Jake Ciely’s Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets For Week 18 (Ep. 1921)

Summary

FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode Title: Jake Ciely’s Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets For Week 18
Date: December 29, 2025
Host: Joey P. (Joe Pisapia)
Guest Analyst: Jake Ciely (The Athletic)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into Week 18 waiver wire strategy, focusing on viable last-ditch pickups for fantasy football leagues still playing championships. The hosts, Joey P. and Jake Ciely, address the unique chaos of Week 18—when injuries, playoff rest, and unpredictable workloads can turn the waiver wire into a minefield. They provide analysis, reasoned takes, and commiseration for those still grinding, with special attention to players most likely to offer value as teams rest starters and backups get their shots.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Week 18 Challenge

• Joey P. immediately sets the tone:
  “If you're still playing fantasy football in week 18, you’ve made some bad life choices… Week 18 is full of landmines.” (00:35)
• Both agree that Week 18 is about opportunity, not star power. Many top players are resting, so managers must make savvy pickups, even among unheralded names.

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2. Running Backs to Target

Audric Estime (Atlanta Falcons)

• Jake Ciely:
  “Estimate, he’s an above average… if you’re doing a scale of 10 and 5 was actually average. I’d put Estimate like 5.5 out of running backs.” (02:16)
• Estime’s recent good game suggests some upside, but expectations are tempered. He projects as an RB2 in a week where volume trumps talent.
• “By the end of this list, potentially a lot of running backs that aren’t even going to be playing in week 18.” (02:44)

Malik Davis (Denver Broncos)

• Joey P. highlights Davis’ surprise performance:
  “20 rushes for 103 yards… That kind of came out of nowhere for folks. So could he be a difference maker in week 18?” (08:02)
• Ciely:
  “Malik Davis will probably be out there for most of the game. …Would it surprise you… if he finishes as a top 10 running back again this week? No.” (09:07)
• Davis is set to benefit from injuries and Denver likely avoiding their starters.

Emmanuel Wilson (Green Bay Packers)

• Ciely:
  “Emmanuel Wilson’s the obvious name. He’s been the obvious name for some time. …Assuming Jacobs rests. Most of the Packers… are set [in playoff seeding].” (09:38)
• Wilson projects for big volume as the Packers are expected to rest Josh Jacobs and others.

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3. Wide Receiver Waiver Plays

Josh Downs (Indianapolis Colts)

• Ciely:
  “Michael Pittman left the game… Why push back Michael Pittman in Week 18… now you’re down to Alec Pierce and Downs as your top two options. Even if it’s Riley Leonard [at QB], …he’s just going to be in play as a top 40, 45 wide receiver.” (04:03)
• Downside is volume-driven, dependent on Pittman’s status and who’s playing QB.

Jimaré DK (Tennessee Titans)

• Running joke about “the only DK playing in Week 18.”
• Ciely:
  “It’s these wide receiver fours… You’re not going to get production every single week. ...But you mentioned it’s been the connection with Cam Ward. He’s had more good games than bad games in the second half of the season.” (05:02)
• DK is a boom-or-bust WR4, but with the potential for a good game, particularly with rivalry motivation.

Isaac Tesla (Detroit Lions)

• Brief mention as a possible fill-in if Amon-Ra St. Brown is rested:
  “Isaac Tesla is in play, as we’ve seen so far.” (10:32)

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4. Tight End Option: Michael Mayer (Las Vegas Raiders)

• Ciely:
  “Yeah, he was viable last week. He’s viable this week. Had more points than Taysom Hill. Had a lot more points than Taysom Hill.” (06:23)
• Mayer is a streaming candidate, especially in desperate situations. Jokingly notes the volatility of trusting tight ends in Week 18:
  “Watch, this will be the week where everybody goes to Mayer and he scores like two, and then Taysom Hill has one of his 15 point games.” (07:03)
• Suggestion to stop chasing Taysom Hill altogether for 2026:
  “Can we just put Taysom Hill to rest and not talk about him [in] 2026?” (07:25)

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5. Quarterback Deep Cuts

• Riley Leonard (Colts) as a potential Superflex option:
  “Technically was the third string quarterback to start the season that we might get another this week. …If you need a quarterback, Riley Leonard, that’s what we’re going to be looking at.” (10:58)
• Expect more backup QB news as teams officially announce rest days.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Joey P.:
  “If these names don’t get you excited, well, guess what, you shouldn’t be playing in week 18. But if you are, we’re still here to help you. Regardless, we don’t judge here at Fantasy Pros.” (11:45)

• Jake Ciely:
  “Wide receiver fours are not going to be perfect. But… he’s had more good games than bad games in the second half of the season.” (05:31)

• On Taysom Hill Streamers:
  “I want him to ride into the sunset and remember him fondly.” — Joey P. (07:19)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:35 – Setting the tone: Why Week 18 is chaotic
• 01:09 – Audric Estime breakdown and waiver landscape
• 03:43 – Josh Downs’ Week 18 opportunity
• 04:37 – Jimaré DK’s role and discussion of WR4 realities
• 06:02 – Michael Mayer discussion and TE streaming volatility
• 08:16 – Malik Davis as the Broncos’ possible bell cow
• 09:38 – Emmanuel Wilson and Packers’ expectations
• 10:58 – Deep cut QBs: Riley Leonard and more
• 11:45 – Parting encouragement for brave Week 18 managers

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Episode Flow and Style

The hosts take a playful but pragmatic stance, with an undercurrent of commiseration for fantasy players still battling in Week 18:
"But if you are, we're still here to help you. Regardless, we don't judge here at Fantasy Pros."
Their advice is laced with self-aware jokes—they know how strange and perilous Week 18 can be. They dissect the fallout from injuries and playoff seeding with expert clarity, highlighting opportunity over star power and advocating for aggressive, opportunistic streaming.

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Final Takeaways

• Week 18 is about seizing opportunity as backups ascend due to bizarre playoff and injury situations.
• Priority adds: Audric Estime (RB), Malik Davis (RB), Emmanuel Wilson (RB), Josh Downs (WR), Jimaré DK (WR), Michael Mayer (TE), and possibly Riley Leonard (QB, Superflex).
• Stay vigilant; monitor injury reports, team updates, and news on player rest leading into the weekend.
• The podcast’s tools—Waiver Central and the Fantasy Pros app—are still useful even in the last week.

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Useful for: Fantasy managers seeking last-minute advice, especially in leagues with Week 18 championships, and anyone interested in the strategic intricacies of navigating one of fantasy football’s trickiest weeks.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

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[Joey P]

Welcome in everybody to Fantasy pros. This is the fantasy football podcast. It's me, Joey P. Joe P. Zapa. And if you're still playing fantasy football in week 18, you've made some bad life choices because like every single week 18, you have players who aren't playing because of injuries. You have teams that are taking guys out because they're moving on to the playoffs and they don't want people to get hurt. So really, week 18 is full of landmines. But thank goodness we have Jake Sealey from the Athletic to help us step over them and hopefully not explode chances for those who are playing week 18 championships.

[Jake Seeley]

So Jake Seeley, let's start here at.

[Joey P]

The top with Audrey Estimate. Fantastic performance. Everybody was curious to see if Tayson Hill was going to carry over week to week. He did not. So the swan song of Taysom Hill, the big fat zero in week 17. I know heard a lot of people streaming him. But I guess the good news, if you're still playing an Audre Estimates on the waiver watch, that's somebody you could look at for week 18.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

Yeah, maybe some people blame for fun in week 18. I could see that. So let's not hate on everybody. And maybe they're just here to watch us, Joe, because they love watching us go back and forth in the week.

[Joey P]

Well, I can understand that.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

Exactly. Here's the good news. I want to talk an estimate here real quickly. But at least Taysom Hill, he's a tight end. So like how many times you get a zero or one from your tight end anyway? So it's not like it killed killed you. I mean it definitely hurt. But hey, you know what? That's what you were doing. You're chasing the ceiling. Esteve. I don't know if you were watching my face for everybody. If everybody's just only listening and not watching the video video it's still estimate this is the only reason is like if you can see the list before we're about to talk through the list it's not like you're going to be, oh my God, I can't believe I can get this player in week 18. Let's go. No, this is a blank list. Let's put it that way, Joe and Estimate, he's an above average.

[Joey P]

Ish.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

I would say like if you're doing a scale of 10 and 5 was actually average. I put estimate like 5.5 out of running backs. He is just that. And he's in a position where volume is going to help. Similar to Kymani Vidal and either. You know, the thing is with Vidal and Estimate is that we just got the good game and if you chase it, you might get that. Remember, Vidal was every other week Estimate just came off a really bad game and then showed up last week with a big run and a touchdown. Not taking that away from him. But head to Atlanta who have nothing to play for. But I just want to expect another top 15 performance from estimate because he's still just barely an above average running back. But we're in week 18 as you think. Your response right there, like you have to go for him because he's in a RB2 potentially with when we get to the end of this list, Joe, Potentially a lot of running backs that aren't even going to be playing in week 18.

[Joey P]

Yeah. And we will have some bonus guys as well. But Look, Tyler Schuck, 300 yard game. That was fun.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

I was going to say it's more about shock than anything.

[Jake Seeley]

Yeah.

[Joey P]

Like, you know what?

[Jake Seeley]

Hot take. I don't want to see the Panthers.

[Joey P]

I don't want to see the Buccaneers. I don't care. Both those teams can go put the Saints in the playoffs, New Orleans Saints in the playoffs. That's what I want. That's what I want.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

Forget the game to decide the division. Let's just have a United States vote and who gets in.

[Joey P]

I think we should. I'll put it to you. Would you rather see the Saints in the playoffs than those two other teams? I would at this point.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

I'd rather see the Bucks if I knew Baker Mayfield was healthy and he's not.

[Joey P]

Like he's clearly not, so he's clearly not. All right, let's get to a wide receiver on the list here. We got a couple, actually, Josh Downs.

[Jake Seeley]

The first one.

[Joey P]

Talk to me about what Josh Downs could do for people in week 18.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

I assume, and we'll talk about the other person later on, is that they're going to be switching the quarterback position. So this might go sideways, but this has more to do with the fact that Michael Pittman left the game and as is going to be some of these endgame pieces that we're talking about here. Colts are out of it. I wouldn't be surprised if Jonathan Taylor doesn't get a full run in this game. And the reason there's nobody on the list behind Jonathan Taylor because there's nobody really on the list behind Jonathan Taylor that we would care about to start. But why push back Michael Pittman in Week 18 coming off the injury when he's already dealt with some earlier this year? So it really comes down to now you're down to Alec Pierce and downs as your top two options. Even if it's Riley Leonard, it's just going to be a volume standpoint where I think that downs, even if we don't have that same connection we just saw with Rivers, that he's just going to be in play as a top 40, 45 wide receiver just because of everything else that's out there.

[Joey P]

Now, a guy we've talked about before on the show, Jim Ray, DK is.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

This time, fourth time at least.

[Jake Seeley]

You know what?

[Joey P]

Look, you know, Alec IO Manor was a guy that I thought going into the year could eventually carve out a role for himself, and he had a couple moments earlier in the year. But it seems like DK really has been the guy that has popped for Cam Ward, especially in the second half of the season. Again, there's limitations to the Titans offense. I think we all recognize that. But still, the DK is still floating out there in a lot of leagues. So what are your thoughts on him? The only DK that's playing in week 18.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

I see what you did there. Yeah, that was a good one. Yeah. So it comes out, like I said, with third, fourth, fifth time we've talked about him and he keeps going to like get sitting out there mostly because I want to take this as purely put DK aside here for a second, Joe, and it's these wide receiver fours because that's still what DK is. And we've talked about this, I think around mid season is understanding what wide receiver fours are you. You're not going to get production every single week. And I think that's why we end up talking about DK so many times is because he has a good game or two, he has a bad one and people are like, well forget it, he's on the Titans.

[Joey P]

It's dk.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

Let me move on to somebody else. The hot name of the week, wide receiver, 17 in our waiver pickups and it's just like no, just stick with dk. He's not going to be perfect. Wide receiver fours are not going to be perfect. But you mentioned it's been the connection with Cam Ward. He's had more good games than bad games in the second half of the season. And what do they have this week? Potential spoilers on hand because there is still super, super, super, super long shot that the Jaguars can get the number one seed. But you tell me the Titans aren't thinking, hey, we're going to go out there and play full bore against our division rivals 100%.

[Joey P]

Speaking of spoiling things, the New York Giants spoiled their shot at a number one overall pick. Giants go to Giants because they Giants are going to Giants by beating up on the Raiders 3410. And obviously that Raider team did not have Geno Smith for a part of that game who got hurt. And we had no Brock Bowers. But it's no Brock Bowers I want to talk about because Michael Mayer, for those of you looking for a tight end, is he viable this week?

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

Yeah, he was viable last week. He's viable this week. Had more points than Taysum Hill. Had a lot more points than Tayson Hill.

[Joey P]

Well, you only needed one point to have more points.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

Technically he needed a catch for no yards and you still would have got more and a half point.

[Joey P]

Just that one ppr, one point per.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

Like the real thing here is, you know, going against Kansas City, which we've seen that they're pretty much wrapping things up in their defense or you know, rested. I'm not saying like wrapping things up is like they're arresting their entire team, but like their defense has been a question or ready towards the end of the year and now there are situations out of it where you're not pushing these players again. And by returning to Kenny Pickett, which what do we know about Kenny Pickett? He's definitely not tossing the ball 50 yards, 40 yards downfield. So he's going to Michael Mayer and Trey Tucker if he's out there in week 18 for your week 18 fun one offs and championships. But yeah, Michael Mayer at tight end. Watch this will be the week where everybody goes to Mayer and he scores like two and then Taysom Hill has one of his 15 point games.

[Joey P]

No, no, no more of that. No more. We can't do the Taysom Hill roller coaster. I want him to to the sunset and remember him fondly.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

How about that Joe New Year's resolution? Can we just put Taysom Hill to rest and not talk about him 20, 26. Can we just make him go away?

[Joey P]

Low key. Kellen Moore has done a really good job with that team. I was out on the Saints and Chris Olave has finished as a top 10 wide receiver. Tyler Shuck has shown you that. I'm pretty sure he's their quarterback of the future. Like everybody kind of mocked that pick because he was older and all that stuff. Guess what? Maybe it's an older pocket passing quarterback. That's what you need to succeed the NFL. After all, you know, guys figure things out and learn. He does, he does. And he's done a really good job. More on him next year, but more. Let's talk about Malik Davis because this week Javante Williams health in question. Malik Davis went out there and dropped a big game there. 20 rushes for 103 yards there in that game last week against the Washington Commanders. That kind of came out of nowhere for folks. So could he be a difference maker in week 18?

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

Yeah. Yeah. Especially because unlike the previous team, the Giants just faced the Cowboys, if they lay down that I put in quotes is that they're still going to lay down to players who are going to play. They're not going to go for the One of the best tank jobs we've seen at all time. Like this is NBA borderline tank job. By the way, the Raiders just pulled because did you see Zemir White in four drives? It was funny because I have a Raiders fan buddy. We were watching this game and I'm like, this is. I told you this is why I gave up on the Giants in 2020. This right here, kudos on tanking. Much better than the Giants. But the Cowboys are, you know, they're out of it. They're going to be thinking like they still want to win the game because you know, draft position at where they're at doesn't really matter out on the high note. But you mentioned it. Javante Williams hurt. Maybe we don't even see Dak Prescott for the full game. But what we should see, and that's what we're going to talk about with some of these bonus players at the end. We should see these backups out there for most of the game. Malik Davis will probably be out there for most of the game. And what do they get? They get the Giants run defense who can't stop anybody of anybody of anybody in the run game and you get to close things out with that Malik Davis, honestly, would it surprise you? Like I'm not going to rank him there, but he won't be far out like, would you be surprised if he finishes the top 10 running back again this week? No.

[Joey P]

Oh, absolutely not.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

No.

[Joey P]

Because of the carry volume and what we're looking at here. And again, if he has the backfield all to himself, the game script potentially of that game as well. There's a lot of reasons. Also, there's some other bonus guys too, because of injuries I know you want to mention. So let's start with Emmanuel Wilson. You can take it from there.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

Yeah, the. Emmanuel Wilson's the obvious name. He's been the obvious name for some time. I'm sorry. Everybody who had Josh Jacobs for the past two weeks, by the way, potential least valuable player because he pretty much got you here playing through injuries. Kudo Josh Jacobs. But then, boom, two weeks. It couldn't get any worse than last week and then it did for anybody who tried.

[Joey P]

I think after last week, if you didn't learn your lesson, you had to be like, look, he was off the injury report.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

He was.

[Joey P]

I know, but it doesn't matter. If you didn't learn your lesson from the week before and you made it through, you couldn't go back to that. Well, I thought that was very.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

No, because not everybody had options to turn to. And for all intents and purposes, Joe, if you watched, you saw. I was going to say you watched. Like, I know you watched the game. He was the lead running back. They just didn't run the ball. Malik Willis was running the ball. He had all of the carries, which was a whopping like what, four? And then the game was completely out of hand at that point anyway.

[Joey P]

All the carries went to Derek Henry in that.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

Yes. Oh, yeah, that's. That is true.

[Joey P]

Every team from every moment. Everything was just Derek.

[Fantasy Pros Analyst]

Assuming Jacobs rests. Most of the packers. Because the packers can't do anything about their position. Like they came and moved up to six. Like they're set. Their set, set, set. So looking at getting people. People healthy if they try to win that playoff game, it's going to need some Josh Jacobs in that. So he's going to rest. I wouldn't be surprised if Jordan Love is held up for no. But so Emmanuel Wilson. But that's where we're going with this. The Lions, we know they're out of it. They just lost their playoff position. So we've seen Amal Ron St. Brown already banged up this year. Would it be a shock if he rests in this game? So Isaac Tesla is in play, as we've seen so far. And then to go back to the Colts is what I was alluding to before, if you need a quarterback and if you're playing in week 18 in a Super flex, you might need one because we just had, as you know, Joe, six, six third string quarterbacks start this past week. We're going to get in somebody who technically was the third string quarterback to start the season that we might get another this week. And Riley Leonard. So the good news about him is if you want like the Jackson dart, not quite the rushing upside, but very similar in the fact that he will run, there's some rushing upside there. He has some weapons to throw too. So if you need a quarterback on Riley Leonard, that's what we're going to be looking at. And it's early. We're talking on Monday. By the time we get to Thursday, Joe wouldn't be surprised if we have another four or five names of these backups are now playing in week 18. Yeah.

[Joey P]

So keep a close eye on that and use Waiver Central again, you can still sync your leagues for free. Just because it's the last week of the season you're playing doesn't mean you can't use the tools. Championship Week is the most important week for those who are looking at week 18 as that. And if these names don't get you excited, well guess what, you shouldn't be playing in week 18. But if you are, we're still here to help you. Regardless, we don't judge here at Fantasy Pros. We want you to have the best fantasy football experience. So again, waiver central out there. Download the Fantasy Pros app to help you and of course subscribe to our YouTube channel because we're gonna have a lot of off season content as well a lot of recaps and a lot of looking forward. Plus all the draft coverage too of the non giants picking in the first pick overall. So the Raiders look like they're going to be on the clock. We'll see how that all works out. So great stuff as always from Jake Seeley that'll do it for us. But the story of the game goes on for Jake. I'm Joey P. We'll see you next time kids. Good luck in week 18.

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