Replacements: Week 18

The weekly list of preemptive additions before their fantasy emergence and candidates who could contribute due to unexpected late-week events.

Matt Waldman's Replacements: Week 18 Matt Waldman Published 01/03/2025

© Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images replacements

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.

If you are reading this and don't see recommendations for a player pictured above, you haven't signed up to be a Footballguys Insider with your email making that part of the article cut off from you. All you need to do is provide your email for free access to excellent news, analysis, and strategic advice.

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. 

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. 

Preemptive/Monitor

You can probably wait until a compelling event creates a potential need for these players. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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