While some NFL teams may not have much to play for, fantasy championships in Week 18 are the make-or-break moment in our seasons. Most leagues have transitioned to Week 17 to avoid players sitting out or playing a limited snap count, where Deebo Samuel Sr. had a bit of a letdown. Meanwhile, Williams and Pittman each had huge weeks. Let's look at which players among Deebo Samuel Sr., Jameson Williams, and Michael Pittman Jr are worth starting.
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WR Deebo Samuel Sr., San Francisco 49ers
If you're in the fantasy championship with Deebo Samuel Sr. on your roster, you probably didn't start him much this year. He only had five weeks inside the top 24 wide receivers in PPR and is outside the top 40 wide receivers in scoring on the season. His usage has been tough to predict, swinging wildly from nine or ten targets all the way down to zero in Week 7. The bright spot for Deebo Samuel Sr. has been his carries after Christian McCaffrey went down with an injury, but even that hasn't been enough to provide a safe floor in most leagues.
As the San Francisco 49ers have been eliminated from any playoff hopes, they have nothing to play for in Week 18. Coach Kyle Shanahan hasn't announced whether or not the team will rest their starters, but it's unlikely to see them push the pedal to the metal in Week 18. Low usage, nothing to play for, and a disappointing season are all reasons to sit Deebo Samuel Sr. in Week 18.
Recommendation: Sit Deebo Samuel Sr.
WR Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
In an entirely different world than Deebo Samuel Sr.'s, Jameson Williams and the Lions are playing for the No. 1 seed and a bye in the playoffs. Williams has been a pleasant surprise for Detroit, emerging as the team's clear number-two option in the passing game. He's a big play waiting to happen but has also garnered five or more targets in every game since Week 10.
Williams is everything that fantasy managers are looking for in a Week 18 start. His team is fighting for playoff seeding. He earns targets at a high clip in a good offense. Above all else, every time he touches the ball, he's a threat to take it to the house and win a week for fantasy managers. Start Jameson Williams with confidence in Week 18.
Recommendation: Start Jameson Williams
WR Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
Where has this Pittman been all season? Like Deebo Samuel Sr., Pittman has struggled to earn targets regularly. He's in line for his lowest target total since his rookie season, and his explosion in Week 17 ran contrary to that. Maybe it had something to do with Joe Flacco starting at quarterback. In games with Flacco at quarterback, Pittman has been a boom-bust option ranging from a top-ten option all the way to the 86th-best option.
Anthony Richardson is the presumed starter for the team if he's healthy. He was only dealing with back spasms in Week 17, so he will likely return for their matchup against Jacksonville. If Richardson is the starter, Pittman is an easy sit. If Flacco is the starter, he's a risky start with the team eliminated from playoff contention and likely to take it easy in Week 18.
Recommendation: Sit Michael Pittman Jr. unless Joe Flacco is the starter
Final Thoughts on Start or Sit Options in Week 18
Week 18 fantasy championships are tricky. On one hand, it's a long season, and injuries happen. On the other hand, it's because teams are less inclined to roll with their regular game plan in meaningless games. The sweet spot is to find players with something to play for who have a clear role, like Jameson Williams. Train wrecks occur when we try to force players eliminated from playoff contention with boom-bust profiles like Deebo Samuel Sr. Ask your commissioner to move the fantasy championship to Week 17 next year.
