5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 18

2. Tyrod Taylor, QB, New York Giants

2023 has become known as the year of the backup quarterback thanks to injuries to plenty of key stars. Things will get worse for quarterback play in Week 18 as Lamar Jackson, Brock Purdy, Patrick Mahomes and league-winning pickup Joe Flacco are all expected to get minimal work with their team's playoff fates already secured.

A lot of owners will be in the market for a viable streaming option on Sunday and the best one available figures to be New York Giants' starter Tyrod Taylor, who put up a strong effort against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Taylor was efficient against the Rams, completing 27-of-41 passes for 319 yards with a touchdown and an interception while adding 40 rushing yards on six carries.

The 300-yard performance was a season-best for Taylor, who reclaimed the Giants' starting job in Week 16 after supplanting Tommy Devito on Christmas Day. Taylor is a fun fantasy play because he is willing to take deep shots and can rack up rushing yards, offering massive blowup potential against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 18.

Philadelphia needs the game badly but struggled mightily with dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray on Sunday as the Cardinals' starter completed 25-of-31 passes for 232 yards with three touchdowns while adding 24 yards rushing on five carries. There is no question that Murray is more talented than Taylor, who is rostered in four percent of leagues, but Taylor offers a poor man's version of Murray's game and can be a solid streaming play for anyone in need of a quarterback in championship week.