NFL DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Expert Survey for Week 18 (Saturday Slate)

by Justin Bailey (Jbails26) Last Updated 2026-01-02 17:59:22 Premium Content Part of the product NFL DFS

Our panel of experts is here to give you their insights on NFL DFS today for the Week 18 Saturday slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. They’re ready to answer key questions that will assist you in making those crucial lineup-building decisions. Curious about Noto’s favorite correlation? Or perhaps you’re wondering about Davis Mattek’s favorite contrarian play? Read their thoughts below!

NFL DFS DraftKings & FanDuel Expert Survey: Week 18 Picks (Saturday Slate)

Rank your three favorite players for cash games, in order:

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What is your favorite correlation and why?

Notorious: Sam Darnold + Jaxon Smith-Njigba – This isn’t a wild correlation by any means, but it’s easily my favorite on the slate. Darnold has had a lot of good and a lot of subpar fantasy outings this season. They typically hinge on how much their opponents are able to push them. With the Niners offense firing on all cylinders, the Seahawks will have to have a big game offensively if they are going to claim the NFC West crown. JSN has topped 20 fantasy points in 13 of 16 games this season and should see 10+ targets in this one.

stevietpfl: Brock Purdy + Christian McCaffrey + Ricky Pearsall – I’m going all-in on the 49ers offense on this 2-game slate. The winner of this game clinches the NFC West and the No. 1 seed with home-field advantage in the NFC. Of the 2 games, I think this one has the most potential for a shootout. McCaffrey should be the highest-owned player on the slate. I’m going to pair him with Purdy and Pearsall. Pearsall is cheap and has 15 targets over the last 2 games. He had 29 targets in the first 4 games of the season before he was hurt. Since Week 11, Pearsall has run a route on 78.4% of the team’s dropbacks and has 26.6% of the team’s air yards.

Krayton: Jaxon Smith-Njigba + Christian McCaffrey – On a 2-game slate with a lot on the line for both teams, I won’t be fading the top players on the slate. It’s expensive to get both of them in your lineup, but I will be locking in that combination on my single-entry lineup as well as lineups in some of the smaller-field contests. CMC is such a big part of this offense in both the running game and passing game, and he’s scored 7 touchdowns in the last 6 games. It is going to be a tough matchup against an elite Seattle defense, but he should get all of the touches he can handle. On the other side, JSN has also had an elite season, and with his team needing a win, I expect the Sam Darnold and JSN connection to be firing on all cylinders. Also, the 49ers have allowed the 13th-most fantasy points to WRs this season.

ebeimfohr: Sam Darnold + Jaxon Smith-Njigba + Rashid Shaheed – The 49ers defense is easily the worst and most exploitable unit on this 2-game slate. But even against a really strong Seattle defense, their offense is talented enough to push the Seahawks to continue to be aggressive. We know what JSN can do, but the addition of Shaheed from the trade deadline is what really elevates the ceiling for this passing offense. He has been a little up-and-down since arriving in Seattle, and he is fresh off clearing the concussion protocol. But they really need to get him going if they are going to reach their ceiling in the playoffs on offense, and he can unlock a fantasy ceiling for Darnold.

Davis Mattek: Brock Purdy + Christian McCaffrey + Jauan Jennings – This will likely be a popular grouping, but it won’t be popular enough. The Seahawks have a great defense, but the 49ers might be the best offense in the NFL. I’m expecting George Kittle to be limited by his ankle injury, which should flood volume towards Jennings.

Jordan Vanek: Bryce Young + Tetairoa McMillan + Tommy Tremble + Chris Godwin + Rachaad White – Everybody else has the SEA/SF game covered, but I’m prioritizing CAR/TB because of the extreme groupthink on this slate. The field is stuck on the “Bryce Young had 54 passing yards last weekend” narrative and is overlooking that the Buccaneers just allowed the Dolphins with Quinn Ewers to carve up their secondary and will again be without Jamel Dean. If you’re playing Young, he needs to be double-stacked with McMillan plus another piece, and I lean toward Tremble, who is playing around 70% of the snaps against a defense that has allowed plenty of touchdowns to tight ends. On the other side, Mike Evans is fine, but Godwin has been the better target for Baker Mayfield against Cover 3, and Rachaad White has dominated red-zone snaps over Bucky Irving, who has also shown some visible frustration recently, including a moment where Tristan Wirfs stepped in as a peacemaker along the offensive line.

Who’s your favorite contrarian play and why?

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