Week 18 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Players to add for the final week of the season
Here's who you should be targeting ahead of Week 18 matchups
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4 min read
Even though it's Week 18 and most Fantasy leagues have ended, we still have you covered with our usual content for those of you brave enough to hold your championship in this scoring period. So you'll still get the waiver wire and Start 'Em & Sit 'Em as always.
The tricky part for Week 18 is trying to figure out who will play, starting with the playoff teams. The Chargers are opting to rest their starters, and Green Bay will likely do the same since the Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed in the NFC.
The Rams could also opt to rest players in Week 18 unless they want the No. 5 seed. That wild-card spot should actually be coveted because it's a playoff game at either Carolina or Tampa Bay instead of a potential game at Chicago or Philadelphia.
There's always the chance the Bears and Eagles could rest players if they don't care about getting the No. 2 seed. But, as of Monday, we expect their starters to play.
Otherwise, Seattle and San Francisco face off for the NFC West title and No. 1 seed in the NFC. And the Panthers and Buccaneers have an important game with the NFC South title on the line.
In the AFC, Denver and New England are still fighting for the No. 1 seed, while Jacksonville is trying to hold off Houston for the AFC South title. And the AFC North is still up for grabs between Pittsburgh and Baltimore, with those two teams facing off Sunday night.
The Bills could also opt to rest players in Week 18, especially with Josh Allen (foot) not 100 percent. We'll see if we can get any updates on Buffalo and all the other playoff teams as the week goes on.
For the non-playoff teams, we don't know who will be resting players, but we'll keep you updated throughout the week. As of Monday, don't plan on anyone dealing with any lingering injuries to play.
There are a lot of moving parts in Week 18, which is why we don't recommend holding your Fantasy championship in this scoring period. But several leagues are still going on this week, and we'll have you prepared as best as we can.
Editor's note: For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 65 percent of CBS Sports leagues.
Week 18 Waivers
WAIVER WIRE
Quarterbacks
Injuries: Josh Allen (foot), Lamar Jackson (back), Jordan Love (concussion), Malik Willis (shoulder), Jayden Daniels (elbow), Marcus Mariota (hand), Geno Smith (ankle), J.J. McCarthy (hand), Gardner Minshew (knee) and Anthony Richardson (eye).
Check to see if available in shallow leagues: C.J. Stroud (80 percent rostered). Stroud only scored 9.1 Fantasy points at the Colts in Week 13, but he's worth a look in deeper leagues in the rematch at home in Week 18. He has multiple touchdowns in two of his past three games overall, and Indianapolis has allowed at least 23.1 Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in two of its past three games.
Add in this order:
Week 18 Waiver Priority List
Shough is on fire heading into Week 18 with at least 19.1 Fantasy points in five games in a row and in six of his past seven outings. The one game where he failed to reach that total was in Week 12 against Atlanta, but I would start him in all leagues against the Falcons in the rematch. Shough has consecutive games of at least 300 passing yards, and Atlanta has allowed three of the past four quarterbacks prior to Week 17 to score at least 23.2 Fantasy points.
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Young was miserable in Week 17 against Seattle with 54 passing yards, no touchdowns and an interception, and he ran for 27 yards and a touchdown for 8.9 Fantasy points. But in Week 16 against Tampa Bay, Young scored 21.6 Fantasy points, and he could reach that level of production again in the rematch. Eight quarterbacks in a row have scored at least 19.8 Fantasy points against the Buccaneers, and Young is worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues.
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Ward only scored 6.3 Fantasy points against Jacksonville in Week 13, but he's played much better since then. Ward has two touchdown passes in each of his past four games, and he has scored at least 19 Fantasy points in three outings in a row against San Francisco, Kansas City and New Orleans. The Jaguars aren't an easy matchup, but Ward is worth a look if you need a starter in deeper leagues in Week 18.
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WAIVER WIRE
Running Backs
Injuries: Breece Hall (knee), Javonte Williams (shoulder), Blake Corum (ankle), Kimani Vidal (neck), Alvin Kamara (knee), Jordan Mason (ankle), Chris Rodriguez (illness), Bhayshul Tuten (finger), Isaiah Davis (concussion) and Raheem Mostert (ankle).
Add in this order:
Week 18 Waiver Priority List
Javonte Williams (shoulder) left the Week 17 game at Washington, and it would be a surprise if he played in Week 18 at the Giants. If Williams is out then Davis has the chance to be a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. Against the Commanders, Davis had 20 carries for 103 yards and no catches on two targets. The Giants are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Davis could be a great fill-in running back in all formats if Williams is out.
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Sampson returned from a two-game absence with a hand injury in Week 17 against Pittsburgh and led the Browns with 11 carries for 27 yards and three catches for no yards on three targets. With Quinshon Judkins (ankle) out, Sampson should again be the best running back for Cleveland in a much better matchup at Cincinnati. In Week 1 against the Bengals, Sampson had 12 carries for 29 yards and eight catches for 64 yards on eight targets. His role in the passing game should improve in Week 18, and Sampson is worth using as at least a high-end flex in PPR.
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It would be a surprise if Josh Jacobs played in Week 18 at Minnesota since the Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed in the NFC. That should give Wilson the chance to be the lead running back in Green Bay, and we already saw him in this matchup with the Vikings in Week 12 when Jacobs was out due to injury. Wilson had 28 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns and two catches for 18 yards on two targets. I wouldn't expect that level of production again, especially since the Packers will likely be cautious with several starters, but Wilson is worth using as at least a flex option in all leagues if he starts in Week 18.
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I'm not expecting the Bills to play their starters much in Week 18 against the Jets, which would likely give Davis the chance for a featured role if James Cook is out. And the matchup is great since the Jets have allowed eight running backs to score at least 13.5 PPR points in their past seven games. Keep an eye on reports out of Buffalo this week, but Davis could be worth using as a high-end flex in all leagues if Cook doesn't play the entire game in Week 18.
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Estime was the No. 1 running back for the Saints in Week 17 at Tennessee, and he played well with 14 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 4 yards on one target. He should again lead the New Orleans backfield if Alvin Kamara (knee) remains out in Week 18 at Atlanta, and I like Estime as a flex option in all leagues in that matchup.
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I don't love the matchup for Croskey-Merritt in Week 18 at Philadelphia, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness) can play this week after sitting out Week 17 against Dallas. But Croskey-Merritt has scored four touchdowns in his past three games, including Week 16 against the Eagles. He also has two outings over that span with at least 11 carries, and he ran for at least 96 yards both times. Now, he hasn't caught a pass since Week 11, and Rodriguez can easily take away a good portion of the work. But given how Croskey-Merritt has performed lately, he's worth using as a flex option in Week 18.
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WAIVER WIRE
Wide Receivers
Injuries: Amon-Ra St. Brown (undisclosed), Davante Adams (hamstring), Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel), Rome Odunze (foot), Luther Burden III (quadriceps), Kayshon Boutte (concussion), Rashid Shaheed (concussion), Calvin Austin III (hamstring), Ryan Flournoy (knee) and Pat Bryant (concussion).
Check to see if available in shallow leagues: Ricky Pearsall (70 percent rostered) and Jayden Higgins (70 percent). Pearsall returned from a one-game absence due to injury in Week 17 against Chicago and had five catches for 85 yards on eight targets. He has now scored at least 13.5 PPR points in each of his past two games, with 15 targets over that span, and he's worth using as a borderline No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues in Week 18 against Seattle. He had four catches for 108 yards on seven targets against the Seahawks in Week 1. ... Higgins had two catches for 88 yards and a touchdown on four targets in Week 17 at the Chargers, and he's worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues in Week 18 against the Colts. In Week 13 at Indianapolis, Higgins had five catches for 65 yards on five targets.
Add in this order:
Week 18 Waiver Priority List
Burden (quadriceps) is expected to play in Week 18 against Detroit after getting hurt on the final play in Week 17 at San Francisco, and he should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues against the Lions, especially if Rome Odunze (foot) remains out. Burden was a star against the 49ers with eight catches for 138 yards and a touchdown on nine targets, and he now has at least 14.4 PPR points in each of his past two games. This is also a great matchup in Week 18 since Detroit is No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers.
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Washington is on fire heading into Week 18 against Tennessee with 14 catches for 260 yards and a touchdown on 20 targets in his past two games against Denver and Indianapolis, and he scored at least 19 PPR points in each outing. The Titans are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Washington is worth using as a borderline No. 2 Fantasy option in all leagues in Week 18.
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Dike had a decent game in Week 17 against New Orleans with four catches for 55 yards on five targets, and he has now scored at least 10.2 PPR points in four of his past six games, with three touchdowns over that span. He faces Jacksonville in Week 18, and the Jaguars have allowed six receivers to score at least 10.6 PPR points in their past four games. Dike is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in deeper leagues. And the same goes for Elic Ayomanor, who scored 13.7 PPR points in Week 17 against the Saints. Ayomanor has seven catches for 95 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets in his past two games.
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McMillan had a huge game in Week 17 at Miami with seven catches for 114 yards on nine targets. He only managed two catches for 15 yards on three targets in Week 16 at Carolina, and the Buccaneers are fully healthy at receiver with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka. But Baker Mayfield was leaning on McMillan against the Dolphins, and the same thing could happen in Week 18 against the Panthers. He's worth a look in deeper leagues as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver.
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We'll see if Kayshon Boutte (concussion) will play in Week 18 against Miami, but if he's out again then Williams is worth a look in deeper leagues as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver. Boutte was out in Week 17 at the Jets, and Williams tied for second on the team in targets with five in a game where the Patriots only attempted 25 passes. Williams only had three catches for 20 yards in Week 17, but he is a big-play threat in a favorable matchup. The Dolphins have allowed five receivers to score at least 12.1 PPR points in their past two games.
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WAIVER WIRE
Tight End
Injuries: George Kittle (ankle), Jake Ferguson (calf), Brock Bowers (knee), Harold Fannin Jr. (groin), Dalton Kincaid (knee), Theo Johnson (illness), David Njoku (knee), Mason Taylor (neck), Darnell Washington (forearm), Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) and Sam LaPorta (back).
Check to see if available in shallow leagues: Juwan Johnson (76 percent rostered), Colston Loveland (74 percent), Dalton Schultz (70 percent) and Brenton Strange (69 percent). Johnson has scored at least 13.5 PPR points in each of his past two games against the Jets and Titans, and he has 12 catches for 184 yards on 13 targets over that span. He faces Atlanta in Week 18, and he scored 10.6 PPR points against the Falcons in Week 13. ... Loveland was a star in Week 17 at San Francisco with six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets, and he has now scored at least 10.1 PPR points in three of his past four games. ... Schultz had a down game in Week 17 at the Chargers with three catches for 19 yards on four targets, but he should rebound in Week 19 against the Colts. He had seven catches for 55 yards on eight targets at Indianapolis in Week 13. ... Strange had a solid outing in Week 17 at Indianapolis with three catches for 54 yards on five targets, and he had three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown on four targets in Week 13 at Tennessee. He should be considered a low-end starter in all leagues in the rematch with the Titans in Week 18.
Add in this order:
Week 18 Waiver Priority List
George Kittle (ankle) was out in Week 17 against Chicago, and Tonges stepped up with seven catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on nine targets, If Kittle is out again in Week 18 against Seattle then Tonges would be considered a No. 1 Fantasy tight end in all leagues. The Seahawks are No. 10 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, and Kittle and Tonges combined for seven catches for 40 yards and two touchdowns on seven targets at Seattle in Week 1.
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Brock Bowers (knee) was out in Week 17 against the Giants, and Mayer had a huge game with nine catches for 89 yards on 10 targets. Bowers is out for Week 18 against Kansas City, and the Raiders also will likely be without Geno Smith (ankle). Look for Kenny Pickett to lean on Mayer against the Chiefs, and he should be considered a low-end starter in all leagues in Week 18. Mayer has now scored at least 16 PPR points in two of three games that he has played without Bowers this season.
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Parkinson had a solid game in Week 17 at Atlanta with six catches for 53 yards on seven targets, and he's worth using as a low-end starter in Week 18 against Arizona, especially if Davante Adams (hamstring) remains out. Parkinson had three catches for 32 yards and a touchdown on five targets against the Cardinals in Week 14, and Arizona is No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends for the season.
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Barner is playing well coming into Week 18 at San Francisco, and he's worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues. Seattle could be without Rashid Shaheed (concussion) against the 49ers, and Barner has seven catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets in his past two games against the Rams and Panthers. San Francisco has also allowed three tight ends in the past four games to score at least 13.3 PPR points.
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Okonkwo is hot coming into Week 18 at Jacksonville with nine catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns on 15 targets in his past two games against Kansas City and New Orleans, and he scored at least 14.5 PPR points in each outing. He had four catches for 29 yards on five targets in Week 13 against the Jaguars, and Okonkwo is worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues in Week 18.
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DK Metcalf (suspended) is out again in Week 18 against Baltimore, and Darnell Washington (arm) will also miss the Ravens game. That puts Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith (10 percent rostered) in a big spot for the Steelers. In Week 17 at Cleveland, with Metcalf out, Freiermuth had three catches for 63 yards on five targets, and Smith had five catches for 18 yards on five targets. I like Freiermuth better than Smith, but both are worth using as low-end starters in all leagues.
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DST streamers
- Vikings (49 percent rostered) vs. GB
- Ravens (53 percent rostered) at PIT
- Bengals (9 percent rostered) vs. CLE
Kicker streamers
- Eddy Pineiro (59 percent rostered) vs. SEA
- Wil Lutz (53 percent rostered) vs. LAC
- Andres Borregales (46 percent rostered) vs. MIA
