Injuries objectively suck. To this day it’s unclear why God hasn’t turned them off. Anyone who plays Madden of NCAA Football and does NOT turn off injuries is a monster in my humble opinion.

Of course, injuries continue to be a rather large part of fantasy football analysis, which is why Fantasy Life will continue to grind each and every fantasy-relevant issue throughout the season.

What follows is a breakdown of every fantasy-relevant injury ahead of Week 6. Check out the late Friday edition of The Fantasy Life Podcast for a full breakdown of the issues from Fantasy Life lead betting analyst Matthew Freedman and myself.

Quarterback

Daniel Jones (neck, out), Giants

Tyrod Taylor will start under center ahead of what sure looks like an impending slaughter against the Bills on Sunday night. Only the Browns (13.25) are implied to score fewer than the Giants (14.25) this week. 

Fantasy football is supposed to be fun – do you really want to overly mess with anyone involved in this bad AND banged-up Giants offense? That’s what I thought.

Deshaun Watson (right shoulder, out), Browns

P.J. Walker will be under center to lead the Browns off the ledge ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the 49ers. Implied to score a week-low 13.25 points: No Browns players are recommended fantasy options if you can at all help it.

Jerome Ford and Amari Cooper are tough to rank outside their position’s top-36 options, but otherwise: Don’t do it. Seriously. Not even if there’s a fire.

Anthony Richardson (shoulder, IR)

Richardson’s absence elevates Gardner Minshew to QB1 duties for at least the next four weeks. It’s a nice bump to all skill-position parties involved considering Minshew is less likely to scramble and is probably a bit further along as a pure passer at this point.

Michael Pittman and Josh Downs in particular are intriguing starts this week, while Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss no longer have to worry quite so much about getting vulture at the goal line.

Minshew himself is more of a low-end QB2 than someone managers should be actively looking to start.

Running Back

Saquon Barkley (ankle, questionable), Giants

The Giants unfortunately play on Sunday night, so fantasy managers will need to have a backup plan if we don’t get confirmation on Barkley’s status before the 1pm ET kickoffs.

Even if active, Barkley is more of a meh low-end RB2 than someone fantasy managers can overly trust due to his

1. Questionable health
2. Terrible matchup, and
3. Already bad and now actively banged-up offensive environment. 

Any close-ish start-sit decisions that include a Giants player should go with the other guy.

De’Von Achane (knee, IR), Jeff Wilson (ribs/finger, doubtful), Dolphins

Wilson could reportedly be on a snap count in his first game of 2023 if active (unlikely). It especially doesn’t make sense to rush Wilson back ahead of a matchup with the lowly.

Raheem Mostert is a top-five play at the position, while Salvon Ahmed is worthy of borderline RB3 consideration inside of the NFL’s single-most lethal offensive attack.

Austin Ekeler (ankle), Chargers

We’ll get Ekeler’s official designation on Saturday, but he’s tentatively expected to suit up after starting the week off with a pair of full practices.

Fire up the reigning king RB of fantasy football as the upside RB1 he’s been for the better part of the last three years.

Tony Pollard (shoulder), Cowboys

Vegas expects a bounce back and has the Cowboys implied to score the fifth-most points in Week 6, but for now the only locked-in plays in this offense remain Pollard and CeeDee Lamb.

Only Josh Jacobs (-27.7) has more PPR points below expectation than Pollard this season; the Cowboys’ RB is due for a big one – and the time might be Monday night against the Chargers’ perennially shoddy run defense.

Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring, out), Lions

Head coach Dan Campbell basically confirmed the weekly plan is indeed to feed the ex-Bears RB all the touches he can handle.

So yeah, David Montgomery is a must-start workhorse in fantasy land, while Gibbs (hamstring) still isn’t practicing and doesn’t look like someone managers can trust as anything more than a full-PPR RB3 if he manages to suit up in future weeks.

James Conner (knee, IR), Keaontay Ingram (neck, not listed), Cardinals

Fantasy Life consensus ranks had Demercado resting as the RB31 before it was clear Ingram wouldn’t be joining Conner on the sideline. This was already just a quality RB3/FLEX option, but not exactly someone who needs to be jammed into lineups ahead of a matchup with Aaron Donald and company.

Now with a split backfield likely, I’m actually more willing to flex Rondale Moore than either RB, as Moore has already received plenty of RB usage this season on top of his full-time role in the slot.

Jerome Ford (knee, not listed), Browns 

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said the knee isn’t a concern for Ford’s Week 6 workload. What is a concern is the absence of Deshaun Watson under center, leading to the Browns being implied to score just 13.25 points. Ford is a mid-tier RB3 in this one.

Oct 2, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (34) returns a kick against the Atlanta Falcons in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, San Francisco’s run defense hasn’t been all that elite this season, ranking ninth in yards per carry and PPR points per game allowed to opposing RBs.

But still: We’re talking about a group led by Fred Warner and Nick Bosa here. Devoting extra resources to stop the run against Matthew Stafford might not make all that much sense, but vs. P.J. Walker? Good luck.

Khalil Herbert (ankle, out), Roschon Johnson (concussion, out), Travis Homer (hamstring, out)

D’Onta Foreman isn’t quite a “must start under any and all circumstances” sort of play with Herbert and Johnson out; Darrynton Evans should have a decent-sized role himself – particularly on pass downs.

Still, Foreman has proved plenty capable of supplying some RB2 goodness as an early-down grinder at multiple stops throughout his career.

That’s good enough to earn borderline RB2 treatment this Sunday ahead of guys like Alexander Mattison, Dameon Pierce, Rhamondre Stevenson, Jonathan Taylor and others ahead of this winnable matchup.

Miles Sanders (shoulder, out), Panthers

There’s a chance Chuba Hubbard makes far more out of his opportunities than Sanders managed with the starting role.

Carrying rather large advantages vs. Sanders in yards per carry (4.4 vs. 3.1), yards after contact per carry (3.5 vs. 2.1) and missed tackles forced per carry (0.29 vs. 0,08), Hubbard has easily been the more efficient rusher all season despite dealing with boxes featuring eight-plus defenders at a higher clip (31.4% vs. 8.2%).

There’s also a chance that Hubbard’s role doesn’t change all that much due to the presence of WR/RB/baller Laviska Shenault, who has moonlighted as an RB with 17 snaps in the backfield this season. Raheem Blackshear will also likely at least be active. Head coach Frank Reich did note that Chuba “will be the lead dog.”

Ultimately, nobody other than Adam Thielen really deserves the benefit of the doubt inside of the NFL’s 25th-ranked scoring offense; Hubbard will be more of a borderline RB2 if thrust into a featured role as opposed to someone who needs to be in lineups of all shapes and sizes.

Sanders will be his usual meh-RB3 self if he continues to try and push through the pain.

Keaton Mitchell (shoulder, questionable), Ravens

The pint-sized rookie has earned some offseason hype and was a popular deep league waiver wire addition in recent weeks; just realize it’d be shocking if Mitchell displaces either Justice Hill or Gus Edwards from atop the depth chart anytime soon.

Mitchell is nothing more than a hopeful bench stash at the moment; he’s not a recommended play against the Titans’ vicious run defense (when they aren’t facing Zack Moss).

Elijah Mitchell (knee, questionable), 49ers

Mitchell’s recent absence has opened the door for Jordan Mason to receive a good bit of run behind Christian McCaffrey in mop-up duty.

There figures to be plenty of that on Sunday against the Browns; either way, the idea of Mitchell as a true high-end handcuff to CMC could be a bit outdated considering the potential for Mason to continue factoring into the backup equation.

Wide Receiver

Davante Adams (shoulder), Jakobi Meyers (wrist), Tre Tucker (knee), Raiders

Adams is fully expected to continue playing through the pain; he’s locked in as a WR1 anytime he’s healthy enough to strap up.

And then there’s Meyers, who has been LETHAL with the benefit of Jimmy Garoppolo under center:

• Week 1: 9-81-2 (10 targets), PPR WR3
• Week 3: 7-85-0 (12), WR25
• Week 5: 7-75-1 (10), WR10

Meyers’ three TDs are more than he had in his first 46 games with the Patriots; the Raiders are concentrating their volume around Meyers and Davante Adams enough to enable both to rather great fantasy heights even in the absence of all that good of a real-life offense.

Nov 13, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) catches a pass against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Up next for Meyers is a #RevengeGame against Bill Belichick and company. Injuries have played a major part; just realize the Patriots have given up 72 points over the last two weeks to Dak Prescott and Derek Carr – don’t be surprised if Meyers keeps on keeping on.

He’s a recommended start in fantasy leagues of most shapes and sizes, particularly those featuring full-PPR scoring. 

Tee Higgins (ribs, questionable), Bengals

Being called a game-time decision by head coach Zay Taylor is far from ideal, but at least fantasy managers will know Higgins’ status by about 11:30 am ET with Bengals-Seahawks kicking off at 1:00 pm ET.

Still, the Bengals *twice* made Higgins active essentially for emergency/decoy purposes last season, with the stud receiver posting 10 and one snap performances while dealing with various injuries.

Treat Higgins as more of a low-floor WR4 if active unless we get extra news by Sunday; there’s too much risk for limited snaps here to fire him up as his usual top-20 self.

DK Metcalf (ribs, not listed), Seahawks

Has had a full bye week to get right, although back-to-back DNPs to start the week aren’t exactly ideal. Ultimately, Metcalf will continue playing through the pain and suit up Sunday against the Bengals.

He’s his usual upside WR2 self with Geno Smith largely putting forward the same high-level efficiency numbers in 2023 as he did in 2022.

While it could always be Tyler Lockett week, Metcalf should continue to be an easy start in fantasy lineups of most shapes and sizes.

Mike Evans (hamstring, not listed), Buccaneers

Fire up Evans as the upside WR2 he’s been all season thanks to Baker Mayfield absolutely baking.

The overall QB6 in completion percentage over expected (+6.6%), the much-maligned former No. 1 overall pick is coming off one helluva three-TD performance against the Saints.

He’s truly only struggled once this season (vs. the Eagles), although Sunday’s date with Aidan Hutchinson and company certainly won’t be easy.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (abdomen, not listed), Lions

The Sun God is back for Week 6’s matchup against the Buccaneers.

Fire up Mr. Ride-or-Die as a weekly top-12 option at the position whenever healthy enough to suit up – use far more caution with the rest of the offense’s WRs with it being unclear exactly how reps will be divided up between guys like Jameson Williams, Marvin Jones and Kalif Raymond assuming Josh Reynolds’ stranglehold on the No. 2 WR spot doesn’t loosen.

Marquise Brown (illness, questionable), Cardinals

Hollywood practiced in a limited fashion on Thursday and Friday, so it’d be surprising if he fails to suit up on Sunday against the Rams.

If active, fire up Brown as the rock-solid WR2 he’s been virtually all season; the ex-Ravens talent has ripped off 4-61-1, 7-96-0, 5-61-1 and 6-54-1 receiving lines in his last four games.

Tank Dell (concussion, questionable), Robert Woods (ribs, questionable), Noah Brown (groin, not listed), Texans

Brown’s expected return complicates the idea that John Metchie could receive a bump in volume should Dell and/or Woods be sidelined.

Continue to fire up Nico Collins as the clear-cut No. 1 option in this ascending Texans passing game, while the artist known as Bobby Trees is also deserving of a bump up the ranks if active and Dell sidelined.

Hell, even Dalton Schultz is also deserving of at least some love given his full-time role in what has been the league’s third-most productive passing game on a pure yardage basis through five weeks of 2023.

Chris Olave (toe, not listed), Saints

Second in total air yards this season: Olave has had all the opportunity in the world, but he hasn’t quite managed to make the most out of it just yet.

Good news fantasy managers:

• Pregame speculation that Olave suffered a toe injury of sorts didn’t impact his playing time at all, as the second-year talent ran a route on literally 100% of the offense’s dropbacks despite the blowout nature of the game.
• Derek Carr looked far healthier in his second game since injuring his right shoulder, earning PFF’s seventh-highest grade of the week while vastly improving both his average target depth (7.4 vs. 9.5) and yards per attempt (3.4 vs. 7) relative to last week.

This week’s matchup with the Texans (No. 4 in fewest PPR points per game allowed to opposing WRs) isn’t ideal, but after that Olave gets the Jaguars (No. 22), Colts (No. 24), Bears (No. 18) and Vikings (No. 31) before the team’s Week 11 bye. Sign. Me. Up.

Justin Jefferson (hamstring, IR), Jordan Addison (ankle, not listed), Vikings

Head coach Kevin O’Connell (hilariously) said, “My expectation is we hit the gas with Jordan (Addison) this weekend. No pun intended.”

Look for Addison to feast on the Bears’ bottom-two defense in yards per attempt, pass TD rate and passer rating allowed this season.

Ranked as high as WR14 and as low as WR32 by the Fantasy Life rankers, Addison isn’t getting locked-in WR1 treatment just yet, but he’s a recommended start and in most normal-sized leagues and someone who could truly provide some booms in the near future.

Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle, not listed), Ravens

Reportedly more healthy this week than last, OBJ and the Ravens will look to put forward a far better performance through the air in London than they did last week when the group combined to drop a single-game 2023-high seven passes.

Still, Zay Flowers remains the only true recommended start out of a WR room that is looking to keep four parties involved this season; fire up Flowers as a low-end WR2 with boom potential against this Titans’ pass funnel secondary.

Treylon Burks (knee, out), Titans

It’s more good news for DeAndre Hopkins, who is coming off season-best marks in receptions (8) and yards (140). While Hopkins still hasn’t found the end zone this season, he’s literally been inches away in back-to-back weeks on near-miss trick play targets.

Currently averaging a career-high 2.54 yards per route run: Hopkins looks far from washed out there and could certainly build off last week’s PPR WR8 finish in this London-themed matchup. Fire up the veteran as an upside WR2 in this one.

Zay Jones (knee, out), Jaguars

Jones’ absence will solidify Christian Kirk into two-WR sets alongside Calvin Ridley. Both – and QB Trevor Lawrence – are recommended starts against a Colts defense that has allowed bottom-nine marks in fantasy points per game to both QBs and WRs.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion, out), Demario Douglas (concussion, out), Tyquan Thornton (shoulder, questionable) Patriots

Look for DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Ty Montgomery to mostly operate out of three-WR sets, although it’d make sense if the offense also heavily leans on two-TE formations. Bourne is a decent DFS sleeper and someone bye-needy managers can look to as a bye-week fill-in. Otherwise: meh.

Mac Jones’ last TD came in Week 3 courtesy of a coverage bust; this offense as a whole has scored just 18 total points over their last three weeks of action.

Equanimeous St. Brown (hamstring, out), Bears

Tyler Scott and Velus Jones are tentatively expected to take ESB’s spot in three-WR sets. D.J. Moore remains an upside WR2 at worst, while Darnell Mooney gets a slight bump and isn’t the worst deep league FLEX option in the world with this Bears passing game suddenly humming.

Quez Watkins (hamstring, out), Eagles

Olamide Zaccheaus will continue to work as the offense’s little-used No. 3 field-stretching WR.

Tight End

Sam LaPorta (calf, questionable), Lions

LaPorta said he expects to suit up Sunday against the Buccaneers. The ultra-talented rookie is locked in as a top-five option at the position and will look to become the first TE to score a TD against the Buccaneers this season.

Fantasy Life consensus ranks only feature Travis Kelce, T.J. Hockenson and Mark Andrews ahead of LaPorta this week.

Dalton Kincaid (concussion, questionable), Dawson Knox (wrist, questionable), Bills

Neither player managed to get in a full practice all week. We should know whether or not Kincaid cleared the concussion protocol by Saturday afternoon.

Sep 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) runs with the ball after making a catch against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Neither will be more than TD-dependent TE2s if each is active, but either would elevate to a top-15 option should the other be sidelined.

Darren Waller (groin, questionable) fantasy managers should pay close attention to this situation in order to have a reasonable Sunday night fill-in should the Giants decide to exercise some caution.

Darren Waller (groin, questionable), Giants

Waller said earlier in the week that his absence at Wednesday’s practice was more rest than anything, although back-to-back limited practices and a questionable tag certainly aren’t ideal.

We tentatively expect Waller to suit up, but that matchup sucks, and Tyrod Taylor starting in place of Daniel Jones (neck, out) probably (?) won’t help matters.

Ultimately, Waller is a low-end TE1 thanks to his status as the offense’s clear-cut No. 1 pass-game option, but managers with anything close to a decent alternative should probably look in that direction this week.

David Njoku (face/hand, questionable), Browns

Njoku is still recovering from severe burns he suffered before Week 4. While Njoku did play in that contest, clearly things still aren’t at 100% even following the team’s Week 5 bye.

The issue didn’t exactly impact Njoku’s playing time last week; the larger concern is the presence of P.J. Walker under center against this beastly 49ers defense. Njoku is more of a low-floor TE2 than a recommended start in this brutal spot.

Juwan Johnson (calf, out), Saints

The Saints will continue to rotate Foster Moreau, Jimmy Graham and Taysom Hill in Johnson’s absence. None are seeing enough consistent route usage or targets to warrant serious fantasy usage in non-32-team fantasy leagues.

Actually, I’m in one of those, and even then: Find someone else.

Donald Parham (wrist), Chargers

Presence would continue to hurt Gerald Everett’s chances of seeing anything close to a full-time role – particularly in the red zone, where Parham has been leaned on this season.

Neither TE is a recommended fantasy option if both are active, while Everett would creep into the high-end TE2 conversation should Parham be forced to sit.

Mo Ale-Cox (concussion, questionable), Colts

Appears to be on track to suiting up Sunday against the Jaguars after getting in a full practice on Friday.

Still, the team’s willingness to continuously rotate multiple guys at the position renders all TEs involved as non-viable weekly fantasy options.

Other

• Giants OT Andrew Thomas (hamstring, out), C John Michael Schmitz (shoulder, out), OT Matt Peart (shoulder, out), OT Evan Neal (ankle, questionable), G Shane Lemieux (groin, questionable)
• Panthers S Vonn Bell (quad, out), S Xavier Woods (hamstring, out), LB Brian Burns (ankle, questionable), DT Derrick Brown (knee/ankle, questionable)
• Patriots OLB Matthew Judon (elbow, out), DB Jonathan Jones (ankle, questionable)
• Jets CB Sauce Gardner (illness, questionable), D.J. Reed (concussion, out), CB Brandin Echols (hamstring, out), DB Justin Hardee (hamstring, out)
• Eagles CB Darius Slay (knee, out), DT Jalen Carter (ankle, out)
• Chargers DE Joey Bosa (toe), S Derwin James (hamstring)