Most NFL teams don’t have the luxury of sitting significant players during the final week of the regular season because they are either battling to make the playoffs, trying to improve their playoff positioning, or looking to play the spoiler.
There are five teams, however, that have already clinched a playoff berth and can neither help nor hurt their positioning too drastically, regardless of the outcome of their NFL Week 18 game.
In some ways, these teams can treat it like a preseason game, giving time to some players further down the depth chart in order to preserve the health of the team’s established stars.
While most teams won’t announce their intentions to sit or start players until later in the week, at the very least, following are the five teams with the least to play for in NFL Week 18 and two key players from each one likely to watching their backups from the sidelines.
NFL Week 18: 10 players most likely to sit on five playoff-bound teams
Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson, Gus Edwards
The AFC North champion Ravens (13-3) locked up the No. 1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. So, why would John Harbaugh even think about playing Lamar Jackson, the leading candidate for the NFL MVP award? Jackson is a good bet to be watching Tyler Huntley take snaps and lead the Ravens’ offense against the Pittsburgh Steelers in their NFL Week 18 game on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Ravens have already lost two running backs for the season — J.K. Dobbins and Keaton Mitchell — and can’t afford to lose Gus Edwards, who leads the Ravens with 13 rushing touchdowns.
Related: NFL MVP odds: Lamar Jackson is the clear front-runner
Cleveland Browns
Joe Flacco, Amari Cooper
The Browns (11-5), who clinched their second playoff appearance since 2002, are among the most amazing stories of the NFL season as the first team to win at least 10 games with four starting quarterbacks. QB No. 4, Joe Flacco, has revitalized the Browns’ offense, and Cleveland, with nothing on the line in its NFL Week 18 game against Cincinnati on Sunday, would like to reach the playoffs next week without going to QB No. 5.
Amari Cooper, who had a record-setting game in Week 16, sat out the Browns’ playoff-clinching victory over the Jets last week with a heel injury, and he’s destined for another week off to preserve him for Wild-Card Weekend.
Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce
The Chiefs (10-6) are the AFC West champions once again and sit comfortably in the No. 3 spot among AFC playoff teams. Two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Andy Reid understands the concept of resting players and making sure they are upright for the playoffs.
So, playing on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City will likely opt to rest Patrick Mahomes and his favorite target, tight end Travis Kelce. While the Chiefs’ offense has scuffled over the later half of the season, it’s much too risky to have Mahomes and Kelce take the field in an effort to work out the kinks before the playoffs.
Related: What’s wrong with the Kansas City Chiefs?
Los Angeles Rams
Kyren Williams, Matthew Stafford
The Rams (9-7) clinched their playoff berth with a 26-25 win over the New York Giants, and currently occupy the No. 6 seed in the NFC. Their positioning could drop to No. 7 with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but the Rams can’t do any better than where they are now.
And the difference between the No. 6 and No. 7 spots is rather miniscule. So, expect Rams coach Sean McVay to sit running back Kyren Williams, one of the NFL’s breakout stars of the 2023-24 season, and quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Related: Los Angeles Rams coverage on LAFB Network
San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy
Going into NFL Week 18, the decision is easy regarding Christian McCaffrey, the NFL’s leader in all-purpose yards and touchdowns who suffered a calf injury in their Week 17 victory over the Washington Commanders. He’s been an injury liability in the past, but not since the joined the 49ers last season.
Related: San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy sets franchise record in bounce-back Week 17 victory
Even better, McCaffrey will get two weeks off because the 49ers (12-4), as the top seed in the NFC, won’t play again until the divisional round in two weeks. At the same time, the 49ers don’t want to chance an injury to Brock Purdy, the NFL’s leading passer who’s one of 10 quarterbacks to start every game this season.