Injury Report: Week 6
Every Saturday during this fantasy season, we will publish an injury report on fantasy relevant players and give details about their week in practice as well as what their presence or lack thereof means for the fantasy players around them. If you happen upon this list on a Saturday, and you see an important player from your team listed as questionable, do not fret! This article will be updated every Sunday by 12:30 pm ET with the latest injury news from around the league.
Looking for a replacement for one of these injured players? Check out our favorite WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS of week 6.
QB:
Deshaun Watson – Questionable (chest)
Status: Expected to play
Watson looks to stay hot against a struggling Buffalo defense. Even at less than 100%, Watson is a top 10 QB play, worth a start over popular picks like Jameis Winston, Jared Goff, and Ben Roethlisberger.
RB:
Dalvin Cook – Questionable (hamstring)
Status: INACTIVE
Expect a three way committee here. Latavius Murray will “lead the way” but don’t consider starting him.
Sony Michel – Questionable (knee)
Status: Expected to play
All signs point to Michel playing in the Sunday Night Football matchup against Kansas City, which should make Michel’s owners’ mouths water. The Chiefs have given up the second most fantasy points to opposing RBs and allow a staggering 5.54 YPC. Michel is a sure-fire RB1, if active.
Redskins RBs – Questionable
Status: AP ACTIVE, CThomp INACTIVE
Both Redskins running backs were hit with injuries in week 5, with Chris Thompson struggling with ribs and knee issues while Adrian Peterson is battling a dislocated shoulder along with knee and ankle problems. Somehow, both are expected to play in week 6, but remain risky plays. Adrian Peterson is completely boom or bust, needed a positive game script to provide any sort of fantasy relevance, while Kapri Bibbs becomes a PPR option.
Isaiah Crowell – Questionable (ankle)
Status: Game time decision
Crowell owners should be concerned with this ankle injury after a huge fantasy game in week 5, as Bilal Powell was already out touching a healthy Crowell. This matchup vs. Indianapolis bodes better for Powell than Crowell even if the latter is active, as the Colts have given up the second most catches to RBs so far in 2018. If Crowell is out, Powell becomes a borderline RB1/2 with huge upside.
Matt Breida – Questionable (ankle)
Status: Game time decision
Breida continues to excite and then disappoint fantasy owners, as he has been incredibly efficient but easily injured. His latest injury is a mid-ankle sprain, likely to hold him out for multiple weeks. Alfred Morris and Kyle Juszczyk will man the backfield in the meantime, with Morris handling the bulk of the carries and Juszczyk working in passing scenarios. Morris is the preferred play on Monday night vs. Green Bay, as the Packers give up 4.43 YPC but have only given up 147 yards receiving to opposing RBs (5th least).
Devonta Freeman – Out (foot/hamstring)
The absence of Freeman means that Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith will tote the rock against an abysmal Tampa Bay rush defense. Coleman is a high end RB2 here with RB1 usage, as he’s tallied 20, 17, and 17 touches in the 3 games that Freeman has missed so far. Smith is an interesting dart throw, as he was already slated to be involved in a 3-way committee with Freeman healthy and should handle goal-line duties.
WR:
Rams WRs – Questionable (concussions)
Status: Expected to play
Both Cooks and Kupp suffered head injuries in week 5, but they have been cleared and are good to go in week 6 vs. Denver. This boosts Jared Goff’s status for this week and obviously ticks down Robert Woods. While the Broncos pass defense hasn’t been great in 2018, Chris Harris has locked down slot receivers, which doesn’t bode well for Kupp. Cooks and Woods are WR2s this week, while Kupp is a WR3/Flex with upside.
Packers WRs – Questionable (hamstrings)
Status: Game time decisions
Cobb and Allison have both logged limited practices but their availability is still in the air for the Monday night matchup against San Francisco. Both are WR3 plays if active, so if you’re planning on starting one, be sure to have Marques Valdes-Scantling on your bench as insurance.
TE:
Greg Olsen – Questionable (foot)
Status: Expected to play
Olsen is expected to make his return from a multi-week foot injury against a Redskins defense which hasn’t been very giving to tight ends this year. Olsen is a risky play regardless of the matchup, as he caught just 1 pass for 10 yards when returning from the same injury last year. The preferable strategy is a wait-and-see approach with Olsen.
Eric Ebron – Questionable (Shin/Quad/Ankle/Knee)
Status: Expected to play
The good ole 4 punch combo of injuries led some to believe Ebron wouldn’t be active in week 6, but he should be good to go in a tough matchup vs. NYJ. The Jets defense has locked down tight ends all year, so we prefer TEs like Trey Burton and Jared Cook over Ebron, despite his electric performances of late. If Ebron is inactive, Erik Swoope will get the start at TE but isn’t worth a pickup due to the matchup.
OJ Howard – Questionable (knee)
Status: ACTIVE
The initial prognosis for Howard was that he’d miss 3-4 weeks due to a knee injury, but he is now set to play in week 6 against Atlanta. Even though this game will likely be a shootout, Howard should remain on fantasy benches, as the Falcons are tough against tight ends and Jameis Winston has historically preferred Cameron Brate over Howard.
George Kittle – Questionable (knee)
Status: Expected to play
Kittle has lit up secondaries so far in 2018, becoming an every week must-start. If active, Kittle will look to stay hot against a Green Bay defense that has been shredded by opposing TEs for 308 yards so far.