Best fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 18

Hello and welcome to the Week 18 waiver wire watch!

Traditionally, most fantasy leagues will wrap everything up prior to final week of the NFL regular season considering that many playoff-bound teams opt to rest their starters ahead of the postseason. However, some leagues carry all the way through to the final whistle of Week 18 and if you’re in that boat, we still got you. We still have the Monday night showdown between the Rams and Falcons to get to this evening, but it’s not too early to start looking for ways to fortify your rosters for the grand finale.

We’ll go over some performers that you should consider scooping off the waiver wire ahead of Week 18 and as always, we’ll classify a waiver add as someone who is rostered in 60% of leagues at the max.

Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints (24.3%)

Well, look at that. The Saints have rattled off four straight wins at the end of the season and their latest one was a come-from-behind 34-26 victory over the Titans on Sunday. Shough was able to lead them back from a 13-point deficit by having his best performance to date, going 22-27 for 333 passing yards with two touchdowns in the road victory.

The rookie has improved with each passing week and will be the definitive Week 1 starter for New Orleans when they kick the 2026 season off next September. He’s also moved his way up the fantasy ladder as Sunday’s performance netted managers 21.3 points. Shough is dialed in and if you may want to look his way if you need a QB that can push your lineup over the top.

Week 18 matchup: @ Atlanta Falcons, TBD

Jacoby Brissett, QB, Arizona Cardinals (46.4%)

This is the end of the line Mr. Brissett and your services as a garbage-time fantasy asset has been greatly appreciated. The Cardinals dropped their eighth straight game in a 37-14 blowout loss to the Bengals on Sunday, but the veteran journeyman was still able to put some decent numbers on the board with 212 passing yards and two touchdowns for the afternoon.

The Cardinals are still going with the “let it rip” philosophy with Brissett, although Sunday was his second straight game with less than 40 pass attempts. It wouldn’t surprise me if they let this man air it 50 times in the season finale because why not? Give him a shot off the waiver wire.

Week 18 matchup: @ Los Angeles Rams, TBD

Bill Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders (49.6%)

If you’ve noticed, the trend with this group has been eliminated teams letting their playmakers loose and that was the case with the Commanders and Croskey-Merritt in their 30-23 loss to the Cowboys on Christmas. The rookie was able to show out with one of his best performances of the season for the holiday, taking 11 carries for 105 rushing yards and two trips to the end zone.

That’s now four touchdowns in the last three games for the seventh-rounder and he was notably on the field for 64% of the offensive snaps on Christmas. I anticipate him getting plenty of touches in the season finale and there’s a good shot at him scoring yet again.

Week 18 matchup: @ Philadelphia Eagles, TBD

Malik Davis, RB, Dallas Cowboys (2.8%)

On the other side of that Christmas Day showdown, Davis ended up shouldering the load for the Cowboys on the ground, taking 20 carries for 103 rushing yards in the win. His workload came as a result of starter Javonte Williams leaving the game in the first half with a shoulder injury and he ended up logging a season-high 46 snaps in the contest.

Davis has been reliable in spurts since being elevated from the practice squad in November and he showed that he can handle extra work out of the backfield. We’ll find out Williams’ status for the season finale this week, but we can expect Davis to get plenty of carries against the Giants.

Week 18 matchup: @ New York Giants, TBD

Parker Washington, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (19.9%)

The white-hot Jaguars picked up their seventh straight win in a 23-17 triumph on on Sunday and Washington has emerged as a dangerous weapon in Duval County. The third-year wideout notched his second straight 100+ yard performance for the Jags, hauling in eight of 10 targets for 115 receiving yards.

He exited Sunday as a top-10 fantasy receiver in PPR leagues for a second straight week and he has quickly become one of Trevor Lawrence’s favorite options through the air. Jacksonville still has the AFC South title and the possible No. 1 seed to play for next Sunday, so it’ll put its best foot forward in unleashing difference makers like Washington.

Week 18 matchup: vs. Tennessee Titans, TBD

Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (48.4%)

The Chargers’ 20-16 loss to the Texans on Saturday eliminated them from AFC West title contention and they will now have to begin the postseason on the road. But they’re at least getting a late-season surge out of Johnston, who caught five of eight targets for 98 receiving yards in the loss.

Johnston had been relatively quiet in the second half of the season after storming out the gate with a strong start, but he has now combined for 202 receiving yards in his last two outings. The Chargers still have something to play for this week as they can grab the No. 5 seed with a win and a Texans loss. That means another opportunity for Johnston to prove himself in a late-season spot.

Week 18 matchup: @ Denver Broncos, TBD

Michael Mayer, TE, Las Vegas Raiders (7.2%)

With Brock Bowers shut down for the year, Mayer took the mantle of TE1 for the Raiders and he at least did his part in the team’s 34-10 blowout loss to the Giants on Sunday. The third-year product from Notre Dame led the team in receiving with nine receptions off 10 targets for a season-high 89 receiving yards. The Raiders might as well let Geno Smith let loose on Sunday before taking a QB with the No. 1 overall pick this offseason, so that could mean another big day through the air for Mayer.

Week 18 matchup: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, TBD

Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints (46.5%)

Johnson has quietly been one of the more effective pass-catching tight ends in the league this season and he came through with another quality outing in their win over the Titans on Sunday. The veteran made a handful of explosive catches as he grabbed four passes for 95 receiving yards in the victory. He’s had a strong connection with the aforementioned Shough and if you’re pressed for TE options, look no further than Johnson.

Week 18 matchup: @ Atlanta Falcons, TBD