4 FanDuel NFL Values to Target in Week 18

Finding value is a key part of daily fantasy football on FanDuel. We need to identify the low-salary players who have the potential to pay huge dividends, which allows you to play studs elsewhere in your lineup.

As always, we're looking at players on the main slate, which kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. All betting odds come from the NFL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

NFL DFS Value Plays

Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks

FanDuel Salary: ($7,300)

Geno Smith's second season as the starter for the Seattle Seahawks has had ups and downs. He will need to finish on a high note if the Seahawks want to make the playoffs.

Motivation is always a key part of Week 18. For the Seahawks, they need a win to have any hope at the playoffs.

Geno's best performance of the season came in Week 13 against the Dallas Cowboys when he put up 31 fantasy points. He then missed the next two games due to injury and came back with two solid but unspectacular performances.

Luckily for Smith, the matchup is pristine this week. He'll take on the Arizona Cardinals on the road. Arizona ranks dead last in numberFire's pass-defense metric. They also are the second-worst team in adjusted fantasy points per drop back allowed.

With the Seahawks having the third-highest implied team total (25 points) on the slate, Smith is a QB to target if you need to save salary at the position.

Ronnie Rivers, RB, Rams

FanDuel Salary: ($4,100)

It's rare that we can dip this low in salary and find a player who's viable to roster. Week 18 is always a strange one where different players come to the forefront. In this case, Ronnie Rivers is the one who's in play.

Rivers is in his second season with the Los Angeles Rams. He hasn't gotten much of an opportunity yet, but that will likely change this week. With the Rams locked into either the sixth or seventh seed, they'll be resting a lot of players. That includes starting running back Kyren Williams.

Williams has seen a massive 82% of the running back snaps since returning from injury in Week 12. That leaves a lot of open snaps for Rivers, who is the only other Rams RB on the roster who's even gotten a snap in the last two games.

LA will take on the San Francisco 49ers, who will also be resting players. It's hard to know what that will do to their defense, but they rank 20th in numberFire's schedule-adjusted rush defense metric.

Rivers has such a low salary that even something like 10 points would make him a good value on this slate.

Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers

FanDuel Salary: ($6,400)

People didn't like the Adam Thielen signing for the Carolina Panthers heading into the season.

While the season has definitely not worked for Carolina, Thielen has often been a lone bright spot. He's the WR19 in half-PPR scoring. Thielen has seen a 27% target share and 29% of the end zone targets.

The Panthers will likely go all-out in this game. They have no incentive to lose with their first-round pick traded away. They also needed to get Bryce Young more NFL experience.

They'll play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home this week. Tampa is one of the biggest pass-funnel defenses in the NFL. They rank fourth against the run but 26th against the pass, per numberFire's metrics.

Thielen certainly isn't a sexy play, but he should give you nice target volume for his salary in a good matchup this week.

Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints

FanDuel Salary: ($5,400)

Juwan Johnson was considered a sleeper at tight end in the summer. He mostly stayed asleep this season -- until Week 15.

In the last three games, Johnson has scored a touchdown in all of them. In the last two weeks, he's seen 19 targets. That's good for a 26% share -- rare for a tight end at this salary.

The New Orleans Saints have to win to have any hope to make the playoffs. They'll be going all out against the Atlanta Falcons at home.

New Orleans is a three-point favorite in this game. They have an implied team total of 22.5 points, which is healthy enough for Johnson to potentially score a touchdown.

Johnson has become the most reliable target behind Chris Olave after Michael Thomas went down injured. We can bet on that sticking this week, making Johnson a solid play at TE.

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.