Week 18 of the fantasy football season has arrived, and it’s more important than ever to know which players deserve a place in your starting lineup. Considering player talent, recent form, and matchups, we’ve put together our PFSN consensus Week 18 QB rankings.
These rankings were last updated at 7:00 AM ET on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
Week 18 Fantasy QB Rankings
1) Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. CLE)
2) Drake Maye | New England Patriots (vs. MIA)
3) Trevor Lawrence | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. TEN)
4) Dak Prescott | Dallas Cowboys (at NYG)
5) Josh Allen | Buffalo Bills (vs. NYJ)
6) Brock Purdy | San Francisco 49ers (vs. SEA)
7) Matthew Stafford | Los Angeles Rams (vs. ARI)
8) Lamar Jackson | Baltimore Ravens (at PIT)
9) Jalen Hurts | Philadelphia Eagles (vs. WAS)
10) Jaxson Dart | New York Giants (vs. DAL)
11) Jacoby Brissett | Arizona Cardinals (at LAR)
12) Caleb Williams | Chicago Bears (vs. DET)
13) Bo Nix | Denver Broncos (vs. LAC)
14) Tyler Shough | New Orleans Saints (at ATL)
15) Baker Mayfield | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. CAR)
16) Jared Goff | Detroit Lions (at CHI)
17) Sam Darnold | Seattle Seahawks (at SF)
18) C.J. Stroud | Houston Texans (vs. IND)
19) Justin Herbert | Los Angeles Chargers (at DEN)
20) Kirk Cousins | Atlanta Falcons (vs. NO)
21) Bryce Young | Carolina Panthers (at TB)
22) Jimmy Garoppolo | Los Angeles Rams (vs. ARI)
23) Josh Johnson | Washington Commanders (at PHI)
24) Quinn Ewers | Miami Dolphins (at NE)
25) Cam Ward | Tennessee Titans (at JAX)
26) Aaron Rodgers | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. BAL)
27) Shedeur Sanders | Cleveland Browns (at CIN)
28) Max Brosmer | Minnesota Vikings (vs. GB)
29) Brady Cook | New York Jets (at BUF)
30) Chris Oladokun | Kansas City Chiefs (at LV)
C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans (vs. IND)
It’s not exactly safe to start C.J. Stroud. The Houston Texans want to run the ball, and the Colts are unlikely to push them away from that plan. The hope here is we can get a couple of passing touchdowns, just like last week.
The Colts are a pass funnel defense. They allow the 14th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Houston will still be motivated to win this game because it has a shot at the division if the Jaguars stumble against the Titans.
Stroud has only had three games of 20+ fantasy points all season. But in Week 18, even a redux of last week’s 244 yards and two touchdowns might be enough.
Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. CAR)
I don’t think the English language possesses the words to truly capture how terrible this Tampa Bay Buccaneers team is. Or, at least, I’m not allowed to use them in this article.
It took a garbage-time touchdown for Baker Mayfield to merely get close to 20 fantasy points last week. His 19.4 point effort was his second-highest since Week 11.
The Bucs have lost seven of their last eight and still somehow have a win-and-in Week 18. Incredible … but they are not going to win it.
Mayfield threw for 145 yards, one touchdown, and one interception against the Panthers the last time around. That was just two weeks ago.
The Panthers allow the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. The Bucs may have the talent to overcome it, but head coach Todd Bowles’ coaching philosophy seems to be to keep his best players out of the most important spots. If the Bucs weren’t in playoff contention, you would have a hard time convincing me he wasn’t tanking.
This is a completely dead team that will play like it. Don’t start Mayfield.
