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
ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi reports Kenny Pickett “developed a strong on-field rapport” with Jerry Jeudy after training with the team’s top receiver this offseason.
At 27 years old, Pickett is the middle-aged member of the Browns’ four-person quarterback competition. Although he is perhaps the least discussed member of the bunch, Oyefusi notes, Pickett respectably went “14-10 as a starter in two seasons with the Steelers.” Developing rapport with the team’s top option could give Pickett an edge in training camp and the preseason, though Pickett is unlikely to produce even high-end QB2 results were he to win the starting job.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is expected to return to the scheme he ran early in his Cleveland tenure “with more under-center formations that utilize play-action.”
The Browns employed a 24.9 percent play-action pass play rate last season, ranking 17th among NFL teams. In his first season at the helm in 2020, Stefanski ran play action at a sixth-ranked 28.7 percent rate. Increasing the fantasy-friendly play’s usage would be a boon to Browns pass catchers. They can use all of the schematic advantages they can get, given their team’s unsettled quarterback situation.
Jaylen Waddle said he is honing his hand-eye coordination this offseason while improving his chemistry with Tua Tagovailoa.
Per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, Waddle viewed his hand-eye coordination as an area that “needed immediate improvement.” We agree. Although Waddle’s six drops last year tied for his career low, they led all Dolphins pass catchers and his 9.4 percent drop rate was just 0.2 percent under his career high. Louis-Jacques also notes, “these practices have also proven to be valuable reps for Waddle with Tagovailoa. Waddle is operating as the team’s No. 1 WR with Tyreek Hill (wrist) sidelined, which Tagovailoa said has allowed him and Waddle to “grow [their] chemistry.” Head coach Mike McDaniel adds that Waddle’s offseason performance is an “example of the culture the team is trying to build in 2025.” If Waddle can continue asserting himself as the team’s No. 1 WR in training camp and the preseason, a WR1 season-long finish is possible.
Bears signed GM Ryan Poles to a three-year extension through 2029.
Both Poles and head coach Ben Johnson are now under contract through the 2029 NFL season. Ownership was evidently pleased by the duo’s first offseason together and decided to keep the partnership intact for the foreseeable future. Poles still had two years left on his past deal, at the time of today’s signing.
The Athletic’s Jacob Robinson says to “expect an offense-heavy start” for Travis Hunter.
How the Jaguars will utilize Hunter’s two-way ability remains a mystery. Still, Robinson believes the No. 2 overall pick will see more than his fair share of snaps on offense after spending “the majority of minicamp lining up as receiver.” Robinson adds that Hunter is also adding weight after weighing in at 188 pounds at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine. Hunter caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns during his final season at Colorado while averaging 13.1 YPR. He figues to be featured on most passing plays opposite Brian Thomas Jr. and could earn a significant role early in Liam Coen’s passing attack.
49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk said Christian McCaffrey looks healthy and “so explosive” ahead of training camp.
The buzz continues to build around McCaffrey, who battled through bilateral Achilles tendinitis last season and was limited to just four games after suffering a PCL sprain in Week 13. McCaffrey, 29, totaled just 348 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown last season, but totaled 2,023 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2023. Assuming he stays healthy this season, McCaffrey has the chance to be poised for another big season. The veteran running back has averaged 22.1 PPR points per game in 31 games with the 49ers since being traded to them midway through the 2022 season. He’s still a three-down threat who possesses elite pass-catching upside, and could see a workload similar to 2023, when he led the league with 339 touches. As McCaffrey’s ADP continues to creep higher into the first round, it sounds like there is little reason to fade him at this point in time.