Week 6 NFL injuries that matter for fantasy

Staying on top of injuries throughout the week, and especially on Sunday mornings, is one of the easiest ways to maintain an edge in fantasy football. Outside of, you know, just making sure you don’t have inactive players in your starting lineup, it’s important to understand how one injury can greatly impact the fantasy potential of other skill position players within a game.

Lucky for you, this weekly series is here to help. Rather than just frantically refreshing each team’s injury report, I’ll do the heavy lifting each Saturday night and update injuries and provide analysis once inactives are released and early game-time decisions finalized on Sunday mornings.

Early Inactives

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Atlanta Falcons (hamstring) – Out
Terrance West, RB, Baltimore Ravens (calf) – Out
Marcus Wheaton, WR, Chicago Bears (groin) – Out
Chris Conley, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (Achilles) – Out
Branden Oliver, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (hamstring) – Out
Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings (groin) – Out
Sam Bradford, QB, Minnesota Vikings (knee) – Out
Rex Burkhead, RB, New England Patriots (ribs) – Out
Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants (ankle) – Out
Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Giants (ankle) – Out
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants (ankle) – Out
Dwayne Harris, WR, New York Giants (foot) – Out
Paul Perkins, RB, New York Giants (ribs) – Out
Kyle Juszczyk, RB, San Francisco 49ers (concussion) – Out
Corey Davis, WR, Tennessee Titans (hamstring) – Out
Rob Kelley, RB, Washington Redskins (ankle) – Out

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Questionable

Matt Bryant, K, Atlanta Falcons (back) – Likely to play
Breshad Perriman, WR, Baltimore Ravens (knee) – Likely to play
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Baltimore Ravens (shoulder) – Likely to play
Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions (hamstring) – Likely to play
Dwayne Washington, RB, Detroit Lions (quadriceps) – Likely to play
Ty Montgomery, RB, Green Bay Packers (ribs) – Gametime decision
Jacoby Brissett, QB, Indianapolis Colts (wrist) – Likely to play
Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (ankle) – Likely to play
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs (concussion) – Likely to play
Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (back) – Gametime decision
DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins (ankle) – Doubtful
Willie Snead, WR, New Orleans Saints (hamstring) – Likely to play
Bilal Powell, RB, New York Jets (calf) – Gametime decision
DeAndre Washington, RB, Oakland Raiders (hamstring) – Likely to play
Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans (hamstring) – Gametime decision
Josh Doctson, WR, Washington Redskins (shoulder) – Likely to play

Updates/Analysis

Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers – First-round rookie Williams will make his NFL debut today, but, per Ian Rapoport, will be limited on a pitch count. Williams should be rostered in deeper leagues, but you’re not starting him this week.

Ty Montgomery, RB, Green Bay Packers – Active – Montgomery will play today and split carries with Aaron Jones. Per Adam Schefter, Montgomery is not expected to be limited. This certainly muddies things for fantasy owners, and contrary to Schefter’s report, a second-week return without limitation still appears to be on the optimistic side after Montgomery broke multiple ribs. As it stands, I have Jones as a low end-RB2 and Montgomery as a low-end RB3 in standard leagues.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Baltimore Ravens – Inactive – Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman should get a slight bump in targets, but neither are especially strong plays. Michael Campanaro ranks second on the team in routes run from the slot, and should serve as the team’s primary slot receiver with Maclin out.

Bilal Powell, RB, New York Jets – Inactive – Though Powell is out, the Jets backfield is still muddied with Matt Forte not expected to be limited in any capacity. This is a superb matchup against a New England defense surrendering the 12th-most rushing fantasy points per game and most receiving fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Still, I have both of Elijah McGuire and Matt Forte in the RB3-range today.

DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins – Inactive – Jarvis Landry ranks sixth among wide receivers in expected fantasy points per game (just ahead of A.J. Green), and should draw more targets now with DeVante Parker out. He also gets an Atlanta defense allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing slot wide receivers over the past two seasons. Kenny Stills should get a target bump as well, but does draw the tougher matchup. Leonte Carroo will start opposite Stills, but isn’t worth an add.

Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions – Inactive – With Golladay out, Golden Tate will now run more routes outside. This means more routes against cornerbacks Ken Crawley and Marshon Lattimore, both of whom rank among our top-10. Tate takes a slight hit based on this news.

Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans – Gametime Decision – Given the fact that Mariota’s a gametime decision for a Monday night game, he’s an easy fade. As gross as it sounds, Kevin Hogan and Josh McCown are viable streaming options for the desperate.