NFL DFS Cheat Sheet for Week 18 Saturday NFL Games on PrizePicks
We get two Saturday NFL games in Week 18, with both games involving teams still needing wins to secure their Playoff spots. It begins with the Browns vs. Ravens at 4:30 p.m. ET, then a special edition of Saturday Night Football with Bengals vs. Steelers at 8 p.m. ET, with both games on ESPN and ABC.
Below, we’ve got the top NFL DFS picks and predictions for the two Saturday NFL games for PrizePicks, including the best matchups to target in these games.
Check the PrizePicks NFL board now, lock in your picks, and get in on all of the Week 18 Saturday football games. It’s the easiest way to cash in on your NFL knowledge, all the way through the 2025 Super Bowl.
Saturday NFL Games: NFL DFS Cheat Sheet & Picks
Find the top picks, matchups to target, and player projections for the Week 18 Saturday NFL Games below in the PrizePicks Cheat Sheet.
Browns vs. Ravens: Saturday Football Game Preview
- Ravens WR Zay Flowers 58.5 Receiving Yards — More
- Ravens WR Rashod Bateman 29.5 Receiving Yards — More
- Browns WR Jerry Jeudy 55.5 Receiving Yards — More
Bengals vs. Steelers: Saturday Night Football Preview
- Steelers WR George Pickens 66.5 Receiving Yards — More
- Steelers TE Pat Friermuth 35.5 Receiving Yards — More
Browns vs. Ravens: Saturday Football Game Preview
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Where to Watch: ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ (streaming)
The Browns are in a prime position to potentially lose the last game of the season to further strengthen their draft pick position. They will give Bailey Zappe a start this week against a Ravens defense that is trending up.
That being said, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has a terrific matchup against this horrific Cleveland Browns secondary, as they allow an average of 236 yards to opposing quarterbacks, which ranks 22nd in the NFL. They also allow a tremendous amount of rushing to the quarterback position, ranking 24th in rushing yards allowed. With little to no motivation for this Browns team, the Ravens offense should pile it on with ease.
Zappe will get his first start for the Browns in the final regular season game, as the Browns fourth starting QB this season. In a slight surprise — despite how successful the Baltimore Ravens have been — their pass defense has been one of the worst in the NFL, ranking nearly dead last, allowing 283 passing yards on average to opposing quarterbacks.
However, the Ravens pass defense has improved drastically later in the season. Over the first nine weeks, the Ravens defense ranked 29th in dropback expected points added (EPA). Since then, the Ravens have improved to 3rd in dropback EPA, largely due to how they’re using star safety Kyle Hamilton and other improvements to the secondary personnel.
Browns vs. Ravens: NFL DFS Picks for PrizePicks
Here are the top NFL DFS picks and predictions for the Browns vs. Ravens Saturday football game on PrizePicks.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers 58.5 Receiving Yards — More
Browns CB Martin Emerson Jr. is a significant reason for how poorly this Cleveland Browns secondary has performed, as he ranks 109th out of 117 cornerbacks in the NFL, per PFF. When targeted, Emerson allows a nearly 110 passer rating with over 10 yards per reception. He also ranks in the bottom 20 in the NFL for receptions allowed, with 50 among cornerbacks.
Slated to be across from him is Ravens WR1 Zay Flowers, who became the first Ravens WR to make the Pro Bowl and ranks inside the top 20 in receptions, targets, and receiving yards in the NFL. When targeted, Zay Flowers owns a 110 passer rating and also has a substantial average of 14 yards per reception.
Ravens WR Rashod Bateman 29.5 Receiving Yards — More
The Cleveland Browns’ other cornerback, Cameron Mitchell, has limited to no experience at the position. The 2023 fifth-round pick allows a 132 passer rating when targeted and over 10 yards per reception in his limited time on the field. Across from him is Rashad Bateman, who is having a significantly better year than last season, ranking top 10 in receiving touchdowns (8) as well as yards per reception (17).
Browns WR Jerry Jeudy 55.5 Receiving Yards — More
Browns WR Jerry Jeudy has been the only bright spot in the Browns offense this season, having a tremendous year despite the poor performance as a team and at the quarterback position. This week, they’re starting QB Bailey Zappe, who will make his first start of the year.
Jeudy ranks inside the top 10 in all major categories, including receiving yards, receptions, and targets, while also maintaining an average of a 100 passer rating when targeted with over 13 yards per reception. Across from him is Brandon Stevens, who ranks 105th out of 117 cornerbacks in the NFL, allowing a 105 passer rating when targeted — one of the weaker cornerbacks in the NFL and in the Ravens secondary.
Jeudy has been force-fed down the stretch this year, with 11 or more targets in five of the last eight games. Last week, with TE David Njoku out, Jeudy had a whopping 18 targets in a loss to the Dolphins.
We can expect the Browns to throw a lot here to get a good look at Zappe, which is the entire reason for his start. When he does, he’ll be looking to Jeudy first.
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Bengals vs. Steelers: Saturday Night Football Preview
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Where to Watch: ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ (streaming)
The Bengals have a slim chance of making the playoffs, but they still have to win this game, as do the Steelers to win the AFC North. This is one of only two games in Week 18 where both teams could have something to play for. However, it’s worth noting that the Steelers could decide to rest starters if the Ravens win in the early game, which is likely against a dysfunctional Browns team.
Regardless of if they have nothing to play for here, the Steelers likely want to get momentum with a win here. Going 0-4 to end the season would leave a bad taste in the mouth entering the Wild Card Round.
Steelers QB Russell Wilson gets a terrific matchup against one of the worst defenses in the NFL in the Cincinnati Bengals. They rank 27th in passing yards allowed per game, with an average of 251, as well as nearly dead last in rushing yards allowed to opposing running backs at 151 on average, ranking 31st.
They also allow nearly the most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season, on average allowing 34.25. The Bengals will be without two starting corners — DJ Turner and Dax Hill — as well as their starting linebacker Logan Wilson. CB Cam Taylor-Britt is also questionable, while DE Sam Hubbard is out again, leaving this defense especially vulnerable.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow is having one of the best seasons a quarterback has ever had in Cincinnati. Despite being known as a stout defense, the Steelers have been susceptible to the pass, allowing around 237 passing yards per game, ranking outside the top 20. The Bengals are going to count on Burrow here to put themselves in position to potentially win the Wild Card spot.
In recent weeks, the Bengals have yet to figure out the defensive end. Look for the Steelers to finally pick up a win before the playoffs start — a much-needed victory, to say the least.
Bengals vs. Steelers: NFL DFS Picks for PrizePicks
Here are the top NFL DFS picks and predictions for the Bengals vs. Steelers Saturday NIght Football football game on PrizePicks.
Steelers WR George Pickens 66.5 Receiving Yards — More
Steelers WR George Pickens has clearly been Wilson’s go-to receiver this season.
When targeted, Pickens boasts nearly a 100 passer rating and ranks inside the top 35 in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. His primary matchup projects to be fifth-round pick Josh Newton, who, in a limited sample size, allows an 87 passer rating when targeted. However, Newton has shown some vulnerability, conceding 21 receptions over 300 coverage snaps.
Pickens has gone more than this number in five of the last seven games, and just fell short against the Chiefs’ stout defense, where he only caught three of his seven targets.
Steelers TE Pat Friermuth 35.5 Receiving Yards — More
The Bengals’ linebacking corps ranks among the worst in coverage in the NFL.
Germaine Pratt sits 54th out of 80 linebackers in coverage this season, while Akeem Davis-Gaither is 38th out of 80. This sets up a prime opportunity for Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth, who ranks inside the top 20 among tight ends in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
Freiermuth has especially benefited from the switch to Wilson under center. Freiermuth has gone more than this number in four of his last six games.
Lock in for Week 18 NFL DFS on PrizePicks
Week 18 brings us two Saturday NFL games, with exciting matchups and division titles on the line. Use the PrizePicks NFL Cheat Sheet to sharpen your takes and build out your winning Lineups for the Saturday NFL games.
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