Week 18 SNF Vikings vs. Lions prediction and fantasy picks feat. Justin Jefferson, Jameson Williams and more

Modified Jan 05, 2025 17:46 GMT

Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season will conclude with a Sunday Night Football showdown between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. This game also represents the final contest of the regular season this year and both teams will be playing for extremely high stakes with the NFL Playoffs starting next week. Here's how it all breaks down.

Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions prediction

While both the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions have already clinched a spot in the NFL Playoffs, they are playing in an absolutely crucial Week 18 matchup. The winner of this game will win the NFC North division title and also earn the top spot in the NFC bracket.

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This comes with homefield advantage and a first-round bye, while the loser will be the fifth seed and go on the road to face the winner of the NFC South division for the Wild Card round.

The Lions have held the top spot for the entire 2024 NFL season so far, but the Vikings have the opportunity to steal it from them this week. Sportskeeda's NFL Playoff Predictor believes that is exactly what will happen, despite the Lions getting the luxury of playing the game at home and already having beaten the Vikings on the road earlier this year.

Prediction: Vikings 24 - Lions 22

Week 18 Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions fantasy picks

In what is likely to be a shootout in Week 18 of the 2024 fantasy football season between two elite offenses, many players make for solid lineup options. Both teams feature some of the top fantasy players from this season and Sportskeeda's Who Should I Start tool recommends using many of them for the final week of the regular season.

The list starts with Justin Jefferson, who currently ranks as the overall WR2 amid another excellent season for the Vikings. He has also increased output even further during a recent hot streak, including recording at least seven receptions in each of his past five games and totaling five touchdowns across the past four weeks.

He is joined by Jameson Williams, who has earned a larger role for the Lions in recent weeks. He has finished as the weekly WR4 and WR9 in the past two weeks and has totaled four touchdowns across his past three games. His explosive upside makes him extremely valuable in Week 18, especially considering his recent surge.