Week 18 Free Agent Focus

By DS Staff 6:15am EST 1/3/23

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Here are our top waiver-wire recommendations across fantasy football formats, based on players available in more than half of ESPN leagues. Make sure you check your Free Agent Finder for the best available options in your specific league.

Players are separated by position, then listed in the order we'd prioritize them.

Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers

Purdy threw for a career-high 284 yards and 2 TDs in Sunday's OT win over the Raiders. He has now tallied 2 passing scores in 5 straight games. Week 18 brings a banged-up Cardinals defense that remains a positive scoring matchup for QBs by adjusted fantasy points allowed. The 49ers will also still have the conference's #1 seed to play for, as their game kicks off at the same time as Philly's.

Zack Moss, RB, Colts

Moss controlled work in Indianapolis’ backfield for the 3rd straight week, this time carrying 15 times for 74 yards in the loss to the Giants. That gives him 51 carries over the last 3 games, at 4.3 yards per rush -- 5.2 per carry over his 2 starts.

Moss closes the season in a nice spot at home for the Texans. Houston remains the league's top scoring matchup for RBs, a gap that actually widened after Week 17. The Texans most recently allowed 3 different Jacksonville RBs to reach the end zone.

Chase Edmonds, RB, Broncos

RB Marlon Mack exited early in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs, and Edmonds ended up seeing a lot of action. He finished with 7 carries for 34 yards and 3 catches on 3 targets for 39 more. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Denver take a longer look at Edmonds in the finale against a vulnerable Chargers run defense.

Kadarius Toney, WR, Chiefs

Toney hauled in all 4 of his targets for 71 yards in the win over Denver on Sunday – his highest yardage total among 6 games with the Chiefs. He added a lost fumble on a punt return.

With WR Skyy Moore hurting his hand Sunday and WR Mecole Hardman suffering a setback with his abdomen injury Wednesday, Toney could be in for a significant role vs. the Raiders. Note that the Chiefs should be playing starters as they currently have a shot at the #1 seed.

Rashid Shaheed, WR, Saints

Even with Chris Olave back on Sunday, it was Shaheed leading New Orleans’ WR corps with 6 targets, 6 catches and 79 yards. He’s averaging 4.3 catches and 72.5 yards over his last 4 games.

Week 18 brings a Panthers defense that just got smoked by the Bucs’ passing game. Top CB Jaycee Horn is expected to remain out.

Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams

Higbee busted with just 3 catches for 14 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. But his 4 targets were 21% of the team total in a game in which QB Baker Mayfield threw just 19 passes.

That keeps Higbee in the mix for a Week 18 game against a Seahawks defense that’s bled fantasy points to TEs all season.

Tyler Conklin, TE, Jets

He caught all 6 of his targets for a team-high 80 yards in this past week's plus matchup against the Seahawks. Mike White — returning from a rib injury — clearly wasn’t 100% in this one. HC Robert Saleh admitted White is still dealing with pain, adding that the QB should be OK for Sunday.

Conklin gets another favorable draw in Week 18 against Miami, who ranks 29th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs.