The NFL regular season is finally in the rearview, and honestly, Week 18 felt like a fever dream. Between the frantic clinching scenarios and the "meaningless" games that turned out to be absolute dogfights, the league just handed out its final NFL Players of the Week honors for the 2025-2026 regular season. If you weren't paying attention because your team was already out of it, you missed some of the most statistically absurd performances of the year.
We saw a veteran quarterback basically wrap his hands around the MVP trophy and a running back who looked like he was playing against a high school JV squad. The league announced these on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, and the names on the list tell you everything you need to know about who’s hot heading into the Divisional Round.
The Offensive Juggernauts: Stafford and Stevenson
Look, Matthew Stafford is 37. At this point in his career, he’s supposed to be "managing" games, right? Wrong. The Los Angeles Rams quarterback went out and systematically dismantled the Arizona Cardinals in a 37-20 win. He didn't just win; he finished the year as the NFL's passing leader with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns. Think about that for a second. That is 12 more touchdowns than Jared Goff and 15 more than the AFC leader, Drake Maye.
Stafford’s Week 18 stat line was clean: 25-of-40 for 259 yards, four scores, and zero picks. It earned him the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, his first since 2021. For a guy who missed training camp with a degenerative back condition, this season is nothing short of legendary.
Over in the AFC, Rhamondre Stevenson was busy turning the Miami Dolphins' defense into a collection of orange and teal traffic cones. The New England Patriots pounded Miami 38-10, and Stevenson was the hammer. He put up 153 scrimmage yards—131 on the ground and 22 in the air—with three total touchdowns. It was his first-ever Player of the Week honor in five seasons. It’s wild that it took this long, but he’s arguably the most important piece of that Patriots offense right now.
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Defensive Masters and the "Pick-Six" King
Defense in Week 18 usually gets a bit messy with starters resting, but Devin Bush didn't get the memo. The Cleveland Browns linebacker had the game of his life against the Bengals. He racked up 14 tackles and a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown. That’s not a typo. 97 yards.
Bush ended the season leading the NFL with two pick-sixes. He’s found a second life in Cleveland that nobody saw coming after his stint in Pittsburgh and Seattle.
Then you have Bobby Okereke of the New York Giants. The Giants' season was, to put it mildly, a struggle. But they finished with a win over Dallas, and Okereke was everywhere. Six tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery. It was a "pro's pro" type of performance that earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Week 18 NFL Players of the Week at a Glance
- AFC Offensive: Rhamondre Stevenson (RB, Patriots) - 153 total yards, 3 TDs.
- NFC Offensive: Matthew Stafford (QB, Rams) - 4 TDs, 114.5 passer rating.
- AFC Defensive: Devin Bush (LB, Browns) - 14 tackles, 97-yard INT return TD.
- NFC Defensive: Bobby Okereke (LB, Giants) - INT, FR, 6 tackles.
- AFC Special Teams: Ka'imi Fairbairn (K, Texans) - Perfect on the day.
- NFC Special Teams: Zane Gonzalez (K, Commanders) - Clutch performance in the finale.
Why These Weekly Awards Actually Matter for Your Bracket
You might think these awards are just participation trophies for the elite. They aren't. They are a massive indicator of momentum. Take the Wild Card round that just wrapped up. Josh Allen was PFF’s Offensive Player of the Week for his demolition of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He carried that Week 18 energy straight into the postseason.
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The same goes for Christian McCaffrey. He didn't win the weekly award in the final week because the 49ers were playing it safe, but his "Bart Starr Award" for character—voted on by his peers—shows the respect he carries into the locker room. When you see a guy like Kenneth Walker III winning "LFG Player of the Game" honors in the Divisional win over the 49ers, it proves that the hot hand in January usually starts with a big performance in late December or early January.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Selection
Usually, fans think the NFL just looks at the box score and picks the guy with the most yards. That’s only half the story. The league looks at the weight of the plays. A 97-yard pick-six like Devin Bush's is worth more than a guy who gets two interceptions in a 40-point blowout.
There's also a "narrative" element. Matthew Stafford winning it wasn't just about the 4 TDs; it was the exclamation point on an MVP-caliber season. It’s a way for the league to validate the season-long storylines.
Real-World Impact: Fantasy and Beyond
If you’re still playing in those weird Week 18 fantasy leagues (why do you do that to yourself?), these players were league winners. But for the rest of us, it’s about the betting lines for the Super Bowl. The Rams and Patriots moved up significantly in the odds after their stars swept the weekly honors.
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It’s also about the money. Contracts often have "incentives" for these awards. While we don't always see the private deal structures, many players have "Pro Bowl/All-Pro/Player of the Week" escalators that can net them an extra $25,000 to $100,000. For a guy like Zane Gonzalez or Devin Bush, that’s a significant chunk of change.
Actionable Takeaways for the Remainder of the Season
If you are looking to stay ahead of the curve as we move toward the Super Bowl in San Francisco, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the Trenches: While Stafford gets the headlines, the Rams' offensive line didn't allow a sack in his Player of the Week performance. That’s the real reason they are dangerous.
- Health Over Hype: Notice how many of these winners were guys who stayed healthy all 18 weeks. Availability is the best ability this late in the year.
- Special Teams Matter: Don't sleep on Ka'imi Fairbairn. In the playoffs, games are won by three points. A Player of the Week kicker is a weapon most teams don't have.
The regular season is done, but the standard set by these Week 18 winners is exactly what it's going to take to lift the Lombardi Trophy in February. Keep an eye on the injury reports for the Divisional Round, especially for the Seahawks and Rams, as they rely heavily on these high-volume performers to carry the load.