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The fantasy football season is over for most managers but some championship games are finishing up in Week 18. Every point is so important, especially when many starters are resting for the playoffs. That includes defenses, who can win and lose fantasy playoff games. Check out who you should play with our Week 18 Fantasy Football Defense Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em.
There are no bye weeks but there are plenty of teams to monitor and avoid when picking a defense. The Rams, Chiefs, Bills, and Eagles are among the teams resting starters and should be avoided in fantasy football. Injuries are not much of a concern when picking a defense considering it is an entire unit. But those impact players who make the difference like TJ Watt and Patrick Surtain II are all playing this week.
Your championship is on the line this week so make sure you have the perfect lineup in place. Here is the Week 18 Fantasy Football Defense Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em.
Week 18 fantasy football defense start ’em
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (v New Orleans)
The Buccaneers are one of the few teams playing for their playoff lives in Week 18. If they beat the Saints, they will win the NFC South and clinch a fifth straight playoff berth. After a dominating performance against the Panthers last week, their defense is firing on all cylinders. The Saints’ offense is playing out the string without any of their best players and is ripe for the taking in this matchup. Expect sacks, turnovers, and maybe even a touchdown for fantasy football managers.
Denver (v Kansas City)
If the Broncos beat the Chiefs on Sunday, they will clinch the final AFC playoff spot. While that is a difficult task on paper, Patrick Mahomes will not play in this game. He will rest, among other starters, making this a big opportunity for the Broncos’ defense in fantasy football. They were among the best units in the league this season and should have another great game this week.
Baltimore (v Cleveland)
The Ravens’ defense struggled at the beginning of the season but is rounding into form at the perfect time. After shutting out the Texans on Christmas, they have a long break before a Saturday afternoon game against the Browns. If the Ravens win, they will clinch their second straight AFC North title. Going against Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the Browns’ offense is a great way to finish off this season.
Start ‘Em: Atlanta (v Carolina), Washington (@ Dallas), Los Angeles Chargers (@ Las Vegas)
Week 18 defense sit ’em
Carolina (@ Atlanta)
The Panthers have turned it up recently on offense but continue to struggle on defense. While Bryce Young may be the quarterback of the future, their defense needs help. The Falcons need a win and a Buccaneers loss to make the playoffs so they will be pushing to win this game. Carolina is playing for nothing besides draft position this week so make sure they are not in your fantasy football lineup.
Los Angeles Rams (v Seattle)
The Rams have clinched the NFC West and will be resting Matthew Stafford in their game against the Seahawks. Sean McVay also hinted at other starters hitting the bench in Week 18. The Seahawks are eliminated but playing for a franchise record with Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s receptions mark approaching Tyler Lockett’s 2020 mark. Don’t expect much from the Rams’ defense especially if Jared Verse does not play.
Cleveland (@ Baltimore)
The Browns made the playoffs last year because of their stifling defense and excellent play from Joe Flacco. Thompson-Robinson has been brutal and their defense has faltered in recent weeks. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are playing for an AFC North title and a third MVP so they won’t take their foot off the gas. The Browns started the year as a promising fantasy football defense but are ending the year on our sit ’em list.
Sit ‘Em: Tennessee (v Houston), Buffalo (@ New England), New York Jets (v Miami)
More must-reads:
- Vikings offense has sizable hole following first-round WR's NFL ruling
- Kyren Williams contract extension with Rams a win for both sides
- The 'NFL mascot names' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Cowboys' problem with Micah Parsons may hand Steelers a franchise QB
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the most-talked-about NFL organizations throughout the course of the 2025 offseason. One of the biggest headlines that was attached to the franchise involved a rare May trade that sent George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Many expected the wide receiver to be dealt before or during the NFL Draft, but after a move didn't occur, it was believed that he would play out the final year of his rookie contract in the Steel City. Now, he is teaming up with CeeDee Lamb in the NFC, and a duo has been formed that could be very dangerous. Unfortunately for fans of the Cowboys, the two wide receivers have not been the talk of Dallas' training camp. Team owner Jerry Jones is playing hardball with edge-rusher Micah Parsons, and the talented defender recently requested a trade. The decision not to pay Parsons yet has left Jones under intense scrutiny, given the fact that the pass-rusher is one of the league's best. Jones' recent comments also show how dysfunctional the situation has become. In a recent appearance on ESPN's "Get Up," respected analyst Dan Orlovsky found a way to relate Parsons' situation to quarterback Dak Prescott, insinuating that if Jones does indeed trade Parsons, Prescott's Super Bowl window in Dallas would close. "If they trade [Parsons], and I don't think they do, if they trade him, it declares the Dak Prescott era over," Orlovsky said. "This team has no shot of winning a Super Bowl without Micah Parsons. No shot, and if you're doing it, it's to acquire a ton of first-round picks, so you have the ammunition to go get an Arch Manning of the future." The Steelers are set to have 12 draft picks in 2026, which gives the front office plenty of options when it comes to bringing in the next franchise quarterback. Instead of drafting one, however, could an available Prescott be a target for general manager Omar Khan? Orlovsky believes trading Parsons away would upset the Cowboys' best players. "There's no way that you can go to your locker room with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, some of the first-round picks you have on your offensive line, Trevon Diggs, and go, 'Hey, go beat Philadelphia when you don't have Micah Parsons. Go beat the Rams when you don't have Micah Parsons.' Your locker room will sit there and go like, 'Oh, well you've obviously moved on, so we're going to start our process of moving on as well.'" Any team interested in acquiring Prescott would have to take a long look at his contract. Some of the cap hits are astronomical in the coming years, but Khan is known to be a guru when it comes to the finances in deals. There's no reason to believe that he couldn't make something work for Prescott if a trade were to happen during the 2026 offseason. Fans in Dallas shouldn't be panicking just yet, but there were already some rumors about Prescott's long-term position with the Cowboys during the 2025 offseason. Certain reports were eventually debunked because it was quite literally impossible for Jones to entertain the idea of dealing Prescott after the franchise altered the quarterback's contract. Prescott has a no-trade clause, but that can always be waived, especially if he is upset about how Jones moves forward. If the Cowboys trade Parsons and pick up a plethora of draft capital, and then go on to invest in a first-round signal-caller, Prescott may be requesting to be traded as well. That's a long way away from happening, but the Steelers immediately come to mind as a team that would likely be interested. The Steelers' best-case scenario would be the emergence of Will Howard It's not easy to make a name for oneself in the NFL, and it's even tougher for players like Will Howard who were drafted in the sixth round. Pittsburgh will be in the quarterback market once again in 2026 if Aaron Rodgers is serious about retirement, so it would be a fantastic development if Howard solidifies himself as the next starter in the Steel City.
Celtics’ Georges Niang Trade Wasn’t Just About Salary Dump
The Boston Celtics have made yet another curious offseason move, trading 32-year-old 3-point specialist Georges Niang and two second-round picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for RJ Luis Jr., an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract. On the surface, this trade was more or less a salary dump. While a rebuilding team, the Jazz are expected to absorb Niang’s 2024-25 salary ($8.2 million) in the trade exception they generated from shipping John Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers. This reduced Boston’s luxury tax by $50 million, according Third Apron salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan. For their efforts, the Jazz not only got a pair of second-rounders but a veteran that can teach their young players the nuances of professionalism. Celtics’ Georges Niang Trade Wasn’t Just About Salary Dump Though the Celtics obviously wanted to reduce their bill, the deal wasn’t just about that. Boston genuinely wanted Luis, per ZAGSBLOG draft expert Adam Zagoria. With that in mind, he entered the 2025 NBA Draft out of St. John’s, he played his freshman season at local UMass. That season, he averaged 11.5 points per game on 45.5 percent from the field. He also earned 10 starts, averaging 15.5 points per game in those contests. As a junior in 2024-25, Luis exploded for 18.2 points per game. His season ended on a low note. In a nine-point loss to Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32, he went just 3-17 from the field, scoring nine points. Nonetheless, his body of work shouldn’t be overshadowed by the last sentence. Nor should the pedigree he enters the NBA with. In 2024-25, he was a Consensus All-American. His father, Reggie Charles, was a professional basketball player who spent 15 seasons overseas. For the last two seasons of his college career, he was coached by Rick Pitino. The Celtics undoubtedly have a complex history with their former head coach but there’s no denying his greatness at the collegiate level. What Can RJ Luis Jr. Bring To The Celtics? Flawed though he may be, Luis is a good get for Boston, especially on a two-way contract. With Jayson Tatum likely to miss at least the first half of 2025-26 after tearing his Achilles in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Celtics have a lot of minutes to fill in at forward. As a result, players like 2023 No. 38 pick Jordan Walsh and 2025 No. 28 pick Hugo Gonzalez have a real chance of barging into the rotation. In a vacuum, they’re both rotation-caliber forwards but they’re raw, particularly offensively. That being said, if they’re trying to step into Tatum’s shoes, their limitations at that end are problematic. Tatum’s one of the most dangerous scorers in the league, averaging 27.5 points per game over the past five seasons. Luis probably won’t explode onto the season looking like a perennial All-Star. Still, he’s a more masterful scorer than either Walsh or Gonzalez right now. In the open court, he’s exciting, like many athletic wings with his length (6-foot-7). Yet, he’s not refined to impacting the game on the break. In the halfcourt, he’s able to use his handle and footwork to create space whether in the drive or in the post. Indeed, utilizing his instincts and body control, he’s actually pretty nifty with the ball in his hands. He even follows up his own shot, leading to frequent putbacks. Though he doesn’t have elite efficiency in any area, he’s a multifaceted offensive player who also has a knack for playmaking, particularly with regard to pocket passes. To improve his efficiency, he should cut down on his off-the-dribble attempts due to his tendency to take tough jumpers. All the same, while Boston waits for Tatum to return, the 22-year-old could play an important role.
Celtics' moves suggest new guard will be traded — eventually
The Boston Celtics got under the second luxury-tax apron by trading Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz Tuesday. The move also gives them a huge incentive to deal their most expensive new player. The Celtics have dramatically reduced their payroll in the wake of Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury. With their superstar unlikely to play in 2025-26, the Celtics traded away starters Jrue Holiday ($94.4M for three years, plus a $37.2M player option in 2027-28) and Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7M next season). They also let Luke Kornet ($2.8M) leave as a free agent, and Al Horford ($9.5M) is almost certainly gone as well. They received Georges Niang ($8.2M) in the Porzingis deal, but traded him Tuesday for undrafted R.J. Luis Jr., a rookie on a two-way deal. That effectively takes Niang's full salary of their books and gets them under the second luxury-tax apron, freeing them from the penalties and restrictions that go along with second-apron status. According to cap expert Yossi Gozlan, the Celtics have saved a whopping $286M in salary and taxes with their moves. Still, the team can reap a larger long-term reward by dropping below the luxury tax entirely, which requires reducing their payroll by just over $12M more. The Celtics don't seem inclined to trade Jaylen Brown, Derrick White or Payton Pritchard, wanting to keep some core members of their 2024 title team together for Tatum's return. Sam Hauser is on an affordable four-year, $45M deal, but losing his $10M salary wouldn't get them under the tax line. That's why Anfernee Simons, acquired in the Holiday trade, is likely not long for Boston. The 26-year-old guard makes $27.7M in the last year of his contract, making him the perfect trade piece to get Boston under the luxury tax. Not only would getting under the tax line free the Celtics of their tax obligations and save them as much as $40M, but it would make them eligible to share in the money from tax-paying teams. The Celtics would also be able to avoid the dreaded repeater tax penalties, which make every dollar over the luxury-tax number progressively more expensive every year a team stays over the tax line. This doesn't mean Simons is going to be traded this summer. Boston has until the Feb. 5 trade deadline to move Simons, since luxury tax is calculated on the team's total payroll the last day of the season. But given the massive savings they'd get back from losing Simons' salary, it seems inevitable. The Celtics have lost a lot of talent this summer, but they've saved a tremendous amount of money in the process. They might have to attach draft capital to get off Simons' deal, but if he plays well in Boston, he might even bring back something in a trade next season. Tatum's injury threw a huge wrench in the Celtics' plans. If they can use this season to get under the luxury tax, they'll have the flexibility to reload and contend again when their star is back in a year.
Lions' Former Second-Round Pick Named a Potential Cut Candidate
With their 2025 preseason officially underway, the Detroit Lions have plenty of roster spots up for grabs. Some of the spots being competed for are a bit more high-profile, like their backup QB job, starting role at defensive tackle, and the competition across the interior of their offensive line. However, there are some smaller roles that are also there to be won this offseason. Those include some spots on the depth chart at edge rusher. Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski thinks one of these competitions might not end well for a former second-round pick. In a recent article, Sobleski named Lions edge rusher Josh Paschal as a potential cut candidate. Paschal has never come close to paying off the Lions' investment in him. Detroit selected him 46th overall in 2022. His career has been a struggle since then. As a rookie Paschal had two sacks and 16 total tackles in 10 games. The next year he only managed one sack and brought his tackle total up to 25. This past season, he ended up in the biggest role of his career. With Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport injured, Paschal played in 14 games, started 10, and had a career-high 61% snap share. He turned the opportunity into just two sacks and 21 total tackles. His 31 total pressures ranked 57th at his position according to Pro Football Focus. That may not be enough for him to keep his job. While the Lions are still missing a real second option to play alongside Hutchinson, what they aren't missing is depth on the edge. They have Al-Quadin Muhammad, Ahmed Hassanein, Mitchell Agude, Isaac Ukwu, and Nate Lynn all competing with Paschal for depth roles. Right now Paschal is on the non-football injury list, so he isn't available to compete and might not be ready for the start of the regular season. There is also still hope that the Lions might add another veteran to start at the position this offseason. That could leave Paschal as the odd man out ahead of a season that would have been his last chance to prove himself to the Lions anyway.
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