For most of us, the fantasy season is over. We put in the work, crushed it on the waiver wire, and came away with championships! For some of us, however, we continue to play on into Week 18 and although we can see the finish line, we’re not there yet. This week came with its fair share of injuries, as Alvin Kamara suffered an ankle injury, Christian McCaffrey suffered a calf injury, DeVonta Smith suffered an ankle sprain, and of course, there were a couple of quarterbacks who were banged up. 

At this point in the season, even if you haven’t been affected by injuries, you need to trim the fat from your roster and pick up the guys who will be useful to you as well as playing a little bit of defense. Pick guys up to block your opponent so that they can’t use them against you because, let me tell you, that’s the worst. Can you taste the victory? We’re oh so close, y’all!

 

Waiver Wire Quarterbacks

Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns

(Available in 83% of ESPN leagues, 66% of Yahoo leagues, and 63% of Sleeper leagues)

FAAB Bid:  5-10%

If there were any doubts as to whether or not Flacco still has it, those were put to rest on Thursday night of last week. He threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns against the New York Jets formidable secondary and scored 23.7 fantasy points, good for QB5 on the week. They’ve already got their playoff spot locked up, but they are facing off against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18, so we don’t know if he’ll sit or not. Have a backup plan just in case.

Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants 

(Available in 98% of ESPN leagues, 96% of Yahoo leagues, and 93% of Sleeper leagues)

FAAB Bid: 5-10%

After coming back in for Tommy DeVito, Tyrod Taylor has looked very good. Last week against the Los Angeles Rams, he threw for 319 yards and one touchdown while adding on another 40 yards to his stat line with his legs. The Giants get a matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles this week, and we know how susceptible they are to the quarterback position after giving up 24.7 points to Kyler Murray this past week. If Taylor can have another similar performance, he’s one of the best options as a whole in Week 18.

Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens 

(Available in 100% of ESPN leagues, 100% of Yahoo leagues, and 100% of Sleeper leagues)

FAAB Bid: 5-8%

The Baltimore Ravens absolutely beat up the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, locking up the number one seed in the AFC, so they have nothing left to play for. With that, they should sit their starters, opening up the door for Tyler Huntley to get the start. We’ve seen Huntley in relief of Lamar Jackson before, and he’s put up decent numbers, especially with his dual threat ability. The Pittsburgh Steelers came up against the Seattle Seahawks last week, but they have been hit or miss this season against quarterbacks, so it should set Huntley up for a good day.

Waiver Wire Running Backs

Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers 

(Available in 87% of ESPN leagues, 87% of Yahoo leagues, and 81% of Sleeper leagues)

FAAB Bid: 15-20%

With Christian McCaffrey already being ruled out, the workload now falls on Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason. We know they’re likely resting their starters, but whether that includes Mitchell or not we don’t yet know. However, in relief of McCaffrey last week, he put up 80 yards and a touchdown, so if he does go, he should be set up for a big day against the Los Angeles Rams who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to the running back position. Keep your eye on Mason as well in case Mitchell gets to rest.

Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears 

(Available in 51% of ESPN leagues, 47% of Yahoo leagues, and 49% of Sleeper leagues)

FAAB Bid: 15-20%

This Chicago backfield has had its issues for fantasy as far as playing the “wrong” running back in this rotation, but right now, it looks like Khalil Herbert is the guy. He’s had back-to-back games of over 100 rushing yards and a touchdown, and in Week 18, they get the Green Bay Packers who have allowed the third-most rushing yards per game. If Herbert continues to see a similar workload, he should be in line for another great week.

Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens 

(Available in 83% of ESPN leagues, 81% of Yahoo leagues, and 79% of Sleeper leagues)

FAAB Bid: 12-15%

With Baltimore likely resting the majority of their starters, Justice Hill should get the nod in the backfield. Much like Elijah Mitchell, we don’t yet know for sure, so you should also keep an eye on Melvin Gordon, but what Hill did last week was impressive. He didn’t carry the ball a ton, but he was the main receiving back, catching all five of his targets for 64 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers have been good against running back receptions, but if he gets the workload, he should have added value in the run game.

Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders 

(Available in 56% of ESPN leagues, 40% of Yahoo leagues, and 43% of Sleeper leagues)  

FAAB Bid: 15-20%

Josh Jacobs’ status is still up in the air, and with that, we’re still looking at Zamir White. He had over 100 scrimmage yards in Week 17, and although he didn’t score a touchdown, he still finished as RB16 in PPR formats. The Las Vegas Raiders have a great matchup this week against the Denver Broncos, a team that is allowing the second-most rushing yards per game, so if Jacobs is still out, White should be in your lineup.

Waiver Wire Wide Receivers

Darius Slayton, New York Giants 

(Available in 97% of ESPN leagues, 97% of Yahoo leagues, and 94% of Sleeper leagues)

FAAB Bid: 12-15%

Tyrod Taylor has turned Darius Slayton into a fantasy-viable receiver once again. In Week 17, Slayton saw six targets, which he turned into four catches, 104 yards, and a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams. As we mentioned with Taylor, the Giants get a date with the Philadelphia Eagles next week, who also allow the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Slayton is set up for a huge day, just in time for your fantasy championship.

Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals 

(Available in 97% of ESPN leagues, 93% of Yahoo leagues, and 87% of Yahoo leagues)

FAAB Bid: 12-15%

Although it was Michael Wilson who scored the touchdown last week, Greg Dortch was the leading receiver in the absence of Marquise Brown. He had seven receptions for 82 yards, and it was clear that he still had the chemistry with Kyler Murray the two developed last year. The Cardinals don’t have anything to play for, but that didn’t stop them from defeating the Philadelphia Eagles last week, and they’ll be riding that high against the Seattle Seahawks this week. Dortch has massive flex appeal.

Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams

(Available in 89% of ESPN leagues, 72% of Yahoo leagues, and 69% of Sleeper leagues)

FAAB Bid: 12-15%

Although he didn’t score a touchdown last week, breaking his streak of four consecutive weeks with a score, he still finished as WR29 in PPR formats with 13.7 fantasy points. He’s been an integral part of this offense, and if they get to face the San Francisco 49ers minus their starters, his position gets even better. He’s a consistent and safe option, which is more than you can say about a lot of the options available on waivers at this point of the year.

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers

(Available in 58% of ESPN leagues, 40% of Yahoo leagues, and 36% of Sleeper leagues)

FAAB Bid: 8-10%

With Jayden Reed suffering another (or aggravating an existing) chest injury, his status for Week 18 is doubtful. Christian Watson is still dealing with an injury, so in their absence, Romeo Doubs becomes the number one receiver in this offense. The game against the Minnesota Vikings was pretty much out of hand early, but Doubs still saw six targets even if the box score doesn’t reflect a great game. In deeper leagues or those on Sleeper, look at Bo Melton as well.

Waiver Wire Tight Ends

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers 

(Available in 87% of ESPN leagues, 80% of Yahoo leagues, and 72% of Sleeper leagues)

FAAB Bid: 8-10%

Let’s stick with the Packers here and go with Tucker Kraft. Much for the same reason I like Doubs, I like Kraft. In Sunday night’s game, he caught all six of his targets for 48 yards, good enough to come in as the TE12 on the week in PPR formats. Luke Musgrave may be coming back in the coming weeks, so check on that availability, but until then, Kraft is the guy.

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints 

(Available in 81% of ESPN leagues, 85% of Yahoo leagues, and 85% of Sleeper leagues)

FAAB Bid: 5-8%

It wasn’t Chris Olave, it wasn’t Rashid Shaheed, it was Juwan Johnson scoring touchdowns for the New Orleans Saints last week. He saw 12 targets, catching eight of them for 90 yards and a touchdown, and this week, they get a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. While they look good in terms of DVOA, they have given up the tenth-most fantasy points to the tight end position, so it could be another good week for Johnson.