While both No. 1 seeds are already locked up, there is plenty to play for in the final week of the NFL regular season.
Two playoff spots are still available in the NFC, and three more are available in the AFC. There are also seeds at stake in both conferences.
Let's go game-by-game to identify which teams have something to play for in Week 18 and how those motivations could affect betting and DFS decisions.
Ravens vs. Steelers Playoff Scenarios:
The Ravens are locked into the No. 1 seed. The Steelers need a win and some help to get into the playoffs.
Baltimore has already locked up the No. 1 seed and has zero motivation to push things in this game, especially given the injury issues they have already dealt with this season.
They have already announced Lamar Jackson will sit out this game, and it is unlikely Zay Flowers will push to play.
As for the Steelers, a win here does not guarantee them a playoff spot, but it will put pressure on several teams later in the weekend.
The easiest path for Pittsburgh to make the playoffs is beating the Ravens and having the Bills lose to the Dolphins or the Jaguars lose to the Titans.
Even if the Steelers lose to the Ravens, they can make the playoffs with a Jagaurs loss and a Broncos win as long as the Texans and Colts do not tie.
Betting Line: Steelers 3.5-point road favorites over Ravens
The Steelers being favored on the road against arguably the best team in football tells the entire motivation story.
That should be good news for both the Steelers' chances of winning this game outright and players like Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and George Pickens on the Saturday DFS slate.
Colts vs. Texans Playoff Scenarios:
The winner between the Colts and the Texans will make the playoffs and the loser will be out.
This is a pretty easy situation as playoff scenarios go. The winner of this game will make the postseason, and the loser will be out.
Things get a little more difficult if this game ends in a tie, but this is one of the cleanest situations in Week 18. Both teams need to win.
Betting Line: Texans 1-point road favorites over Colts
There is not much of a takeaway here. Both teams have to go all out to make the playoffs. That could make this game more enticing on the Saturday DFS slate than Ravens/Steelers since both teams have incentives to push.
This line has jumped to the Texans being favored since open.
Titans vs. Jaguars Playoff Scenarios:
The Jaguars win the AFC South with a victory over the Titans.
The easiest path to the playoffs for the Jaguars is to win this game. Doing so would clinch the AFC South.
They can still make the playoffs with a loss, but they would need the Steelers and Broncos to lose plus the Colts and Texans game to not end in a tie.
Betting Line: Jaguars 5.5-point road favorites over Titans
This line has jumped up on news Trevor Lawrence is likely to play, and that make sense given the motivation advantage for the Jaguars.
While they are not going to make the playoffs, the Titans also could have some motivation in this game beyond just spoiling things for a division rival.
This very likely will be the final game in a Titans uniform for Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry.
Lions vs. Vikings Playoff Scenarios:
The Lions can still get the No. 2 seed, but they need to win and have the Eagles and Cowboys lose. The Vikings need a win and a lot of help to make the playoffs.
The Lions still technically have a shot at the No. 2 seed, but they would need both the Eagles and Cowboys to lose very winnable games.
As for the Vikings, they need a win, a Seattle loss, a Green Bay loss, and one of the Bucs or Saints to lose to make the postseason.
Betting Line: Lions 3.5-point home favorites over Vikings
It remains to be seen how much motivation the Lions will have in this game. They still can technically get the No. 2 seed, but it would take both the Eagles and Cowboys losing as big road favorites.
Dan Campbell said the “plan right now” is to play everyone, but it is still possible some of the stars get a lighter workload than usual. If that happens, there will be some value on the Vikings as 3-point underdogs.
That is especially true because the Vikings have to push for this game to even have a chance at the postseason. At kickoff, they will still be alive for the playoffs.
Saints vs. Falcons Playoff Scenarios:
The Saints need a win and some help to win the NFC South or earn a Wild Card spot. The Falcons can still win the NFC South with a win and Bucs loss.
Despite beating the Bucs in Week 17, the Saints still need to beat the Falcons and have the Bucs lose to the Panthers to win the NFC South.
They can earn a Wild Card spot with a win and losses by the Packers and Seahawks.
It felt like the Falcons' season ended when they were trounced by the Bears on Sunday, but they still have a path to the NFC South title. They need to beat the Saints and have the Bucs lose to the Panthers.
Betting Line: Saints 3-point home favorites over Falcons
This is an easy game to figure out the motivation. Both teams are playing for a shot at the division title. They will go all out.
Of course, for the Falcons that likely means not using their best offensive players, changing quarterbacks a few times, and just generally being confused.
Panthers vs. Bucs Playoff Scenarios:
The Bucs win the NFC South with a victory over the Panthers.
While their loss to the Saints last week was disappointing, the Bucs still control their destiny. If they beat the Panthers, they win the NFC South and will host a playoff game.
However, that loss did open up the possibility of missing the playoffs. If Tampa loses in Carolina, they will not make the playoffs.
Betting Line: Bucs 4.5-point road favorites over Panthers
The Panthers have nothing to play for and were just shut out by a pitiful Jaguars defense. There are also questions surrounding their owner after his behavior on Sunday, questions that could distract the team.
This is a game the Bucs should win easily. It will be a massive failure if they are not the NFC South Champions.
Bengals vs. Browns Playoff Scenarios:
Neither the Bengals nor the Browns have anything to play for in Week 18.
The Bengals are officially eliminated from the playoffs, and the Browns are locked into the No. 5 seed.
There is no motivation on either side of this game.
Betting Line: Bengals 7-point home favorites over Browns
The Browns have already announced Joe Flacco will sit out this game, and it is unlikely Amari Cooper will suit up, explaining the line.
The Bengals could also choose to rest Ja'Marr Chase given his shoulder injury, but he did practice on Wednesday. Tee Higgins did not and likely will not play.
Otherwise, the Cincy offense could be in a good spot with the Browns likely to rest players on the defensive side, and they have some interesting young receivers in Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones should Chase and Higgins sit.
Patriots vs. Jets Playoff Scenarios:
Neither the Patriots nor the Jets have anything to play for in Week 18.
Theoretically, both the Patriots and Jets could be playing for draft position, but this game is about as meaningless as an NFL game can be.
Betting Line: Patriots 1.5-point home favorites over Jets
There is no reason for either team to hold back their offensive starters, but this has the look of a defensive struggle that will be tough to get excited about for DFS.
Commanders vs. Cowboys Playoff Scenarios:
The Cowboys lock up the NFC East and No. 2 seed with a win.
The situation is pretty simple for the Cowboys. They will be NFC East Champions and the No. 2 seed if they beat the Commanders.
They can also win the division if the Eagles lose, and they can earn the No. 2 seed if both the Eagles and Lions lose.
The Commanders have some motivation in this game the other way. The current owners of the No. 2 overall pick, Washington would lock in a chance at Caleb Williams or Drake Maye with a loss.
Betting Line: Cowboys 13-point road favorites over Commanders
This massive line is indicative of the motivations on both sides.
In addition to the Commanders defense being awful, the Cowboys will have every incentive to press the issue in this game. Dallas offensive players should be popular this week in DFS.
Giants vs. Eagles Playoff Scenarios:
The Eagles can win the NFC East and the No. 2 seed with a victory over the Giants and a Cowboys loss.
As bad as the last month has been for the Eagles, they could still be the No. 2 seed with a win and a Cowboys loss.
Philly will be in the playoffs either way.
Betting Line: Eagles 4.5-point road favorites over Giants
The Eagles technically still have a shot at the No. 2 seed, but the Cowboys are massive favorites over the Commanders.
With some injury questions around the roster, Philly may take it easy in this game to get ready for a road playoff game. Nick Sirianni has already said it is “a consideration.”
The Giants found some success on offense last week, and the matchup against this defense is better even if the Eagles try to win this game.
Packers vs. Bears Playoff Scenarios:
The Packers earn a Wild Card spot with a win.
Green Bay has several paths to the postseason, but the easiest is to win against the Bears.
The Packers can also get in if the Seahawks, Vikings, and one of the Bucs or Saints lose.
Betting Line: Packers 3-point home favorites over Bears
The Packers have the clear motivation edge in this game with the Bears knocked out of the playoffs, but the Bears have been playing well for several weeks despite having minimal playoff odds.
After the Bears locked up the No. 1 overall pick last week — thanks Panthers — Justin Fields personally has a lot of motivation to play well and keep the strong finish to the season going.
The Bears could be the most competitive non-playoff team in Week 18.
Cardinals vs. Seahawks Playoff Scenarios:
The Seahawks need to win and get some help to make the playoffs.
Losing to the Steelers in Week 17 means the Seahawks need to beat the Cardinals and have the Packers lose to the Bears to earn a playoff spot.
Betting Line: Seahawks 2.5-point road favorites over Cardinals
The Seahawks have the clear motivation advantage in this game, but that was true last week of the Eagles before the Cardinals beat them.
That win did drop the Cardinals in the draft order, and another win here could drop them even further, perhaps giving Arizona some incentive to take things easy this week.
Raiders vs. Broncos Playoff Scenarios:
Neither the Raiders nor the Broncos have anything to play for in Week 18.
Both of these teams have been knocked out of the playoffs.
Betting Line: Raiders 2.5-point home favorites over Broncos
There is some motivation for both quarterbacks to prove they deserve a shot at the starting job next year, but that is about as far as it goes in this game.
Josh Jacobs is reportedly pushing to play, but we are likely looking at another game with Zamir White as the lead back.
Both of these teams face interesting offseasons once this one is finished.
Chargers vs. Chiefs Playoff Scenarios:
Neither the Chiefs nor the Chargers have anything to play for in Week 18.
The Chargers have already been knocked out of the playoffs, and the Chiefs are locked into the No. 3 seed.
Betting Line: Chargers 3.5-point home favorites over Chiefs
Kansas City has not been good lately, but this line has everything to do with motivation.
Locked into the No. 3 seed, the Chiefs have nothing to play for and have already announced Patrick Mahomes will not suit up in this one.
It would not be a surprise if the other core plays on the Chiefs roster sit out this game or play sparingly.
49ers vs. Rams Playoff Scenarios:
Neither the 49ers nor the Rams have anything to play for in Week 18.
The 49ers have locked in the No. 1 seed.
The Rams could fall to the No. 7 seed with a loss, but they will be playing a road game in the Wild Card round either way.
Betting Line: 49ers 4-point home favorites over Rams
Both teams will sit most of their core players.
The Rams have already announced Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Cooper Kupp, Tyler Higbee, and Aaron Donald will sit.
For the 49ers, Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey have already been ruled out.
An interesting storyline is the availability of Elijah Mitchell, who seemingly is set to serve as the No. 1 option in the backfield. He has dealt with injury issues of his own this season, so we could see Jordan Mason dominate the backfield work and be a great value in DFS.
Dolphins vs. Bills Playoff Scenarios:
The winner between the Dolphins and Bills will win the AFC East and the No. 2 seed.
The final game of the 2023 NFL regular season is pretty straightforward.
The winner on Sunday night will win the AFC East and the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
If the Dolphins lose, they will fall to the No. 6 seed.
If the Bills lose, they could fall all the way out of the playoffs depending on what happens the rest of the weekend.
Betting Line: Bills 3-point road favorites over Dolphins
Both teams will be motivated for this game, but it could end up meaning more for the Bills. Depending on what happens the rest of the weekend, it could be a win-or-go-home game for Buffalo.
Miami is also dealing with several key injuries on both sides of the ball, raising questions about how much they want to push things ahead of Wild Card weekend.
We already know Bradley Chubb and Xavien Howard will miss this game.