Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups: Which Teams Will Rest Starters?
Playing in Week 18 comes with increased risk. Several teams have already clinched playoff spots or are out of the postseason picture altogether, making key fantasy contributors unavailable:
- HC Jim Harbaugh said the Chargers will rest Justin Herbert.
- The Packers are locked into the NFC’s 7 seed.
- The Eagles and Bills could rest or limit starters’ snaps.
This is why championships belong in Week 17. Still, if you’re setting a lineup in Week 18, stay glued to our Shark Bites news feed for up-to-the-minute updates on playing time, roles, and late-breaking changes.
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Contents
Quarterbacks
Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
QB11 on
What Changed?
Shough had his best game of the season last week in Tennessee. He set highs in completion rate (81.5%) and passing yards (333) while tossing 2 TDs.
Week 17 was Shough’s second straight outing with 300+ passing yards. Shough became just the third rookie QB since 1974 to have back-to-back games with 300+ yards and 0 INTs.
Shough has now led the Saints to four consecutive wins, with 20+ points scored in each game. The team went 1-7 across Spencer Rattler’s eight starts, averaging just 16 points per contest.
What’s the Outlook?
Shough had a top-10 fantasy finish last week and looks like a solid streaming target again for a Week 18 visit to Atlanta.
In Week 12, the Falcons held Shough to 243 scoreless yards. Shough has made significant strides as a passer since then, however. He has averaged 259.2 passing yards and 23.8 rushing yards with 8 total passing TDs vs. 2 INTs since that game.
Atlanta has surrendered the 12th-most passing yards per game (234) and is tied for the 8th-most TD passes allowed (9) since playing the Saints in Week 12.
Running Backs
Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers
RB11 on
What Changed?
Green Bay is locked in as the NFC’s 7 seed and is expected to rest starters. Josh Jacobs has been playing through a knee injury and appears to be a lock to sit.
Wilson should step in as Green Bay’s feature back and see plenty of touches in an offense that will likely be scaled back.
What’s the Outlook?
Jacobs missed Green Bay’s previous meeting with the Vikings back in Week 12. Wilson started and carried the ball 28 times for 107 yards and 2 TDs.
Minnesota has only allowed one RB to top 75 yards since that game. Overall, the Vikings allow the ninth-fewest schedule-adjusted fantasy points to RBs.
When Jacobs returned to action in Week 13, Wilson was clearly Green Bay’s No. 2 RB. From Weeks 13-17, Wilson has out-touched Chris Brooks 27-8.
Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia Eagles
RB17 on
What Changed?
Saquon Barkley isn’t injured, but there’s a chance he and other key Eagles rest for Week 18.
Here’s HC Nick Sirianni on the possibility of resting players vs. Washington (via PennLive.com):
“Every season’s a little bit different. Every team’s a little bit different. We’ll end up doing what we think is the best for the team, and we’re still thinking through that. ... I know there will be debate about whatever it is that we do.”
What’s the Outlook?
The Eagles can jump from the No. 3 seed to No. 2 with a win and a Chicago loss vs. Detroit. (Both games start at 4:25 p.m Eastern.) Ultimately, the Eagles may decide that a healthier team is more important than chasing that position.
If we get word that Barkley will sit, Bigbsy figures to lead the backfield, with Will Shipley mixing in for some change-of-pace and passing-down work.
Bigsby has only 47 season-long carries – no surprise, as Barkley hasn’t missed a game. But in Week 15, we saw Bigsby rush 17 times for 57 yards in a blowout win over Vegas. The former Jag also posted 9 carries for 104 yards in a Week 8 blowout win over the Giants.
The Commanders’ defense ranks sixth-worst in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. They've allowed lines of 20-103 (Malik Davis) and 21-132-1 (Barkley) over their past two games.
Bigsby wouldn’t be a lock for your lineup even if Barkley’s inactive, but he’d carry significant upside.
Audric Estime, New Orleans Saints
RB25 on
What Changed?
Estime tallied a season-high 14 carries and 94 rushing yards in Week 17. That included a 32-yard TD run in the fourth to put the Saints up 34-26.
Estime’s playing time jumped from 56% in Week 16 -- the first game after RB Devin Neal went down -- to 79% against Tennessee. He also outcarried Evan Hull 14-2 after tying him 5-5 and trailing Taysom Hill (12 carries) against the Jets.
What’s the Outlook?
The Saints are trending up but are out of playoff contention. We’re not expecting Neal or Alvin Kamara to play in the finale.
That sets Estime up to continue to lead the backfield and garner 15-plus touches against the Falcons. Atlanta ranks 24th in rush-defense DVOA and just allowed Kyren Williams to hit 130 scrimmage yards on 16 touches.
Since Week 9, five of the six RBs who have 15-plus touches against the Falcons have posted top-24 weekly finishes. If Estime’s volume carries over, he’s in the R2 conversation.
Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns
RB16 on
What Changed?
The Browns employed a two-man backfield in their first game without Quinshon Judkins. Raheem Sanders led the duo in snaps (22), but Sampson led in carries (11) and targets (3).
Sanders drew the start against the Steelers, but Sampson only played four fewer snaps and was more involved after missing two games with a hand injury.
Sampson’s 8% target share is tied with Judkins for the highest in Cleveland’s backfield this season. He looks like the best bet to lead Cleveland’s backfield in touches in a fantastic matchup against a Bengals’ defense that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to RBs.
What’s the Outlook?
Cincinnati has allowed the most rushing yards (122.2) and second-most receiving yards (43.6) per game to RBs.
Sampson started in Week 1 against the Bengals and totaled 93 yards on 20 touches. We don’t expect that type of volume in the rematch, but Sampson has caught 8 passes over his last two games and should remain well ahead of Sanders in the passing game.
View Sampson as a deep-league flex option with plus PPR potential.
Wide Receivers
Luther Burden, Chicago Bears
WR13 on
What Changed?
Week 17 found Burden setting season-high marks in targets (nine), receptions (8), and receiving yards (138).
He left the field on a cart at the end with a reported quad injury, but the issue has since been reported as minor. The WR’s post-game comments indicated he was more worn out than injured.
What’s the Outlook?
We’ll monitor updates on Burden’s quad.
Burden missed Week 16 with an ankle injury but has blossomed with Rome Odunze sidelined. In his last three games, Burden leads the Bears with a 24% target share and 17.7 PPR points per game.
If he’s able to play this week, Burden will be in the WR2 mix against a Detroit defense that has ceded the second-most fantasy points to WRs.
Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars
WR21 on
What Changed?
The Jaguars are rolling, and Washington has been on a tear. He has back-to-back games with 10 targets and 115+ receiving yards.
Since the Jaguars acquired Jakobi Meyers ahead of Week 10, Washington has played 66% of Jacksonville’s snaps, ranks second on the team with an 20% target share, and has averaged 13.1 PPR points per game -- WR20 overall in the last seven weeks.
What’s the Outlook?
Jacksonville still has plenty at stake in Week 17. The Jaguars need to beat the Titans to clinch the AFC South and still have an outside shot at securing the No. 1 seed.
Washington’s routes have increased for four straight games, and the Week 18 matchup offers plenty of fantasy appeal.
Tennessee has allowed the 8th-most fantasy points to WRs.
Washington only had 1 catch for 26 yards against the Titans in Week 13, but he exited after 24 snaps with a hip injury. He missed Week 14, but has exceeded 50 receiving yards in every game since his return.
Treat Washington as a viable WR3/Flex option in Week 18 lineups.
Tight Ends
Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders
TE5 on
What Changed?
Brock Bowers landed on IR after Week 16. Mayer drew the start against the Giants and had his best game of the season, catching nine of 10 targets for 89 yards.
Mayer’s 93% snap share in Week 17 was also his highest rate of the season, and his 92% route rate was in line with Bowers’ season-long average of 89%.
What’s the Outlook?
We don’t expect Mayer to command a 37% target share or score 17.9 PPR points again in Week 18 with Kenny Pickett likely under center. (Geno Smith sustained a high-ankle sprain against the Giants.)
Pickett drew the start in Week 15 and was a disaster, throwing for just 64 yards. However, Bowers led the team with eight targets in that game (35% share), so there’s still a path to Mayer posting top-16 fantasy numbers this week.
The Raiders conclude their campaign at home against a Chiefs team missing starters on both sides of the ball.
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills
TE27 on
What Changed?
Knox caught all 5 targets for 30 yards in Sunday’s rainy loss to Philly.
Buffalo played the game without TE Dalton Kincaid, who was inactive due to a knee injury.
What’s the Outlook?
Frankly, it’s to be determined.
First, we’ll see about the status of Kincaid. He went DNP-DNP-limited last week in practice, suggesting he might be healthy enough to suit up for Week 18.
We’ll keep an eye on the status of Josh Allen (foot) as well. On Monday, HC Sean McDermott left open the possibility of Buffalo resting starters with the AFC East title out of reach.
So if Buffalo sits Allen, feel free to pass on Knox. But if Allen is in – and Kincaid is out – Knox would become a viable streamer against a horrible Jets defense. New York has allowed a huge 29.3 points per game.
Injuries to Watch
- Lamar Jackson (back)
- Josh Allen (foot)
- Jordan Love (concussion)
- J.J. McCarthy (hand)
- Breece Hall (knee)
- Luther Burden (quad)
- Harold Fannin (groin)
- Dalton Kincaid (knee)
Top Streaming Kickers
- Harrison Mevis, Rams
- Charlie Smyth, Saints
- Matt Prater, Bills
*TIP* Our Week 18 PK rankings have more streaming options and are continuously updated throughout the week.
