SuperFlex & 2QB Rankings for Week 18 (Fantasy Football)
Hello FootClan, and welcome to the final installment of our 2024 SuperFlex & 2QB Rankings!
Week 18 is all about finding team and player motivation. Fortunately, the great Matthew Betz has created an amazing outline for us to follow as we continue to find those diamonds in the rough that will help you close out the ’24 season with a Championship. Today, we’ll address three QBs (ranked outside the Ballers’ top 12) who hold QB1 and DFS upside in Week 18.
| Player Highlighted | Week 17 Ranking | Week 17 Finish |
| Justin Herbert | 14 | 10 |
| Matthew Stafford | 15 | 28 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | n/a | n/a |
With the additions of Drew Lock and Tyler Huntley, we’ve reached 41 QB1 performances through Week 17 of the 2024 season. With just one week remaining in the regular season, is there any chance to reach the 46 QB1 performances in 2023?
Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, Jayden Daniels, Anthony Richardson, Lamar Jackson, Derek Carr, Geno Smith, CJ Stroud, Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love, Matthew Stafford, Kyler Murray, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Kirk Cousins, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott, Brock Purdy, Malik Willis, Andy Dalton, Justin Fields, Jared Goff, Joe Flacco, Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye, Russell Wilson, Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert, Jameis Winston, Patrick Mahomes, Will Levis, Cooper Rush, Bryce Young, Mac Jones, Drew Lock, Tyler Huntley
Be sure to check the Week 18 QB rankings before kickoff, and as a reminder, the Ultimate DFS Pass is now 50% off, which is something we can all be thankful for! Now, let’s get down to business.
13. Joe Flacco
Anthony Richardson has officially been ruled out, leaving us with a greatly hyped season-ending performance from the original Joe Cool:
Mr. Joseph Flacco.
#Colts QB Joe Flacco is told postgame that Anthony Richardson thinks he’s cool:
“His mom is 8 days older than I am, so there's no chance in the world he thinks I'm cool.” 😂😂
(🎥 @NFLonCBS)
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 29, 2024
Regardless of who wound up starting this week, they would be highlighted against a Jaguars defense that has given up the most passing yards in the league and ranks 31st in PPG allowed to QBs. This is a team and secondary we’ve been picking on all season and a motivation-free matchup you dream about if you’re still playing fantasy football this week.
Flacco is obviously not the Super Bowl MVP-caliber player he once was, but he can still deliver in the right matchups. His accuracy has taken a hit, and he’s basically immobile, but for SuperFlex purposes, he’s averaging 15.3 PPG this year (QB22) as a starter for the Colts. This includes 330 yards passing and two TDs last week (QB17) against the Giants, with his best game of the season coming against… you guessed it, Jacksonville. When he last faced this team in October, Flacco finished the game with 359 yards passing, three TDs, and even added 22 yards on the ground, resulting in the QB4 finish on the week.
Although I’m sure we’d all prefer to see the continued development of Richardson, it is almost always Flacco who resuscitates these Colts receivers, bringing both Alec Pierce (WR10) and Michael Pittman (WR12) into WR1 territory last week. Needless to say, the Colts receiving core projects well against this Jaguars secondary, but I’d like to specifically mention Josh Downs, who will be lining up almost exclusively against SCB Jarrian Jones (PFF’s 67th-ranked coverage CB out of 117 qualified players). While Pierce and Pittman stole the show last week, Downs has historically been Flacco’s favorite target and could be an excellent DFS dart throw this week.
Josh Downs with Joe Flacco >>>>pic.twitter.com/3c96p7IY4L
— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) October 13, 2024
It feels unlikely that Flacco will be back with the Colts next year, giving him nothing to fear or lose in this matchup. We are unsure at this moment of his playing interest for 2025, but for a player who turns 40 in less than two weeks, there is plenty of reason to suspect this may be his last game in the NFL.
As -4.5 point favorites, the Colts are tied with the Bengals and Broncos with a team-implied total of 25. Unless Jonathan Taylor takes over the game (which very well could happen), I’m subscribing to the script that Shane Steichen will let the veteran have some fun, air it out, and go out on a high note.
"You can't win a fantasy championship with Joe Flacco as your QB"
Me: pic.twitter.com/rM9elPOl0j
— FantasyPros (@FantasyPros) December 23, 2023
14. Geno Smith
With $6 million in incentives and his job on the line, there is arguably nobody in the league with greater motivation than Geno Smith this week.
5. Geno Smith… pic.twitter.com/ntbU6i3W33
— Sal Bets (@salbets_) January 2, 2025
Despite being officially knocked out of the playoffs, the Seahawks will travel to LA to close out their season against the Rams, who were able to clinch the division last week with a win over the Cardinals. The Rams can fall no farther than the fourth seed, and while we don’t officially know who will be playing on defense, we have multiple examples of McVay resting his starters in “meaningless” games (2017 & 2023) to prepare for the playoffs. It has already been announced that Jimmy Garoppolo will be starting over Matthew Stafford, so if that is any indication, I’d expect many of the backups to see playing time.
With the NFC West secured, #Rams HC Sean McVay said that resting key starters is “probably the direction we’ll go” on Sunday vs. the Seahawks.
LA currently has the 3 seed but could drop to 4 with a loss + a Tampa win. McVay appears comfortable with that. The Rams' backup QB is… pic.twitter.com/IXhaz4zwa9
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2024
The last time these teams met, Geno threw for 364 yards and three TDs (also three INTs), resulting in the QB3 finish on the week. That was against the starters.
The Rams’ secondary was already one to target (22nd in PPG to opposing QBs), but if McVay does, in fact, choose to rest his studs, this should leave even more opportunity for the Seahawks WRs to eat this week. The reign of Jaxon Smith-Njigba began against this team, and he should be another elite performance this week, regardless of who he’s lining up against.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 37.0 Fantasy Points, WR1
He had an additional 78 yards negated by holding penalties yesterday..
dude could’ve finished with 258 yards pic.twitter.com/c0ctYx0S8q
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) November 4, 2024
Seattle enters the game as -5 point favorites, with a team-implied total of 22 (14th). The future is yet to be seen for Geno in Seattle, but after being written off and deemed a backup for six years, I, for one, have certainly enjoyed his comeback story.
Get that money, Geno.
#Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb on Geno Smith this season: “I’m proud of Geno. He’s battled.”
Says he’s excited to work with him this upcoming offseason.
@thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/Ij198ekmC7
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) January 2, 2025
21. Joshua Dobbs
Speaking of comebacks.
If you’re unfamiliar with Joshua Dobbs‘ game, he is a literal certified rocket scientist turned fantasy hero as the QB of the Cardinals and Vikings last year. In fact, he somehow finished as the QB20 on the season despite swapping teams and missing six full games. The dude is an impressive human being and will be an easy one to root for in Week 18.
Reminder: @josh_dobbs1 is not only a baller, but also a literal rocket scientist. 🧑🚀
(via @NASAglenn) pic.twitter.com/PdOHupYmip
— NFL (@NFL) November 6, 2023
While Dobbs will never again be considered a starter in this league, it was his “backyard” style of play that made him a fantasy winner last year, as well as what got him the nod for San Fransisco this week.
With Brock Purdy (elbow) already ruled out, it was Dobbs’ athleticism that helped coach Kyle Shanahan lean his way over fellow backup Brandon Allen, thanks to a makeshift offensive line amidst a ridiculously injury-riddled season for the 49ers. This line has been essentially duct-taped together with players signed off of other teams’ practice squads and will likely have Dobbs running for his life. Fortunately for fantasy purposes, this will have him playing right into his strengths.
WE ARE WATCHING THE LEGEND OF JOSH DOBBS BEFORE OUR VERY EYES
THE PASSTRONAUT CAN RUN TOO
pic.twitter.com/9EARbGAfO4— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) November 12, 2023
Dobbs hit 40+ rush yards in seven of 12 games last season and was able to put that on display against the Lions last week with a seven-yard TD scramble at the end of the game. Unfortunately Deebo Samuel‘s (ribs/wrist) status is still up in the air, however, George Kittle (ankle) practiced in full on Thursday and is expected to be available as PFF’s highest-ranked mismatch against coverage LB Kyzir White. Even in a meaningless game for the 49ers, Kittle is never someone to hold back and presents slate-breaking ability in large-scale DFS tournaments this week.
Truthfully, this one’s a long shot. There is a reason the Ballers have him ranked 21st. The 49ers are a mess, and the Cardinals have surprisingly played fairly well on defense this year, ranking ninth overall in PPG to opposing QBs. But this is on you. You shouldn’t be playing fantasy football in Week 18. So, with our final prediction of the season, I’m going to have a little fun.
I’m well aware that Dobbs has a lot going against him, but he is incredibly exciting to root for, and in fantasy, we always want the QB of the 49ers. As a +4.5 point underdogs, this useless game may very well come down to his performance. And I hope it does.
Joshua Dobbs BEAST mode pic.twitter.com/FHYiuGKgRw
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) September 17, 2023