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The 2021 regular season is over, which means absolutely nothing to those of us who obsess over fantasy football. I kept seeing tweets reading “Week 18 sucks for fantasy” and “It’s stupid to have your fantasy championship in Week 18.” While I agree with the latter, I loved the final week of the regular season and capitalized on the irregularities. However, the season isn’t finished, and a big reason is the Gauntlet from Underdog Fantasy. 

Instead of focusing on stacks and correlations, look for values from those who can get you past the first round and into the green. Treat these drafts as auctions rather than DFS entries. The immediate ROI is significantly more crucial than the future opportunity of a stack. Players like Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, Odell Beckhams, and Elijah Mitchell can be the 2021 version of Ben Roethlisberger, Chase Claypool, Marquise Brown, and Kareem Hunt.  

The RotoUnderworld Game Analyst Team consists of over 75 individuals that chart and re-watch every snap from every game in the NFL between game end, and Monday afternoon. The guys you have generally not heard from before stop in to drop some tidbits from their weekly game charting process in hopes to give us a sneak peek into the depth of the games each Sunday. This week will be strictly based on teams headed for the playoffs and how our charters perceive them entering the NFL Playoffs.

Amon-Ra St. Brown’s stock continues to trend up. The rookie saved his best performance for last, delivering a career high eight receptions for 111 yards and a TD in Week 17. He finished last Sunday with 35.4 fantasy points (WR2) to go along with three WR6 finishes since Week 13. In 16 games, St. Brown has posted 82 receptions for 803 yards and five touchdowns. He sits fourth in receiving yards for rookie WRs. St. Brown gains another 35.47 Lifetime Value points and 17 spots to climb to WR27.

In his self-proclaimed final regular season game at Heinz field, Ben Roethlisberger threw 46 times for 123 yards and one touchdown. For fantasy purposes, Roethlisberger has totalled just 27.1 fantasy points over the last three games. On the season, Roethlisberger has produced 14.4 (No. 22) Fantasy Points per Game with only three QB1 performances – eight weeks finishing outside the Top 20. With retirement looming, the 18-year Steeler drops 10 spots in the dynasty rankings to QB43.

The Jaguars have nothing to lose, but Marvin Jones will lose $500,000 if he doesn’t bring in four receptions against the Colts. As a result, his volume will be safe in Jacksonville’s Week 18 pride match. Jones has reached 43 yards in five of his last seven games, so this modest line has a strong chance to hit the OVER. Also, he won’t have difficulty producing yards against PlayerProfiler’s CB64, Isaiah Rodgers.

It’s Gronk smash time in an important matchup against Carolina. The Buccaneers will lean heavily on Rob Gronkowsi because they are without Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin. Carolina’s defense yields a high percentage of it’s targets allowed to tight ends and Gronk will make the most of this opportunity with his 10.4 (No. 1 among qualified tight ends) Average Target Distance. Most importantly, he needs 85 receiving yards to earn a $500,000 incentive bonus. Cash out with Gronk.

Jonathan Taylor is a slam dunk. In a must-win game for the Colts, Taylor should get plenty of run. He’s currently 266 Rushing Yards away from the 2,000 yard mark. That’s a lofty goal but not out of the range of outcomes for the standout rusher. At DK Sportsbook, the Colts are 15 point road favorites. The Jaguars rank last in the league in rushing percentage allowed when trailing by 7 or more points (44-percent rate h/t RotoGrinders). Get your popcorn ready for this one.

Speaking of incentives, Cooper Kupp should have some extra motivation to finish his historic season strong. In a must-win game against division rival 49ers, Kupp also needs 12 Receptions (a feat he’s achieved once already this season) to break the single-season receiving record. He’s also 171 Receiving Yards away from a 2,000 yard receiving season. Fire up fantasy’s WR1 and find value elsewhere.

The second toughest slate – only behind Week 1 – is upon us. The DFS matchups for Week 18 are not easily predicted as there are vast directions each game could go. With seven teams from each conference now making the playoffs, what used to be a throwaway week for fantasy, is now one we can play in hopes of some high-scoring contests. However, where we found values prior to 2020, are now areas with questions.

Although he plays mostly out of the slot, whenever slot corner Byron Murphy lines up there, the Seahawks move Tyler Lockett to the outside. After a massive performance from D.K. Metcalf in Week 17, DraftKings pumped his price up $500 and I expect the field to follow. I’ll be off Metcalf outside of a couple of lineups in Week 18. To finish off the stack on the Seahawks, I don’t mind running Rashaad Penny out with Russell Wilson.

The High Value Touch DFS Index is here to help you find the best plays for the dollar in DFS. This is done by looking at leaders in Carries Inside The 10-Yard Line Per Game and Targets Inside The 10-Yard Line Per Game and comparing their prices on DraftKings and FanDuel to create a rating. We look at these touches close to the end zone because touchdowns lead to fantasy points, and fantasy points lead to cashing our lineups in DFS!

James Conner, David Montgomery, and Antonio Gibson are all cash and tournament viable in Week 18, making for great plays. Myles Gaskin and Zack Moss at this moment in time look like players to fade. Check the news updates for the early games and the late games in the event there are some unexpected surprises. 

No longer tethered to Jared Goff, we see the blossoming of a star receiver with Cooper Kupp. He’s always been a weapon for the Rams, but with Matthew Stafford calling the shots, he’s unleashed on the NFL and boy has it been a joy to watch. The Rams also have valuable weapons Van Jefferson and Odell Beckham, making a case for the most talented trio of wide receivers for any team. They will surely make plays, but Kupp is who Stafford looks to, and there’s no reason why he should stop.

The Jimmy Garoppolo injury opened the door for Trey Lance to start. After a slow start against Houston, he finished with 249 passing yards, 31 rushing yards, and two passing touchdowns. The rookie quarterback numbers from the 2021 NFL Draft have been a mixed bag, so it was refreshing to see him play competently. If Garoppolo can put in a limited or full practice on Friday, and with a playoff appearance on the line, the team may prefer the established veteran to start.

The Packers have not only clinched the NFC North divisional title, but also the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams have campaigned to play in this meaningless game for the Packers, but odds are they will sit out a significant portion of the game, if not all of it. For gamers playing in Week 18, or those eager to make DFS lineups, wait for confirmation as to whether or not key veteran skill players will play.

The only fantasy option from this Lions passing attack is Amon-Ra St. Brown, who was a league winner for many. His Target Share over the last five weeks? 32.2-percent. To put that in context, Cooper Kupp’s 32.3-percent Target Share ranks No. 2 in the league. For Week 18 and DFS purposes, there’s no reason to think St. Brown will stop now. He’s a strong WR2 play.

It’s Week 18 and the Titans can lock up the AFC one seed with a win. No doubt they’ll trot out D’Onta Foreman, who just ran for 132 yards and a touchdown last week. Entering Week 17, Tennessee averaged 31.7 (No. 2) Team Run Plays Per Game, and Foreman now has three games of 100-plus rushing yards in his last five. Expect the Titans to play hard for the top seed and expect Foreman to be a big part of that against a weak run defense.

This week, the Cardinals are looking forward to the playoffs while Seahawks will try to spoil a division rival’s playoff seeding. Wilson, outside of airing it out against the Texans and Lions, has been a mediocre fantasy QB post-injury, with both his yards per attempt and completion percentage dipping from pre-injury Russ. He does not hold much rushing value either, so do not expect him to be a great play this week.