FantasyPros Staff | Tue, Dec 30th 2025, 7:06am EST

Top 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Priority Pickups (Week 18)

Our analysts combine to provide rankings for weekly fantasy football waiver wire targets. We’ll help you prioritize your bids for the week ahead. Check out our full expert consensus fantasy football waiver wire rankings and all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for the week. Here are our latest fantasy football waiver wire rankings and top fantasy football waiver wire pickups to target for the week.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings & Top Targets: Week 18

Note: Players chosen based upon having early-week consensus roster percent below 50%.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

Audric Estime RB – NO): 11% Rostered

Next Opponent: @ATL
True Value: $11
Desperate Need: $19
Budget-Minded: $6

Analysis: In Week 16, hybrid Taysom Hill had a team-high 12 carries in the Saints’ 29-6 win over the Jets, while Audric Estime had only 5-19-0 rushing and 3-17-0 receiving. But in Week 17, the Saints turned the backfield over to Estime, and he responded with 14-94-1 rushing and 1-4-0 receiving in a 34-26 win over the Titans. It’s reasonable to think the Saints will stick with Estime as their primary ball-carrier when they close the season in Atlanta. Going into Week 16, the Falcons had allowed the 11th-most rushing yards to running backs.

Parker Washington (WR – JAX): 37% Rostered

Next Opponent: vs. TEN
True Value: $5
Desperate Need: $9
Budget-Minded: $3

Analysis: Trevor Lawrence has the Jaguars’ offense humming, and Parker Washington has been Lawrence’s favorite target over the last two weeks. Washington had six catches for 145 yards and a touchdown against the Broncos in Week 16, and he had eight catches for 115 yards against the Colts in Week 17. Washington gets a Week 18 matchup against the Titans, who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points and eighth-most receiving yards to wide receivers.

Colston Loveland (TE – CHI): 48% Rostered

Next Opponent: vs. DET
True Value: $5
Desperate Need: $9
Budget-Minded: $3

Analysis: Colston Loveland has had at least three catches in each of his last 11 games, so there’s a reasonably sturdy floor here. The Bears have a strong running game, so they aren’t especially pass-happy, and that limits Loveland’s ceiling to some extent, although we got a glimpse of the ceiling in Week 17, when Loveland had six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown versus the 49ers. Rome Odunze has been out with a foot injury, which has helped Loveland get a steady diet of targets. The rookie tight end has drawn at least five targets in five consecutive games. He gets a Week 18 matchup against the Lions, whose defensive backfield has been decimated by injuries.

Malik Davis (RB – DAL): 2% Rostered

Next Opponent: @NYG
True Value: $15
Desperate Need: $25
Budget-Minded: $10

Analysis: Javonte Williams sustained a shoulder injury in the second quarter of the Cowboys’ Week 17 win over the Commanders and did not return. Malik Davis took over as the Cowboys’ lead back and had 20 carries for 102 yards. Davis was also targeted twice but couldn’t haul in either throw. With Dallas out of the playoff hunt, it seems unlikely the Cowboys will rush Williams back into action. If Williams is out, Davis figures to get a mammoth workload against the Giants, who have one of the worst run defenses in the league. Davis could be a smash start in Week 18.

Luther Burden III (WR – CHI): 23% Rostered

Next Opponent: vs. DET
True Value: $5
Desperate Need: $9
Budget-Minded: $3

Analysis: After being used sparingly for much of the season, Luther Burden has come on late in his rookie year. Over his last four games, Burden has had 22 catches for 322 yards on 28 targets, with at least six targets and four catches in each of those games. He exploded for eight catches, 138 yards and a touchdown on Sunday night against the 49ers. Burden has an appealing Week 18 matchup against the Lions and their injury-depleted secondary.

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