Week 18 Waiver Wire: Examining Fantasy Football Lineup Options After Injury Reports

Since his benching early in the 2024 season, Bryce Young has undergone a career renaissance, including becoming a legitimate waiver wire target for managers in need of quarterback help down the stretch.

That trend continues in Week 18, but the Panthers QB is hardly the only waiver wire player worthy of managers’ attention.

Who are the two running backs who should get a look from those in need of help at the position amid some high-profile players either sitting out this week or facing health issues?

Find out with this preview of the final week of the fantasy football season.

Tyler Allgeier may be the best “backup” running back in football and could have plenty of opportunity to flex his muscles in Week 18.

He still gets carries despite Bijan Robinson developing into the top-five fantasy option at the position and, depending on the team’s playoff situation during Sunday’s game, may see more playing time than usual.

If so, he is a worthwhile start for managers who might be facing a league championship game without Bengals running back Chase Brown, who is officially questionable for a high-stakes showdown against the Steelers, or in sudden need of a replacement after Saquon Barkley was deemed “doubtful” due to coach’s decision.

Allgeier made the most of his limited carries this year, still averaging 4.5 yards per. If he gets a significant chance to play against the Panthers, do not be surprised if he breaks out and ends the day as a top running back in fantasy, thanks to a Carolina defense that is worst in the league against the position, giving up 29.65 points per game.

Managers should not take the unnecessary risk on him if there are other options on their rosters but he is a worthy start in a risk, especially due to the favorable match-up.

Since being benched earlier in the season, Bryce Young has been a solid fantasy contributor. He found renewed drive and played some of the best football of his young career. Playing with more confidence, he looks like a signal caller who has figured it out and has a bright future in Carolina, if he can find steady coaching.

From a fantasy perspective, last year’s No. 1 overall pick has thrown at least one passing touchdown in his last nine starts and added three rushing touchdowns in six of those starts.

He has finished in the top 20 at his position in nine of his last 10 starts and Sunday, plays an Atlanta Falcons team ranked 27th against opposing quarterbacks and giving up 18.93 points per game.

With no playoff positioning to play for, look for the Panthers to open things up in hopes of knocking one of their division rivals out of the postseason and in doing so, create opportunities for Young to finish among the best fantasy QBs this final week of the season.

He is a legitimate starter for fantasy managers who need to find someone to replace Anthony Richardson, who did not participate in practice after missing last week’s start against the Giants and is officially listed as “out.”

Michael Carter has one of the best match-ups for any waiver wire running back in Week 18, against a San Francisco 49ers defense that ranks 28th against his position and allows 25.17 points per game to opposing backs.

A dual-threat player who can contribute in the passing game as well, he is a worthwhile start for managers, especially if they have underperforming backs or are facing uncertainty surrounding Brown and Warren.

Against the Rams in Week 17, he carried 13 times for 70 yards, an average of 5.4. Against a San Francisco team playing for nothing and hoping to finish out an abysmal post-Super Bowl season, and for a Cardinals team also looking to play the game out and wrap things up for the year, he could see a steady workload.

Especially with James Conner leaving the Rams game with an injury and Trey Benson being unavailable at this point.

There are no strings attached to this one: managers in need should grab him and start him this week. He is available in 95 percent of Yahoo and 76 percent of ESPN leagues.

All stats via FantasyPros unless otherwise noted