As we head into Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season, many fantasy football leagues have wrapped up, but others are playing this week. Injuries, offensive changes and emerging trends continue to reshape the fantasy landscape, making it vital to stay ahead of value swings. This week's fantasy football risers and fallers spotlight players whose stock is moving sharply in one direction or another, and how to adjust accordingly. For a deeper dive into player usage and evolving roles, check out the RotoWire NFL team depth charts.
Fantasy Football Risers
Quarterback
In superflex formats, only the boldest fantasy managers trusted Willis, especially given his limited passing volume in prior appearances. Dating back to 2024, the quarterback had averaged just 15 pass attempts per game, relying largely on rushing production to buoy his fantasy value. Entering Week 17 with a shoulder injury, expectations were modest at best, but Willis delivered a career performance with 288 passing yards and a touchdown while adding 60 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. The rare combination of efficiency and rushing upside resulted in an elite fantasy outing when championships were on the line.
Running Back
Henry opened the season slowly (after a Week 1 explosion), failing to meet expectations before turning a corner following the Week 7 bye. From that point on, he steadily regained form and peaked during the fantasy playoffs. He rushed for 100 yards in Week 15, followed by 128 yards and two touchdowns against New England, then delivered a dominant championship performance with 216 yards and four scores. While team success may have fallen short, Henry's late-season surge likely carried fantasy managers to titles.
Croskey-Merritt capitalized on an unexpected opportunity after Chris Rodriguez (illness) was ruled out, stepping into a favorable matchup against a depleted Dallas run defense. The running back delivered 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns, marking his second-best fantasy performance of the season. While consistent production has been elusive, he has now found the end zone in three straight games. Finishing the fantasy season on a strong note should keep Croskey-Merritt on dynasty radars heading into the offseason.
Wide Receiver
Johnston entered the season as a late-round dart throw compared to the premium draft cost of Ladd McConkey, and his midseason production reflected that gap. Between Weeks 7 and 14, he struggled to find consistency while the Chargers dealt with offensive line issues, topping 30 yards just twice. After missing Week 15 with an injury, Johnston surged when it mattered most, exploding for 104 yards and a touchdown against Dallas before following it up with five catches for 98 yards in a difficult matchup against Houston. While McConkey faded down the stretch, Johnston emerged as the Chargers receiver fantasy managers needed during the playoff weeks.
Olave was having a strong season, though he recorded just one 100-yard game through Week 15. Improved quarterback play helped stabilize his weekly output, and the trade of Rashid Shaheed initially set the stage for a massive target share. After a brief redistribution of targets, Olave fully reclaimed the passing offense late in the year, erupting over the final two games: during that span, he averaged nine catches, 129 yards and 1.5 touchdowns on 13.5 targets, peaking at the ideal time for fantasy championships.
Tight End
Mayer previously filled in earlier this season when Brock Bowers missed time with a knee injury, functioning as the primary tight end and averaging three receptions, 30 yards, 0.5 touchdowns, and 4.5 targets in two games. When Bowers was placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 17, Mayer appeared to be a low-upside waiver option, particularly in a difficult matchup against the Giants. Instead, the tight end delivered his best performance of the season, hauling in nine of 10 targets for 89 yards. That unexpected surge provided a timely boost for fantasy managers scrambling for production at the position.
Fantasy Football Fallers
Quarterback
Goff entered Week 17 riding one of the hottest stretches of his season, averaging 351 passing yards and three touchdowns over his previous two games. That momentum came to a screeching halt with a disastrous performance that included just 197 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and three lost fumbles. The turnover-heavy outing resulted in fewer than 10 fantasy points in some formats and was even more damaging in leagues with harsher penalties. With quarterbacks typically providing a stable floor, this collapse likely cost many managers a championship title.
Running Back
Gibbs delivered an elite fantasy season overall, including four games of at least 36.8 PPR points that justified his early round draft cost. Unfortunately, his production dipped at the worst possible time, beginning with a 9.8-point performance in Week 15. While Week 16 was salvaged by a late surge, the fantasy championship game brought his worst outing of the playoffs with just 64 total yards. For a player who topped 15 points in 11 games, the timing of the downturn made it especially frustrating for fantasy managers.
Jacobs battled through knee and ankle injuries in Week 16, handling a modest but usable workload before a costly goal-line fumble derailed his night. The mistake limited his second-half usage and resulted in one of his worst performances of the season with just 48 rushing yards. Cleared from the injury report in Week 17, Jacobs appeared poised for a strong finish, but negative game script against Baltimore erased that opportunity. Limited to four carries for three yards and one catch for no gain, the running back closed an otherwise solid season on a disappointing note.
Wide Receiver
Williams rebounded impressively after a slow start to the season, producing at least 12 PPR points in six of seven games following the Week 8 bye. That surge included three outings of 23.9 points or more, solidifying his role in the offense. However, the past two weeks marked his only prolonged lull in the second half, capped by a two-catch, 37-yard performance against Minnesota. The late-season fade came at an unfortunate time for managers relying on his ceiling.
Lamb delivered a solid but underwhelming season relative to his premium draft cost, eclipsing 18.1 PPR points just three times in 13 games. While his weekly floor remained respectable for much of the year, the fantasy playoffs exposed his limitations. The receiver posted his two worst performances in the final two rounds, including a single-digit outing despite seeing 10 targets in Week 17. That lack of efficiency in a prime matchup sealed his status as a late-season faller.
Tight End
Kelce quietly assembled a strong season, totaling 73 receptions for 839 yards and five touchdowns across 16 games. The veteran delivered nine double-digit PPR performances, but his production slowed dramatically down the stretch. The loss of Patrick Mahomes further dampened his ceiling, resulting in a near-zero outing in Week 16. While the championship-week performance provided a modest floor, the finish was subdued for a player accustomed to dominating fantasy playoffs.
Conclusion
As the regular season winds down, evaluating fantasy football risers and fallers is still essential for staying ahead of the fantasy curve. Several players are peaking, while others appear to be fading at the worst possible time. Staying flexible with roster construction and monitoring usage trends will provide a significant competitive edge. For updated projections and weekly lineup guidance, be sure to visit the RotoWire weekly projections page.
