Week 18 Saints vs. Buccaneers prediction and fantasy picks feat. Bucky Irving and Baker Mayfield

Modified Jan 05, 2025 15:49 GMT

Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season will feature an NFC South divisional clash between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints. The situation is simple for the Buccaneers as a victory would clinch the division title and a trip to the NFL Playoffs. They are considered massive favorites to do so against a depleted Saints team, but here's how it could all play out.

New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers prediction

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers regained control of the NFC South divisional title race last week. This means either a victory against the New Orleans Saints or if the Atlanta Falcons lose to the Carolina Panthers, would officially clinch a playoff spot for the Buccaneers.

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In Week 18, they will have the opportunity to take control of the situation when they face the Saints at home. They will also have the advantage of playing against a weakened squad, missing key starters, including Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara, Taysom Hill and Chris Olave.

This contributes to the Buccaneers being two-touchdown favorites on their betting line, but Sportskeeda's NFL Playoff Predictor expects the game to be much different than the point suggests.

The tool is projecting a tightly contested game with the Buccaneers coming away with just a narrow victory. Any win would get them to the postseason, but they are likely hoping to blow them out.

Prediction: Buccaneers 15 - Saints 14

Week 18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints fantasy picks

Bucky Irving is not only the best fantasy football running back to target from this particular matchup, but he also has some of the highest upside on the entire Week 18 slate of games, according to Sportskeeda's Who Should I Start tool.

He has finished as the weekly RB6 or better in four of his past six games for the Buccaneers and also recorded a RB11 finish in his first matchup against the Saints this year.

He is joined by Baker Mayfield, who has consistently been one of the most reliable fantasy football quarterbacks this season. He ranks as the overall QB5 this year and has finished among the weekly top 10 quarterbacks 12 times in 16 games. He also finished as the QB2 and threw four touchdown passes against the Saints earlier this season.