Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
One-week plays
QB Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (56% available)
With most teams locked into the playoffs by now, it’s difficult finding meaningful games. The Steelers, however, are still vying for the division title. Though he failed to throw a touchdown pass against Kansas City last week, the matchup in Week 18 is far more favorable. Wilson draws the Cincinnati Bengals, a defense allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game (19.1) to opposing quarterbacks this season. Wilson was the QB2 in Week 13 when he threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns against Cincinnati.
FAAB: 40%
QB Carson Wentz, Kansas City Chiefs (100% available)
The Chiefs have already locked up everything as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and it’s already been announced they will rest their starters. Wentz hasn’t played meaningful snaps since Week 18 of the 2023 — he was the QB2 by the way — and he draws a tough matchup against a Denver Broncos defense that needs a win to reach the playoffs. Still, Andy Reid’s offense may be enough to trust here as a dart throw in the regular-season finale.
FAAB: 20%
QB Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts (94% available)
This one depends on whether Anthony Richardson (back, foot) plays in Week 18. The Colts have nothing to play for now that they’ve been eliminated, so they may not want to risk further injury to their already injury-prone starting quarterback. Flacco is a decent option if he plays against the Jacksonville Jaguars to end the season. He torched the Jacksonville defense in Week 5, finishing as the QB4 on the week with 359 yards and three touchdowns. This very well could be his final game so he may be in a position to go out with a bang.
FAAB: 10%
RB Ameer Abdullah, Las Vegas Raiders (65% available)
Abdullah has been a major surprise during the last two months, averaging 11.7 fantasy points per game over his last seven contests. He’s coming off a season-high 24 opportunities, which included 20 carries for 115 rushing yards. The Los Angeles Chargers clinched a playoff berth but still have a path to be the No. 5 seed in the playoffs, so it’s likely they are playing their starters. The Chargers have been far more susceptible against running backs over the last month or so, which means Abdullah is in line for potential RB2 value in Week 18.
FAAB: 50%
RB Khalil Herbert, Cincinnati Bengals (93% available)
Chase Brown suffered a high-ankle sprain during the fourth quarter of last week’s game, which means Herbert would be in line to start the regular-season finale. Though there’s a chance Brown makes it back in time, he may be severely limited if he plays. Herbert hasn’t done much this season, and the matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers isn’t ideal. However, he would be the lead back in an elite offense, so he would have RB2 value if Brown is out.
FAAB: 40%
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles (94% available)
This is a tough call because it’s unclear how much run the Eagles will give Saquon Barkley. Though they are no longer in the running for the No. 1 in the NFC, Barkley is 105 rushing yards away from the record. That means Barkley could dominate the touches again in another revenge game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Still, the Eagles could limit his workload, especially if they jump out to an early lead or if they simply want to play it safe. Gainwell could be a nice sleeper this week.
FAAB: 20%
RB Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens (99% available)
With Justice Hill (concussion) inactive last week, the second-year back finally saw some extended run during the blowout win on Christmas Day. Mitchell gained only 20 rushing yards on 11 attempts, but he did add a 28-yard reception on his lone target. It was the first time this season he saw work on offense. If Hill is out again, Mitchell could be in line for more mop-up duty against the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens can take the division with a win, and they have the first game of the week so the starters will play. But they can get by against Cleveland with a limited Derrick Henry. If Hill returns, though, it’s a tougher play.
FAAB: 5%
WR Marquise Brown, Kansas City Chiefs (68% available)
The Chiefs may be sitting their starters in Week 18, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Brown still got some work. Risking another injury in a meaningless game is a difficult call, but Brown is still working his way back from a preseason injury that kept him out all the way until Week 16. He increased to 40% of the snaps and has seen 15 targets in his two games played, but the Chiefs may want to get him more work before the playoffs. At the very least, monitor the news throughout the week to see whether the Chiefs make a decision on his status.
FAAB: 50%
WR Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos (97% available)
We have been calling out Mims over the last few weeks as a potential dart throw, and it’s no different in Week 18. The second-year wideout has played a season-high 47% of the snaps in each of the last two games, and he’s averaged 63.8 receiving yards per game over his last six. Primarily a deep threat, Mims is an intriguing dart throw as the Broncos hope to lock up a playoff spot with a win.
FAAB: 20%
WR Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (86% available)
The Colts are out of it, but they need to end the season on a high note after an utterly epic defeat against the New York Giants. They host the Jaguars at home, and they’ve been a fantastic matchup for wideouts. Pierce has been volatile this season but if Flacco is under center, the third-year wideout could explode again coming off a 6-122-1 receiving line. The last time Pierce played Jacksonville in Week 6 — with Flacco starting — he posted a 3-144-1 line and finished as the WR8 on the week.
FAAB: 10%
TE Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (88% available)
The tight end position remains a crapshoot, but Johnson is coming off a six-catch, 66-yard performance on 10 targets. Chris Olave (concussion) could be back to end the season, but that seems improbable with nothing at stake. Even so, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been one of the best matchups for tight ends this season, allowing the fourth-most receiving yards per game (63.9) to the position this season.
FAAB: 10%
TE Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (79% available)
Though he’s garnered just three total targets in the two games combined since his TE4 finish in Week 15, Strange gets to take on the Colts defense. They’ve allowed the sixth-most receptions (6.0) and eighth-most receiving yards (57.7) per game to the position this season. This is a purely matchup-based play.
FAAB: 5%
Houston Texans D/ST at Tennessee Titans (58% available)
Tennessee enters the final week of the regular season tied as the best matchup for opposing defenses. The Texans might be resting their starters considering they’re locked into the No. 4 seed, but the Titans offense is struggling mightily regardless of who they play.
FAAB: 10%
Tampa Bay Buccaneers D/ST vs. New Orleans Saints (55% available)
The Bucs need a win or an Atlanta Falcons loss to clinch the NFC South and the No. 4 seed — and vice versa for Atlanta. However, both teams play at the same time in Week 18, so they’ll be playing their starters. The last time Tampa Bay played against Spencer Rattler in Week 6, they recorded five sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. They should be in a good spot again to end the season.
FAAB: 10%
PK Riley Patterson, Atlanta Falcons (99% available)
Patterson has missed two field-goal attempts in his three games with Atlanta as Younghoe Koo‘s replacement. Still, he’s a solid play against a Panthers team that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to the kicker position this season.
FAAB: 1%
PK Daniel Carlson, Las Vegas Raiders (89% available)
Carlson has missed six field-goal attempts this season, but he still ranks fifth in field-goal attempts and sixth in field-goals made. He’s a solid play in what should be a competitive game against the Chargers at home.
FAAB: 1%
