NFL Waiver Wire: Week 18 Early Watch

NFL Waiver Wire: Week 18 Early Watch

This article is part of our NFL Waiver Wire series.

This article will come out every Sunday night. It's not expected to be a deep dive. Instead, we'll explore players who had atypical workload and/or opportunity during the Sunday games. We won't be paying attention to whether these players will be available in most leagues. The hope is that you become aware of the short-term usage change. If you're looking for detailed waiver-wire coverage, we'll have two weekly articles to set you up. On Tuesday, Kevin Payne will publish the weekly pickups. Then on Wednesday, Dan Marcus will provide you with deep dives.

Quarterback

  • Tyrod Taylor played well for the Giants in his matchup against the Rams. He could be in line for another solid performance if he gets the Week 18 start against the Eagles.
  • Ryan Tannehill could be pressed into action for the Titans next week if Will Levis is unable to suit up.
  • Tyler Huntley could see extended time in Week 18 if Lamar Jackson sits out after the Ravens clinched home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Running Back

This article will come out every Sunday night. It's not expected to be a deep dive. Instead, we'll explore players who had atypical workload and/or opportunity during the Sunday games. We won't be paying attention to whether these players will be available in most leagues. The hope is that you become aware of the short-term usage change. If you're looking for detailed waiver-wire coverage, we'll have two weekly articles to set you up. On Tuesday, Kevin Payne will publish the weekly pickups. Then on Wednesday, Dan Marcus will provide you with deep dives.

Quarterback

  • Tyrod Taylor played well for the Giants in his matchup against the Rams. He could be in line for another solid performance if he gets the Week 18 start against the Eagles.
  • Ryan Tannehill could be pressed into action for the Titans next week if Will Levis is unable to suit up.
  • Tyler Huntley could see extended time in Week 18 if Lamar Jackson sits out after the Ravens clinched home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Running Back

  • Elijah Mitchell had 17 carries in a game Christian McCaffrey left with a calf injury. With San Francisco having wrapped up home-field advantage, Mitchell could start against the Rams.
  • Jordan Mason could be in line for significant work, or possibly see work in a timeshare, with Elijah Mitchell, if Christian McCaffrey (calf) is unable to play in a meaningless Week 18 game for the 49ers.
  • Jamaal Williams received 22 touches in a game that Alvin Kamara left with an ankle injury. If Kamara misses next week, Williams could get the start against the Falcons.
  • Melvin Gordon could be in line for a role in Week 18 after the Ravens clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Gordon rushed six times for 10 yards and a TD against the Dolphins.

Wide Receiver

  • Greg Dortch led the Cardinals WRs with seven catches for 82 yards against the Eagles. He could see a prominent role in the season finale.

Tight End

  • Juwan Johnson has scored in three consecutive games and has 19 targets in the last two games. He may be a strong streaming option in Week 18.
  • Robert Tonyan posted 40 yards for the Bears while Cole Kmet was active, but dealing with a knee injury. If Tonyan is needed to continue in a receiving role, he may be a TE streamer option.

Want to Read More?
Subscribe to RotoWire to see the full article.

We reserve some of our best content for our paid subscribers. Plus, if you choose to subscribe you can discuss this article with the author and the rest of the RotoWire community.

Get Instant Access To This Article Get Access To This Article
RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only NFL Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire NFL fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jim Coventry
Coventry was a finalist for the FSWA football writer of the year in 2022. He started playing fantasy football in 1994 and won a national contest in 1996. He also nabbed five top-50 finishes in national contests from 2008 to 2012 before turning his attention to DFS. He's been an industry analyst since 2007, though he joined RotoWire in 2016. A published author, Coventry wrote a book about relationships, "The Secret of Life", in 2013.
Box Score Breakdown: Week 13 Snaps, Routes, Personnel and Usage
Box Score Breakdown: Week 13 Snaps, Routes, Personnel and Usage
NFL Expert Picks: Week 13 Monday Night Football Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos
NFL Expert Picks: Week 13 Monday Night Football Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos
NFL Picks and Props: Browns at Broncos Monday Night Football
NFL Picks and Props: Browns at Broncos Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football DFS Breakdown: Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns
Monday Night Football DFS Breakdown: Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns