Fantasy Football Week 18 Final Rankings, Projections, Early Waiver-Wire Tips

The 2025 NFL season is barreling toward the finish line.

Soon, the fantasy football championships that haven't been secured yet will be won or lost through a combination of luck, lineup setting and injury fortune (or misfortune).

If you're still in the chase and play in a league that runs through the tape—i.e., includes every last second of the regular season—we're here to help guide you to title town. Hopefully. We'll do our best, at least, while laying out our early Week 18 rankings (key word early, since a lot of teams could wind up resting their regulars) and finding a waiver-wire target at each of the three marquee positions.

Quarterback

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Top 10

Joe Burrow, CIN (vs. CLE)

Drake Maye, NE (vs. MIA)

Trevor Lawrence, JAX (vs. TEN)

Josh Allen, BUF (vs. NYJ)

Brock Purdy, SF (vs. SEA)

Dak Prescott, DAL (at NYG)

Matthew Stafford, LAR (vs. ARI)

Caleb Williams, CHI (vs. DET)

Jalen Hurts, PHI (vs. WAS)

Bo Nix, DEN (vs. LAC)

Waiver-wire target: Malik Willis, GB (at MIN)

This is, admittedly, a risky recommendation, because it's not yet clear whether Green Bay will go with Willis or Jordan Love in Week 18. Yet, the potential production here makes Willis worth the shot, since he's playing at a level you wouldn't otherwise find from a plug-and-play streamer.

Since replacing an injured Love in Week 16, Willis has completed 27-of-32 passes for 409 yards and two touchdowns while adding another 104 yards and two scores as a rusher. If you're streaming quarterbacks in a championship match, this is the kind of upside you're dreaming to get.

Projected stats: 17-of-24 passing for 256 yards and one touchdown; 10 carries for 51 yards and one touchdown

Running Back

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Top 10

Christian McCaffrey, SF (vs. SEA)

Bijan Robinson, ATL (vs. NO)

James Cook, BUF (vs. NYJ)

Jonathan Taylor, IND (at HOU)

Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (at CHI)

Saquon Barkley, PHI (vs. WAS)

Chase Brown, CIN (vs. CLE)

Ashton Jeanty, LV (vs. KC)

Derrick Henry, BAL (at PIT)

De'Von Achane, MIA (at NE)

Waiver-wire target: Malik Davis, DAL (at NYG)

The Cowboys lost starter Javonte Williams to a shoulder injury in the second quarter and turned Davis' direction early and often thereafter. The 27-year-old made good on those opportunities, tallying 103 yards on 20 carries.

With Dallas already eliminated from playoff contention, it's hard to envision the team rushing Williams back. So, if Davis has the lion's share of looks in this ground game again, expect him to feast on New York's exploitable rush defense.

Projected stats: 23 carries for 112 yards and one touchdown

Wide Receiver

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Top 10

Puka Nacua, LAR (vs. ARI)

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA (at SF)

Ja'Marr Chase, CIN (vs. CLE)

Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (at CHI)

Nico Collins, HOU (vs. IND)

Chris Olave, NO (at ATL)

Mike Evans, TB (vs. CAR)

CeeDee Lamb, DAL (at NYG)

George Pickens, DAL (at NYG)

Courtland Sutton, DEN (vs. LAC)

Waiver-wire target: Parker Washington, JAX (vs. TEN)

The Jaguars are steamrolling to the finish line, and Washington is quickly becoming a big part of this push. If the last two weeks are any indication, this is an ascending star.

He's seen 10 targets in each of his last two outings and done a lot with those chances: 14 total receptions for 260 yards and a score. It's hard to find that kind of volume in an offense this potent available on the waiver here, but opportunity is knocking at the perfect time.

Projected stats: Six receptions for 94 yards and one touchdown