Fantasy Football Whiplash! | Week 6 Injuries, Notes, & Waiver Wire

by Samwise · Featured
fantasy football Whiplash: injuries waivers

We’re pulling up on Week 6 of the fantasy football season. Welcome to “Fantasy Whiplash!” Let’s blow through all the lights as we do every Tuesday, with the fantasy football news, injuries, and waivers that affect your team and league. This ride is not for the faint of heart.

Let’s get into a little bit of everything: Waiver advice, news & notes on upcoming (and past) games, maybe even some notable starts/sits. The information turns over like an engine, and comes in a long-winded stream of consciousness rivaled only by the YouTube show of the same name (9 p.m. EDT Tuesday nights on YouTube)

Above all, the aim is to keep you informed about all the latest noteworthy developments in the NFL and how they impact you, the manager. This may include trending thoughts from industry analysts on Twitter, as well as my own perspectives on specific subjects. It’s all for the benefit of everyone, from casual fans to accomplished veterans.

Get it? Good. Strap into this four-wheel rocket. Let’s keep the stream of consciousness flowing and become your go-to stop as we embark on another week!

Week 6 is on the horizon. Where we’re going, we won’t need a map.

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Fantasy Football News

Will the Real (League Winner) Please Stand Up?

With apologies to Eminem and analysts everywhere, all “league-winners” are not built the same. For every “Slim Shady,” there are innumerable impostors before you find the one. However, people who live and die by our silly game, and those who are paid to analyze players and offer their takes, often differ wildly in their opinions of what constitutes a “league-winner.”

In 2024, right from the jump, people were calling Joe Burrow a league-winner. Every season, someone makes a case for guys like Kyren Williams or Nico Collins. I have bad news: These players do not fit the appropriate requisites of a league-winner.

When players are drafted at or near the top of the draft, they are doing the things you drafted them for. Even players who came off the board in the third round cannot meet the criteria. Sorry, but Omarion Hampton cannot be a league-winner. Before injury he was finally staring down the usage that we all expected. Following through by doing what we drafted you for does not a league-winner make.

Please Stand Up, Please Stand Up, Please Stand Up

This just in: Dowdle stood up,

More often than not, injuries are what end up leading to league-winners, but not always. Ironically, Chuba Hubbard was once considered a league-winner after taking over for Miles Sanders due to injury in 2023, before distancing himself from a timeshare with the veteran in 2024. That year, Hubbard ended up putting on a clinic, particularly from Week 9 onwards. He garnered 552 yards rushing from Weeks 9-15, added 20 catches, and found the painted area on seven occasions. Hubbard called it a season after Week 15, but not before a 25/152/2 line, propelling many managers to a collision course for the championship.

This time, it’s Hubbard who pulled up lame with a calf injury. There is little optimism that he’ll be able to go during the Week 6 tilt against Dowdle’s former team, the Cowboys. Get your popcorn ready, because Dowdle eclipsed 1,000 yards for Dallas in 2024 and still was sent packing. Last week, he racked up 234 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Should he reprise that performance, the Panthers would have little choice but to opt into a timeshare in their backfield. This all adds up to a potential league-winner, as Dowdle was often undrafted at RB54-60, was an immediate casualty of initial waiver claims, and then made a resurgence in roster percentage after the Hubbard injury. Once the train starts rolling, it’s tough to halt it.

Might Just Be the Next Big Thing

We’re getting ahead of ourselves because most league-winners emerge late in the season. The guy who takes the starting job and runs with it and, upon your entry to the playoffs, puts the team on his back. That doesn’t mean mid-to-late draft picks can’t be gathering steam. Woody Marks is turning heads in Houston and seems to be on a collision course with the starting gig. Emeka Egbuka looks like every rookie wide receiver you hope to draft.

But the unknown is what makes this game so attractive. Could Ricky Pearsall absolutely explode down the stretch? D’Andre Swift? Maybe this is the year for Rhamondre Stevenson after chance after chance was given that he holds onto the ball and carries fantasy teams to the promised land? And where’s Jalen Coker? The very possible definition of a league-winner: The players who go on a tear for a useless team just at the right time.

This is all to say that managers can be lucky; they can draft well, but what sets redraft apart is immediacy. Roster management is crucial, whether it’s eyeing playoff schedules for players way down the line or hitting the waiver wire. There is no rest for the weary redraft manager. Waivers, trades, and starting lineups require homework. The only way you’ll find the next Jerick McKinnon is with eyes wide open (thanks, Creed).

Fantasy Football Injury Watch

Quarterbacks

Heretofore, this section will also cover overall quarterback updates as well as injuries.

  • Brock Purdy (SFO) was likely a candidate to play in Week 5, but the Thursday Night turnaround quickly put the kibosh on that idea. Monitor practice reports for the week, but signs are pointing up for his return on Sunday.
  • The Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (BAL) is still getting treatment on his ailing hamstring but hopes to return this weekend. Either way, his running will likely be limited, thus taking away a dangerous part of his game. The Ravens were decimated by the Texans last week. It doesn’t seem to really matter if Jackson is on the field … but it’s surely a colossal upgrade from Cooper Rush (three INTs, 58.1 rating Sunday).

  • The Cincinnati Bengals have seen enough the second time around from QB Jake Browning (CIN), as they’ve traded a fifth-rounder for 139-year-old Joe Flacco. When told the statuesque QB would be standing behind an even worse offensive line, Flacco was quoted as saying “F^*#S sake.”
  • Carson Wentz (MIN) left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, but returned to action and looks fine for  Sunday. J.J. McCarthy is still on the mend and won’t return until after the bye.

Running Backs

  • Chuba Hubbard (calf) is listed as day-to-day, but sources close to the Panthers express doubt about a Week 6 return. He should return shortly thereafter. Rico Dowdle remains a ridiculous 41% available in fantasy leagues.
  • Omarion Hampton (ankle) was placed on IR, and some combination of Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal will be used in the interim. Haskins would likely have the inside track and should be a priority waiver claim this week. Ownership: Haskins 3%(!), Vidal 1%(!!!).
  • Aaron Jones (MIN – hamstring, old) and Braelon Allen (NYJ – knee, young) were placed on Injured Reserve (IR) by their respective teams.
  • Bad-to-worse for the Patriots, as Antonio Gibson (NEP) is done for the season with a torn ACL. The Pats will need to promote from their practice squad (Jashaun Corbin) or add another veteran. It will likely be the former, and he is currently not relevant to fantasy managers.
  • Bucky Irving (TB – shoulder, foot) will miss another game and possibly more. The shoulder injury is of the most concern. If there were any doubts as to who would carry the load, Rachaad White put that to bed with an excellent game on Sunday. White is rostered in 70% of leagues.
  • Trey Benson (ARI) is on the IR, and Michael Carter got the bulk of the duties from the jump. Emari Demercado handled just three carries, one being a 72-yard touchdown before it wasn’t. Demercado pulled an Amber Heard and dropped the ball before crossing the goal line. Carter can be had from the sale aisle; he is only rostered in 40% of leagues.
  • Jaylen Warren (PIT) is expected to regain his starting role this weekend, returning from injury.
  • Tyrone Tracy Jr. (NYG – shoulder) remains out but should return soon. In his stead, Cam Skattebo has handled the duties “headfirst.”
  • Tyjae Spears has returned from the IR, is rostered in just 28% of leagues, and should see a timeshare with Tony Pollard moving forward. If you have room, he is a stash/handcuff.

Wide Receivers

  • Jalen Coker (CAR) is off the IR and very well might be the best receiver (yes, I’m including Tetairoa McMillan) for the Panthers. He can play the slot and the wing and should be a priority waiver wire add right now, whether he is activated this week or next.
  • Ricky Pearsall & Jauan Jennings (SFO) are both day-to-day and probably could have suited up in Week 5 if the game were Sunday rather than Thursday. Monitor practice reports this week, but if both are at least “limited” by Thursday, they’ll likely practice full on Friday and be cleared.
  • CeeDee Lamb (DAL) remains week-to-week, but reports from Dallas are that he should return “in the next two weeks.” That includes a long-shot situation wherein he plays this coming Sunday.
  • Mike Evans (TBB) and Terry McLaurin (WAS) both remain week-to-week with no definitive timetable. While there are no fantasy-relevant candidates from the Washington roster, desperate managers could do worse than adding Tampa Bay’s Sterling Shepard, who was still relevant even after the return of Chris Godwin as the WR3 in the high-powered offense. He is rostered in just 2% of leagues and has a decent floor in deep formats.
  • Calvin Austin III (PIT) should return from injury this weekend and has become the de facto WR2 for the Steelers. He’s worth a flyer late in waivers and is currently available in nearly 90% of leagues.
  • Cedric Tillman (CLE – hamstring) is on the IR for four weeks. Savvy managers have already snatched up Isaiah Bond, but he remains widely available in 93% of leagues. He’s earned (in order): one, three, three, six, and seven targets this season. The number keeps going up.
  • Christian Watson (GBP – knee) has returned to practice for the Packers and could return in as little as two weeks. With Jayden Reed likely sidelined until at least Week 10, Watson (6%) will likely start over Matthew Golden and opposite Romeo Doubs.

Tight Ends

No new updates except that minor injuries to guys like Brock Bowers, Colston Loveland, and Jake Ferguson are all healing up. Ferguson is playing through his injury, while Loveland missed Week 4 and Bowers surprisingly sat out Week 5.

  • Ja’Tavion Sanders (CAR – ankle) is week-to-week and will not suit up this weekend. Tommy Tremble has 12 catches and two TDs, but he is not fantasy-relevant.
  • George Kittle (SFO) remains “a few weeks” away, per San Francisco sources. Look for him to suit up in Week 8 at the earliest.

Potential Waiver Wire Additions

(In addition to those listed in bold above)

1. Kendre Miller (NOS RB, 30%) out-carried Kamara last weekend, and his role keeps increasing. He will become the Saints’ No. 1 if Kamara is traded.

2. Josh Downs (IND WR, 46%) had six catches Sunday and has 20 on the season. It’s only a matter of time until he finds the end zone.

3. Mason Taylor (NYJ TE, 14%), now healthy, has 18 catches for 150 yards (nine catches Sunday) and is establishing himself as the No. 2 option behind Garrett Wilson.

4. Theo Johnson (NYG TE, 11%) has over 30 fantasy points in the last two weeks. He has a rapport with Jaxson Darts and is owning the middle of the first in Malik Nabers‘ absence while they tinker with Wan’Dale Robinson‘s route tree.

5. Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE TE, 27%) also benefits from the loss of Tillman to IR. He caught his first touchdown on Sunday and is averaging just south of 10 fantasy points per game on the season on limited snaps.

6. AJ Barner (SEA TE, 2%) is the ultimate boom/bust TE that’s worth having for byes. In Weeks 1 and 3, Barner scored a grand total of 4.50 fantasy points. In his other three outings? 47.30!

7. Darren Waller (MIA TE, 67%) is available in 33% of leagues, so 33% of leagues are clearly living under a rock. If Waller is even a tiny bit of his former self athletically, RUN (don’t walk) and see if he’s available.


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More “Whiplash!” to Come

Added: Next Tuesday, we’ll go again with more football junk food to satisfy those cravings before you settle in for waiver wire claims! More Quick Hits and Injury Updates than you can shake a stick at. Keep in mind, on “Fantasy Whiplash! LIVE” at 9 p.m. EDT on Tuesdays (that’s tonight!), we dig deeper into waiver wire gems, fades, and sleepers! I’ll see you back next Tuesday for all your fantasy football news needs.
Added: Start your studs, smash the waivers, talk some smack, and get your popcorn ready. Strap in for Week 6 of the fantasy football season.
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Be sure to check us out on “Fantasy Whiplash LIVE!” wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube at 9 p.m. EST every Tuesday night! It’s a completely different show from the hum-drum same-old you’re used to!

For more articles from PlayerProfiler, check out the fantasy home page – NFL Fantasy | PlayerProfiler – Fantasy Football News & Media and follow Samwise on Twitter/X @BuyAndSellYou!