RADIO
There's no other way to start than pausing and hoping Damar Hamlin pulls through the terrifying Monday night situation. Selfishly, I'm glad I wrote most of this before the game because fantasy feels even less important than usual when life is so acutely put at risk. I know most of you have finished your seasons or await the MNF status, but football takes a backseat here. Still, I've got waiver thoughts for those looking ahead to Week 18. Cherish every moment, RotoBallers.
Joining our famous waiver wire pickups list, our weekly fantasy football waiver wire columns by position, and our free new Who Should I Pickup? Waiver Wire comparison tool, this column focuses on suggested waiver wire bidding percentages for fantasy football owners in leagues using a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB).
As a caveat, these prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for. Each league values players differently and will continue to do so. These values are here to provide a baseline or priority order to understand roughly how much you should be looking to spend on a particular player. Specific needs are always reasonable causes for a manual override. Here are my median FAAB bid ranges and adds going into Week 18.
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FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks
Jarrett Stidham (QB, LV) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
1% rostered
Stidham broke all modeling expectations with 365 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. There were mistakes, yes, but he took the NFL’s best defense to the brink. The Raiders have made it clear that this is his show for the final weeks of 2022.
He’ll wrap up his brief audition at home against Kansas City in what could be another shootout special. The Chiefs are looking to grab the No. 1 seed (with a Buffalo loss) and won’t be rolling over. With many weapons around him, Stidham will look to press another Super Bowl favorite into the corner.
Mike White (QB, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 1-2%
26% rostered
White’s comeback from a two-week rib injury flopped, as he completed 50% of his 46 pass attempts for 240 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also lost a fumble to end the Jets’ playoff hopes and fantasy streamers’ seasons.
But hope springs eternal as Miami’s generous defense approaches the horizon. The Jets can end the Dolphins’ season with a win and it is unlikely Skylar Thompson flips the field on NYJ often. Miami just let Mac Jones toss a pair of TDs, so anything is possible.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs
Zack Moss (RB, IND) - FAAB Bid: 100%
46% rostered
Moss was a bright spot for the Colts in Week 17, gathering 74 yards on 15 rush attempts as they lost by 28. He’s the clear lead back for Indy and has 65-plus yards in three straight contests, but is barely used in the passing game.
Those in non- or half-PPR formats can drum up some confidence for him against a vulnerable Houston rush D in Week 18. The Texans let Travis Etienne Jr. rush for over 100 yards against them in the early going before he was pulled, allowing 169 total rush yards on the day. Moss should approach the century mark if the quarterbacking is anywhere near average, which is not a given.
Chase Edmonds (RB, DEN) - FAAB Bid: 30-50%
21% rostered
Edmonds generated 73 total yards out of 10 touches on a day when Marlon Mack exited with a hamstring injury. Latavius Murray was still the 1A with 18 opportunities, but Edmonds is making things happen as a receiver, just as we knew he could.
The Chargers have been gashed on the ground all season long, with Cam Akers’ 133 total yards in Week 17 serving as the latest notice. Denver may look to control the clock with its run game and hope the defense keeps a lid on Justin Herbert to close out 2022 with (some) pride.
Royce Freeman (RB, HOU) - FAAB Bid: 10-20%
1% rostered
It was once again ugly, but Freeman led Houston’s RBs with 12 opportunities and 39 total yards. This is a pure punt play where you hope the Texans wind up on the one-yard line for a TD plunge. The good news here is their Week 18 tilt against another offensively-deficient unit in Indianapolis should keep the run game relevant throughout.
Corey Clement (RB, ARI) - FAAB Bid: 8-12%
1% rostered
James Conner left Arizona’s Week 17 loss to Atlanta with a shin injury after being the workhorse yet again. This left Corey Clement and his elite pass blocking as the starter, seeing eight opportunities for 32 yards. If Conner is shut down or limited to end the season, then Clement could be a sneaky volume play in a dreadful matchup at San Francisco.
Matt Breida (RB, NYG) - FAAB Bid: 5-10%
4% rostered
Surely we all want to see competitive games wherever possible and hope the Giants look to spoil Philadelphia’s bid for the No. 1 seed. But the Giants can’t do anything for their own seeding here and may opt to limit Saquon Barkley for the playoffs.
Week 17’s blowout may have given us a taste, with Breida garnering 67 yards on 10 touches as Barkley had 53 yards on 16 opportunities. Some of you could really use a shot at 10-15 RB touches and Breida presents a dart.
Malik Davis (RB, DAL) - FAAB Bid: 5-10%
1% rostered
Davis is another avenue for a backup RB seeing increased work if Dallas wants Tony Pollard at 100% for the playoffs. We may never know how truly injured Pollard was going into Week 17 but his being out puts his Week 18 at risk.
The Cowboys can clinch the NFC East with a win at the Commanders and an Eagles loss to the Giants. Washington isn’t a significant threat and Davis proved capable in Week 17, turning 12 touches into 62 yards against Tennessee.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers
Isaiah Hodgins (WR, NYG) - FAAB Bid: 20-30%
Richie James (WR, NYG) - FAAB Bid: 20-30%
9% & 18% rostered
Hodgins and James continued to help fantasy teams in Week 17, each scoring a touchdown while Darius Slayton struggled. Slayton hasn’t scored since Week 10 and lost a fumble on Sunday, while Hodgins now has four TDs in the last five games and James has 17-plus PPR points in three of the previous four.
Big Blue may rest some key starters in Week 18 but their depleted WR corps leaves little to fall back on. Maybe Kenny Golladay will make an appearance! But I’m never going to count on that ever again.
Rashid Shaheed (WR, NO) - FAAB Bid: 15-20%
6% rostered
The Saints leaned on the run in Week 17, but Shaheed still led all skill players with 47 snaps (out of 68). He ran 28 routes to Chris Olave’s 29 while leading the team with six catches and 79 yards. That makes 75 or more yards in three of his last four games, with this latest effort fueled by a big 58-yard catch. Big-play ability can make lower volume work.
Tyquan Thornton (WR, NE) - FAAB Bid: 10-15%
1% rostered
Thornton turned seven targets into his first game with multiple receptions since Week 14 and his first TD since Week 6. His 60 yards were a season-high mark as he ran 35 routes, the same as Jakobi Meyers, operating as a starter ahead of Kendrick Bourne (20 routes) and Nelson Agholor (19).
If DeVante Parker isn’t ready for Week 18’s must-win against Buffalo, then expect the speedy Thornton to maintain the strong opportunity rate. The Pats have needed a spark to go alongside Meyers and the rookie looks to supply it. Those seeking a similar boost should aim for his upside, though New England can be fickle with playing-time carousels.
K.J. Osborn (WR, MIN) - FAAB Bid: 10-15%
11% rostered
Osborn posted his third viable game in the last four weeks, hauling in all seven of his targets for 59 yards and a touchdown. With MNF to go, Osborn has been a top-10 WR in PPR over the last four weeks as he earns his spot in the pecking order.
Adam Thielen has disappeared as a result, but this offense is flowing through the air. Dalvin Cook hasn’t posted a 100-yard game on the ground since Week 10, with two weeks under 30 yards in his last four. The Vikes should have their way with Chicago in Week 18, but Osborn’s increased usage of late cannot go unnoticed.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends
Juwan Johnson (TE, NO) - FAAB Bid: 25-40%
28% rostered
Johnson may not have found paydirt but he saw seven targets in Week 17, catching five of them for 62 yards. That gives him two games topping 60 yards in his last three, with 40-plus in five of his previous seven. The 2022 finale against Carolina provides his last chance to add to seven touchdowns in his first year as a starter.
Tyler Conklin (TE, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 10-20%
29% rostered
Conklin caught all six targets for 80 yards and now looks to avenge his only zero-catch game of the year (Week 5) against Miami. While C.J. Uzomah did draw seven targets of his own, he only had six in the previous four games combined so Conklin remains the TE to target here.
Robert Tonyan (TE, GB) - FAAB Bid: 5-10%
24% rostered
Tonyan turned four targets into a 3-52-1 line as Green Bay routed Minnesota in Week 17. His usage has been inconsistent at best, which is true of most Green Bay pass-catchers, but DET-GB is one of the few Week 18 tilts to matter.
Those in need of a TE or flex dart could do worse than aiming at Detroit’s porous secondary. They’ve given up over 10 PPR points to opposing TEs in four of their last five.
Trey McBride (TE, ARI) - FAAB Bid: 5-10%
4% rostered
Who knew it would take David Blough at QB to unlock the McBride potential? They showed a solid connection as McBride caught 7-of-10 targets for 78 yards and a score. He wound up absorbing much of DeAndre Hopkins’ workload with the veteran out to build on a modest-yet-steady workload bump following Arizona’s Week 13 bye. McBride is one of 13 TEs to average 10 or more PPR points in the last four weeks.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams
Seattle Seahawks Defense (vs. LAR) - FAAB Bid: 20-30%
28% rostered
The Christmas magic wore off for the Rams, who flopped against the Chargers in Week 17. Outside of their performance against Denver, the Rams have yielded at least three sacks in their last eight games.
The Seahawks are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive with a win (and a Packers loss). More importantly, they found their spark at home with four sacks, three turnovers, and a measly six points allowed to the Jets in Week 17. Ride the wave against an inconsistent-at-best Rams team.
New York Jets Defense (at MIA) - FAAB Bid: 20-30%
37% rostered
The Jets may be out of the playoffs but we’ll hope they go down swinging to TKO their division rivals in Miami. The Dolphins are likely without Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) and Teddy Bridgewater just suffered a dislocated pinkie on his throwing hand, leaving Skylar Thompson as the starter.
You may recall Thompson’s first 2022 action came against the Jets in an ugly 40-17 loss where he had 166 passing yards, an interception, and a fumble lost. For now, the Jets are a steady target in a game with a 39.5 total line at most Vegas books.
Indianapolis Colts Defense (vs. HOU) - FAAB Bid: 15-25%
21% rostered
The Colts got annihilated by the Giants in Week 17 but sometimes redemption is spelled H-O-U-S-T-O-N. After stringing together some scrappy games, the Texans imploded against Jacksonville and barely made a dent on the scoreboard. They’ve surrendered 14 turnovers and five touchdowns to opposing defenses over their last seven games. If you’re desperate, then simply target Houston if possible.
Minnesota Vikings Defense (at CHI) - FAAB Bid: 10-20%
34% rostered
The Vikings can still technically get the No. 2 seed back from San Francisco with a win over Chicago, but it would require SF losing to Arizona. Unlikely, but the Vikes have enough to play for in this plus matchup. Also, there’s no way they want to stumble into the playoffs in their current form. Justin Fields is great but Chicago has surrendered 15 sacks in their last three games.
Houston Texans Defense (at IND) - FAAB Bid: 10-20%
1% rostered
Or you’re really desperate and need a team available in every league! The Colts lost Nick Foles to a rib injury on Sunday and may turn to Sam Ehlinger as the starter once again in the season finale.
Indy hasn’t shown much faith in Ehlinger and he’s given them little reason to, producing one touchdown across ~2.5 games of action. This game has already been bet down to a total line of 38 at some sportsbooks and Houston has multiple takeaways in five straight games.
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