2023 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 18: Zamir White & Joe Flacco Lead List of Free Agent Targets
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.
Player News
Sean Payton said that it is “too early” to project the running back depth chart.
Per ESPN’s Jeff Legwold, “Payton expects the depth chart to automatically reveal itself” during training camp, when all running backs on the roster are “going to get opportunities.” Reports immediately following J.K. Dobbins’ signing suggested the veteran back could snatch the starting role from rookie RJ Harvey. Legwold believes “Dobbins likely has the early advantage for the most snaps in the room because of his ability as a pass blocker and intelligence on third down,” but Payton’s comments indicate a true competition will take place next month.
Marquee Sports Network’s Scott Bair said Luther Burden “could make more of an impact than folks think during his rookie season.”
Bair was responding to a reader who asked whether the Bears are “in trouble” with Burden having missed so much of the offseason after landing on a football awkwardly. In short, Bair does not think so. Bair referred to Burden as “an X factor,” saying he “is still a dangerous weapon, one that can be impactful outside or in the slot.” While the slot role will provide Burden with opportunities to run routes against linebackers and safeties, mastering the perimeter role is key for fantasy purposes. He must be able to play in two-wide receiver sets in order for us to rely on him. Bair does note that “Johnson doesn’t reward those who don’t give effort during the week, so Burden must prove himself” as a consistent and hardworking practice participant.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Bengals rookies, EDGE Shemar Stewart and LB Demetrius Knight Jr., took issue with the protection language in the team’s training camp participation agreement.
Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, Pelissero explains that the Bengals’ training camp participation agreement “did not provide the same level of protection as [what] other teams give their rookies.” The protection language ensures “that you are taken care of financially,” if “something were to happen, injury or otherwise.” Knight, the Bengals’ second-round pick, and the front office agreed to a contract after Knight skipped the first training camp practice, which caused less of an issue than Stewart’s ongoing saga has. Aside from the participation agreement language, Stewart also takes issue with the Bengals’ recent change in contract language. The team opted to bring their rookie contract language in line with the rest of the league, after constructing contracts uniquely in prior seasons.
Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said, Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson is not asking to reset the EDGE market as he seeks a contract extension, although that request could change.
Browns DE Myles Garrett, Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt and Hendrickson entered the offseason seeking contract extensions from their current teams. Only Garrett, who signed a record-setting deal, averaging $40 million annually while netting him $88.8 million fully guaranteed, received one. The three players range from 29-to-30 years old. Per Pelissero, Hendrickson has “not been asking [to be paid more than] Myles Garrett,” however, “if T.J. Watt, and Micah Parsons for that matter, outshoot Myles Garrett, then suddenly, I think [Hendrickson has] to have a little bit of a recalibration.” The longer the Bengals delay paying the NFL’s two-time-defending sack leader, the more money they may ultimately have to pay him.
Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said that contract length remains the lone issue preventing Micah Parsons and the Cowboys from agreeing to a contract extension.
Pelissero broke down the potential extension’s annual value, saying, Parsons “knows [exactly the] type of contract” that he is going to get because, “by Micah’s own words, he and Jerry Jones had, essentially, a handshake agreement on a deal months ago.” The issue is that Jones “is a believer in doing long-term deals,” lasting up to five or even six years. Pelissero stopped short of putting a number to Parsons’ desired contract length but noted that both Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb successfully negotiated four-year extensions with the Cowboys less than one year ago.
Giants RB Tyrone Tracy declined to call Russell Wilson the “leader of the pack,” saying Wilson and Jameis Winston “allow each other to lead in their own way.”
Tracy described Wilson simply as “Mr. Unlimited,” while referring to Winston as “the one that has the personality,” who "[connects] with everybody on the football team.” NFL’s Nick Shook acknowledges that “most expect Wilson to earn the job and trot out onto the field as the team’s starter in Week 1,” but Tracy’s commentary reflects an apparent lack of buy-in from Wilson’s teammates. Though it is reasonable to expect rookie Jaxson Dart to get the starting nod at some point this season, we may see Winston on the field before then.