Fantasy Football Week 18 Waiver Wire: Derek Carr set up for a breakout, Demarcus Robinson’s ascension and more

It’s Week 18, which means if your Fantasy league is still going on, you like to take risks. With the NFL playoffs starting next week, we could have several teams resting their stars, and that’s not something most managers like to deal with in a potential Fantasy championship.

We don’t know exactly which players might sit in Week 18, but the Ravens (No. 1 seed in the AFC), 49ers (No. 1 seed in the NFC), Chiefs (No. 3 seed in the AFC) and Browns (No. 5 seed in the AFC) are locked into their playoff spots. There’s little incentive for those teams to play their main guys, and we already know Christian McCaffrey (calf) has been ruled out.

We also don’t expect the Rams to play their main guys given Sean McVay’s history of resting players in the preseason. The Rams have clinched a playoff spot, but there’s likely little difference in being the No. 6 or 7 seed in the Wild Card round.

Along with that, you could have several players who are banged up being shut down to avoid further injury. This is a tricky week, but we’ll have you covered with a wide range of options of players to add.

If this is your championship week, we hope you can bring home the trophy. Good luck and thank you for reading this column all season long. We hope it’s been helpful in making your lineup a success.

Editor’s note: For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 65 percent of CBS Sports leagues.

Week 18 Waivers

Injuries: Josh Allen (neck), Tua Tagovailoa (shoulder), Trevor Lawrence (shoulder), Baker Mayfield (ribs), Will Levis (foot), Kenny Pickett (ankle) and Taylor Heinicke (ankle)

Potentially resting for the playoffs: Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Flacco, Brock Purdy and Matthew Stafford

Add in this order:

• Injuries: Christian McCaffrey (calf), Alvin Kamara (ankle), Kenneth Walker III (shoulder), Raheem Mostert (knee), Josh Jacobs (quadriceps), Zack Moss (forearm), A.J. Dillon (hand) and Rico Dowdle (ankle)    
• Potentially resting for the playoffs: Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Kyren Williams, Isiah Pacheco, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt    

Add in this order:

• Injuries: DeVonta Smith (ankle), Amari Cooper (heel), Elijah Moore (concussion), Keenan Allen (heel), Josh Palmer (concussion), Jaylen Waddle (ankle), Courtland Sutton (concussion), Jayden Reed (chest), Christian Watson (hamstring), Dontayvion Wicks (chest), Noah Brown (hip), Kadarius Toney (hip), Marvin Mims (hamstring) and Darnell Mooney (concussion)    
• Potentially resting for the playoffs:  Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Rashee Rice, Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham, Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore    
• Add in this order: 

• Lions (47 percent rostered) vs. MIN
• Patriots (34 percent rostered) vs. NYJ
• Buccaneers (54 percent rostered) at CAR
• Raiders (32 percent rostered) vs. DEN
• Jaguars (64 percent rostered) at TEN