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Week 18 of the 2022 Fantasy Football season will conclude all the leagues that are still in progress. While many leagues feature their championship game in Week 17, some managers will play this week with one more game. Any fantasy team fortunate enough to have a meaningful matchup this week are likely to be in a do-or-die game for their league title.
Fantasy Football managers will need to pay close attention to the NFL matchups in Week 18. Many players will have their reps capped and others may sit out and not play at all, depending on their teams' playoff implications. This means managers should target running backs who are expected to receive their full workload in order to optimize their lineups this week.
NFL Week 18 Fantasy Football Running Backs: Start 'Em
Cam Akers - Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks
Cam Akers came alive late in the 2022 Fantasy Football season, despite the Los Angeles Rams having nothing left to play for. He has recorded five consecutive top-25 finishes, including an RB1 finish in Week 16 against the Denver Broncos.
The Seattle Seahawks allow the third-most fantasy points per game to running backs, so Akers has a great chance to keep it going.
Najee Harris - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns
Najee Harris has been extremely consistent during the second half of the 2022 Fantasy Football season. He has finished among the top 25 running backs in six of his last seven games. The 24-year-old has been much more productive since Kenny Pickett took over as the starting quarterback for Mitchell Trubisky.
The Cleveland Browns allow the sixth-most fantasy points per game to running backs, and Harris should receive plenty of work in a must-win game for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
David Montgomery - Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
David Montgomery is quite active in the Chicago Bears' offensive gameplan, despite them being one of the worst teams in the NFL. He has received at least 15 touches in five of his last six games. He could see even more work than usual in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings after Justin Fields was ruled out with an injury.
NFL Week 18 Fantasy Football Running Backs: Sit 'Em
Cordarrelle Patterson - Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cordarrelle Patterson appears to have been surpassed by Tyler Allgeier as the lead running back for the Atlanta Falcons. Allgeier is averaging 20 touches per game over the last three weeks, while Patterson is averaging 13 touches. The Falcons are even more likely to lean on their rookie in Week 18 as they look ahead to the 2023 NFL season.
Leonard Fournette - Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons
Leonard Fournette should be completely avoided in Week 18 of the 2022 Fantasy Football season. This is also true for Tom Brady and all of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' usual starters, as they have nothing to play for this week. They have already clinched the fourth seed in the NFC Playoffs, making this week's game relatively meaningless. They will likely rest most of their key players.
Brian Robinson Jr. - Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys
While Brian Robinson Jr. has apparently surpassed Antonio Gibson as the preferred running back for the Washington Commanders, he's an extremely risky option in Week 18 Fantasy Football. The Dallas Cowboys allow the second-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. The Commanders are also giving rookie quarterback Sam Howell the first start of his career, so they may struggle to move the ball.
Top 10 Fantasy Football RBs in NFL Week 18
- Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals
- Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
- Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
- Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions
- Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks
- Najee Harris, Pitsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns
- Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams
