The Lineup Cheat Sheet combines Fantasy analysis and game-flow predictions with a confidence scale to give you a definitive answer on who to start in your leagues.
It’s pretty simple: The scale runs from 1-10. The higher the number next to a player’s name, the more confident you should be to start him. The numbers are not a projection, just a confidence score to help you pick who to start. Every relevant player for this week is here, so if a player isn’t listed, don’t start him.
To find a specific player, use your search function — CTRL-F on PCs and Command-F on Macs. If neither of those are options, or if you’re on a mobile device, you can scroll by game.
If you’re still unsure, just send a note on Twitter (@daverichard) and I’ll give it a look, time permitting.
Ready to get off on the right foot? Here’s how to approach every play for this week in PPR leagues — you can find our Non-PPR cheat sheet here.
More Week 18: Waiver Wire | RB Preview | QB Preview | WR Preview | TE Preview | Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em | Sleepers, Starts, Sits and Busts
All lines from Caesars Sportsbook.
Playoff scenarios: A Chiefs win and Titans loss clinches the No. 1 seed in AFC for Kansas City. The Chiefs shouldn’t be expected to rest their starters.
| Chiefs | RTG (MAX 10) | Broncos | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Patrick Mahomes | (9.4) | Drew Lock | (2.5) | |
| Darrel Williams | (8.9) | Javonte Williams | (6.9) | |
| Tyreek Hill | (8.5) | Melvin Gordon | (6.2) | |
| Mecole Hardman | (4.0) | Courtland Sutton | (4.2) | |
| Byron Pringle | (3.1) | Jerry Jeudy | (3.5) | |
| Travis Kelce | (9.3) | Tim Patrick | (3.2) | |
| Chiefs DST | (9.4) | Noah Fant | (7.5) | |
| Albert Okwuegbunam | (3.2) | |||
| Broncos DST | (4.5) |
Playoff scenarios: The Cowboys have clinched a first-round home playoff game and may rest their starters for part of the game. The Eagles have clinched a playoff berth and are almost certain to rest their starters.
| Cowboys | RTG (MAX 10) | Eagles | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Dak Prescott | (7.8) | Gardner Minshew | (5.9) | |
| Ezekiel Elliott | (7.0) | Kenneth Gainwell | (6.5) | |
| Tony Pollard | (5.9) | Eagles DST | (4.3) | |
| Amari Cooper | (6.9) | |||
| CeeDee Lamb | (6.8) | |||
| Ced Wilson | (3.8) | |||
| Dalton Schultz | (6.4) | |||
| Cowboys DST | (4.2) |
Playoff scenarios: The Steelers and Ravens both need a win and a Colts loss to keep playoff hopes alive; the Ravens also need the Chargers and Dolphins to lose. Both teams are expected to play their starters all game long.
| Steelers | RTG (MAX 10) | Ravens | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Ben Roethlisberger | (2.7) | Tyler Huntley | (7.1) | |
| Najee Harris | (9.3) | Devonta Freeman | (7.1) | |
| Chase Claypool | (7.2) | Latavius Murray | (4.5) | |
| Ray-Ray McCloud | (5.0) | Marquise Brown | (5.9) | |
| James Washington | (4.7) | Rashod Bateman | (5.7) | |
| Pat Freiermuth | (7.1) | Mark Andrews | (9.7) | |
| Steelers DST | (6.9) | Ravens DST | (6.5) |
Playoff scenarios: The Bengals have already clinched a home-playoff game. Joe Burrow announced this week he wasn’t going to play and Joe Mixon, among other Bengals, landed on the Reserve/Covid list. Expect the backups to play plenty.
| Bengals | RTG (MAX 10) | Browns | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Brandon Allen | (1.1) | Case Keenum | (3.9) | |
| Chris Evans | (5.4) | Nick Chubb | (8.8) | |
| Bengals DST | (5.3) | Donovan Peoples-Jones | (5.2) | |
| Jarvis Landry | (4.8) | |||
| Austin Hooper | (6.6) | |||
| David Njoku | (4.7) | |||
| Browns DST | (7.2) |
Playoff scenarios: The Packers have clinched the No. 1 seed in NFC and may rest starters for some of the game.
| Packers | RTG (MAX 10) | Lions | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Aaron Rodgers | (7.0) | Tim Boyle | (1.6) | |
| Aaron Jones | (6.7) | D’Andre Swift | (7.2) | |
| A.J. Dillon | (6.3) | Jamaal Williams | (6.4) | |
| Patrick Taylor | (5.5) | Amon-Ra St. Brown | (9.7) | |
| Davante Adams | (7.4) | Josh Reynolds | (5.5) | |
| Allen Lazard | (4.6) | Lions DST | (5.1) | |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | (4.3) | |||
| Packers DST | (4.9) |
Playoff scenarios: A Titans win clinches the No. 1 seed in AFC for Tennessee.
| Titans | RTG (MAX 10) | Texans | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Ryan Tannehill | (5.4) | Davis Mills | (5.5) | |
| D’Onta Foreman | (8.6) | Rex Burkhead | (6.6) | |
| Dontrell Hilliard | (5.2) | Brandin Cooks | (8.4) | |
| A.J. Brown | (9.0) | Chris Conley | (2.4) | |
| Julio Jones | (4.4) | Texans DST | (2.9) | |
| Geoff Swaim | (2.9) | |||
| Titans DST | (7.4) |
Playoff scenarios: A Colts win clinches a playoff berth for Indianapolis. A Colts loss creates potential chaos.
| Colts | RTG (MAX 10) | Jaguars | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Carson Wentz | (6.8) | Trevor Lawrence | (3.8) | |
| Jonathan Taylor | (9.9) | Dare Ogunbowale | (6.1) | |
| Michael Pittman | (8.7) | Laquon Treadwell | (5.3) | |
| T.Y. Hilton | (3.0) | Marvin Jones | (3.7) | |
| Colts DST | (9.5) | Jaguars DST | (2.7) |
Playoff scenarios: LOL.
| Bears | RTG (MAX 10) | Vikings | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Andy Dalton | (5.2) | Kirk Cousins | (7.5) | |
| David Montgomery | (9.2) | Dalvin Cook | (9.8) | |
| Darnell Mooney | (7.6) | Justin Jefferson | (9.9) | |
| Allen Robinson | (2.7) | K.J. Osborn | (6.4) | |
| Cole Kmet | (6.5) | Tyler Conklin | (5.9) | |
| Bears DST | (7.3) | Vikings DST | (6.1) |
Playoff scenarios: Yeah right.
| Washington | RTG (MAX 10) | Giants | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Taylor Heinicke | (6.6) | Mike Glennon | (1.0) | |
| Antonio Gibson | (8.0) | Saquon Barkley | (7.9) | |
| Jaret Patterson | (5.7) | Devontae Booker | (4.6) | |
| Terry McLaurin | (7.5) | Kenny Golladay | (2.8) | |
| John Bates | (5.8) | Evan Engram | (5.7) | |
| Football Team DST | (9.0) | Giants DST | (3.7) |
Playoff scenarios: A Patriots win coupled with a Bills loss clinches the AFC East for New England. A Patriots win along with losses by the Chiefs, Titans and Bills clinches the No. 1 seed in AFC for New England. There’s a chance the Patriots pull back their starters if they realize the Bills are going to win their game, but that might not happen until the second half, if at all.
| Patriots | RTG (MAX 10) | Dolphins | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Mac Jones | (6.0) | Tua Tagovailoa | (3.7) | |
| Damien Harris | (8.1) | Duke Johnson | (6.0) | |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | (7.3) | Myles Gaskin | (4.8) | |
| Brandon Bolden | (4.9) | Jaylen Waddle | (8.3) | |
| Jakobi Meyers | (6.7) | DeVante Parker | (4.9) | |
| Kendrick Bourne | (3.6) | Mike Gesicki | (6.8) | |
| Hunter Henry | (5.6) | Dolphins DST | (5.7) | |
| Patriots DST | (8.1) |
Playoff scenarios: A Bills win clinches the AFC East. The Bills can also move as high as the No. 2 seed if the Bengals and Chiefs lose. They’ll play their starters.
| Jets | RTG (MAX 10) | Bills | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Zach Wilson | (5.8) | Josh Allen | (8.7) | |
| Ty Johnson | (5.3) | Devin Singletary | (9.0) | |
| Tevin Coleman | (5.1) | Stefon Diggs | (8.8) | |
| Braxton Berrios | (6.6) | Gabriel Davis | (6.5) | |
| Jets DST | (5.5) | Cole Beasley | (4.1) | |
| Dawson Knox | (6.7) | |||
| Bills DST | (7.6) |
Playoff scenarios: A win and a 49ers loss clinches a playoff berth for the Saints.
| Saints | RTG (MAX 10) | Falcons | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Taysom Hill | (7.4) | Matt Ryan | (4.9) | |
| Alvin Kamara | (9.7) | Mike Davis | (5.8) | |
| Marquez Callaway | (6.0) | Russell Gage | (5.6) | |
| Deonte Harris | (2.5) | Cordarrelle Patterson | (4.5) | |
| Saints DST | (8.5) | Olamide Zaccheaus | (2.6) | |
| Hayden Hurst | (6.2) | |||
| Falcons DST | (5.9) |
Playoff scenarios: The Buccaneers have clinched a first-round home playoff game and could rest starters if they wish to. The Buccaneers are also alive for the No. 2 seed and a potential home game in the divisional round.
| Panthers | RTG (MAX 10) | Buccaneers | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Sam Darnold | (1.5) | Tom Brady | (9.3) | |
| Chuba Hubbard | (5.6) | Le’Veon Bell | (6.8) | |
| Ameer Abdullah | (4.7) | Mike Evans | (9.4) | |
| D.J. Moore | (5.8) | Cyril Grayson | (6.2) | |
| Robby Anderson | (2.9) | Tyler Johnson | (3.9) | |
| Panthers DST | (3.3) | Breshad Perriman | (3.3) | |
| Rob Gronkowski | (8.2) | |||
| Cameron Brate | (5.5) | |||
| Buccaneers DST | (8.3) |
Playoff scenarios: A Cardinals win and Rams loss clinches the NFC West for Arizona. The Cardinals are still in the playoffs even with a loss. The only way they’d pull back starters is if it’s abundantly clear the Rams won’t lose, and even then they might stick with their main guys.
| Seahawks | RTG (MAX 10) | Cardinals | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Russell Wilson | (7.7) | Kyler Murray | (9.2) | |
| Rashaad Penny | (8.7) | Chase Edmonds | (8.3) | |
| Tyler Lockett | (8.6) | Christian Kirk | (7.7) | |
| DK Metcalf | (7.9) | Antoine Wesley | (6.1) | |
| Gerald Everett | (7.0) | A.J. Green | (5.1) | |
| Seahawks DST | (4.7) | Zach Ertz | (7.3) | |
| Cardinals DST | (7.0) |
Playoff scenarios: A Rams win clinches the NFC West and a home playoff game for Los Angeles. The Rams are still locked into the playoffs with a loss. The 49ers can clinch a playoff berth with either a win against the Rams or a Saints loss to the Falcons. Both teams should go all out.
| 49ers | RTG (MAX 10) | Rams | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Trey Lance | (7.2) | Matthew Stafford | (7.6) | |
| Elijah Mitchell | (9.1) | Sony Michel | (8.5) | |
| Deebo Samuel | (9.3) | Odell Beckham Jr. | (7.3) | |
| Brandon Aiyuk | (7.1) | Van Jefferson | (6.3) | |
| George Kittle | (7.8) | Cooper Kupp | (10.0) | |
| 49ers DST | (6.3) | Tyler Higbee | (6.9) | |
| Rams DST | (7.1) |
Playoff scenarios: If the Chargers win, they’ll clinch a playoff berth. If they lose, they’re out. The Raiders’ easiest path to the playoffs is a win, but they can also make it if the Colts and Steelers lose. There’s also a scenario where BOTH teams can make the playoffs if they tie and the Colts lose.
| Chargers | RTG (MAX 10) | Raiders | RTG (MAX 10) | |
| Justin Herbert | (8.6) | Derek Carr | (6.9) | |
| Austin Ekeler | (9.5) | Josh Jacobs | (9.6) | |
| Justin Jackson | (5.0) | Hunter Renfrow | (7.8) | |
| Keenan Allen | (8.9) | Zay Jones | (5.4) | |
| Mike Williams | (7.0) | Darren Waller | (8.6) | |
| Jalen Guyton | (3.4) | Raiders DST | (3.5) | |
| Jared Cook | (6.3) | |||
| Chargers DST | (6.7) |
