It is NFL Week 18 and we have our last full slate of Sunday games to bet on. Making picks against the spread can be tough in Week 18, given the number of teams resting starters, teams with little to no incentive and even teams with an actual incentive to lose. Tough to navigate, for sure, but a fantastic opportunity to make some money if you took a deep dive into the match-ups. While this isn't normally a slate I play heavy in DFS, the research over there has put me onto a few good bets this week and a few good insights into the right NFL player props to bet.

 

 

NFL Week 18 Best Bets

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders

There's nothing really too deep about the analysis for this one. It's easy to take the points and say you don't like laying double-digit points in the NFL which is certainly valid, but the Cowboys need the win for the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and the Commanders have already said they're going to be resting starters because they want to lock in the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Imagine the firepower of Dak Prescott, Tony Pollard, CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson against the second and third-string Commander defense? No clue if Sam Howell even plays long enough to attempt a back-door cover, so we'll side with the team that has a reason to score points.

Pick: Cowboys -13 (-110)

New York Jets at New England Patriots

So it's supposed to snow on Saturday night and then turn to rain Sunday morning. Then it's supposed to turn back to snow shortly before game time. They are expecting sustained winds of 20-25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. As if these offenses weren't inept enough, Mother Nature has decided to flex her muscles and give us the snow game we've coveted this season. Not really sure what we get in the way of scoring but I do not foresee it being a lot. 

Pick: Under 30 (-110)

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans

This is a bet you make if you are concerned with Trevor Lawrence's shoulder and like to bet on Titans coach Mike Vrabel when he's a home dog. Yeah, it tends to work out nicely actually. Tennessee has no real incentive, but Vrabel has been rumored to potentially be on the move and he's one of those guys who gets the most out of his players. Also, if you read Andrew Cooper's Contract Incentives & Player Milestone article, you would know that DeAndre Hopkins can earn more than a million dollars more if he hits a few incentives. With veteran Ryan Tannehill back under center, you can expect the two to connect early and often. Against a suspect Jaguars secondary? I think the Titans come close enough to cover and if you're really feeling froggy, you can jump at the +180 Titans moneyline.

Pick: Titans +4.5 (-110)

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants 

With my belief that the Cowboys jump out to a really big first-half lead, I also believe Nick Sirianni, an self-admitted scoreboard-watcher, will pull his starters for the second half and just accept the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. The Giants have nothing to lose here and we just saw them play the Eagles tough two weeks ago. It will be a race to score points in the first half between the Eagles and Cowboys and I believe the Giants defense will complicate things for Philadelphia in the end. Once the Eagles pull their starters, it's anyone's game. Even if the G-Men lose, they should cover the spread.

Pick: Giants +4.5 (-110)

Favorite NFL Week 18 Player Props

**all lines & odds courtesy of BetMGM