Week 18 QB/TE Waiver Wire Targets: Michael Penix, Chig Okonkwo, Mac Jones, Mike Gesicki, Russell Wilson and More

Fantasy football leagues are closing in on determining a champion. Most of those will be crowned Monday night, while several leagues out there still use week 18 for fantasy purposes.

I’m here to help those of you still playing in week 18. We’ll look at waiver wire options at quarterback and tight end.

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Quarterback Options

Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco, Michael Penix, Russell Wilson, Bryce Young, Mac Jones and Drake Maye are the quarterbacks I want to discuss this week.

Richardson didn’t play in week 17 because of injuries, so Flacco started in his place. Whoever starts for Indy in week 18 is going to have the best fantasy matchup available, a date against the Jaguars.

In the first meeting between the teams this season, Flacco started and went for 359 passing yards, three touchdowns and no picks on 33-of-44 passing. He also rushed for 22 yards on three carries and lost a fumble.

Penix has a very favorable matchup against the Panthers, which means Young will take on the Falcons (in another pretty favorable clash).

Penix was 19-of-35 passing for 223 yards, a touchdown and a pick in week 17. He has over 200 passing yards in his first two starts, but one touchdown to two interceptions and basically no rushing yards to add to the mix.

Young has been a lot better to end the season than he’s looked for much of his two-year NFL career so far. He was 15-of-28 passing for 203 yards, four touchdowns and no picks this week. Young has four touchdowns and no interceptions over the past two games.

Wilson has a favorable matchup against the Bengals in week 18. The last time the teams met, Wilson was 29-of-38 passing for 414 yards, three touchdowns and a pick. 

Wilson hasn’t been as good in the four games since then, averaging 177 passing yards and throwing five touchdowns to two interceptions. He has rushed for 112 yards and a score over that span.

Jones' clash against the Colts is another pretty favorable one. He didn’t play in the first meeting way back in week 5.

Jones has been solid in his four most recent starts. He’s averaging 234 passing yards per game, but has five touchdowns to four picks. He’s rushed for just 54 yards on 13 carries.

Maye was 12-of-22 passing for a touchdown and no interceptions in week 17. He added 32 rushing yards on six carries and also fumbled once.

Week 17 snapped a streak of seven straight games with an interception for Maye. He also failed to reach 200 passing yards for the first time in six weeks. 

The defensive matchup is what fantasy owners need to focus on though. Buffalo is a tougher matchup, but will likely sit a lot of regulars with the No. 2 seed already locked up.

If I needed to pick between one of these guys for a week 18 fantasy start, I’d trust the veteran Wilson first. He was great in the first matchup against the Bengals, and while his production has been up and down of late, I just feel safer starting a veteran over a young quarterback.

After that, it’s really a toss up between the remaining quarterbacks. 

I’d take a gamble on Flacco here if he ends up starting. He was great in the first clash with Jacksonville, and I’d expect more fireworks in week 18.

I’d take Young here. He’s been better of late and will be looking to play well in order to help the organization trust him in 2025 and beyond. I think he performs well against the Falcons.

I’d go with Richardson here if he ends up starting. He’s not the passer Flacco is, but I still think he could put up a big score with his legs.

I’d take Jones here. He’s simply put up more fantasy points of late than Penix or Maye, so he gets the nod over those two.

Penix goes over Maye for my last spot. That’s due to the matchup each quarterback has. Maye might become the better option over the course of the week depending upon what Buffalo starters are ruled out.

Tight End Options

Chig Okonkwo, Kyle Pitts, Pat Freiermuth, Brenton Strange, Noah Fant, Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau and Mike Gesicki are the tight ends I’ll discuss.

Okonkwo was a bit underwhelming as a fantasy performer in week 17. He had 42 receiving yards on five catches and seven targets. A 17-yard rush helped his fantasy score reach double figures in PPR leagues.

His matchup against the Texans is pretty average on paper, but he makes this article because of his production of late. He had a 70-yard touchdown reception in the first clash with Houston this season.

Pitts had 44 yards and a touchdown on four grabs and five targets in week 17. Maybe Penix is the key to getting Pitts going as a fantasy asset.

The Panthers allow the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends in the NFL, so the matchup is a big reason why Pitts is listed here. He had 70 yards on three grabs and five targets in the first meeting against Carolina.

Freiermuth had 60 yards on seven receptions and eight targets in week 17. His clash with the Bengals is the second-most favorable one going into week 18.

Freiermuth had 68 yards and a touchdown on six grabs and seven targets in the team’s first clash a few weeks back. That was the start of a three-game stretch in which Freiermuth scored a touchdown every game.

Strange didn’t have a catch on his lone target in week 17. He played 72% of the offensive snaps.

A favorable test against the Colts is why Strange appears in this story. He started and had 24 yards and a score on four catches and targets in the first matchup between the teams in week 5.

Fant went for 43 yards on four catches and five targets back on Thursday. He had 50 yards on three grabs and six targets in week 16.

He’s got a favorable test against the Rams in week 18. Fant was inactive for the team’s first clash back in week 9.

Johnson and Moreau are listed together because they both can deliver fantasy results any given week. This past week, Johnson had 66 yards on six catches and 10 targets, while Moreau had 47 yards and a touchdown on three grabs and targets. 

A clash with the Buccaneers in week 18 sets up favorably for the tight ends. In the first matchup, Johnson had 54 yards on two catches and targets, while Moreau had 48 yards on three grabs and targets. With not many pass catchers remaining in New Orleans, Johnson and Moreau both have a chance to deliver in week 18.

Gesicki’s up-and-down season continued in week 17 with an 86-yard showing on 10 catches and 12 targets. He had 75 yards on eight catches and nine targets over the previous three games combined.

He faces the Steelers on Saturday. Gesicki had 53 yards on five receptions and targets in the first clash against Pittsburgh.

I’d roll with Freiermuth first. I like what he’s done of late most, and in a pretty favorable clash, I expect him to deliver again.

I’d take Okonkwo here. He’s the highest-scoring fantasy TE of this bunch on a per-week basis over the past four weeks and despite a bit tougher clash, he did enough in the first game to try out this week.

I’d take a big gamble on Pitts here. The matchup is the best available, and he played well in the first test against Carolina. His ceiling is higher than anyone left, so I’m fine taking a gamble on him in week 18.

I’d take Fant here. He’s been pretty solid of late, and I like him to keep things rolling in week 18.

Give me Gesicki next. He’s a very inconsistent fantasy performer, and that’s why he isn’t ranked any higher. He’s also capable of monster weeks, and in a pretty good matchup, I’m fine taking a chance on Gesicki in week 18.

Moreau and Johnson go back to back for me here. Both could have decent fantasy days, but with each guy eating into the other’s workload, I’m skeptical of taking either higher. 

Strange falls to the last spot for me. I really want to take him higher, but after the past couple weeks, it’s just too risky for me.