Week 17 brought the chaos and madness we as managers have grown accustomed to, just in time for the fantasy finals in most leagues.
Ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks throughout the league knocked multiple star players out, including Kirk Cousins, Jerry Jeudy, Darren Waller and Antonio Gibson. Injuries sidelined other players such as Lamar Jackson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Adam Thielen and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The copious absences led to starts by backup signal-callers Drew Lock, Tyler Huntley, Tim Boyle, Trey Lance, Andy Dalton, Mike Glennon and Sean Mannion; only Lance and Dalton walked away with wins.
Amid the chaos, there were numerous lopsided contests once again. The Bears routed the Giants 29-3. The Patriots molly-whopped the Jaguars 50-10. The Seahawks eviscerated the Lions 51-29. The Titans decisively beat the Dolphins 34-3. The 49ers defeated the Texans 23-7. The Chargers dominated the Broncos 34-13. The Packers won a frigid 37-10 contest against the Vikings in primetime.
Though most leagues have already been decided, there are some leagues' playoffs still in progress. If that's you, please continue reading and consider having a heart-to-heart chat with your commissioner about improving your league's settings for next season.
For the final week of the NFL's regular season, here are the top targets at each position — all of which are available in at least 50% of Yahoo! leagues — that you should prioritize come Tuesday night.
Note: Yahoo! roster percentages are reflected in parenthesis and as of Monday.
Fantasy Waiver Wire Pickups
Fantasy Waiver QBs to Target
Taysom Hill, Saints (46% rostered)
Week 18 opponent: at Falcons
Hill rejoined the team after a one-week hiatus on the COVID-19/reserve list and performed well in a difficult Week 17 matchup against the Panthers. He completed 17 of 28 attempts for 222 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions and rushed 12 times for 45 yards. He will finish just outside the top 12 in fantasy points, which should be his absolute floor against the Falcons this week. Atlanta's defense ranks bottom-three in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks this year, making Hill a low-end QB1.
Priority: High.
Trey Lance, 49ers (32%)
Week 18 opponent: at Rams
Lance got the start this week with Jimmy Garoppolo dealing with a torn UCL in his throwing hand. He completed 16 of 23 attempts for 249 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and tacked on eight rushes for 31 yards against the Texans. He will finish as a QB1 for the week in fantasy points and should be considered a high-end QB2/low-end QB1 for Week 18 against the Rams if Garoppolo sits once again.
Priority: Medium.
Tyler Huntley, Ravens (22%)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Steelers
Huntley started in relief of Lamar Jackson, who was a game-time decision while nursing an ankle injury. He completed 20 of 32 attempts for 197 yards, zero touchdowns, one interception and tacked on six rushes for 54 yards against the Rams. There remains a chance Jackson misses another week of play, meaning Huntley could start once again in the Ravens' season finale against the Steelers. In spite of the disappointing Week 17 performance, Huntley has decent upside based on his rushing abilities if Jackson misses another game.
Priority: Low.
Fantasy Waiver RBs to Target
Dare Ogunbowale, Jaguars (34% rostered)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Colts
Ogunbowale stepped up with James Robinson out for the year and posted a nice day for fantasy in a tough Week 17 matchup against the Patriots. He saw nine rushes for 36 yards and caught two passes for 32 yards and a touchdown — good enough for 14 fantasy points in half PPR and his second top-24 finish in a row. He should continue to see a healthy workload this week against the Colts and should be considered a high-end RB3/flex in spite of the tough matchup.
Priority: High.
Jaret Patterson, Washington (25%)
Week 18 opponent: at Giants
Patterson got the start for Washington with star running back Antonio Gibson out on the COVID-19/reserve list. He saw 12 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 41 yards. He dominated the backfield over Wendell Smallwood, who saw four carries for 12 yards, and Jonathan Williams, who saw two carries for four yards. Gibson is also dealing with various injuries, including a turf toe issue that flared up a couple of weeks ago. If Gibson were to be unavailable once again, Patterson would be a high-end RB3/flex play based on workload and matchup. Washington faces the Giants in Week 18, whose defense ranks eighth-worst in fantasy points allowed to running backs.
Priority: High.
Boston Scott, Eagles (31%)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Cowboys
Scott delivered big time in the fantasy playoffs with Miles Sanders missing the game with a hand injury. He saw 14 carries for 47 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 39 yards — good enough for 23 fantasy points in half PPR and a top-five finish with one game left to play. Jordan Howard was also involved and saw 11 carries for 26 yards. The Eagles are hopeful Sanders can return for Wild Card Weekend, but he is not expected to play in Week 18 against the Cowboys. This vaults Scott back into the RB3/flex conversation once again.
Priority: High.
Rex Burkhead, Texans (30%)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Titans
Burkhead put up solid numbers with David Johnson out once again against the 49ers. He saw 16 carries for 47 yards and caught a season-high six passes for 32 yards (also a season high). Over the last seven games, he is averaging just shy of 15 carries per game. The volume keeps him in the RB3/flex tier assuming Johnson sits again, even with the Titans on deck, whose defense is top two against fantasy running backs this year.
Priority: Medium.
Dontrell Hilliard, Titans (28%)
Week 18 opponent: at Texans
Hilliard had a nice day for fantasy on Sunday in the Titans' 34-3 rout over the Dolphins. He saw eight carries for 45 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 33 yards. D'Onta Foreman stole the show, however, with an impressive 26 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown, while Jeremy McNichols saw two carries for 14 yards. The Titans' heavy usage of their backfield was partially game script-dependent, though I expect a similar game script this week against the Texans. Tennessee enters this game as double-digit favorites and Houston is bottom four against fantasy running backs. Hilliard will be a serviceable deep-league play for Week 18.
Priority: Medium.
Fantasy Waiver WRs to Target
K.J. Osborn, Vikings (41% rostered)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Bears
Osborn has settled into the No. 2 role behind Justin Jefferson quite nicely with Adam Thielen shut down for the year. He caught three of five targets for 50 yards and found the end zone for the Vikings' lone touchdown of the day against the Packers. Minnesota's offensive struggles were inextricably tied to the team being forced to start Sean Mannion after Kirk Cousins tested positive for COVID-19. Cousins — who is unvaccinated — has a chance to return this week if he clears the league's new protocols, which would be a major boost for Osborn and the entire offense. The matchup against the Bears is juicy, too, as Chicago's defense has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to receivers this year.
Priority: High.
Allen Lazard, Packers (29%)
Week 18 opponent: at Lions
Lazard had another nice day for fantasy in the Packers' Sunday night showdown against the Vikings. He caught all six of his targets for 72 yards and a touchdown — his third score in the four games since the Packers' bye. Lazard is the WR13 in half PPR since Week 14 and should keep things rolling with the Lions on deck in Week 18.
Priority: Medium to high.
Marquez Callaway, Saints (26%)
Week 18 opponent: at Falcons
Callaway led the Saints with a whopping 10 targets in Sunday's NFC South showdown against the Panthers. He caught six passes for 97 yards and is the WR19 over the last three weeks — one of which he was forced to catch passes from Ian Book. I expect him to capitalize on a soft Week 18 matchup against the Falcons, whose defense ranks bottom four against fantasy wide receivers this season.
Priority: Medium.
Braxton Berrios, Jets (7%)
Week 18 opponent: at Bills
Berrios had — by far — his best game of the season in Week 17 against the Buccaneers. He caught a season-high eight passes on 12 targets for 65 yards and two touchdowns and tacked on two rushes for 12 yards. Berrios is the WR9 in half PPR over the last three weeks and should remain the WR1 in this offense so long as Elijah Moore and Jamison Crowder are out. His matchup in Week 18 knocks him down a bit in priority as the Jets face the Bills, whose pass defense has been No. 1 against fantasy receivers this season.
Priority: Medium.
Laquon Treadwell, Jaguars (3%)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Colts
The Jaguars' multitude of distractions this season may have obscured Treadwell's emergence this year. The former first-round pick has had a strong second half with so many of Jacksonville's weapons going down (Travis Etienne, D.J. Chark, Dan Arnold, Jamal Agnew and James Robinson). Since Week 12, Treadwell is the WR27 in half PPR. He is coming off of another strong performance in which he caught all six of his targets for 87 yards against the Patriots. He has a nice floor in this week's matchup against the Colts, which should lend itself to a healthy amount of passing like last week.
Priority: Medium.
Fantasy Waiver TEs to Target
Tyler Conklin, Vikings (39% rostered)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Bears
Conklin tied a season-high nine targets in Week 17 against the Packers and caught five passes for 47 yards, finishing just outside the top 12 at the position with one game left to play. The Week 18 matchup is less-than-ideal against the Bears, who have allowed the eighth fewest fantasy points to tight ends this year. He will have a better outlook this week assuming Cousins can clear the protocol come Sunday.
Priority: Medium.
Anthony Firkser, Titans (5%)
Week 18 opponent: at Texans
The Week 18 tight end pickings are pretty lean. If you're desperate, however, Firkser is widely available and did find the end zone in Week 17 against the Dolphins. He has a nice matchup on deck against the Texans, whose defense has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends this year.
Priority: Low.
