Sports
Fantasy football Week 17 recap, early waivers speed run: How to handle Week 18
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:Jake Ciely
If your fantasy playoffs are still going, here's how to handle the last week of action.
Michael Mayer could see a lot of work with Kenny Pickett under center for the Raiders. Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images
One final week of the NFL regular season, and if your fantasy season is still going, it’s gotta be championship week. No time for mistakes now.
Here’s all the fallout from Week 17 and how to handle some potential Week 18 curveballs. Ready, set, let’s go, you ducks!
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Speed run
- Sorry if you got Derrick Henry’d or Josh Jacobs’d. Those two — in differing ways — prove how fun (or frustrating) fantasy can be, no matter how much we do our best.
- Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey, Chargers: Johnston has come on late in the season, but he’s still boom/bust against the Broncos. Consider McConkey as a bounce‑back option, especially with slot work being a vulnerability of the Broncos.
- Tre Tucker and Michael Mayer, Raiders: Tucker is a volume‑based WR3/flex if you need help at wide receiver in Week 18, and Mayer a viable streaming tight end with Brock Bowers sidelined.
- Josh Downs and Tyler Warren, Colts: If Michael Pittman misses Week 18, Downs is a solid fill-in, even if Riley Leonard is under center. Warren could get back to startability if Leonard replaces Philip Rivers.
- Audric Estime, Saints: Volume‑reliant RB; use only as a middling RB2/flex, understanding he can disappoint if game script turns negative.
- Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers: Despite Bryce Young’s awful game (14 completions for 54 yards), put McMillan back in your lineup as a WR3 vs. Bucs’ pass‑funnel defense.
- Emanuel Wilson, Packers: In a likely meaningless game versus Minnesota, with starters possibly resting, start Wilson as a volume‑driven RB option, assuming he’s not also rested. If Wilson is also out, pivot to Chris Brooks as a desperation volume play.
- Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Buccaneers: Evans and Godwin are must-starts, as you know. Egbuka was already unstartable but now possibly leapfrogged by McMillan.
- Dylan Sampson and Raheim Sanders, Browns: With a near 50/50 split, avoid this backfield unless desperate; slight PPR edge to Sampson.
- Malik Davis, Cowboys: If the Cowboys rest Javonte Williams and others against the Giants, start Davis as a potential bell‑cow, RB1 in Week 18.
- Isaac TeSlaa, Lions: If the Lions rest Amon‑Ra St. Brown, consider TeSlaa a Top-40 option (or better) at WR.
