RADIO
With Week 18 finally upon us, a vast majority of you are done with your fantasy season. It's increasingly common for most custom fantasy football leagues to avoid the final week in any NFL season for fear of a fantasy championship being influenced by stars on top-seeded teams being rested before their playoffs. It's typically agreed that ending your league a week early is best practice in fantasy, and since every IDP league is considered "custom," this is the most popular setup for IDP commissioners. Ending in Week 17 isn't the setup used by all IDP leagues, though. Some of you still have something to fight for in Week 18. For those still soldiering on into the wackiest week of the year, we must warn you that matchups matter far more in Week 18 than they did in any week before it.
With multiple NFL teams solidified in their playoff position, or at risk of resting players early once a game or playoff picture is sealed, you must think twice before playing defenders on top-seeded teams this week. Two teams who are at particular risk of resting players early or entirely are the Green Bay Packers and the Tennessee Titans. The Packers are the NFL team who are the most likely to rest their players this week since they have nothing to play for this week with their #1 sealed. The upside of knowing they will likely rest their players now is that you can simply bench your Packers and move on. The same cannot be said for players on teams like the Titans or Chiefs, who both have something on the line in Week 18, yet both could get out to early leads on inferior opponents. The worry with the Chiefs and Titans is not whether they will play their starters, but for how long. That will create issues for some, and it leads us to fade some of their defenders this week.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are several NFL teams who have too much on the line to consider resting their starters. Examples of this scenario include the 49ers, Raiders, and Chargers. Each of these teams faces a “win-and-in” scenario this week, and they are going against division rivals as well. As a result, you have to love the potential of the players in these matchups. We recommend prioritizing players in these types of matchups when making your final waiver claims of the season…. And with that, let’s get on with our Weekly IDP Waiver Priorities. Remember that defenders only qualify if their roster percentage falls below 20% in IDP leagues. Also, remember that our FAAB percentages are based on the amount you have to begin the season. So if you began the season with $100 in FAAB, our recommendation of 3% equates to $3 in FAAB.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including Best NFL Series, MLB Series, NBA Writer, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!
Troy Reeder, LB, Los Angeles Rams
Rostered in 11.1% of IDP leagues
Reeder is still hard to trust due to his inconsistent tackling and the Rams' inconsistent usage of him. However, the former Nittany Lion continues to play a high snap percentage with Ernest Jones out, and he has a great matchup against a 49ers team who fed him double-digit tackles earlier this season. Plus, the Rams seem unlikely to sit their starters since they are in the driver’s seat for the #2 seed in the NFC with a victory. Reeder is a sturdier play in Week 18 than he would be in most weeks.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 2%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 3%
Trey Hendrickson, DL, Cincinnati Bengals
Rostered in 7.9% of IDP leagues
Yes, Hendrickson is still available in over 92% of IDP leagues for some reason. If you play in one of these leagues and are still going, you should love his matchup with a below-average Browns pass-blocking unit. What's better, the Bengals could have reason to compete this week if the Chiefs lose on Saturday, giving Cincy an outside shot at the #1 seed in the AFC.
If the Chiefs lose, the Bengals will likely play their starters for a majority of Week 18. Those starters will probably get out to a big early lead on a declining Browns team, forcing Cleveland to throw a lot. That should give Hendrickson a shot at more than one sack, even if he sits in the fourth quarter.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: All
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: All
Dre Greenlaw, LB, San Francisco 49ers
Rostered in 3.0% of IDP leagues
There are zero guarantees that Greenlaw plays against the Rams, but he did come back to practice last week. With the 49ers thin at linebacker, Greenlaw has a window to elite usage and the potential to return to his old low-end LB2 caliber production if he is cleared to play. A LB2 with a history of coming up big against division rivals in make-or-break season-ending games is a valuable asset in this unpredictable week.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 2%
K’Waun Williams, DB, San Francisco 49ers
Rostered in 2.1% of IDP leagues
Williams was placed on the COVID list Monday, but he can test off that list in time to play the Rams under the new rules. He should be in for lots of Cooper Kupp action if he does clear protocols, as both Williams and Kupp spend most of their time inside. That volume and a near guarantee to play all four quarters make Williams a DB3 option with upside this week.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 1%
Josh Sweat, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Rostered in 2.0% of IDP leagues
Sweat has been on a tear over his past four games, registering four sacks, seven solo tackles, and a forced fumble in that time. Even better, his opponent in Week 18 (the Cowboys) has allowed at least three sacks in three of their past four games.
The Eagles should be motivated to win this game to help their playoff odds and hamper a division rival. That means plenty of snaps for Sweat, who got a half-sack and four tackles against Dallas in their last matchup.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 2%
Grant Delpit, DB, Cleveland Browns
Rostered in 1.5% of IDP leagues
This former LSU star is perhaps the best value in deeper IDP leagues right now, especially in dynasty. The second-year player has seen elite usage the past three weeks, and he's rewarded us with three straight DB2 quality performances. With nothing much to play for right now, it would make sense for Cleveland to continue giving Delpit starter caliber snaps to see what they have in the talented young player. If they do that, you have to love his matchup against the pass-happy Bengals in Week 18.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 4%
Kwity Paye, DL, Indianapolis Colts
Rostered in 2.0% of IDP leagues
Paye is a sack-dependent option going against a Jaguars team that has allowed one of the fewest sack rates in the NFL this year. With that said, the Jaguars' sack rate has gone up in the second half of the season, and they average a healthy 35.6 pass attempts per game. The Colts should also stay active in this game, as a loss could take their playoff destiny out of their hands. Paye collected his most QB hits against the Jaguars in their last meeting, and he has the potential to get another sack in this one.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 2%
Jonas Griffith, LB, Denver Broncos
Rostered in 1.4% of IDP leagues
Griffith’s roster rate hasn’t risen much since he made this list last week, but he does have double-digit tackles in two straight games now. While his matchup with the Chiefs isn't ideal for a player like him, Broncos players are vocal about wanting to win this game for Vic Fangio. Plus, there's a solid chance the Chiefs jump out to a big lead and try to run the clock out in the second half. If Kansas City goes up big and tries to run the game away, that could be good for a flier like Griffith.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 1%
Divine Deablo, LB, Las Vegas Raiders
Rostered in 1.2% of IDP leagues
For those who put on Virginia Tech film to evaluate Caleb Farley this past spring, Deablo was a nice surprise. He popped as a versatile athlete and a value in the middle rounds of this past NFL Draft. That value is starting to show as the rookie’s playing time has increased over the past month. In his past five contests, he's put up at least nine tackles in three games, and that streak could continue against the Chargers in a win-or-go-home matchup. There is some boom-or-bust to this player in Week 18, but he is a worthwhile add in deeper IDP leagues.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 1%
Samson Ebukam, DL, San Francisco 49ers
Rostered in 0.2% of IDP leagues
Our Streamer of the Week from last week is due to see his usual 60% of snaps against the Rams. While Los Angeles usually stifles opposing DLs, Matthew Stafford’s recent struggles/injuries have resulted in four sacks against a below-average Seattle pass rush and a strip-sack against a weak Baltimore pass defense. With the NFC West on the line, it’s very possible that Stafford’s struggles continue and he surrenders multiple sacks to a talented 49ers pass rush. Ebukam is a fine contrarian play in deep IDP leagues.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 1%
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
Win Big With RotoBaller
Be sure to also check out all of our other daily fantasy football articles and analysis to help you set those winning lineups, including this new RotoBaller YouTube video:
