Get started on your kicking, kicking and defense in Week 18 of Fantasy Football

Dear friends, it’s already 18 weeks! For you crazy people playing this week, let’s put together some fantastic lineups and take home the championship! Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is a best and worst look at the week’s best and worst matchups in fantasy football leagues. Each week I will examine quarterbacks who could exceed or fall short of expectations set by their opponents.

To make your final lineup decision, check out my fantasy player rankings. I update them every day! Make sure too subscribe to the Fantasy Dirt Podcast with Lindsay Rhodes and me as we cover all things fantasy football five days a week!

All items: QB | RB | WR | THESE | K and summer time

1. Jason Sanders on the Jets
2. Cameron Dicker in Raiders
3. Chase McLaughlin vs. Saints
4. Will Reichard for the Lions
5. Chris Boswell vs. Bengals (Saturday)
6. Brandon Aubrey vs. Commanders
7. Jake Bates vs. Vikings
8. Brandon McManus vs. the Bears
9. Wil Lutz vs. Chiefs
10. Chad Ryland vs. 49ers

Complete kicker rankings from Week 18

The beginning of the week

Jason Sanders on Jets (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Sanders is one of the hottest kickers in fantasy football, scoring a total of 55 points in the last four games. He has also scored in double figures in six of the last eight games, and the matchup against the Jets is favorable. The Men in Green team gave up the second-most points to kickers since Week 10.

Run them

Cameron Dicker on Raiders (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Dicker has scored 27 fantasy points in his last two games and has scored in double figures five times in his last seven. This week, it will face the Raiders, who have allowed kickers on average almost nine points per game since Week 10. What’s more, Dicker outscored them for 12 fantasy points in Week 1.

Kickers with good matchups

Sit of the week

Harrison Butker on Broncos (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Butker has been inconsistent on the stat sheet this season, scoring in single digits in four of his last seven games while averaging a modest 8.1 points. I would keep him on the sidelines against the Broncos as the Chiefs are expected to bench their starters, which may make Butker less likely to score.

Sit down

Justin Tucker vs. Browns (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): Tucker has been in great form lately, scoring a total of 21 fantasy points in his last two games. However, he scored in single figures six times in the previous seven games and averaged just 7.1 points in the last nine games. That includes a six-point lead over this week’s opponent, the Browns, in Week 8.

Kickers with bad matchups

1. Ravens defense vs. Browns (Saturday)
2. Defense of buccaneers against saints
3. Chargers defense at Raiders
4. Broncos vs. Chiefs defense
5. Texas defense on Titans
6. Packers defense against Bears
7. Patriots Bills defense
8. Jets Dolphin Defense
9. Defending the Eagles against the Giants
10. Colts defense vs. Jaguars

Full Week 18 defensive rankings

The beginning of the week

Buccaneers vs. Saints defense (1 p.m. ET, Fox): The Buccaneers play in the NFC South, and the matchup with the Saints makes their defense a great option. Over the past four weeks, New Orleans has averaged 10.8 points and 250.5 total yards of offense. Moreover, the Saints surrendered 12 sacks and surrendered six giveaways.

Run them

Ravens vs. Browns defense (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): The Ravens can finish the AFC North with a win over the Browns, and their defense is in a great position to defend. Their offense has averaged a league-low 7.5 points per game since Week 14, during which time they have committed 14 turnovers and allowed 14 sacks. It’s a good idea to start with daylight saving time in Baltimore.

Defense with good matchups

Sit of the week

Steelers defense vs. Bengals (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN): It’s tough to play Steelers DST, but this week’s matchup with the Bengals will be a tough one. Their offense has averaged 29.5 points and 407 yards per game since Week 14, and there’s a risk that this game will mean nothing for Pittsburgh if the Ravens beat the Browns earlier in the afternoon.

Lions defense vs. Vikings (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): The Lions have a top 10 fantasy defense, but the matchup against the Vikings has them playing like a sit ’em. Not only is Detroit’s defense hampered by injuries, but Minnesota’s offense has averaged 31.5 points and 375.3 yards over the last four weeks. In what could be a shootout, I would avoid Detroit’s defense this week.

Defenses with bad matchups