2023 has been the year of the backup QB, but if you're still playing Fantasy Football into Week 18, you haven't seen anything yet. As of Tuesday morning, we aren't projecting or ranking Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Brock Purdy, Matthew Stafford, or Joe Flacco to play in Week 18. And if a couple of those guys do play it may only be for a quarter or two. 

In their place, we're projecting Blaine Gabbert, Tyler Huntley, Sam Darnold, Carson Wentz, and P.J. Walker. While those guys aren't the guys you would like to turn to in the Fantasy championship (you should move your championship game to Week 17) Gabbert and Darnold are interesting because of their coach and offensive system while Huntley's legs make him intriguing. 

Thankfully, it sounds like the Cowboys will be playing their starters, because Dak Prescott is my No. 1 QB this week. Prescott is in a dogfight with Jackson to finish the season as a top three Fantasy QB and a matchup against a Commanders defense that has surrendered the second-most Fantasy points to QBs this season should easily put him over the top. 

My full set of projections for quarterback and every other position can be found at SportsLine. Here's everything else you need to know about quarterback in Week 18:

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Numbers to know
  • 300,000 -- Baker Mayfield will earn $300,000 for finishing in the top 10 in the NFL in any of these categories (current rank): Passer Rating (9th), TD passes (4th), passing yards (8th), completion percentage (18th), yards per attempt (9th).
  • 360.5 -- Jordan Love currently ranks as QB5 in total Fantasy points with 360.5. If Jackson sits out, Love would only need 19 Fantasy points to move up to QB4.
  • 20 -- Dak Prescott has scored at least 20 Fantasy points in nine of his last 10 games.
  • 240 -- Tua Tagovailoa has only topped 240 passing yards once in the last month. He went over that mark in each of his first six games and nine of his first 11. 
  • 20.8 -- Tyrod Taylor was QB12 last week with 20.8 Fantasy points. This week he faces an Eagles defense that has given up the most Fantasy points to opposing QBs.
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Matchups that matter
Matchups that Matter
Projections powered by Sportsline
Tyrod Taylor QB
NYJ N.Y. Jets • #2
Age: 34 • Experience: 14 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs PHI PHI -5 O/U 41

OPP VS QB

10th

PROJ PTS

14.2

QB RNK

13th

YTD Stats

PAYDS

1044

RUYDS

159

TD

4

INT

2

FPTS/G

7.7
Gardner Minshew QB
LV Las Vegas • #10
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs HOU HOU -1 O/U 47.5

OPP VS QB

6th

PROJ PTS

18.5

QB RNK

15th

YTD Stats

PAYDS

3164

RUYDS

91

TD

18

INT

9

FPTS/G

13.6
Geno Smith QB
SEA Seattle • #7
Age: 33 • Experience: 12 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ ARI SEA -3 O/U 47.5

OPP VS QB

30th

PROJ PTS

20.2

QB RNK

10th

YTD Stats

PAYDS

3435

RUYDS

127

TD

19

INT

9

FPTS/G

17.4
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Waiver Wire Targets
Adds/Streamers (QB Preview)
Derek Carr QB
NO New Orleans • #4
Age: 33 • Experience: 11 year

Weekly Breakdown

vs ATL NO -3 O/U 42.5

OPP VS QB

4th

QB RNK

11th

ROSTERED

65%

YTD Stats

PAYDS

3614

RUYDS

34

TD

21

INT

8

FPTS/G

16
Carr has thrown 10 touchdown passes in his last four games and ranks as QB10 over that stretch in total Fantasy points. He'll be at home, in a dome, with something to play for. You can't ask for much more out of a Week 18 streamer.
Tyrod Taylor QB
NYJ N.Y. Jets • #2
Age: 34 • Experience: 14 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs PHI PHI -5 O/U 41

OPP VS QB

12th

QB RNK

13th

ROSTERED

5%

YTD Stats

PAYDS

1044

RUYDS

159

TD

4

INT

2

FPTS/G

7.7
Taylor has now started and finished three games for the Giants this season. He's topped 20 Fantasy points in two of three and he's averaged 266 passing yards and 33 rushing yards per game. Add in the cake matchup and Taylor is a fine starting option.
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DFS Plays
Contrarian DFS Play
Projections powered by Sportsline
Dak Prescott QB
DAL Dallas • #4
Age: 30 • Experience: 9 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ WAS DAL -13 O/U 45.5

OPP VS QB

12th

PROJ PTS

23.2

QB RNK

2nd

YTD Stats

PAYDS

4237

RUYDS

242

TD

34

INT

8

FPTS/G

23.8
Prescott has one last chance to make his case before the MVP voters and it just happens to come against arguably the worst pass defense in the league. Hopefully the Cowboys road woes will hold down Prescott's roster rate. I expect more people to play cheap QBs this week, so I'll pay up for Prescott in tournaments.
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Heath's projections

My full set of Week 18 Fantasy Football projections for every position are now available on SportsLine. Find out which of my favorite plays are projected to score higher than consensus rankings and which don't live up to their draft hype, at least in Week 18. Projected stats for all starting quarterbacks are available, so be sure to check out the full set of projections at SportsLine.