know, you can’t score points without the ball in fantasy and Nabers is certainly getting the lion’s share of touches in the Giants’ offense.
Eagles running backs
Saquon Barkley ate his former mates alive in the first meeting to the tune of 176 yards on the ground and is now angling in on the NFL’s all-time single-season rushing record.
The Eagles are weighing their options with Barkley this week of whether to play him in this meaningless game and risk injury to achieve the record or to play it safe and sit him out.
The best-case scenario for those wishing to play Barkley is that he plays and gets pulled once he gains the 101 yards needed to break the record, so there’s a ceiling here.
Our suggestion is you stay away from Barkley as he is likely to be expensive and not bring you the bang for your buck. Instead, take a flier on one of his backups — Tyrion Davis-Price or Kenneth Gainwell.
Check the latest buzz to see which one could be the lead back in Barkley’s absence. And with the Eagles likely to be playing a conservative game, they’ll be looking to run first most of the afternoon.
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