The Los Angeles Rams will rest running back Kyren Williams for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks at Sofi Stadium on Sunday, according to head coach Sean McVay. The Rams are prioritizing rest for their best players this weekend despite the fact that they could slip to the No. 4 seed in the NFC for the playoffs if they lose to Seattle and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints. With Williams sitting the final game of the regular season out, rookie Blake Corum should get all the backfield touches he can handle on Sunday with backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo running the offense. The Rams' offense is unlikely to be as efficient without their top weapons, but for the volume alone, Corum has easy RB2 upside. Williams finishes his third season in the NFL with a career-best 1,299 rushing yards and a career-high 14 TDs on 316 carries over 16 starts.

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams didn't have a heavy workload on Saturday night against the Cardinals, but he still finished with a decent fantasy day since he took his 13 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown while adding three catches for 16 receiving yards. The Rams only had 54 offensive plays and failed to sustain many drives, especially in the second half. That left Williams with his lowest number of carries since Week 2 despite a solid average of 4.3 yards per carry. He found the end zone on a one-yard plunge in the second quarter for the Rams' only score of the day and now has 16 touchdowns on the season. In their last game of the regular season next week, the Rams could have a playoff spot on the line or nothing to play for depending on Sunday's results. If they have to win, Williams will likely get a huge workload, but if they have already clinched, he may get a very light workload before the playoffs.

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams continues to grind out big games every week, and he remains a strong starting option this week against the Cardinals on Saturday night. Williams has over 100 rushing yards in three of his last four games after finishing with 122 rushing yards and a touchdown in last week's win over the Jets. He also hauled in his only target for an additional seven yards. Williams' touchdown gives him 15 scores on the season, tied for fourth-most in the NFL. Williams will set a new career-high if he scores another touchdown this season, and he already set a personal best with 1,243 rushing yards. The Cardinals should be a good matchup for him this week since they have allowed 14 touchdowns and an average of 108.7 rushing yards per week to running backs this year. In such a good spot, Williams is RotoBaller's RB8 this week, making him a must-start in most formats for Week 17.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers A.J. Brown (knee) and DeVonta Smith (wrist) both missed practice all week and are considered doubtful to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New York Giants on Sunday. The Eagles will also rest quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion, finger) and running back Saquon Barkley this weekend since they are already locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC for the postseason. Key offensive tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata are also in line to be rested. Both Brown and Smith should be fully ready to rock for the wild-card round of the playoffs next week, and hopefully they'll be getting Hurts back under center. With both Brown and Smith set to rest against the G-Men, Jahan Dotson and rookies Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith should start, but they could be working with third-string QB Tanner McKee.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers A.J. Brown (knee) and DeVonta Smith (wrist) were both held out of practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. Both Brown and Smith have played through their respective injuries of late and are just getting additional maintenance heading into a meaningless Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. The Eagles are already locked into the NFC's No. 2 seed, so they have nothing to gain by playing their starters this weekend. As such, head coach Nick Sirianni has already confirmed the team plans to rest starts against the Giants. Brown and Smith will most likely be rested as well, meaning fantasy managers in DFS should avoid them on Sunday. Philly's offense could be led by third-string QB Tanner McKee, so avoiding the Eagles entirely in Week 18 is probably the best play.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers A.J. Brown (knee) and DeVonta Smith (wrist) were both held out of practice on Wednesday. Both Brown and Smith played in the Week 17 blowout win over the division-rival Dallas Cowboys, and they combined for three touchdowns. Brown and Smith are both likely fine from a health perspective heading into the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. However, with the Eagles having already locked up the No. 2 seed in the NFC for the postseason, they are planning to rest key starters this weekend. If Brown and Smith are even active against New York, there's a good chance they won't see the field much, if at all. Fantasy managers would be wise to avoid Philly's offense altogether, but Jahan Dotson and rookies Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith should see much larger roles.

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) missed practice all week and has officially been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Saturday against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Njoku will end up missing three of the final four games of the 2024 season and finish with 64 receptions for 505 yards and five touchdowns in 11 starts after making his first Pro Bowl in 2023. While Njoku's numbers were a disappointment after what he did last year, his numbers were still good enough to make him a weekly TE1 in fantasy despite Cleveland's ongoing struggles at the quarterback position. The 28-year-old should remain in the TE1 picture in fantasy heading into next year despite questions about whether Deshaun Watson (Achilles) will even be the starter under center. Jordan Akins will have a bigger role yet again in Week 18 and will be a TE2 sleeper in DFS lineups.

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) is missing his third straight practice of the week on Thursday, which suggests he'll be ruled out again for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Saturday against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. If Njoku is officially ruled out on Thursday, he will have missed three of the final four games of the season due to injury. The 28-year-old has been a top-10 fantasy TE this year in terms of average half-PPR points per game (7.3) thanks to 64 catches on 97 targets for 505 yards and five touchdowns in his 11 games played. In what is expected to be a blowout loss to the Ravens, backup tight end Jordan Akins could rack up some notable garbage production this weekend if Njoku is inactive. In the Week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins, Akins had season-highs in catches (six), targets (eight) and receiving yards (49).

According to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) will not practice again on Wednesday. Njoku was also listed as a non-participant during Tuesday's estimated report. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status during Thursday's practice as he could be in danger of sitting on Saturday. Over his past five contests, Njoku has averaged a strong 15.4 PPR points per game. During this stretch, he has tallied 50.0 yards per game while seeing 10.8 targets per game. If Njoku were to miss his second-straight contest, Jordan Akins would get the starting nod once again. Akins would be viewed as a desperation TE2 and a high-risk play in DFS, as he has only seen more than four targets in one game this season.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will face the Denver Broncos on the road in Week 18. In the past three weeks, Hopkins has taken a backseat as Xavier Worthy has emerged as the team's WR1. The Chiefs have already clinched the top seed in the AFC, so they have nothing to play for in the regular season. Given their status atop the league, Hopkins and other starters could be rested to save them for the playoffs. That said, Hopkins does have some contract incentives to play for if he does suit up. The 32-year-old could earn $500,000 if he finds the endzone this week against the Broncos, who rank 16th in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. Hopkins will have to rely on Carson Wentz to feed him the ball since Patrick Mahomes is doubtful for this week's contest. The veteran receiver is ranked WR77 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a desperation flex option this week.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17. Hopkins put forth a lackluster performance last week, catching four passes for 37 yards against the Texans. The 32-year-old looked like a solid fantasy asset after his acquisition at the trade deadline, but his production has since fallen off. With the Kansas City offense running through rookie Xavier Worthy, Hopkins has seen his target volume and production dip the last two weeks. Hopkins will hope to find the endzone against the Steelers, who rank ninth in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. Hopkins is ranked WR42 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a flex option this week. Fantasy managers will have a difficult time starting Hopkins in the fantasy playoffs as he no longer seems like a focal point of the offense.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught four passes for 37 yards in the 27-19 win over the Houston Texans. With the return of Marquise Brown, Hopkins appeared to take a backseat to other Kansas City pass catchers. The veteran receiver finished fourth on the team in targets and receiving yards in this contest. Hopkins provides a sure-handed receiving option, but his fellow wide receivers offer more explosiveness. Hopkins will look to be more involved next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who rank 13th in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. With Hopkins falling in the target pecking order, it will be difficult for fantasy managers to trust him in their lineups for Week 17.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will make his first start of the season when the Rams host the Seahawks in their regular season finale. With their playoff spot secure, the Rams will rest multiple starters including Matthew Stafford, letting Jimmy G see his first action of the season. The 33-year-old backup signed a one-year deal with the Rams and will be a free agent after this season. He last played in 2023 for the Raiders when he completed 110 of 169 pass attempts (65.1%) for 1,205 yards in 12 games with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. He's RotoBaller's QB29 this week and is not a good fantasy option since the Rams won't have their starters on offense, but they'll likely face most of the Seahawks' regulars.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will make the start in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, according to head coach Sean McVay. McVay acknowledged earlier this week that he would most likely rest his starts in the regular-season finale despite the fact that the Rams could fall from the No. 3 seed to the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoff picture if they lose to Seattle on Sunday and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints. In addition to quarterback Matthew Stafford sitting this weekend, the Rams will also likely rest other key offensive starters such as running back Kyren Williams and receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Garoppolo has started 63 games in his NFL career, but the 33-year-old hasn't started at all in 2024 and will most likely be working with mostly backups, making him an unappealing QB2 for fantasy purposes.

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson is trending toward leading the backfield in snaps for the third consecutive week when he faces the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon. Gibson rushed 12 times for 63 yards last Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers, taking advantage of fellow running back Rhamondre Stevenson being in the doghouse amidst consistent ball security concerns. The Patriots haven't commented on their backfield alignment for Week 18, but we'd expect Gibson to remain the primary option once more against the Bills. The 26-year-old has upside in a game where the Bills could rest many of their defensive starters. Gibson struggled against the Chargers' starters last week, but he rushed for 53 yards on six carries (8.8 YPC) once Los Angeles started to play some of its depth defenders. We could see him have similar success once Buffalo turns to some of its non-starters in Week 18. Gibson is a solid RB3 for fantasy football.

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson rushed for 63 yards on 12 carries during Saturday's Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in blowout fashion. He was unable to convert his lone target into a reception. Gibson had just six carries for 10 yards midway through the fourth quarter, but he padded his stats with some big runs during garbage time, including a 20-yard gain. The 26-year-old operated as the Patriots' lead back over Rhamondre Stevenson, who rushed just two times for one yard. Stevenson found himself relegated to the backup role after a costly fumble in Week 16, which led to an increase in volume for Gibson. The 26-year-old boasts a solid 4.6 yards per carry this year, but he's nothing more than a low-end RB3 heading into Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills.

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson could draw the start over Rhamondre Stevenson during Saturday's Week 17 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. Still, he would rank in the RB3/FLEX tier for fantasy football. Stevenson is coming off a tough performance in which he lost a costly fumble, mishandled a backward pass that led to a Bills touchdown, and finished with his second-lowest snap percentage of the season. All of these poor outcomes from Stevenson's Week 16 could put Gibson in line to draw his second start of the 2024 campaign. Last week, Gibson himself played 59 percent of the snaps, totaling just 36 yards. He was held to 2.8 yards per carry in the contest but still boasts an impressive 4.52 yards per carry on 96 rush attempts this year. Even if Gibson draws the start against Los Angeles, he'll likely see around 10 to 14 touches, meaning he'll need to be efficient and get involved as a pass-catcher in order to have much fantasy relevance. He ranks as a mid-to-low RB3 against a Chargers defense allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (groin) is listed as doubtful to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kamara hasn't practiced or played since suffering an adductor injury in Week 15 and he's unlikely to see the field to close out the 2024 season this weekend. Head coach Darren Rizzi said Kamara will go through a workout on Saturday morning, at which point he'll likely be officially ruled out for Week 18. The lone incentive for the 29-year-old to play on Sunday is the fact that he's 50 yards from the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his NFL career. Still, it's unlikely he'll have a shot to reach that milestone. With Kendre Miller (concussion) already ruled out, it's looking like the Saints' backfield will be led by Clyde-Edwards Helaire, who made his team and season debut in Week 17.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (groin) did not practice on Wednesday. The star running back has been sidelined over the past two games and could be in danger of missing the final game of the season. While he has been sidelined, Kendre Miller has taken over starting duties. However, he was also a non-participant due to a concussion on Wednesday. During the first 14 games of the season, Kamara has averaged a strong 18.9 PPR points per game. He has averaged over 100 all-purpose yards per game, tallying 16.3 attempts and seeing 6.4 targets per game. If Kamara cannot return to action Miller would likely reclaim starting duties. If Miller is also unable to play, then Jamaal Williams, Jordan Mims, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire would share the backfield against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi reiterated on Monday that running back Alvin Kamara (knee) still wants to play before the end of the 2024 regular season this Sunday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. While Kamara has not been ruled out for the regular-season finale, Rizzi said the final decision is up to the medical staff. The 29-year-old has missed each of the team's two last games due to an adductor injury. The fact that Kamara wants to play in one more game doesn't really change the fact that the Saints have nothing left to play for. When it comes down to it, Kamara's long-term health is much more important than getting him out there at less than 100%. Backup Kendre Miller (concussion) is also in danger of missing Week 18, so Clyde Edwards-Helaire could lead New Orleans' backfield for the second straight week.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has finally been a reliable fantasy option for managers after years of injuries and suspension. While he missed two games this season, he has still posted career-highs in catches (52), yards (967), and touchdowns (seven). The Lions are hoping to secure the top spot in the NFC heading toward the postseason when Detroit meets the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings in Week 18. The Lions offense begins and ends with the contributions of Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. While that was also the case for David Montgomery (knee), he could miss the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign. With that in mind, fantasy managers can continue to consider Williams a starting option in all formats, considering he could continue to see more involvement on Sunday night.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams caught five of his eight targets for 77 yards and two total touchdowns during Monday's Week 17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He also rushed twice for negative two yards. Williams' first touchdown came on a three-yard rush, and his second came on a trick play that involved a lateral from Amon-Ra St. Brown. The third-year receiver is now the overall WR5 in PPR leagues since Week 11, establishing himself as one of the best No. 2 wideouts in an NFL offense. He should continue to be deployed as a high-end WR2 in fantasy football ahead of next week's pivotal battle with the Minnesota Vikings. With the NFC's No. 1 seed on the line, Williams should remain very heavily involved.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will square off with the San Francisco 49ers in a difficult matchup this Monday night. The Alabama product has been a bit all or nothing in 2024 but vastly improved from his prior two seasons in the pros. He's currently third-best in the league, with a ludicrous 18.94 yards per reception. Volume and consistency have been Williams' bugaboos this season, but he's been better lately -- commanding seven or more targets and five receptions in four of five contests. He'll line up against a staunch 49ers defensive unit in Week 17 that's tied for the fewest fantasy points allowed per game to wideouts (29.3). Fantasy managers could be displeased with his performance if the former first-round pick doesn't break free for a long score in the Monday night clash. Still, Williams should be involved as the passing attack's third option at worst, and this meeting projects with a favorable 50.5-point over/under. He comes in at RotoBaller's PPR WR29 in this week's ranks.