You're Still Here? 

Refusing to leave? Fine, let's give you a few players from the dregs of the waiver wire who might surprise in Week 18. 

The Way This Works...

To see this article's purpose, please refer to the intro from Week 2.

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The Running List of Past Recommendations

I'll update this throughout the season, so you have a wealth of considerations beyond my weekly recommendations. I change their standing as developments occur.

Scroll past these running lists for new suggestions.

Add Nows 

Most of these players will not be available, but you'll get a sense of who has been recommended and who to snap up if they become available. 

• Bryce Young
• Isaac Guerendo
• Alec Pierce
• Kayshon Boutte
• Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
• Devaughn Vele
• Noah Gray
• Ameer Abdullah
• Michael Mayer
• Andrei Iosivas
• Michael Penix Jr.
• Ray Davis
• Drew Lock
• Demarcus Robinson
• Audric Estime
• Malik Washington
• Chig Okonkwo

Preemptive

These players may not give you production this weekend, but they are worth considering because there's potential for them to deliver due to injuries or personnel changes. 

• Payne Durham
• Darius Slayton
• Kimani Vidal
• KaVontae Turpin
• Cam Akers
• Sean Tucker
• Jalen Nailor
• Chris Brooks
• Mike Williams
• Noah Gray
• David Moore

Preemptive/Monitor

You can probably wait until a compelling event creates a potential need for these players. 

• Blake Watson 
• Ricky Pearsall
• Tyler Goodson
• Cordarrelle Patterson
• Brenton Strange
• Kenny McIntosh

Monitor

These players have the talent to contribute to your lineup immediately if elevated to a starting role. If you can't find any talent with playing opportunities to have at the end of your roster, it's worth adding 1-2 of these options in case injury strikes, and you can beat the demand on the waiver wire. 

• Julius Chestnut
• Sterling Shepard
• Tre Tucker
• Brenton Strange
• Dawson Knox
• Nelson Agholor
• Allen Lazard
• Jalin Hyatt
• Cade Stover
• Xavier Hutchinson
• Jameis Winston
• Dylan Laube
• Israel Abanikanda

Forget (For Now...)

They have too many players ahead of them on their depth charts to earn an impact anytime soon. Or they suffered an injury. 

• Tyler Badie
• Dalvin Cook
• Rakim Jarrett 
• Trey Palmer
• Evan Hull
• Dareke Young
• Bub Means
• Chris Rodriguez Jr.
• Adam Trautman
• Jordan Mason (IR)
• Travis Homer
• Jordan Mims
• Noah Brown (IR)
• Theo Johnson (IR)
• Jake Haener

Add Now: RB Michael Carter, Cardinals

The Skinny on Carter: A four-year NFL veteran, Carter starred with Javonte Williams in North Carolina's backfield. A short and quick back with excellent hands, Carter is an underrated runner between the tackles, but his physical profile and lack of top-end speed have earned him the label of a journeyman. 

After mentoring rookie Trey Benson this offseason, Carter has been on the Cardinals' practice squad for most of the year. For the past two weeks, the Cardinals signed Carter to the active roster while James Conner was out. 

Last week, Carter earned 15 touches and 81 yards from scrimmage against the Rams. This week, Arizona placed Conner on IR. Look for Carter to lead the backfield against the 49ers. 

Recommendation: Carter gives you a startable touch and target volume against a 49ers defense that is the seventh-most generous to fantasy running backs. Although a practice squad player this year, Carter is one of those running backs who can give any NFL team plug-and-play starter value because of his smarts and versatility of his on-field skills. 

Ideally, Carter is a plug-and-play flex or RB3, but his ceiling is strong enough to use as an emergency RB1-RB2.

Preemptive: WR Parker Washington, Jaguars

The Skinny on Washington: If you remember Steelers' WR Hines Ward, Washington is a middle-class version of Ward -- good in the middle of the field, physical after the catch, a skilled acrobat with the ball in the air, especially with play-action passes and red-zone targets, and best used in the slot or as a flanker. 

Since Week 13, Washington has 29 targets, 20 catches, 257 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Last week, he caught 3 of 3 targets for 31 yards and a leaping red-zone score at the endline. 

He's skilled at working open against zone coverage and should remain Mac Jones' second safety blanked in the passing game -- he's maybe the first when considering that Brenton Strange is good but not as versatile as Washington.

Recommendation: Jacksonville faces the Colts -- the 12th-most generous fantasy team for receivers this year. Indianapolis gave up 14 targets, 12 catches, 242 yards, and 3 touchdowns to Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson last week -- both players who do work from the slot. Robinson earned 5 catches, 71 yards, and a score. 

Washington gives you a realistic shot at 4-6 catches, 50-70 yards, and a touchdown. Think of him as a desperation flex in lineups that need 4-5 receivers. 

Preemptive/Monitor: WR Justin Watson, Chiefs

The Skinny on Watson: Kansas City has clinched the AFC, and there's a good chance we will see more reserves by the second half of Week 18's game against Denver. Even if this doesn't happen, Watson has a history of playing time and efficient production with that playing time at the end of the season. 

In 2022 and 2023, Watson has been a big-play option during the final weeks of the year. 

Watson hasn't earned a lot of targets, but he's at least getting points in handfuls when targeted. He may not be the athlete the Chiefs' front office wants as a starter for Patrick Mahomes II, but he's the player Andy Reid counts on to do what he's supposed to. 

Besides, Watson is a good athlete with size and skill as a vertical threat. 

Recommendation:  If you're scrapping the bottom of the waiver wire, Watson could be there. So could Derius Davis, the Chargers' gadget player who has earned touchdowns in consecutive weeks. This points to the possibility of a new wrinkle in the L.A. offense. Something is getting Davis wide-open in the red zone. 

Davis is a big-play weapon thanks to his speed and excellent skill after the catch. He's a Pro-Bowl-caliber return specialist. 

Watson and Davis give you a puncher's chance a big play and a touchdown. 

Final Thought

Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.  

Follow @MattWaldman