Fantasy Football Week 18 Wide Receiver Rankings

Fantasy Football Week 18 Wide Receiver Rankings

Time Stamp: January 4, 2024 9:04 AM
Source Node: 3046350

The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have been a ton of breakout players and fantasy duds that have made the game so entertaining. It is officially the last week of the regular season. It is vital for fantasy managers this week to pay attention to the standings to see if their stars will play the entirety of their games or at all. During the playoffs Fantasy Managers will have full utilization of their roster and need to make sure they have backup options on their roster incase their stars get hurt. There have plenty of injuries this season to crucial players that make the pool of players to choose from on waivers that much thinner. It’s always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 18 wide receiver rankings.

*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to the Injured Reserve List

(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)

Key:

Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.

Starting WR1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.

High WR2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between WR1 and WR2 territory.

Starting WR2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor

Low WR2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.

Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.

Deeper League Flex- a player who has starting value in deeper leagues. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.

Upside Player- a player who is boom or bust. This player can exceed expectations in a given week or could flop and be the reason why someone lost their fantasy matchup.

Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.

Will likely not play Entire Game- a player who should be avoided in lineups that week only because they may not play the entirety of the game. Due to locked in playoff positions teams could choose to rest their stars for a majority or entirely of the game.

Rankings

Category Name Opponent Ranking
Must Start Tyreek Hill* vs Buffalo Bills WR1
Must Start Justin Jefferson vs Detroit Lions WR2
Starting WR1 CeeDee Lamb vs Washington Commanders WR3
Starting WR1 Michael Pittman Jr. vs Houston Texans WR4
Starting WR1 Amon-Ra St. Brown vs Minnesota Vikings WR5
Starting WR1 A.J. Brown vs New York Giants WR6
Starting WR1 D.K. Metcalf vs Arizona Cardinals WR7
Starting WR1 Davante Adams vs Denver Broncos WR8
Starting WR1 D.J. Moore* vs Green Bay Packers WR9
Starting WR1 Mike Evans vs Carolina Panthers WR10
High WR2 Ja’Marr Chase* vs Cleveland Browns WR11
High WR2 Keenan Allen* vs Kansas City Chiefs WR12
High WR2 Nico Collins vs Indianapolis Colts WR13
High WR2 Chris Olave* vs Atlanta Falcons WR14
Starting WR2 Garrett Wilson vs New England Patriots WR15
Starting WR2 Jaylen Waddle* vs Buffalo Bills WR16
Starting WR2 Stefon Diggs vs Miami Dolphins WR17
Starting WR2 Jayden Reed* vs Chicago Bears WR18
Starting WR2 George Pickens vs Baltimore Ravens WR19
Starting WR2 Chris Godwin vs Carolina Panthers WR20
Low WR2 DeAndre Hopkins vs Jacksonville Jaguars WR21
Low WR2 Calvin Ridley vs Tennessee Titans WR22
Low WR2 DeVonta Smith* vs New York Giants WR23
Low WR2 Jakobi Meyers vs Denver Broncos WR24
Low WR2 Courtland Sutton* vs Las Vegas Raiders WR25
Flex Terry McLaurin vs Dallas Cowboys WR26
Flex Adam Thielen vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR27
Flex Jordan Addison vs Detroit Lions WR28
Flex Diontae Johnson vs Baltimore Ravens WR29
Flex Christian Kirk* vs Tennessee Titans WR30
Flex Tee Higgins* vs Cleveland Browns WR31
Flex Tyler Lockett vs Arizona Cardinals WR32
Flex Christian Watson* vs Chicago Bears WR33
Flex Brandin Cooks vs Washington Commanders WR34
Flex Greg Dortch vs Seattle Seahawks WR35
Deep League Flex Darius Slayton vs Philadelphia Eagles WR36
Deep League Flex Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs Arizona Cardinals WR37
Deep League Flex Michael Wilson vs Seattle Seahawks WR38
Deep League Flex Wan’Dale Robinson vs Philadelphia Eagles WR39
Deep League Flex Demario “Pop” Douglas vs New York Jets WR40
Deep League Flex Drake London vs New Orleans Saints WR41
Upside Play Rashid Shaheed vs Atlanta Falcons WR42
Upside Play Gabriel Davis vs Miami Dolphins WR43
Upside Play Demarcus Robinson vs San Francisco 49ers WR44
Upside Play D.J. Chark* vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR45
Upside Play Noah Brown* vs Tennessee Titans WR46
Upside Play Cedric Tillman vs Cincinnati Bengals WR47
Upside Play Zay Jones* vs Tennessee Titans WR48
Upside Play Jameson Williams* vs Minnesota Vikings WR49
Upside Play Romeo Doubs vs Chicago Bears WR50
Upside Play Jerry Jeudy vs Las Vegas Raiders WR51
Upside Play Curtis Samuel vs Dallas Cowboys WR52
Upside Play Josh Downs vs Houston Texans WR53
Upside Play Joshua Palmer* vs Kansas City Chiefs WR54
Will likely not play Entire Game Puka Nacua vs San Francisco 49ers WR55
Leave on the Bench K.J. Osborn vs Detroit Lions WR56
Leave on the Bench Robert Woods* vs Indianapolis Colts WR57
Leave on the Bench Rondale Moore vs Seattle Seahawks WR58
Leave on the Bench DeVante Parker* vs New York Jets WR59
Leave on the Bench Treylon Burks vs Jacksonville Jaguars WR60
Leave on the Bench Alec Pierce vs Houston Texans WR61
Leave on the Bench Dontayvion Wicks* vs Chicago Bears WR62
Leave on the Bench Jahan Dotson vs Dallas Cowboys WR63
Will likely not play Entire Game Rashee Rice* vs Los Angeles Chargers WR64
Leave on the Bench Tyler Boyd vs Cleveland Browns WR65
Leave on the Bench Quentin Johnston vs Kansas City Chiefs WR66
Leave on the Bench Rashod Bateman vs Pittsburgh Steelers WR67
Will likely not play Entire Game Cooper Kupp vs San Francisco 49ers WR68
Leave on the Bench Josh Reynolds vs Minnesota Vikings WR69
Leave on the Bench Michael Gallup vs Washington Commanders WR70
Leave on the Bench Justin Watson vs Los Angeles Chargers WR71
Will likely not play Entire Game Brandon Aiyuk vs Los Angeles Rams WR72
Will likely not play Entire Game Odell Beckham Jr. vs Pittsburgh Steelers WR73
Leave on the Bench Hunter Renfrow vs Denver Broncos WR74
Will likely not play Entire Game Deebo Samuel vs Los Angeles Rams WR75
Leave on the Bench Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs Los Angeles Chargers WR76
Leave on the Bench Ihmir Smith-Marsette* vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR77

Players that are could miss this week’s game

Miami Dolphins Wide Receivers: WR1 Tyreek Hill & WR16 Jaylen Waddle

Tyreek Hill missed practice Wednesday with an ankle injury. Jaylen Waddle missed practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. If Hill misses Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills and Waddle is active Waddle becomes WR8 between Davante Adams and D.J. Moore.

If Waddle misses Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills and Hill was active Cedrick Wilson would become the WR48 between Zay Jones and Jameson Williams.

If both Hill and Waddle miss Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills Cedrick Wilson would become the WR37 between Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Michael Wilson.

WR9 D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears

D.J. Moore was limited in practice on Wednesday because of an ankle injury. It is unclear if this injury could hold him out of this week’s game. If Moore misses Week 18 against the Green Bay Packers Darnell Mooney becomes the WR39 between Wan’Dale Robinson and Demario “Pop” Douglas.

Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receivers: WR11 Ja’Marr Chase & WR31 Tee Higgins

Ja’Marr Chase was limited in practice on Wednesday with a shoulder injury. Tee Higgins missed practice on Wednesday with a hamstring injury. If Chase misses Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns and Higgins is active Higgins moves up to WR22 between Calvin Ridley and DeVonta Smith. Tyler Boyd moves up to WR50 between Romeo Doubs and Jerry Jeudy.

If Higgins misses Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns and Chase is active Boyd moves up to WR50 between Romeo Doubs and Jerry Jeudy.

If both Chase and Higgins miss Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns Boyd moves up to WR29 between Diontae Johnson and Christian Kirk.

Los Angeles Chargers Wide Receivers: WR12 Keenan Allen & WR54 Joshua Palmer

Keenan Allen the past three games with a heel injury. Joshua Palmer missed last week’s game with a concussion. If Allen misses Week 18 against the Kansas City Chiefs and Palmer is active Palmer moves up to WR36 between Darius Slayton and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Quentin Johnston moves up to WR61 between Alec Pierce and Dontayvion Wicks.

If Palmer misses Week 18 against the Kansas City Chiefs and Allen is active Johnston moves up to WR52 between Jerry Jeudy and Curtis Samuel.

If both Allen and Palmer miss Week 18 against the Kansas City Chiefs Quentin Johnston moves up to WR39 between Wan’Dale Robinson and Demario “Pop” Douglas.

WR14 Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

Chris Olave was limited in practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. He suffered this injury a few weeks ago. If Olave misses Week 18 against the Atlanta Falcons Rashid Shaheed moves up to WR38 between Michael Wilson and Wan’Dale Robinson. A.T. Perry becomes the WR55 between Puka Nacua and K.J. Osborn.

Green Bay Packers Wide Receivers: WR18 Jayden Reed, WR33 Christian Watson & WR62 Dontayvion Wicks

Jayden Reed was limited in practice on Wednesday with a chest injury. Christian Watson has missed the past four games with a hamstring injury. Dontayvion Wicks was limited in practice on Wednesday with a chest injury. If Reed misses Week 18 against the Chicago Bears and Watson is active. Watson moves up to WR27 between Adam Thielen and Jordan Addison. Romeo Doubs moves up to WR36 between Darius Slayton and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Dontayvion Wicks moves up to WR50 between Jameson Williams and Jerry Jeudy.

If Watson misses Week 18 against the Chicago Bears Romeo Doubs moves up to WR35 between Greg Dortch and Darius Slayton.

If both Reed and Watson miss Week 18 against the Chicago Bears Wicks moves up to WR32 between Tyler Lockett and Brandin Cooks. Bo Melton becomes WR41 between Drake London and Rashid Shaheed.

WR23 DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

DeVonta Smith missed practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. It is unclear if Smith’s injury could hold him out of this week’s game. If Smith misses Week 18 against the New York Giants Julio Jones becomes the WR47 between Cedric Tillman and Zay Jones.

WR25 Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Courtland Sutton last week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers a concussion. He was limited in practice on Wednesday because of the injury. If Sutton misses Week 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers Jerry Jeudy moves up to WR41 between Drake London and Rashid Shaheed. Marvin Mims Jr. becomes the WR53 between Josh Downs andJoshua Palmer. Brandon Johnson also becomes the WR71 between Michael Gallup and Justin Watson.

Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receivers: WR30 Christian Kirk & WR48 Zay Jones

Christian Kirk could be activated off injured reserve after missing the past four games with a groin injury. Zay Jones missed the past two game with a hamstring injury. If Kirk misses Week 18 against the Tennessee Titans and Jones is active Jones moves up to WR42 between Rashid Shaheed and Gabriel Davis.

If Jones misses Week 18 against the Tennessee Titans and Kirk is active Parker Washington becomes the WR71 between Justin Watson and Brandon Aiyuk.

If both Kirk and Jones miss Week 18 against the Tennessee Titans Parker Washington becomes WR68 between Josh Reynolds and Michael Gallup.

Carolina Panthers Wide Receivers: WR45 D.J. Chark, WR77 Ihmir Smith-Marsette

D.J. Chark was limited in practice on Wednesday with a foot injury. Ihmir Smith-Marsette missed practice on Wednesday with an illness. If Chark misses Week 18 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Smith-Marsette is active Smith-Marsette moves up to WR58 between Rondale Moore and DeVante Parker.

If Smith-Marsette misses Week 18 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chark is active Mike Strachan becomes WR77 below Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

If both Chark and Smith-Marsette miss Week 18 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mike Strachan becomes WR72 between Brandon Aiyuk and Odell Beckham Jr.

Houston Texans Wide Receivers: WR46 Noah Brown & WR57 Robert Woods

Noah Brown missed practice on Wednesday with a back injury. Robert Woods missed practice on Wednesday with a hip injury. If Brown misses Week 18 against the Indianapolis Colts and Woods is healthy Woods moves up to WR54 between Joshua Palmer and Puka Nacua.

If Woods misses Week 18 against the Indianapolis Colts and Brown is active John Metchie III becomes the WR61 between Alec Pierce and Dontayvoin Wicks.

If both Brown and Woods misses Week 18 agains the Indianapolis Colts John Metchie III becomes the WR57 between K.J. Osborn and Rondale Moore. Xavier Hutchinson becomes the WR71 between Justin Watson and Brandon Aiyuk.

WR49 Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

Jameson Williams missed practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. It is unclear if this injury will cause Williams to miss this week’s game. If Williams misses Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings Josh Reynolds moves up to WR52 between Curtis Samuel and Josh Downs.

WR59 DeVante Parker, New England Patriots

DeVante Parker was limited in practice on Wednesday with a rib injury. It is unclear if this injury with cause Parker to miss this week’s game. If Parker misses Week 18 against the New York Jets Jalen Reagor becomes the WR63 between Jahan Dotson and Rashee Rice.

WR64 Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

Rashee Rice missed practice on Wednesday because of a hamstring injury. Since Kansas City clinched the third seed in the AFC it seems unlikely that Rice is going to play this week. If Rice misses Week 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers the other Chiefs receivers should see larger roles this week.

Players that are currently not expected to play

Cleveland Browns Wide Receivers: Amari Cooper & Elijah Moore

Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore will miss this week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals with heel and concussion issues. Cleveland is resting their starters this week anyways so Cooper and Moore would have limited roles if active. The Browns hope the extra rest will help them be in better health for their playoff game next week.

Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens

Zay Flowers missed practice on Wednesday with a calf injury. Even if Flowers could play the Ravens are resting their starters this week. Flowers could have two weeks to get healthy if he misses this week and then rests during the team’s bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals placed Marquise “Hollywood” Brown on injured reserve ending his season. Brown had been dealing with a heel injury for the past few weeks. He is heading into free agency and could have played his last snap with the Cardinals. Brown could be focused on getting healthy for potential teams interested in him in free agency.

Jonathan Mingo Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers placed Jonathan Mingo on injured reserve ending his season. He was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. This year was disappointing for Mingo from a production standpoint. He did not develop into the offensive weapon Carolina thought they were getting when they took him early in the second round. The team’s new coaching staff next year could try to make Mingo the focal point of the offense or bring in another receiver putting Mingo in a complementary role.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, New England Patriots

The New England Patriots placed JuJu Smith-Schuster on injured reserve ending his season. He was placed on injured reserve for an ankle injury. The addition of Smith-Schuster to this offense did not impact the team the way they thought it would when they replaced Jakobi Meyers with him last offseason. He will likely have to show the team why he should remain on the roster long term next season to avoid being cut if New England doesn’t try to let him go this offseason.

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