The 2024 fantasy football season has officially come to an end. Congratulations to all the champions out there, but there is one more week in the NFL season. If you have stakes in this week for whatever reason, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s take a look at the top Week 18 waiver wire targets and pickups that fantasy managers should consider adding to their rosters.
As always, all players are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Russell Wilson, QB | PIT
Rostered: 44%
Russell Wilson’s best game of the season came in Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers QB threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns, scoring 27.86 fantasy points.
With the AFC North still in play, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be trying this week. They have every incentive to defeat the Bengals and force the Baltimore Ravens to win to take the division. The Bengals allow the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Geno Smith, QB | SEA
Rostered: 54%
If you watched Geno Smith last Thursday night, it was ugly. The Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears combined for no touchdowns. There was not a single point scored in the second half.
We need to throw that game out. Smith is a nice option this week against a Los Angeles Rams defense he torched for 363 yards and three touchdowns (albeit with three interceptions) back in Week 9.
Bryce Young, QB | CAR
Rostered: 17%
Even amid a blowout, Bryce Young still managed to throw for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Young has now thrown at least one touchdown in every game since Week 8. He has two multi-TD games in his last three.
The Carolina Panthers get the Atlanta Falcons on the road in Week 18. That’s another projected negative-game-script situation for the Panthers, likely resulting in passing volume for Young. He could be viable.
Drew Lock, QB | NYG
Rostered: 3%
Did you have Drew Lock scoring over 40 fantasy points on your Week 17 bingo card? The New York Giants get the Eagles in Week 18 and the Philadelphia Eagles have nothing to play for, being locked into the No. 2 seed. The Eagles are likely to rest defensive starters, which should create an opportunity for Lock to play a glorified exhibition game. Maybe he can do half of what he did in Week 17.
Khalil Herbert, RB | CIN
Rostered: 7%
The only reason Khalil Herbert even played a snap is because Chase Brown got hurt. But Brown did get hurt, trapping his ankle under him when trying to slide late in the fourth quarter to avoid scoring a touchdown that would’ve set up a game-winning field goal. Brown was ruled out rather quickly.
If Brown can go in Week 18, he will, with the Bengals still in the playoff hunt. Given how the injury looked, I am skeptical. That sets up Herbert to be the clear RB1.
Michael Carter, RB | ARI
Rostered: 3%
James Conner tried to give it a go against the Rams, but his knee simply wasn’t healthy enough. With nothing to play for but pride, it’s hard to imagine Conner taking the field in Week 18.
That puts Michael Carter back in the RB1 role. The former New York Jets RB has scored 10.1 and 9.8 fantasy points in each of the past two weeks. Likely to see heavy volume, Carter is a strong option in a week where many starters won’t be playing across the league.
Trey Benson, RB | ARI
Rostered: 20%
Trey Benson got in three limited practices last week but was unable to return from his ankle injury. Given that Benson is a rookie, they may choose to activate him for the final week of the season to see what he can do in a featured role. This would obviously throw cold water on the Carter recommendation, but Benson is worth a speculative add to see what the Arizona Cardinals choose to do.
Julius Chestnut, RB | TEN
Rostered: 0%
It’s Week 18. We really have no idea what teams are going to do. Tony Pollard did not play this week with a combination of a lingering ankle injury and the flu. Given that he has incentives in his contract, he may end up playing next week. The Tennessee Titans may also opt to shut him down amidst a lost season.
As for Tyjae Spears, he was diagnosed with a concussion and won’t play next week. That’s already been confirmed. It could be Julius Chestnut as the RB1. I’m not saying it will go well, but the volume could be there.
Ameer Abdullah, RB | LV
Rostered: 35%
Low-key league winner this year: Ameer Abdullah. In the three most important weeks of the fantasy season, Abulldah posted games of 19.6, 19.5, and 17.7. He just handled 20 carries for 115 yards while also adding 3-32 through the air. If Abulldah is going to serve as the lead back, then he is fantasy-viable.
D’Onta Foreman, RB | CLE
Rostered: 0%
Jerome Ford left the game in the first half with a sprained ankle. He’s probably not going to be able to play in Week 18. That leaves D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong Jr. as the top two running backs.
Foreman and Strong would serve in a committee, just as they did against the Miami Dolphins. Foreman would be the early-down and goal-line back, while Strong would be the passing-down back. You can do worse than the volume Foreman will likely see.
Ray Davis and Ty Johnson, RBs | BUF
Rostered: 18% and 4%
With their win over the Jets, the Buffalo Bills have clinched the No. 2 seed. That means they will be resting starters in Week 18. Look for Ray Davis to lead this backfield but for Ty Johnson to mix in as well.
Davis had 23 touches for 152 yards in his lone start this season and should get a chance to show out with the backups this week.
Marvin Mims Jr., WR | DEN
Rostered: 3%
Marvin Mims Jr. caught all eight of his targets for 103 yards and two touchdowns. It was against the Bengals and involved a glorified Hail Mary. Before last week, Mims had never seen more than five targets in a game. Simply put, I don’t buy it.
With the Kansas City Chiefs resting starters in Week 18 and the Broncos needing to win to make the playoffs, you could take a shot on Mims’ volatile upside, but I can’t recommend it.
Alec Pierce, WR | IND
Rostered: 14%
Returning from his concussion, Alec Pierce had one of the best games of his career, catching six passes for 122 yards and a touchdown. With the Indianapolis Colts now eliminated from the playoffs, it seems unlikely that Anthony Richardson will play in Week 18. That means one more week of Joe Flacco airing it out with reckless abandon.
Go up and get it, @alecpierce.
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/qjr8aPH7QF
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 29, 2024
Pierce is still a volatile option, but he’s a passable option on a week when a lot of the usual suspects won’t be playing.
Jalen McMillan, WR | TB
Rostered: 54%
It’s now been a full month of Jalen McMillan producing WR1 numbers. The rookie is finally emerging as the WR2 opposite Mike Evans, and Baker Mayfield trusts him.
McMillan just caught five passes for 52 yards and two touchdowns. He’s scored in four straight and a total of six times over that span.
Baker Mayfield is DEALING. That's 3 TDs in the first half.
📺: #CARvsTB on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/9BgJzsJSUK— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to win in Week 18 to have any chance at winning the division. Pick him up.
Keon Coleman, WR | BUF
Rostered: 40%
With the Bills having locked up the No. 2 seed, they will rest starters. I would expect Keon Coleman to not be among them. He could serve as the Bills’ WR1 this week and is worth a look to see if the Bills give him extended targets in a game that doesn’t count.
Juwan Johnson, TE | NO
Rostered: 12%
In a losing effort where they scored a mere 10 points, Juwan Johnson earned 10 targets against the Las Vegas Raiders, catching six passes for 66 yards. The New Orleans Saints have a road matchup against the Bucs in Week 18. That should be a lot of negative game script and a lot of passing.
Chig Okonkwo, TE | TEN
Rostered: 29%
The breakout is finally happening for Chig Okonkwo. He’s now hit double-digit fantasy points in three consecutive games.
With Mason Rudolph at QB, Okonkwo has emerged as a primary target. He’s seen target counts of 10, 11, and seven over his last three. He even got a carry against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Titans get a Houston Texans team that will likely rest starters being locked into the No. 4 seed. Okonkwo would likely be a TE1 regardless but is an even stronger option given the circumstances.
Mike Gesicki, TE | CIN
Rostered: 14%
After three straight games with four targets or fewer, Mike Gesicki was heavily involved in the Bengals season-saving overtime victory over the Denver Broncos on Saturday night.
Gesicki earned 12 targets, catching 10 for 86 yards. The 10 receptions marked a career-best for the athletic tight end.
With the Bengals one of a select few teams who definitely have something to play for in Week 18, Gesicki is actually a preferable option in an always difficult week to navigate.
Tyler Conklin, TE | NYJ
Rostered: 11%
Most of it came with Tyrod Taylor taking over at QB, but Tyler Conklin caught all eight of his targets for 57 yards and a touchdown against the Bills.
The Jets will be playing a Dolphins team with something to play for in Week 18, but Conklin could see some cheap targets regardless of who starts for the Jets at QB.