Week 18 in the NFL can mean everything — and nothing — to a team. For some franchises — like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or New York Giants — there’s actually a lot on the line during the final week of the regular season. For others — like the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans — there’s not a ton at stake that is going to drastically change the team’s plans moving forward.
Because of that, teams treat the final week of the regular season much differently than every other week. A team that has already secured a postseason spot might opt to rest players, even if they can still move up or down in the seeding. A team that has no shot at the playoffs might opt to rest players too, not risking a catastrophic injury to a key star in a meaningless game.
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Now that the final week of the regular season has arrived, here are the key players who are sitting out in Week 18:
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are safely in the playoffs, though the team could see its seeding move quite a bit depending on what happens in Week 18. The Texans enter the week as the No. 5 seed in the AFC, though the team could move as high as No. 3 and as low as No. 7 based on what happens during the final week of the regular season.
Despite that, star wideout Nico Collins is not expected to play when the Texans take on the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Collins is not injured, and is considered a healthy scratch for the contest.
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The 26-year-old is coming off yet another strong season, in which he hauled in 71 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns. That performance earned Collins his second straight Pro Bowl nod.
Instead of pushing Collins for another week, the Texans will give the star some rest before the playoffs begin. After missing some time last season, Collins has stayed relatively healthy in 2025, missing just one game this season. Still, the Texans don’t want to take any chances with their star ahead of the postseason.
Betting impact: Despite Collins’ absence, there was no line movement on the contest.
De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
At 7-9, the Miami Dolphins have nothing to play for in Week 18. With the season essentially over, star running back De’Von Achane will reportedly sit out the final game of the regular season. He won’t be the only key player on the team to miss the contest against the New England Patriots, as wideout Jaylen Waddle is also expected to sit.
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It turned out to be an exceptional third season for Achane, who rushed for a career-high 1,350 yards and scored eight rushing touchdowns. He led the league in yards per attempt at 5.7.
Achane was also a threat as a receiver, gaining 488 yards through the air and scoring four receiving touchdowns. That performance earned him his first-ever trip to the Pro Bowl.
Given that there’s little on the line for the Dolphins in Week 18, the move was likely made to ensure Achane stays healthy heading into the offseason. The Dolphins are a team that could experience major change after Week 18, as head coach Mike McDaniel could be fired and former starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa could also be on his way out. That could make Achane the most important player on the team’s offense next season, which is a good reason to not risk a major injury in Week 18.
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Much like Achane, the Dolphins likely feel there’s no reason to risk one of their top offensive players in a meaningless game. Also like Achane, Waddle could be one of the most impactful offensive players on the team next season, especially if the Dolphins also move on from Tyreek Hill.
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Waddle finished his fifth NFL season with 910 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He hasn’t hit the highs he showed early in his career, but remains a strong player who could take a step forward if Hill is shipped out in the offseason.
Betting impact: With both Achane and Waddle expected to sit vs. the Patriots, the Dolphins’ line moved from +11.5 to +13.
This story will be updated.
