The Carolina Panthers face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 18. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineup this week and going forward, especially regarding WR Jalen Coker.

Will Jalen Coker play in Week 18?

Coker is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any unexpected setbacks, he is on track to play this weekend.

We will continue to monitor the Panthers injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.

Should you start or sit with Jalen Coker in Week 18?

Coker saw the role he held at one point midseason diminish while Adam Thielen played healthy and well, which proved fatal to any potential fantasy rebound.

The rookie managed just two goals in 31 routes last week in Tampa Bay, and I fear this week could look similar. For seven weeks, Coker’s aDOT was 10.4 yards, and since then it has been at 13.1 yards. That 26% increase doesn’t seem like much, but it’s important in an offense that struggles with consistency down the stretch.

Coker is part of an interesting young core of pass catchers that I see as having more potential than most in 2025, but that doesn’t mean getting ahead of things and investing this week.

Looking for starting/sitting tips for other players in your lineup? Read our cheat sheet of Week 18 fantasy starting sit advice for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.

Jalen Coker’s Week 18 Fantasy Points Prediction

As of Sunday, Coker is projected to score 11.2 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 2.2 receptions for 66.3 yards and 0.4 touchdowns.

Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer this week for the latest predictions and advice for your lineups.

PFN insight into the Falcons’ defense

This unit would rank much higher if it could compete against the Raiders and Giants every week. These cupcake offenses led the Falcons to two of their top four marks this season, but things went downhill again with the overtime loss to Washington in Week 17.

Atlanta posted a grade of 70.9 (C-), the seventh-worst of the year for the team. The defense had a particularly difficult time containing Jayden Daniels’ scramble, posting a -7.91 overall EPA on scrambles, the fifth-highest number allowed on scrambles by a defense all season.

Atlanta’s increasing pass rush took advantage of the Commanders’ injury-depleted offensive line and recorded five more sacks. The Falcons have the highest sack rate in the NFL (11.2%) since Week 13 after ranking last in that category through the first 12 weeks.

Unfortunately, the rest of the unit is still lacking, which is typically noticeable in better offenses. That came to fruition in Washington and could cost the Falcons the division.

For more insight into all other team defenses, check out our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.

Jalen Coker’s fantasy rankings

Below are our weekly consensus PPR rankings – both position-wise and overall. They were last updated on Sunday, January 5th at 7:00 a.m. ET. If you play in a Superflex league, be sure to check out our Week 18 Consensus Superflex Rankings.

Week 18 WR PPR Rankings

1) Ja’Marr Chase | CIN (at PIT)
2) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (vs. MIN)
3) Justin Jefferson | MIN (at DET)
4) Mike Evans | TB (vs. NO)
5) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (at IND)
6) Drake London | ATL (vs CAR)
7) Ladd McConkey | LAC (at LV)
8) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at LAR)
9) Terry McLaurin | WHAT (at DAL)
10) Malik Nabers | NYG (at PHI)
11) Tea Higgins | CIN (at PIT)
12) George Pickens | PIT (vs. CIN)
13) Davante Adams | NYJ (vs MIA)
14) Courtland Sutton | DEN (vs. KC)
15) Jauan Jennings | SF (at ARI)
16) Jordan Addison | MIN (at DET)
17) DJ Moore | CHI (at UK)
18) Nico Collins | HOU (at TEN)
19) Zay Flowers | BAL (vs CLE)
20) Tyreek Hill | MIA (at NYJ)
21) Jameson Williams | DET (vs. MIN)
22) Jalen McMillan | TB (vs. NO)
23) Calvin Ridley | TEN (vs. HOU)
24) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (vs MIA)
25) DK Metcalf | SEA (at LAR)
26) Adam Thielen | CAR (at ATL)
27) Keenan Allen | CHI (at GB)
28) Jakobi Meyers | LV (vs LAC)
29) Jayden Reed | GB (vs CHI)
30) Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI (compared to SF)
31) Josh Downs | IND (vs JAX)
32) Quentin Johnston | LAC (at LV)
33) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (at NYJ)
34) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (vs JAX)
35) Romeo Doubs | GB (vs CHI)
36) Darnell Mooney | ATL (vs CAR)
37) Jerry Jeudy | CLE (at BAL)
38) Khalil Shakir | BUF (at NE)
39) Rashod Bateman | BAL (vs CLE)
40) Rome Odunze | CHI (at UK)
41) DeMario Douglas | NE (vs. BUF)
42) Wan’Dale Robinson | NYG (at PHI)
43) Jalen Coker | CAR (at ATL)
44) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (vs CHI)
45) Xavier Worthy | KC (at DEN)
46) Olamide Zacchaeus | WHAT (at DAL)
47) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (at DEN)
48) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (vs. HOU)
49) Hollywood Brown | KC (at DEN)
50) Amari Cooper | BUF (at NE)
51) Brandin Cooks | DAL (vs. WAS)
52) Parker Washington | JAX (at IND)
53) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (vs. KC)
54) Tim Patrick | DET (vs. MIN)
55) Kayshon Boutte | NE (vs. BUF)
56) Ray Ray McCloud III | ATL (vs CAR)
57) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | BUF (at NE)
58) Devaughn Vele | DEN (vs. KC)
59) Andrei Iosivas | CIN (at PIT)
60) Calvin Austin III | PIT (vs. CIN)
61) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (vs. WAS)
62) Ricky Pearsall | SF (at ARI)
63) Michael Wilson | ARI (compared to SF)
64) Joshua Palmer | LAC (at LV)
65) Keon Coleman | BUF (at NE)
66) Tre Tucker | LV (vs LAC)
67) Jalen Nailor | MIN (at DET)
68) Elijah Moore | CLE (at BAL)
69) Jamison Crowder | WHAT (at DAL)
70) Xavier Legette | CAR (at ATL)
71) Kendrick Bourne | NE (vs. BUF)
72) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (vs. WAS)
73) David Moore | CAR (at ATL)
74) Adonai Mitchell | IND (vs JAX)
75) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (vs SEA)
76) Mike Williams | PIT (vs. CIN)
77) Malik Washington | MIA (at NYJ)
78) Alec Pierce | IND (vs JAX)
79) Allen Lazard | NYJ (vs MIA)
80) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at LAR)
81) John Metchie III | HOU (at TEN)
82) Robert Woods | HOU (at TEN)
83) Darius Slayton | NYG (at PHI)
84) Van Jefferson | PIT (vs. CIN)
85) Troy Franklin | DEN (vs. KC)
86) Mack Hollins | BUF (at NE)
87) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs SEA)
88) Kevin Austin Jr. | NO (at TB)
89) Dante Pettis | CHI (at GB)
90) Luke McCaffrey | WHAT (at DAL)
91) Xavier Hutchinson | HOU (at TEN)
92) Ryan Miller | TB (vs. NO)
93) Greg Dortch | ARI (compared to SF)
94) Lil’ Jordan Humphrey | DEN (vs. KC)
95) DJ Chark | LAC (at LV)
96) Michael Woods II | CLE (at BAL)
97) Cedrick Wilson Jr. | NO (at TB)
98) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (at DEN)
99) Devin Duvernay | JAX (at IND)
100) Justin Watson | KC (at DEN)
101) Tylan Wallace | BAL (vs CLE)
102) Jahan Dotson | PHI (vs. NYG)
103) Josh Reynolds | DEN (vs. KC)
104) Ryan Flournoy | DAL (vs. WAS)
105) Trey Palmer | TB (vs. NO)

Panthers at Falcons trends and insights

Carolina Panthers

Team: The Panthers have lost at least a dozen games in three of the last four seasons, doubling the number of such seasons in franchise history (the extended regular season helps, but a loss next week would put this team behind). -Back seasons with four wins, and previously they had only three such seasons).

QB: Bryce Young has thrown multiple touchdown passes without an interception in consecutive games, a game he previously had on his NFL resume.

Attack: Carolina hasn’t committed a turnover in consecutive games, doubling its season total.

Defense: In Weeks 1-15, opponents averaged 34.6 yards per drive against the Panthers – on Sunday, the Buccaneers averaged 61.8 yards per drive.

Fantasy: The Adam Thielen experience has been unique over the past two seasons, with two hot streaks (11 games) and otherwise subpar production (16 games):

• Hot Streaks: 21.4 PPG, 25.5% above expectations
• Otherwise: 8.4 PPG, 9.9% below expectations

Betting: Overpaid tickets have been cashed in five of Carolina’s last six games.

Atlanta Falcons

Team: The Falcons scored 24 points and lost Sunday night, ending an eight-game winning streak when they scored at least 22 points.

QB: Atlanta has thrown an interception in seven straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL and the team’s longest streak since the start of the 2003 season of eight straight games.

Attack: Bijan Robinson has four games with multiple rushing TDs this season, which is the most in a single season in Falcons history (1973 Eddie Ray, 1984 Gerald Riggs and 2008 Michael Turner).

Defense: Sunday marked the seventh time this season that the Falcons conceded points on at least half of their opponents’ drives.

Fantasy: It’s a small sample, but the scope for Bijan Robinson under Michael Penix Jr. has increased:

• Desmond Ridder under center: 2.71 yards per carry before contact
• Kirk Cousins ​​under center: 2.99 yards per carry before contact
• Penix under center: 3.13 yards per carry before contact

Betting: Atlanta’s 36-30 Week 5 win over Tampa Bay (36-30) eclipsed the point total of 44 – their last four home games were all under the final score.