Replacements: Week 18

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.