NFL Week 18 Predictions, Best Matchups & Cheat Sheet for PrizePicks

Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud throws a pass against the Indianapolis Colts.
AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

The conclusion of the 2025 NFL regular season is here with the arrival of Week 18's play. Plenty is left to be determined, though, as playoff seeds get sorted out.

The Week 18 cheat sheet is your ultimate resource for the top player picks for PrizePicks NFL, matchups to target, and game insights for the main slate.

Ready to lock in your NFL Week 18 predictions? Just go to the PrizePicks NFL board, pick your players, and predict if they’ll have More or Less than their projected stats to earn cash if you're right.

Let's get into this week's predictions

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NFL Week 18 Predictions & Cheat Sheet for PrizePicks, NFL DFS

Find the top Week 18 predictions, picks, matchups to target, and players to target in Sunday's games below in the PrizePicks Cheat Sheet, including analysis on QBs, RBs, WR vs. CB matchups, and OL vs. DL mismatches.

Best QB Predictions for NFL Week 18

Here are two of the top QB vs. defense matchups for fantasy football and PrizePicks NFL this week to help you make your NFL Week 18 predictions.

Browns QB Shedeur Sanders vs. Bengals Defense

Shedeur Sanders gets a nice opportunity here against a Cincinnati secondary that has been one of the league’s weakest units for most of the season. The Bengals rank dead last in the NFL in passing TDs allowed (26) and sit 18th in passing yards afforded overall.

While the Bengals have shown marginal improvement since Week 12, they still 29th in EPA per dropback, per SumerSports. Cleveland has clearly given Sanders the green light, allowing him to operate aggressively from under center. In his limited starts this season, he’s averaging 29 pass attempts.

Against a defense that continues to struggle containing QBs, Sanders may be set up to make another statement before his rookie season closes.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud vs. Colts Defense

Indianapolis enters this matchup severely shorthanded on defense, with CB Sauce Gardner ruled out and DT DeForest Buckner placed on injured reserve. Since Week 12, the Colts rank 31st in passing yards and 30th in completions allowed, showing a clear inability to stop anything through the air.

That sets the stage for C.J. Stroud, who has led Houston’s surge. Despite missing time due to injury, he still ranks top 20 in passing yards (2,087), top 25 in passing TDs (18), and top 20 in average depth of target (8.6). He’s now just two TDs away from matching his 2024 total, and against a depleted Colts secondary, this may be an ideal spot to close that gap quickly.

Week 18 Prediction for PrizePicks: CJ Stroud – 211.5 Passing Yards 


Best RB Predictions for NFL Week 18

Here are two of the top RB vs. defense matchups to target for fantasy football and PrizePicks NFL this week to help you make your NFL Week 18 predictions.

Bears RB D’Andre Swift vs. Lions Defense

Since Week 13, the Detroit Lions have been one of the weakest run defenses in the league, allowing 5.3 yards per carry (second-worst) and 152.6 rushing yards per game (fifth-most). That inefficiency has also shown up in the red zone, where Detroit has surrendered eight rushing TDs over that span, the third-most in the NFL.

Can D'Andre Swift exploit this matchup? In head coach Ben Johnson’s first season, the RB ranks top 15 in rushing yards (1,047), top 10 in rushing TDs (9), and is averaging an impressive 4.9 yards per carry. Against a front that has been consistently gashed on the ground, Swift may offer both a high floor and a high ceiling.

Rams RB Kyren Williams vs. Cardinals Defense

While much of the attention in Los Angeles has gone to QB Matthew Stafford and WRs Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams continues to quietly deliver an elite rushing season. He ranks top 10 in rushing yards (1,192), top 10 in rushing TDs (10), and averages 4.8 yards per carry.

Since Week 13, the Arizona Cardinals have struggled badly against the run, allowing 4.52 yards per carry, 151.8 rushing yards per game (sixth-worst in the NFL), and eight rushing TDs (tied for third-most over that stretch). Williams could be set up for another strong workload and efficient outing.

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Best WR vs. CB Matchups to Target: Week 18

Here are two of the top WR vs. CB matchups to target for fantasy football and PrizePicks NFL this week to help you make your NFL Week 18 predictions.

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb vs. Saints CB Paulson Adebo

The New York Giants play man coverage at one of the highest rates in the NFL (29.9%, per Sharp Football Analysis), and CeeDee Lamb has consistently shredded man defenses. He ranks fourth in the NFL in receiving yards and ninth in receptions vs. man.

This matchup could favor Lamb, who thrives on separation and route nuance against this style of defense. He is expected to see plenty of snaps against CB Paulson Adebo, who ranks 85th out of 112 corners in coverage (via Pro Football Focus) and is allowing nearly a 100 passer rating and 11.1 yards per reception.

This is a potential leverage spot for Dallas’ top weapon.

Jaguars WR Jakobi Meyers vs. Titans CB Darrell Baker Jr.

The Tennessee Titans' secondary remains a liability, and CB Darrell Baker Jr. has been one of the worst coverage defenders in the league. Baker yields a 135.2 passer rating with 14.8 yards per reception.

That sets up well for Jakobi Meyers, who has been a seamless addition to the Jacksonville Jaguars' offense. Meyers ranks top 25 in receptions, targets, and receiving yards. He averages 11.3 yards per reception and is coming off a 6-catch performance in Week 17.

Against a corner who struggles to limit separation and yardage, Meyers profiles as a possible volume and efficiency play.

Week 18 Prediction for PrizePicks: Jakobi Meyers – 3.5 Receptions


Best OL vs. DL Matchups to Target for NFL Week 18

Here are two of the top OL vs. DL matchups to target for fantasy football and PrizePicks NFL this week to help you make your NFL Week 18 predictions.

Eagles DL vs. Commanders OL

The Philadelphia Eagles' defensive line remains one of the most dominant units in the league. DT Jalen Carter has missed time with injury but still owns 41 total pressures, ranking 16th. EDGE Nolan Smith has also battled injuries, yet in limited action has generated 31 pressures and 2 sacks.

The midseason acquisition of pass rusher Jaelan Phillips has only strengthened the group. He’s produced over 70 pressures on the season with 5 sacks, giving Philadelphia relentless havoc from multiple alignments. That sets up poorly for the Washington Commanders' offensive line, which has been one of the weakest in the NFL.

Starting LT Laremy Tunsil is listed as out, as is G Sam Cosmi. Filling in at RG is Andrew Wylie, who ranks 74th out of 80 guards via PFF. First-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. has struggled mightily, surrendering 43 pressures and 8 sacks with 13 penalties, while LG Chris Paul and C Nick Allegretti have also allowed consistent interior pressure.

This is a severe mismatch for Philadelphia’s front to pounce on.

Browns DL vs. Bengals OL

The Cleveland Browns' defensive line is led by a historically dominant season from DE Myles Garrett, who ranks sixth with 75 pressures and first in sacks with 22. Opposite Garrett, Alex Wright has emerged as a reliable complement, tallying 21 pressures and 7 sacks. Inside, rookie DT Mason Graham has impressed, producing 34 pressures.

That firepower goes head-to-head with a shaky Bengals offensive line tasked with protecting QB Joe Burrow. LT Orlando Brown Jr. has endured a rough season, allowing 41 pressures and 8 sacks. On the right side, Amarius Mims has given up 34 pressures and C Ted Karras has surrendered 19 pressures.

With Cleveland’s pass rush working in near-perfect harmony, this matchup appears to clearly favor the Browns’ front.

Week 18 Prediction for PrizePicks: Joe Burrow – 243.5 Passing Yards


Make NFL Week 18 Predictions on PrizePicks

Week 18 brings us one final opportunity before the playoffs to earn real money on NFL predictions. Use this NFL Cheat Sheet and predictions to sharpen your takes and build out your winning picks for the Week 18 slate.

You can make your NFL picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 30 states.

Keep it dialed in on the Playbook for more NFL picks, predictions, and news all season long.


Team Picks and Culture Picks are event contracts offered by Performance Predictions II, LLC d/b/a PrizePicks Predict, a CFTC-registered FCM and NFA Member. All event contract customers must be U.S. residents and 18+. Some event contracts may not be available in every state. Event contract trading carries significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. No guarantee against loss is offered. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. Void where prohibited by law. Restrictions apply. For full terms of service see prizepicks.com/predict-regulatory. Team and Culture Pick Early Payouts subject to market liquidity. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, or a recommendation to trade any commodity interest.

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about the author

Shayne Trail is a Penn State Smeal College of Business graduate, and is the President of the @HallofFameFund (on X) where he positions historically profitable sports trends into investments. Shayne has expertise in all major sports, but writes mostly about NFL, MLB, and NBA for Playbook.

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