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

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2026-01-02 01:04:39 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 for the Week 18 Saturday slate, he will walk you through his favorite NFL DFS picks, ways to pivot away from the chalk, and overall strategy.

This won’t be the case often on Sunday, but we have two very meaningful games to look forward to on this Saturday slate. The NFC South title is up for grabs. For the Buccaneers to win the division, they need to beat the Panthers and have the Saints beat the Falcons on Sunday. Conversely, the Panthers can win the division with a win over the Buccaneers or with a Falcons win over the Saints.

The Niners can not only clinch the NFC West with a win over the Seahawks, but they can also clinch the top seed in the NFC and get a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Seahawks have the same stakes as the Niners, as a win would clinch the division and the top seed in the NFC. The Seahawks can also clinch the division and the bye with a tie, which is unlikely but possible.

This should be an awesome day of football games. Let’s dive into the 2-game NFL DFS slate.

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

There are a lot of strong plays on this slate. To fit the superstars, we have to dive deep to find some value plays. The best part about this slate is that every team has something to play for, so we don’t have to worry about individual or team motivations.

Top Quarterback Plays

Tier 1 – Core Plays

Sam Darnold ($5,800 DK / $7,500 FD) doesn’t have the best point-per-dollar projection on the slate, but he’s my favorite quarterback target. He gets to square off against the Niners, who are 24th in EPA allowed per dropback and 19th in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. With Nick Bosa out, this has been a vulnerable defense all season. Darnold’s best games have come when the Seahawks have been pushed, and we can certainly expect that given how potent San Francisco’s offense has been in recent weeks.

Tier 2 – Strong Plays

Brock Purdy ($6,300 DK / $8,000 FD) has been on fire over the last 3 games, scoring 41, 32, and 27 fantasy points. During that stretch, he’s thrown for 11 touchdowns. He also has sneaky rushing upside, which makes him a good quarterback to target in both cash games and tournaments. The knock on him this week is a matchup against the Seahawks, who are 5th in EPA allowed per dropback and 12th in fantasy points allowed ot quarterbacks.

While all four quarterbacks are viable on this slate, Baker Mayfield is my least favorite. If you aren’t looking to the Seahawks-Niners game, I prefer going with Bryce Young ($4,800 DK / $7,000 FD) at a very cheap price point. He offers a low floor, but he’s playing at home against a team that has allowed the 2nd most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.

🏈 Quarterbacks – Noto’s Notes

🏆 Core Plays: Sam Darnold
💪 Strong Plays: Brock Purdy, Bryce Young
🔗 Potential Pairings: Darnold + JSN, Purdy + CMC, Young + McMillan

Top Running Back Plays

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