Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, January 4, 2026, 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Network: CBS
Washington Commanders
Quarterback
Josh Johnson: SIT
Marcus Mariota: SIT
Unless he makes major progress in terms of his ability to cut at full speed between press time and kickoff, Marcus Mariota is likely to miss the Washington Commanders’ season finale at Lincoln Financial Field. This puts Josh Johnson in line to once again lead the huddle in Week 18.
In his first full game of the season last week against the Dallas Cowboys, Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes (65.2%) for 198 yards. He didn’t record a touchdown pass against a weak Cowboys secondary, but at least he didn’t throw a pick. The relatively mobile career backup picked up 10 yards on the ground. Even though Pro Bowl cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are among many Philadelphia Eagles defenders who’ll likely sit this one out, those in Week 18 championship matchups probably have better options than Johnson. Case in point: as of Wednesday, only five NFL teams had lower implied Week 18 point totals than the Commanders.
Running Back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt: FLEX, RB3
Chris Rodriguez Jr.: SIT
Jeremy McNichols: SIT
Chris Rodriguez Jr. missed last week’s game against the Cowboys due to illness, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt answered the bell in a big way, racking up 105 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on only 11 carries. Bill displayed the explosiveness that intrigued many fantasy managers and analysts back in August, and he’s peaking at the right time. The Commanders are likely to ride the hot hand in this backfield, so expect similar efficiency against an Eagles defense that will likely be resting key interior defensive linemen Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis as well as Pro Bowl linebacker Zack Baun. Washington should continue to utilize Jeremy McNichols in a complimentary receiving role, but one that’s not likely to amount to significant fantasy production.
Wide Receiver
Terry McLaurin: START, WR2
Deebo Samuel: FLEX, WR3
Treylon Burks: SIT
Johnson hasn’t set the NFL ablaze or anything, but he has been competent and productive enough to allow Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel to remain fantasy-relevant. McLaurin should feast against second-tier corners, offering high-end WR2 upside, while Samuel, who amassed 93 total yards last week against the Cowboys, should remain flex-worthy. Treylon Burks is a great redemption story in the making thanks to a couple of spectacular catches down the stretch this season. However, he doesn’t see enough volume for fantasy purposes and isn’t a championship-caliber flex option.
Tight End
John Bates: SIT
Ben Sinnott: SIT
Nothing to see here, folks. The tight end portion of the waiver wire a dry, dearth, and desolate landscape. It a place where both of these guys should remain in Week 18.
Defense/Special Teams
Washington Commanders: SIT
The Commanders defense and special teams units have put up only one 10+ fantasy point performance in their last 11 games,. That was against the lowly New York Giants, who were in the midst of a nine-game losing streak. The Eagles have had their share of offensive woes this season, but there are certainly better options available to fantasy managers looking for a streaming D/ST option. The Commanders, as angry as they are at the Eagles after their scrappy Week 16 matchup, likely don’t have the horses to trample Tanner McKee, the highly competent and very capable backup quarterback who’ll be directing the offense for the Eagles.
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback
Tanner McKee: SIT
Jalen Hurts: SIT
Jalen Hurts is unlikely to take the field for the final game of the regular season, and few people outside of Philadelphia expect Tanner McKee to produce Sunday. However, the Stanford product, affectionately known as “The Mormon Missile,” finds himself in a familiar situation in which he previously enjoyed success. In Week 18 last season, McKee led the second string to victory, completing almost 66% of his passes for 269 yards and a pair of touchdowns against a Giants team that was running out the clock on a lost season, much like this year’s Commanders. McKee shouldn’t be started in traditional 12-team formats, but he’s worth a look in Superflex or 2QB leagues.
Running Back
Saquon Barkley: SIT
Tank Bigsby: FLEX/RB3
Will Shipley: SIT
Saquon Barkley is unlikely to play in the regular-season finale, leaving snaps on the table for Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby. Shipley has yet to earn a snap share north of 20% this season and hasn’t outsnapped Bigsby since Week 13. It’s possible that Shipley could see passing-down work (and more checkdowns from McKee), but the probability of him offering meaningful fantasy production is low. Bigsby, however, is a viable flex option given the workload he’s likely to see. Bigsby has been a pleasant surprise since arriving via midseason trade with Jacksonville, but despite his golden opportunity, fantasy managers would be wise to temper expectations for his ceiling since most of his key offensive linemen will be sitting this one out alongside Barkley.
Wide Receiver
A.J. Brown: SIT
DeVonta Smith: SIT
Jahan Dotson: FLEX, WR4
Darius Cooper: SIT
Small sample size, and we don’t know how much Kevin Patullo‘s play-calling may impact McKee’s tendencies, but three of McKee’s four career touchdown passes were thrown to wide receivers. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith caught McKee’s first two NFL touchdown passes, but that was in Week 17 last year. Neither played a snap in Week 18 last year, so it would be a surprise if either took the field Sunday.
Every reserve getting a chance to start will be motivated to showcase his talents, but not all have a convenient revenge game on their hands like Jahan Dotson. Dotson contributed occasional big plays throughout the season and now gets a chance to showcase the talent that made him a former first-round pick by Washington.
Darius Cooper has played 30% or more of Philadelphia’s offensive snaps in three of the past four weeks and will likely ascend to a starting role in Week 18. Cooper was very impressive in the preseason, so a big game wouldn’t come as a complete surprise to die-hard Eagles fans. However, odds are high that those competing for a championship this weekend have better options available. Only sickos in deep leagues need to put Cooper on their radar.
Tight End
Dallas Goedert: SIT
Grant Calcaterra: SIT
It would be a surprise if Dallas Goedert played more than a handful of snaps in Week 18, given the team’s expressed desire to rest their starters. This opens up opportunities for Grant Calcaterra, a solid but unspectacular tight end who has caught exactly one touchdown pass in 61 career games. Those still competing for a title in Week 18 surely have better options.
Defense/Special Teams
Philadelphia Eagles: SIT
In ordinary circumstances, this unit would be a slam-dunk, set-it-and-forget-it, read-’em-and-weep option against a third-string quarterback, but all bets are off with so many key starters expected to keep their pads in their lockers on game day. Vegas has the Commanders with a low implied point total of 17.5, suggesting that the Eagles are objectively best viewed as a middle-of-the-road option for those in larger leagues with Week 18 championships. They can be safely left on the waiver wire in traditional 12-team formats. If Nick Sirianni has a change of heart closer to game day and elects to suit up his starters, this unit becomes a top-five, must-start option.