Happy New Year to all and happy week 18 of the NFL season! I hope you are a fantasy champ but no matter the situation you should keep playing and it’s never too early to think about the 2024 fantasy football season. Mike here, welcome back to my weekly Waiver HUB. Follow me on Twitter (@FantasyHubbard) for all things fantasy football throughout the season.
Go out and make some moves and strive for fantasy postseason greatness. Injuries are inevitable so here’s another chance to hit the waiver wire and get impactful players. Another week gone, another opportunity to make your team stronger and inch your way to that league trophy and an offseason of bragging rights.
Below are my top waiver wire priorities this week. Go get those available players to help your chances at a championship. Good luck this week and remember to check back every week to stay informed on who you could target off of waivers.
TOP PRIORITY OF THE WEEK
Elijah Mitchell – San Francisco 49ers
Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason are most likely going to be in good positions to produce in week 18. With the Eagles loss to the Cardinals, they have locked up the #1 seed in the NFC. With nothing to play for other than pride, I can definitely see SF keeping CMC off the field and resting him for the playoffs. The matchup isn’t great with the LA Rams rushing defense, but they couldn’t contain CMC back in week 2 when he ran for 116 yards and a TD.
Quarterbacks
Tyrod Taylor – New York Giants
Tyrod Taylor is going to start against Philly in the regular season finale that is week 18. Not only is he getting into a little rhythm, but he has also helped the Giants score 25 points in consecutive games which hadn’t happened this season. Taylor has back-to-back games with a deep Darius Slayton TD and both games were lost by 1 possession. Tyrod should use his feet a little more, but regardless he gets a frustrated Philadelphia Eagles team that can’t seem to stop any offense right now.
Running Backs
Elijah Mitchell – San Francisco 49ers
SEE TOP PRIORITY OF THE WEEK
Jamaal Williams – New Orleans Saints
Jamal Williams is the play if we find out Kamara is out in week 18. He is currently questionable with an ankle injury, but if he can’t play, Williams should get plenty of opportunity. He took over as the primary RB for the Saints when Kamara left the game and he finished with 19 carries for 58 yards, and he caught all 4 of his targets for 13 receiving yards. Those are season highs for him in carries, rushing yards, receiving yards, targets, and receptions. This game is huge for any kind of playoff chance for both teams so he should ball out.
Wide Receivers
Greg Dortch – Arizona Cardinals
Dortch tied Trey McBride for most week 17 targets on the team, but Greg led everyone with 7 receptions. He also had over 100 kick return yards if your league counts those. Arizona’s offense looked elite, well I guess the Eagles can make anyone look elite these days, but Dortch played well and has come on since being reemerged into the Cardinals offense around week 11.
Demarcus Robinson – LA Rams
Robinson is on quite the little run at WR with the Rams. Since week 13 Robinson has scored a TD in each of his last 4 games prior to week 17. In week 17 he caught 6 of his 10 targets for 92 yards. It will be interesting what the 49ers will do and who will play. If 49ers defense is resting it could make for more optimal chances for Demarcus.
Darius Slayton – New York Giants
Darius Slayton has been very much under the radar this season, mainly because his stats aren’t eye popping, and well he is on the Giants. He scored back in week 11 which had been his best performance up until his last 2 games. In week 16 he caught all 3 of his targets for 90 receiving yards and a score, then followed up in week 17 with 4 receptions on 6 targets for 106 receiving yards and another score. He saved his best for last apparently connecting well with Tyrod Taylor. Can he catch a deep TD again this week? Why not?
Tight Ends
Juwan Johnson – New Orleans Saints
Johnson scored his 4th TD of the season in week 17 where he set new career highs in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. 12 targets, 8 receptions, and 90 receiving yards. Did I mention the TE has scored now in 3 consecutive games? See if he can continue his streak against a feisty Falcons team that held him to 45 yards in their first meeting.