Noto's NFL DFS Key Personnel: Week 18 - Saturday Slate

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2025-01-03 19:00:11 Premium Content Part of the product NFL DFS

A daily fantasy sports OG, Notorious has been roaming the DFS streets ever since they were invented. So, who better to walk you through all of the key NFL DFS positions each week? Noto has racked up multiple live final seats and several six-figure tournament wins in his DFS career, and he will mix it up in all different types of contests. In his Key Personnel article, he will walk you through his favorite NFL DFS picks, ways to pivot away from the chalk, and overall strategy for the upcoming slate.

It’s hard to believe, but the final week of the NFL regular season is already upon us. It’s a bittersweet time of year, as there’s nothing better than playoff football. At the same time, we are only a few short weeks away from no more football until September. Let’s make the most of the season’s final week and dominate these two main slates. For the Saturday slate, we have two meaningful football games.

The Ravens can clinch the NFC North with a win against the Browns in the first game. The Bengals are still alive in the playoff hunt, but they’ll need to beat the Steelers. There’s a good chance Pittsburgh won’t have anything to play for other than seeding. However, if the Ravens lose, the Steelers will play for the division title.

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NFL DFS Top Picks & Plays: Noto’s Key Personnel for Week 18 – Saturday Slate

This is similar to last week’s Saturday slate in that we don’t have a ton of value to choose from. Roster construction could become much easier if Chase Brown ends up being out, as Khalil Herbert would draw the start and become one of the top value plays on the board. Let’s dive into my favorite plays at each position.

To stay up to date with my thoughts on the slate and the weather, make sure to check out our NFL DFS Optimizer and the NFL Weather page.

Quarterback

EXPERT PLAY TAGS

Joe Burrow: $7,500 DK / $8,600 FD

My quarterback selection on this small slate will hinge on the availability of Chase Brown. If he’s out, I will pay up for Joe Burrow in my main lineup. If he is active (he didn’t practice all week), I’ll likely pivot to Russell Wilson since there won’t be as much value. Burrow has had one of the best seasons of any quarterback in the NFL. He’s not getting the recognition he deserves because the Bengals are only 8-8, but he has topped 30 fantasy points in 4 of his last 8 games. If Brown ends up being out, the Bengals will lean even more on the passing game in what is a must-win game for Cincinnati. A matchup against the Steelers isn’t great on paper, but their defense has been beatable in the second half of the season.
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