Happy 1st Friday of 2022 to all the fantasy followers reading this!
Welcome back to my weekly Start/Sit HUB! Mike Hubbard Jr here, providing you with information that can help you win your fantasy league week in and week out. For all things fantasy football, follow me on Twitter (@FantasyHubbard) and Instagram (@fantasyhubbard). You can tweet me or message me on either social media with any questions you might have regarding the fantasy football season.
It’s time for week 18 where the fantasy football playoffs have concluded or are about to conclude. If you made it this far and are still contending, congratulations and well done! If your fantasy season ended, you can still watch football and play other fantasy games or start planning for next season. I hope you enjoyed the fantasy football experience and plan to play again in the 2022/2023 season. This whole season has been very unpredictable with injuries and with COVID becoming an even bigger issue. Keep informed and play smart.
Week 18 will have games only on Saturday and Sunday this week so be aware of when and who is playing. This weeks Saturday schedule is as follows:
4:30pm EST – Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos
8:15pm EST – Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles
The matchups I look forward to watching the most this Sunday are the Steelers/Ravens game, the 49ers/Ram’s game, and the Chargers/Raiders game. A lot at stake for each team.
I’m here every Friday during the fantasy football season with start and sit suggestions that can impact your team each week. My decisions as always include obvious and not so obvious picks. I would also like to clarify that my sit suggestions are based on the assumption you have or can add a player that has a better chance at success. Good luck this week and continue to check out my weekly articles.
START OF THE WEEK
Start – Jonathan Taylor – Yes JT is probably the most obvious start of the week. The Colts NEED to win this game in order to get into the playoffs and luckily for them it’s the Jags they’re playing. The Jags have been so bad this year but remember they did upset the Bills and the Dolphins earlier this year. That’s unfortunately all I have to say that’s positive about them. Taylor should be fed immensely per usual and not have too much trouble along the way. His stats have been unreal this season. Over 100 rushing yards in 10 of his last 13 games and 20 total TDs (none in weeks 1-3). Last time these 2 teams played in week 10, JT rushed for 116 yards, scored 1 rushing TD, and had 6 receptions on a season high 8 targets. Jags will look to maintain Taylor, but no team has yet to slow him down.
Bengals @ Browns
Start – Jarvis Landry – Nick Chubb is the obvious must start Brown again this week. Especially after he dominated the last time these 2 teams played each other back in week 9. Landry had a quiet day that game, but I’m expecting a better game. Case Keenum will be QB1 for the Browns in their season finale. Keenum led the Browns to a week 7 win over the Broncos for what it’s worth. Landry has been targeted 10 times in 3 of his last 4 games and has 40+ receiving yards in all of his last 4 games including a 111-yard game and 1 receiving TD game. The Bengals haven’t scared away opposing WRs this season and Landry is going to try to make a bigger impact this time around against the Bengals. Hoping they all play hard regardless of who is playing and if they have anything to play for.
Sit – Brandon Allen – Brandon Allen is set to start at QB for the Bengals in week 18. Allen has not played much time in any games this season but has a few years of periodic playing time under his belt. He is in the sit category because he doesn’t have the greatest matchup with the Browns in Cleveland, and he is coming off the bench. It’s unclear whether Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, or Tyler Boyd will be active, but clearly Allen would benefit from them playing. He will most likely be handing the ball off to Samaje Perine a lot to alleviate pressure on him. Allen needs to avoid Myles Garrett and hopefully have time to throw down field.
Packers @ Lions
Start – Amon-Ra St. Brown – Amon-Ra might have been the pick-up of the season for fantasy football. He has 11+ targets in 5 consecutive games and has scored 4 TDs in that time. St. Brown is averaging over 8 receptions and over 90 receiving yards per game since week 12 ended. He gets a good Green Bay defense in week 18 but it remains to be seen if the Packers are going to play with starters, backups, or a mixture on both sides of the ball. I expect him to feast for another week, especially at home, and he should have Goff throwing to him which is good but doesn’t seem to matter too much who is at QB.
Sit – Craig Reynolds – Reynolds had a couple good games in weeks 14 and 15 but we are now in week 18 and those days seem to be history. The Lions have D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams both healthy enough to play making Craig RB3 on the depth chart. I don’t expect many touches or much of an impact from Reynolds in this game unless Swift and/or Williams were to leave the game early. Don’t risk it.
Bears @ Vikings
Start – David Montgomery – Montgomery is playing his best football of the season right now. He has double-digit carries in every game he has played in and has caught 2+ passes in 9 of his 12 games. Montgomery has 61 rushing attempts in his last 3 games which resulted in 3 rushing TDs. He also has 28 receptions on 33 targets in his last 5 games proving how much of a threat he is rushing and receiving out of the backfield. David and the Bears just lost to the Vikings 3 weeks ago when Montgomery had 83 total yards and lost a fumble which was his only fumble on the season. Both teams are eliminated from playoff contention so this could be a good fight for pride. Look for Montgomery to handle most of the RB duties and feed off of Justin Fields explosiveness with his feet.
Sit – Tyler Conklin – Conklin has been just okay lately and is about the 15th best TE this season in fantasy points which is fitting since he is the 15th TE in my rankings this week. You could do better, but you could also do a lot worse. Conklin gets targets but doesn’t get enough bulk yardage and not enough TD opportunities. 2 of his 3 TDs this season came back in week 10 in a game where he had just 11 receiving yards. Since then, he has not scored and has only surpassed 50 receiving yards once. Conklin is a pass catching option with Adam Thielen out, but it seems KJ Osborn is the main beneficiary there. The Bears have played opposing TEs well this season, including 3 weeks back when they held Conklin to just 1 reception for 7 receiving yards.
Washington @ Giants
Start – Antonio Gibson – Antonio Gibson was activated off the COVID list on Wednesday and is looking like he will be RB1 for Washington against the Giants in week 18. Keep in mind it is the last game of the season for both teams and that could mean time for backups like Jaret Patterson. It makes it tough on deciding who to play but I’m still taking Gibson here. Antonio has caught 2+ receptions in all but 1 game the entire season, and also has double-digit carries in all but 2 games the entire season. Gibson has a great chance at success against the Giants (lack of) defense.
Sit – Jake Fromm – Jake Fromm gets another taste of starting an NFL game. He looked downright terrible against the Eagles in week 16 after playing a little in week 15 which wasn’t much better against the Cowboys. Fromm has the great matchup against Washington but is hardly trustworthy and is low on healthy players around him. Avoid the Giants pass game if possible.
Colts @ Jaguars
Start – Jonathan Taylor – Yes JT is probably the most obvious start of the week. The Colts NEED to win this game in order to get into the playoffs and luckily for them it’s the Jags they’re playing. The Jags have been so bad this year but remember they did upset the Bills and the Dolphins earlier this year. That’s unfortunately all I have to say that’s positive about them. Taylor should be fed immensely per usual and not have too much trouble along the way. His stats have been unreal this season. Over 100 rushing yards in 10 of his last 13 games and 20 total TDs (none in weeks 1-3). Last time these 2 teams played in week 10, JT rushed for 116 yards, scored 1 rushing TD, and had 6 receptions on a season high 8 targets. Jags will look to maintain Taylor, but no team has yet to slow him down.
Sit –Dare Ogunbowale – Dare has played well since having to fill in for James Robinson. He ran in a TD against the Jets defense in week 16 and then caught a TD pass in week 17 against the Patriots. For what it is worth, Dare caught the only receiving TD for Jacksonville since Tavon Austin caught 1 back in late November. Trevor Lawrence has only thrown 2 passing TDs in his last 9 games. That’s rough knowing he has 8 INTs in that time frame. So yes, Dare had the pleasure of a rare receiving TD which is even crazier since no RB for the Jags caught a receiving TD this season. But the fact is that the Colts run defense is legit and this could be a struggle. I’m not starting Dare, but if I had to start any Jag it would be him.
Steelers @ Ravens
Start – Mark Andrews – Mark Andrews season is concluding this week with a small chance of postseason hopes. The #1 TE in fantasy football this season has been incredible for Baltimore. He has even outshined the do-it-all phenom that is Travis Kelce. Andrews has 115+ receiving yards in 3 of his last 4 games including 4 receiving TDs of out his season total of 9. Mark had 4 receptions for 50 receiving yards against the Steelers back in his week 13 20-19 loss. This could be Andrews final game of the season and I’m sure he will want to leave his stamp on the field. No matter who is QB for Baltimore this week, I have full confidence that they will target Andrews and get him into favorable situations. A low scoring game would be typical, but here’s to hoping Andrews finds the endzone.
Sit – Latavius Murray – In a game with so much at stake who would you feel comfortable sitting? My answer is Latavius Murray. Do you bench Roethlisberger in his possible last game as a Steeler or even last game ever? How about Claypool or Freiermuth? Not with Diontae Johnson out. And you can’t sit a stud like Najee Harris even though he could be a letdown this week. So, Murray it is. Latavius is behind Devonta Freeman on the depth chart and hasn’t made much of an impact on Baltimore’s offense in a while. He has just 1 TD since October and that was a 1-yard TD rush on his only carry in week 14. He has only surpassed 50 rushing yards 1 time back in week 4 and is basically irrelevant in the pass catching game.
Titans @ Texans
Start – Brandin Cooks – Cooks is taking on the current #1 AFC seed Titans in week 18. The Texans will look to shock Tennessee out of the top spot even though the Texans season will be over following this game. Cooks has been a lone bright spot on a Texans team that has shown how bad they usually are, and at times how they can be a threat on offense. All in his last 3 games played, Cooks has double-digit targets each game, 2 games with 100+ receiving yards, and 3 receiving TDs. The Titans have no issue with letting opposing WRs rack up yards and TDs so this could be another big game for Brandin. Rookie Davis Mills has been connecting well with Cooks and knows he will need to air it out to stay competitive.
Sit – Rex Burkhead – Rex has been getting plenty of chances for Houston and has been doing okay with these chances. Since his week 10 BYE, Rex has steadily gotten around 12 carries and about 37 rushing yards each game. That doesn’t include his week 16 eruption of 149 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs on 22 carries. Burkhead can also catch out of the backfield like he did in week 17 where he had 6 receptions on 6 targets which were both season highs for him. Last time these 2 teams met in week 11, Rex had 40 rushing yards on 18 attempts. The Titans give up a lot of points to WRs but have been stout on defense against opposing RBs. Not a great spot for Rex and Houston’s running game.
Saints @ Falcons
Start – Taysom Hill – Taysom Hill is starting for the Saints again this week and he is in a great position to get you that championship win if you’re still fighting for it. Hill has started in 4 games since December began and he won 3 of them. In those 4 games he has averaged 63 rushing yards and just over 200 passing yards each game. Also scored 3 passing TDs and 2 rushing TDs. He gets the Falcons defense this week who have been terrible this season against opposing QBs. Only Washington has been worse. Hill and the Saints still have a shot at playoffs, so you know they are going to give all they have, which is a hefty dose of Kamara and Hill. Easily a top 10 QB for me this week.
Sit – Matt Ryan – Matty Ice has been eliminated from the playoffs and I’m sure he is eager to finish this season in 1 piece and hopefully be in a better position to succeed next season. The Saints aren’t going to go easy on him. All of the Falcons wins came by 8 points or less meaning 1 possession games. They were outscored by 169 points in their 9 losses this season which makes it an average of about 18 points. As obvious as it sounds, if the Falcons want to win, they need to keep it close. Ryan hasn’t thrown for multiple TDs since week 9. Let’s leave Matty Ice on the bench.
Jets @ Bills
Start – Devin Singletary – Singletary is heating up at the perfect time for the Bills. The Bills have won 3 consecutive games, and Singletary has a lot to do with it. He has scored 4 rushing TDs in his last 3 games while averaging 19 carries and 78 rushing yards. Devin is also a threat to catch and run. He has 4 games this season with 5+ receptions. The Jets are an easy defense to expose on the ground since they are the worst defense against opposing RBs this season and it’s not super close. I’m envisioning a Bills win, whether it is a blowout win or a closer win. The Jets will have their hands full. Singletary is a top 10 RB this week.
Sit – Zach Wilson – Wilson has been playing better football lately for the Jets, but let’s be real, he set the bar very low earlier this season. The rookie hasn’t thrown an INT since week 13 (9 in his first 5 games) and has only lost 1 fumble this season. He also has scored 4 rushing TDs in his last 6 games including a 91-rushing yard game against the Jags in week 16. All is looking slightly better for Wilson, but he gets the Bills this week. The Bills that are coming off 3 consecutive wins and are in a spot to win their division over the Patriots. Buffalos defense has been elite against opposing QBs this season, so I don’t see that changing. I’m imagining we see the beginning of the season rookie Wilson this week again.
49ers @ Rams
Start – Odell Beckham Jr – Cooper Kupp Is obviously the must start Ram, especially since he is in position to break the single season receiving yards record. He did get an extra week this season, but it will still be a record. If you don’t have Kupp, OBJ is a solid option this week. OBJ has scored a TD in 5 of his last 6 games. OBJ played against the 49ers in his 1st game with the Rams in week 10 where he had just 18 yards on 2 receptions in a 21-point loss. I expect it to be different this time around since OBJ has started to jell better with Stafford. 49ers NEED to win, and Rams are fighting for playoff position. Put me down for 136 receiving yards for Kupp and a clutch OBJ TD in this game.
Sit – Brandon Aiyuk – Aiyuk has had a better 2nd half of the season with the 49ers after such a lackluster start. It is tough to determine how the 49ers offense will work and who will benefit most. The Rams defense is above average with some stud defenders. Last time they faced each other, Jimmy G, Eli Mitchell, Deebo, and Kittle all had good performances. My guess is that they try to pound the ball with Mitchell and occasionally take shots with Deebo down field and have him run some. Kittle should be an option every down whether it’s for little yards or big yards, he is a YAC beast. Aiyuk seems like the 4th weapon for Jimmy G or Trey Lance this week and I would much rather start them all over Aiyuk. Not a bad play, but outside my top 25 WRs this week.
Patriots @ Dolphins
Start – Damien Harris – All Damien Harris does is score TDs. He has 14 rushing TDs this season including 7 in his last 4 games played. Harris is facing a feisty Dolphins defense that was just eliminated from the playoffs while the Patriots are playing to try to win their division. The Dolphins can play light or angry this week in result of their elimination. Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson are probably going to split snaps at RB, but I’m still rocking with Harris. Although it was all the way back in week 1, Harris rushed for 100 yards against the Dolphins.
Sit – Myles Gaskin – Myles Gaskin has become too much of a risk to play in fantasy. He has 39 total yards in his last 2 games and hasn’t scored since late November. Duke Johnson and Philip Lindsay have become fantasy relevant for the Dolphins creating more of a RB committee situation that no one likes in fantasy football. Gaskin rushed for 49 yards and had 27 receiving yards in week 1 against New England, but that was when only Malcolm Brown was his competition at RB. Too many men have chances here and the matchup isn’t worth the risk.
Seahawks @ Cardinals
Start – Zach Ertz – Ertz has been dominating targets as a Cardinal and has 40 of them in his last 4 games. Ertz has a great matchup with Seattle this week after crushing them for 88 receiving yards and 2 TDs on 8 receptions back in week 11. Ertz could easily repeat that performance as long as the Cardinals can frequently visit the red zone and continue to target him. I have Ertz as a top 6 TE this week. Only Andrews, Kelce, Kittle, Gronk, and Goedert above him. Waller is in that conversation this week, but Darren seems riskier due to his absences. Fire up Ertz.
Sit – Gerald Everett – Everett is outside my top 20 TEs this week. Arizona is tough on opposing TEs and held him to just 3 receptions for 37 yards back in week 11. Everett does have a couple of 60+ receiving yard games since then but also has failed to hit 40 receiving yards in 5 of his last 7 games. The good news is he scored in week 12 and has scored 1 TD every other game since. That will mean he is due for 1 TD this week if you believe in that sort of thing. I believe Metcalf, Lockett, and Penny all have a better chance at scoring.
Panthers @ Buccaneers
Start – Ke’Shawn Vaughn – Vaughn feels like a sneaky good play this week, but it doesn’t come without risk. Ronald Jones is questionable to play and was seen wearing a walking boot on Wednesday. That would scare me if I was a Jones owner in an important game. If Jones is unable to play, the options become more of Vaughn and LeVeon Bell. Either RB could see a lot or a little percentage of playing time with Jones out. Vaughn is back to practicing in full so I’m going to expect Vaughn to start at RB and integrate Bell into plays and have him catch more out of the backfield. Only time will tell how this works out, but assuming we find out Jones status prior to kickoff, Vaughn and Bell become very interesting plays against the Panthers who haven’t won since mid-November.
Sit – Sam Darnold – Sam Darnold looked good early this season. Then we reached week 5 and it was all downhill from there for Sam. Since week 5 Darnold has just 2 passing TDs but has thrown 9 INTs in the 7 games he has played in. Carolina is averaging under 18 points per game this season and just 10 points per game over their last 3 games. Darnold will have to throw with the Bucs great run defense and his only above average pass catcher is DJ Moore. Darnold and Moore will need a lot of help to make this game interesting.
Chargers @ Raiders
Start – Josh Jacobs – Josh Jacobs has kept the Raiders in contention for playoff football. They are currently on the bubble but will most likely advance to the postseason with a win over the Chargers. Vegas has won 3 consecutive games and Jacobs has averaged just under 100 total yards in each game and found the end zone once. The Chargers are a good team but struggle immensely at stopping the run lately. Jacobs was held to 40 rushing yards in week 14 when the Chargers beat them by 14 points. This game has revenge written all over it. Jacobs will play a pivotal role in deciding this game.
Sit – Bryan Edwards – Bryan Edwards has struggled a lot this season. Going into the new 2021-2022 season he was expected to be either WR1 or WR2 for the Raiders, but he hasn’t lived up to his potential. He had just 4 receiving yards last time these 2 teams played each other. Edwards doesn’t have a reception since before Christmas and has more than 30 receiving yards just 1 time since his week 8 BYE. Hunter Renfrow and Zay Jones have been lighting up defenses lately and they might get Darren Waller back. If not, they still have Foster Moreau and DeSean Jackson who have both outperformed Edwards in the last 4 weeks.