The injury to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott acts as the backdrop as we give you our latest NFL injury report heading into Week 6 of the campaign. Meanwhile, a number of receivers including Davante Adams are questionable fantasy plays due to injuries.
Prescott will be replaced under center by Andy Dalton starting Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals. How will that play out? While Adams seems to be a go against the Buccaneers in Week 6, other pass catchers are more iffy.
Here, we give you the NFL injury report for Week 6 and how it impacts fantasy stars around the football world.
Related: NFL Week 6 schedule, predictions
UPDATED: Sunday, Oct. 18 at 9:35 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys Week 6 injury report: Dak Prescott gone for the season
Devastating. That’s the only way to describe the season-ending ankle injury Dak Prescott suffered NFL Week 5 against the New York Giants. It became clear live that he was facing a long rehab process. Once it was confirmed that Prescott had suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle, we knew the Cowboys’ season had changed on a dime.
An MVP candidate during the early portion of the season, Prescott finishes his 2020 campaign having put up 1,856 yards with 12 total touchdowns and four interceptions. To say that this is a major loss for the Cowboys would be an understatement.
Fantasy impact of Dak Prescott’s injury
From a fantasy perspective, you must be looking to pick up Andy Dalton off the waiver wire once that opens this week. He’s now a low-end QB1 option in standard 12-team leagues. The plethora of weapons Dallas has on offense coupled with its issues on defense makes him a high-value add.
Prescott’s injury might impact what we see from Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup from a fantasy perspective. Each of these receivers are on pace for 1,000 yards. Dalton tends to latch on to one favorite target. In Cincinnati, that was obviously A.J. Green. Regardless, you’re not dropping any of these three pass catchers. Meanwhile, Ezekiel Elliott’s fantasy value is likely on the rise following Prescott’s injury.
Minnesota Vikings Week 6 injury report: Dalvin Cook ruled out for Sunday’s game
Dalvin Cook injury update: After missing practice throughout the week, the Vikings ruled Cook out for their Week 6 contest against the Atlanta Falcons.
One of the top fantasy running backs in the NFL (No. 1 this season), Cook suffered a groin injury in the Vikings’ Week 5 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He’s considered questionable to go Week 6 vs. a winless Atlanta Falcons team. Given that the Vikings have a bye in Week 7, it would be smart for the team to hold him out.
The issue here is that Cook has been the biggest component on a Vikings offense that is headed by the mistake-prone Kirk Cousins. Through five games, the recently-extended back leads the NFL in rushing yards (489) and rushing touchdowns (7). Can Minnesota, at 1-4 on the season, risk losing another game with its best player sidelined?
NFL Week 6 fantasy impact should Dalvin Cook miss time
With Cook unable to go Week 6, Alexander Mattison immediately becomes a top-10 play this week. When it comes to standard fantasy football leagues, he’s an option to promote to the starting lineup or pick up off the waiver wire. With Cook hobbled by injury this past Sunday night, the former Boise State star put up 126 total yards on 23 touches. He’s an immediate buy against a Falcons defense that’s yielding north of 110 rushing yards per game this season.
It also makes sense to buy high on Adam Thielen. Atlanta is yielding 32.3 points per game this season. The Vikings are giving up 30.4 points. I am fully expecting a shootout come Week 6. Without Cook in the mix, Thielen becomes a top-five fantasy play at receiver. After all, he’s recorded 17 receptions for nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns over the past two games.
Cincinnati Bengals Week 6 injury report: A.J. Green dealing with hamstring injury
NFL Week 6 fantasy impact should A.J. Green sit out
For some reason, rookie No. 1 pick Joe Burrow and Green have not been on the same page this season. Cincinnati placed the franchise tag on their future Hall of Fame receiver, primarily because they wanted the quarterback to have a consistent weapon. It has not been the case. Prior to going down with a hamstring injury in Week 5’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Green had caught 14-of-34 targets for 119 yards this season.
It remains to be seen if Green will be able to go this coming week against the Indianapolis Colts. Regardless, he’s not really a fantasy option against one of the NFL’s top defenses. The only thing Green’s absence does from a fantasy football perspective is increase the likelihood that Tyler Boyd sees more targets. The fifth-year receiver has caught 32-of-40 targets for 362 yards and one touchdown in five games thus far this NFL season. He currently ranks as a bottom end WR2 in standard 12-team fantasy football leagues. Despite a tough matchup against the Colts in Week 6, Boyd will be a FLEX play should Green be sidelined.
San Francisco 49ers Week 6 injury report: Jimmy Garoppolo still hobbled
Jimmy Garoppolo injury update: The 49ers’ starting quarterback practiced throughout the week, avoiding a setback during the team’s Week 5 loss. He will start on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Related: 49ers Week 6 injury report
It was readily apparent in last week’s blowout loss to the Miami Dolphins that Garoppolo is not 100% recovered from the ankle injury that cost him the previous two games. The embattled signal caller threw two horrible first half interceptions, his first two of the season, before being pulled at halftime. Garoppolo said following the loss that he’ll take it day-to-day regarding his availability for NFL Week 6 against the red-hot Los Angeles Rams.
Even if Garoppolo is able to go, he’s not a fantasy-relevant option. The 49ers’ offensive line is in complete shambles. Meanwhile, Los Angeles has allowed five passing touchdowns compared to four interceptions in five games this season.
Related: NFL Week 6 power rankings
NFL Week 6 fantasy impact with Garoppolo hobbled
If Garoppolo is unable to go, C.J. Beathard will likely get the start under center on “Sunday Night Football.” Again, a quarterback against this Rams pass defense is not relevant from a fantasy football perspective. The only thing it might do is increase Raheem Mostert’s touches out of the backfield.
Despite missing 40% of the 49ers’ schedule thus far, Mostert heads into Week 6 as the 24th-ranked fantasy running back in the NFL. He’s averaging 8.8 yards per touch and north of 125 total yards per game. As for the Rams, they are giving up a robust 4.7 yards per rush on the season.
Kansas City Chiefs Week 6 injury report: Sammy Watkins out a couple weeks
Watkins exited Week 5’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders with a hamstring injury. He’s now slated to miss multiple weeks. As the 43rd-ranked fantasy receiver this season, Watkins has not even been a relevant bench option. But as we’ve seen with Patrick Mahomes throughout the quarterback’s tremendous career, a trickle-down effect could be the name of the game heading into Week 6 against an undefeated Bills squad.
NFL Week 6 fantasy impact for the Chiefs
With Watkins sidelined, it wouldn’t be a tremendous surprise if stud sophomore receiver Mecole Hardman saw more targets. Many had high expectations for the former Georgia star entering his second season. That includes those in the fantasy football community.
The primary issue here has been a lack of targets. Hardman has caught 13-of-17 targets for 194 yards and two touchdowns in five games. Those are some great splits. Set to take on a surprisingly mediocre Bills defense that’s allowed a 67% catch rate to receivers, Hardman becomes a solid WR2 in DFS leagues like FanDuel and DraftKings and a FLEX option in regular fantasy leagues.
Related: NFL Week 6 odds and point spreads
Carolina Panthers Week 6 injury report: Christian McCaffrey won’t come off injured reserve
The NFL’s best all-purpose back has missed each of the past three games with a high-ankle sprain. It’s not surprising that McCaffrey is doubtful to go Week 6 against the Chicago Bears.
This tends to be an injury that can linger up to six weeks, especially when we’re talking about a running back that relies so much on said ankles. It’s smart for the Panthers to keep McCaffrey sidelined despite the fact that it might impact your fantasy football team.
Related: Top 100 NFL players of 2200
NFL Week 6 fantasy impact with Christian McCaffrey out
In McCaffrey’s stead, veteran running back Mike Davis continues to play darn good football. The former San Francisco 49ers fifth-round pick has tallied 426 total yards and three touchdowns in five games this season. Davis is also averaging a robust 5.6 yards per touch. Shockingly, Davis enters Week 6 as a legit RB1 in standard 12-team fantasy football leagues. He’s also a RB1 option on FanDuel and DraftKings.
Set to take on a Bears defense that has allowed the 12th-most rushing yards in the NFL through five weeks, Davis becomes a tremendous daily fantasy play. He’s also obviously a RB2 option in standard leagues. The hope here is that you’ve already rostered him.
Green Bay Packers Week 6 injury report: Davante Adams active for Sunday’s game
After missing the past two games with a hamstring injury, Adams took part in the Packers’ first practice following their Week 5 bye. With the star receiver practicing fully throughout the week, head coach Matt LaFleur announced Adams will play in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With Allen Lazard sidelined, this is absolutely huge news for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. However, it’s equally as big news for the fantasy football world.
NFL Week 6 fantasy impact with Davante Adams set to return
Adams caught 14-of-17 targets for 156 yards and two touchdowns in Green Bay’s season-opening win over the Minnesota Vikings. The Pro Bowler is also coming off a two-year span that saw him average 97 receptions for nearly 1,200 yards. This had him as a top-four fantasy receiver heading into the 2020 NFL season in terms of ADP.
We love Adams’ matchup NFL Week 6 against a Buccaneers team that has yielded a 71% catch rate to opposing wide receivers on the season. If he’s anywhere near 100%, the dude is going to eat from a fantasy perspective.
New England Patriots Week 6 injury report: Cam Newton cleared to return
Newton got in all of three games with the Patriots before testing positive for COVID-19. That three-game stretch saw the former NFL MVP put up north of 860 total yards with six total touchdowns and two interceptions.
There’s now some good news on this front. Newton is slated to return to Patriots practice on Thursday and should be good to go against the Broncos this week. That’s no small thing given the struggles from Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham in Newton’s stead back in Week 4.
NFL Week 6 fantasy impact with Cam Newton set to return
Newton is set to take on a Broncos defense that has yielded north of 275 passing yards per game to go with seven touchdowns and one interception on the season. It’s obvious that being without A.J. Bouye and Von Miller has impacted this unit in a big way. Newton is obviously a QB1 option in standard leagues and a solid value play in daily leagues.
Browns injury report: Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry active for Week 6
Cleveland’s offense came into the week with concerns at quarterback and wide receiver. Mayfield suffered a rib injury in Week 6, putting his availability for Sunday’s game in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Landry missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday with injuries to his hip and ribs. To make matters worse, Beckham Jr. came down with an illness at a time when teams are being cautious during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fortunately, all three players will start in Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mayfield is off the fantasy radar, not even a top-20 quarterback in fantasy rankings this week, with a matchup against a blitz heavy defense. While he shouldn’t be in fantasy lineups, it’s a different story for OBJ.
Pittsburgh’s secondary is a weak spot and with OBJ not dealing with any physical limitations, he will be running at 100%. In a game that should see plenty of points, the Browns will need to make a lot of quick throws. Beckham Jr. ranks as a top-20 receiver for Week 6, while Landry is a WR4 in PPR scoring.