4 FanDuel NFL Studs to Target in Week 18

Hitting on high-salary players is the first step to having success in daily fantasy football on FanDuel.

These players take up the biggest chunk of your salary cap, and they need to deliver quality performances for your lineup to reach its ceiling.

Here are four studs to target on this week's main slate.

All betting odds come from the NFL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

NFL DFS Studs to Target for Week 18

Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

FanDuel Salary: ($9,500)

Though the Buffalo Bills aren't technically eliminated with a loss on Sunday, a victory would win them the AFC East and the No. 2 seed.

For all intents and purposes, Sunday night is a playoff game for Josh Allen.

That bodes well for his fantasy prospects, especially with several high-profile teams resting key players.

So, while Allen may come at a monstrous salary, he's the definition of a building block. He's eclipsed 20 FanDuel points (FP) in 12 of 16 games overall and in five of his last six.

Much of that has come from rushing touchdowns. Allen's 15 TDs are tied for the second-most, regardless of position. He's punched in multiple scores in two straight outings and leads all QBs in red zone rushing attempts per game (3.0) since Joe Brady took over as offensive coordinator in Week 11.

Josh and the Bills visit the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Miami's D/ST has lit up the scoreboard in DFS over the second half of the season, but they continue to be an exploitable matchup for opposing quarterbacks. On the season, the 'Fins rank 15th in yards per attempt (6.4) and 23rd in completion percentage allowed (66%).

That's culminated in them allowing the fourth-most adjusted fantasy points per drop back to opposing signal callers.

Miami has been vulnerable to rushing quarterbacks, too. They're tied for sixth in rushing touchdowns (6) and eighth in rushing Expected Points Added (EPA) per carry allowed to the position.

Allen should further benefit from what's expected to be a fantasy-friendly game environment. The over/under is set at 49.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook while Buffalo has a 26.25 implied total.

Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

FanDuel Salary: ($7,700)

It's a weird week for running backs, at least at the top. Several top names will sit with their teams having already clinched playoff berths, but Rachaad White should be a full-go with his Tampa Bay Buccaneers needing a win to clinch the NFC South.

White is coming off his worst game since mid-October but had averaged 18.2 FP from Weeks 9-16, third among running backs.

For the season, White has racked up the seventh-most adjusted opportunities (24.1) and the fifth-most scrimmage yards (90.4) per game. He leads all running backs in routes (24.2) and ranks fourth in receptions (3.8) per game.

The usage is stellar, but it's the matchup that has me salivating over White's DFS prospects this week.

When White faced the Carolina Panthers in Week 13, he turned 20 rushes and three receptions into 106 yards and a touchdown, finishing with 18.1 FP.

Don't be shocked to see a similar performance this week considering how RB-friendly Carolina has been. They've surrendered the most total touchdowns (25), fourth-most yards (1,751), and seventh-highest target share (22.4%) to the position.

That's culminated in the Panthers allowing -- by far -- the most adjusted fantasy points per carry.

On top of that, Carolina's opponents have the highest rush rate in the NFL (50.3%). That bodes well for White, especially considering Tampa Bay is a 4.5-point favorite.

Expect White to get all the work he can handle against one of the league's worst run defenses.

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

FanDuel Salary: ($10,000)

With Christian McCaffrey (rest) scratched, CeeDee Lamb will be the highest-salaried active player this weekend.

That shouldn't stop you from garnering his services in DFS -- not after he exploded for 33.7 FP last week and draws a putrid Washington Commanders secondary in Week 18.

Lamb already faced Washington once this season. On Thanksgiving Day, he secured four of nine targets for 53 yards and a score. We won't complain about 15.3 FP, but there's certainly room for more this week.

For starters, Dallas has the highest implied total (30.0) of the week. While I'm mildly concerned about a potential Dallas Cowboys blowout (they're 13.5-point favorites), the matchup is too good to pass up.

Washington has surrendered the most touchdowns (25), yards per route run (1.96), and adjusted fantasy points per target to opposing WRs.

Oh, and did I mention that three-fifths of the Commanders' secondary is on the injury report?

This is a smash spot for one of fantasy's best players. numberFire projections have Lamb at 20.6 FP, the most among any non-quarterback this week.

Even with his sky-high salary, Lamb is well worth a roster spot against one of the worst pass defenses in football.

Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals

FanDuel Salary: ($6,700)

Tight end has had something of a renaissance this season, but it's looking like the wasteland of old in Week 18.

Except for Trey McBride. The Arizona Cardinals' No. 1 receiving threat has the usage and matchup to put up numbers in the final week of the regular season.

Since Kyler Murray returned for the Cards in Week 10, McBride ranks third at the position with 11.6 FP per game. He's run a route on 85% of routes over that span while commanding a 26% target share.

That's led to a consistent line of 7.1 receptions and 72.0 yards per game, culminating in an elite 2.33 yards per route run.

So, despite consecutive weeks under 8.0 FP, McBride's utilization is worth targeting against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks have been pretty mediocre against tight ends. They've surrendered the 16th-most adjusted fantasy points per target, the ninth-highest catch rate, and the eighth-most yards per route run to the position. In the last five games, Seattle has allowed at least 15 FP to three different tight ends.

The game environment should be strong, as well. Arizona is a three-point home underdog in an indoor game that's tied for the slate's second-highest over/under (47.5). Coupled with his consistent workload, Trey McBride stands ahead of the pack among tight ends this week.

Interested in playing NFL DFS? Head over to FanDuel’s daily fantasy football lobby to see all the offerings for this week's slates.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.