Week 18 Fantasy Football Rankings: Position-by-Position Outlook for Season Finales
We've reached the final week of the NFL season, which for most season-long fantasy leagues, means that championship week has already passed.
Some larger leagues, however, are still playing in Week 18. Those with two-week playoff games are also entering the back half of their championship games. While these scenarios provide fantasy enthusiasts with additional action, they can also lead to some very uncertain situations.
Teams that are already locked into playoff positions, like the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns, are likely to rest starters in Week 18. This means many managers will have to dive deep into their benches or poach the waiver wire to emerge victorious.
With this in mind, let's run down our updated point-per-reception (PPR) rankings and examine some potential waiver-wire targets to consider.
Quarterback
1 of 4
1. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
2. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
4. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
5. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
6. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
7. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
8. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
9. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
10. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Waiver Target: Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants
The New York Giants will look to play spoiler in Week 18, and they're likely to lean on quarterback Tyrod Taylor again to do it. Taylor started in Week 17 and finished with 319 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception, a fumble and 40 rushing yards.
For the finale, Taylor will be up against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.
While the Giants offense lacks the playmakers that would normally make Taylor an attractive starting option, the matchup helps. So does Taylor's dual-threat ability. He's a viable option for managers who can't trust seeing Brock Purdy, Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes on the field.
Talyor is rostered in only four percent of Yahoo leagues and two percent of ESPN leagues.
Running Back
2 of 4
1. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
3. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
4. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
5. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
6. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
7. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
8. D'Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles
9. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
10. Breece Hall, New York Jets
11. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
12. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
13. Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders
14. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
15. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
16. Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
17. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
18. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
19. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
20. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Waiver Target: Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals rookie running back Chase Brown only had two catches and 28 scrimmage yards against a very good Chiefs defense in Week 17. However, he had three receptions in each of his previous three games and tallied 105 scrimmage yards against the Indianapolis Colts a few weeks ago.
With the Bengals playing out the season against a Browns defense likely to rest its starters, Brown has a tremendous amount of upside. Joe Mixon should get a fair amount of work too, but this would be a great week for Cincinnati to see how Brown responds to a heavy workload.
Mixon looms as a potential offseason cap casualty, and the Bengals will want to know what sort of role Brown can fill moving forward.
Brown carries a decent PPR floor in Week 18 with the potential of another 100-yard outing. He's rostered in only 15 percent of Yahoo leagues and nine percent of ESPN leagues.
Wide Receiver
3 of 4
1. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
2. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
3. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
5. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
6. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
8. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
9. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
10. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
11. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
12. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
13. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
14. D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears
15. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
16. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
17. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
18. Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
19. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
20. Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys
Waiver Target: Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams
Demarcus Robinson has emerged as a capable third target for the Los Angeles Rams and a viable flex play down the stretch.
Robinson didn't catch a touchdown pass in Week 17, but he hauled in six receptions for 92 yards. He did have a touchdown grab in each of the previous four games. He should have another strong outing against a 49ers defense with no reason to put starters on the field.
While the Rams don't have a ton to play for this week, a victory could mean the difference between the No. 6 seed and the seventh seed—depending on what the Green Bay Packers do in their game.
Robinson should see a normal workload in Week 18, and he's rostered in only 28 percent of Yahoo leagues and 10 percent of ESPN leagues.
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Tight End
4 of 4
1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
2. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
3. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
4. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
5. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
6. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
7. Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers
8. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
9. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
10. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
Waiver Target: Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett has top-10 scoring potential this week against a Chiefs defense likely to rest most of its starters. While Everett's ceiling has been limited this year, he provides a very reliable floor.
After a four-catch, 37-scrimmage-yard performance in Week 17, Everett has now produced at least four receptions and 37 yards in six consecutive outings.
Obviously, these aren't eye-popping numbers. However, with top tight ends like Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Isaiah Likely and David Njoku unlikely to play this week, Everett is an attractive target off the wire.
Everett is still only rostered in 46 percent of Yahoo leagues and 32 percent of ESPN leagues.
*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.
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