α Sports Briefing

Fantasy football briefing for Sunday, Oct 18

Updated Sun Oct 18, 2026 ~9:00am ET. Week 6 | Sun Oct 18 | London 9:30am, 1pm/4pm slates, SNF DAL @ GB | byes CIN/DET/MIA/MIN

Gameday. The Eagles host Carolina at 1pm ET on CBS with Tanner McKee at quarterback: Philadelphia placed Jalen Hurts on injured reserve Saturday with the superficial blood clot in his calf, so he will miss at least four games and has no timeline to return (NFL.com, Inquirer). Saquon Barkley (hamstring) is out again, leaving Dameon Pierce to lead the backfield, while DeVonta Smith is back with no designation after missing two games (Eagles.com, CBS Sports). The Panthers, 2-2 and off their bye, are 3-point favorites (ESPN/DraftKings). At the same hour in Foxborough, the Patriots get A.J. Brown back: New England activated him from injured reserve Saturday, and he is questionable but expected to play for the first time since Week 1 (Patriots.com, NFL.com). TreVeyon Henderson is likely to play on a pitch count, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, and the Jets are without Breece Hall (NBC Sports, CBS Sports). New England is a 7.5-point favorite. The day opens with Houston and Jacksonville in London at 9:30am ET, where David Montgomery is inactive and Woody Marks leads the Texans, and closes with Dallas at Green Bay on Sunday Night Football. Official inactives for the 1pm games come out around 11:30am ET; this page will not list them until they post.

Today

2026-10-18

Sunday final leans: A.J. Brown back; Henderson, Kamara likely to play

Brown is off IR and expected to play, Henderson (pitch count) and Kamara are likely to suit up, and Montgomery is inactive so Woody Marks leads Houston, so confirm at 11:30am ET inactives.

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Start

Jordan Love

QB · GB

Jordan Love: start him at home vs Dallas with Lamar still sidelined

Love draws a 27.5-point implied total against Dallas, and Lamar Jackson has now missed Thursday practice too. He is the clearest Week 6 QB stream on the board.

Source: nbcsports.com · baltimoreravens.com · footballdb.com

Tucker Kraft

TE · GB

Tucker Kraft: start him in a high-total home game vs Dallas

Green Bay's implied total is 27.5 against a Dallas defense that has struggled all year. Kraft is a locked-in TE1 in that environment.

Source: cbssports.com · espn.com

CeeDee Lamb

WR · DAL

CeeDee Lamb: full practice Wednesday and off ESPN's report; start him at Green Bay

Lamb practiced in full on his quad bruise and ESPN no longer lists a designation. The Sunday night shootout with Green Bay makes him a locked-in WR1.

Source: nbcsports.com · nfl.com

Drake Maye

QB · NE

Drake Maye: back in must-start range against the Jets

CBS moved Maye into its risers for a third straight week and calls him a must-start QB again. The Jets are not a defense to avoid.

Source: cbssports.com

Josh Downs

WR · IND

Josh Downs: full practice Thursday after rest/hamstring; start vs Tennessee

Downs went from limited Wednesday to full Thursday, and the Titans keep leaking WR production. Lock him in unless Friday's report flips.

Source: footballdb.com · nfl.com

Dameon Pierce

RB · PHI

Dameon Pierce: start him with Barkley officially out vs Carolina

Barkley, Shipley and Tank Bigsby are all out, so Pierce is the Eagles' lead back against a Panthers defense allowing 1.03 points per RB touch. Treat him as a volume RB2 with McKee at QB.

Source: nfl.com · fantasypros.com · nfl.com

Sit

Kirk Cousins

QB · LV

Kirk Cousins: fade him vs Buffalo despite the low roster rate

CBS has Cousins outside its top 15 citing turnover trouble against Buffalo, but NFL.com notes the Bills have allowed the fourth-most QB points. Jordan Love is still the safer stream.

Source: cbssports.com · nfl.com

Injuries

Jalen Hurts

QB · PHI

Jalen Hurts: ruled OUT for Week 6 (calf blood clot); Tanner McKee starts

The Eagles ruled Hurts out Sunday against Carolina with a calf blood clot, so Tanner McKee starts. DeVonta Smith was a full participant Friday and is not on the report, but he is a risk/reward WR3 with a backup QB; Dallas Goedert is the pass-catcher to trust.

Source: cbssports.com · espn.in · nfl.com

Saquon Barkley

RB · PHI

Saquon Barkley: ruled OUT again (hamstring); Dameon Pierce leads the backfield

Barkley did not practice all week and is officially out for Week 6. Dameon Pierce is expected to lead a battered Philadelphia backfield.

Source: si.com · nfl.com · cbssports.com

Breece Hall

RB · NYJ

Breece Hall: ruled OUT at New England (quad); Braelon Allen is the Jets' RB to use

Hall did not practice Wednesday through Friday and is officially out. Braelon Allen is the Jets back to start if you need rushing volume.

Source: nfl.com · sports.yahoo.com · cbssports.com

Lamar Jackson

QB · BAL

Lamar Jackson: ruled OUT again (ankle); Tyler Huntley starts vs Cleveland

Jackson has not practiced since the injury and is officially out for a second straight week. Huntley starts; stream Jordan Love, Kirk Cousins or Tyler Shough if you need a one-QB answer.

Source: cbssports.com · espn.in · nfl.com

David Montgomery

RB · HOU

David Montgomery: inactive in London (groin); Woody Marks leads Houston

Houston declared Montgomery inactive for the 9:30am ET game at Jacksonville after he missed every practice. Marks handles the bulk of the backfield work.

Source: nbcsports.com · fantasypros.com · nfl.com

TreVeyon Henderson

RB · NE

TreVeyon Henderson: likely to play vs the Jets, but on a pitch count

Rapoport reports Henderson will likely play through his high-ankle sprain, though a limited workload is expected. Treat him as a high-risk FLEX and confirm at the 11:30am ET inactives.

Source: nbcsports.com · sports.yahoo.com · nfl.com

Caleb Williams

QB · CHI

Caleb Williams: expected to start at Atlanta after a full week of practice

Williams practiced in full all week on his hamstring and is expected back under center. Start him as a back-end QB1 against the Falcons.

Source: cbssports.com · nfl.com

A.J. Brown

WR · NE

A.J. Brown: activated off IR and expected to play vs the Jets

New England activated Brown on Saturday and he is expected to make his first appearance since Week 1. Start him as a WR2 with some snap-count risk in his return.

Source: nfl.com · patriots.com · fantasypros.com

Alvin Kamara

RB · NO

Alvin Kamara: expected to play at the Giants despite the back issue

Kamara is questionable after three limited practices but is expected to play. His workload has been light lately, so he is a FLEX play with a fallback ready at inactives.

Source: draftsharks.com · sports.yahoo.com · nfl.com

Bye notes

MarShawn Lloyd

RB · GB

MarShawn Lloyd: lead early-down back with a home date vs Dallas

Rotoballer ranks Lloyd its No. 2 add, and Green Bay hosts a Dallas defense that has been a fantasy free space. He is a bye-week flex with upside if the Packers build a lead.

Source: rotoballer.com · cbssports.com

Chiefs D/ST

DST · KC

Chiefs D/ST: top Week 6 stream at home vs a turnover-prone Chargers offense

The Chargers lead the NFL with 13 giveaways and allow sacks at the league's second-highest rate. Kansas City is also coming off its bye.

Source: nfl.com · yatesfantasyfootball.com

Aaron Jones Sr.

RB · MIN

Sell high on Aaron Jones before Jordan Mason returns from IR

CBS expects Mason back soon in a tandem with Jones, and Minnesota is on bye this week. Explore moving Jones for a back with a clear Week 6 role, such as Woody Marks.

Source: cbssports.com

Matchups

Puka Nacua

WR · LAR

Puka Nacua: career-high 17-138-1 on Monday night; Arizona is next

Nacua torched Buffalo in the 37-34 overtime loss and now gets a Cardinals defense at home. He is a top-five WR play this week.

Source: espn.com · espn.com

Waiver targets

Woody Marks

RB · HOU

Woody Marks: Montgomery inactive, so Marks carries Houston in London

Montgomery is inactive for the 9:30am ET kickoff, so Marks is the Texans' lead back today. If he is still out there after Sunday, he stays the top RB add.

Source: nbcsports.com · fantasypros.com · nfl.com

MarShawn Lloyd

RB · GB

MarShawn Lloyd: lead early-down back with a home date vs Dallas

Rotoballer ranks Lloyd its No. 2 add, and Green Bay hosts a Dallas defense that has been a fantasy free space. He is a bye-week flex with upside if the Packers build a lead.

Source: rotoballer.com · cbssports.com

Brenton Strange

TE · JAX

Brenton Strange: top tight-end add, eight targets in back-to-back games

NFL.com ranks Strange the No. 2 waiver target overall and he is under 30% rostered on ESPN. He is a streaming TE1 option at home against Houston.

Source: nfl.com · yatesfantasyfootball.com

Khalil Shakir

WR · BUF

Khalil Shakir: consensus top-five add going into a Raiders matchup

Shakir sits near the top of the FantasyPros and Yates waiver boards, and Buffalo visits Las Vegas this week. He is a PPR flex for managers missing Chase or Jefferson.

Source: fantasypros.com · yatesfantasyfootball.com

Germie Bernard

WR · PIT

Germie Bernard: nine targets as Pittsburgh's WR room thins out

Yates has Bernard as his No. 2 waiver add and he is about 3% rostered on ESPN. He is a deep-league flex at Tampa Bay while the Steelers' receivers heal.

Source: yatesfantasyfootball.com · nfl.com

Chiefs D/ST

DST · KC

Chiefs D/ST: top Week 6 stream at home vs a turnover-prone Chargers offense

The Chargers lead the NFL with 13 giveaways and allow sacks at the league's second-highest rate. Kansas City is also coming off its bye.

Source: nfl.com · yatesfantasyfootball.com

Trades

Aaron Jones Sr.

RB · MIN

Sell high on Aaron Jones before Jordan Mason returns from IR

CBS expects Mason back soon in a tandem with Jones, and Minnesota is on bye this week. Explore moving Jones for a back with a clear Week 6 role, such as Woody Marks.

Source: cbssports.com

Woody Marks

RB · HOU

Buy Saquon Barkley at a hamstring discount; offer Woody Marks plus a WR

Marks' value peaks while Montgomery is out, and Barkley's dips while he is questionable. If you can absorb one more week of risk, the upside swap favors you. He is officially out for Week 6, so the buy is for the stretch run.

Source: nbcsports.com · nbcsports.com

Headlines

Eagles place Jalen Hurts on injured reserve with a calf blood clot; Tanner McKee starts vs. Carolina

Hurts misses at least four games; downgrade Philadelphia's passing game with McKee

NFL.com

Patriots activate A.J. Brown from injured reserve ahead of the Jets game

Questionable but expected to play; a WR2 with snap-count risk in his first game since Week 1

NFL.com

Rapoport: TreVeyon Henderson likely to play; Kamara and Olave expected to play

Henderson is a high-risk FLEX on a pitch count; Kamara's role has shrunk

NBC Sports

Barkley out again; DeVonta Smith back for McKee

Dameon Pierce leads the backfield against a Carolina defense allowing 156.5 rushing yards per game

Eagles.com

Week 6 final injury report: Lamar Jackson out, Caleb Williams questionable, Breece Hall out

Tyler Huntley starts for Baltimore; Braelon Allen leads the Jets; Williams expected back for Chicago

CBS Sports

Montgomery inactive in London; Woody Marks leads Houston at 9:30am ET

Marks is a must-start today and stays a top waiver add

NBC Sports

Teams to follow

Eagles 2-3

Sun Oct 18 | vs CAR | 1:00pm ET | CBS

Philadelphia (2-3, three straight losses) hosts Carolina (2-2, off its bye) at 1pm ET. The Eagles placed Jalen Hurts on injured reserve Saturday afternoon with a superficial blood clot in his calf; he must miss at least four games, which makes the Week 11 game against Pittsburgh his earliest possible return, and the team has not set a timeline (NFL.com, Inquirer). Tanner McKee makes the third start of his career and his first outside of Week 18 (Eagles.com). Saquon Barkley (hamstring), Will Shipley, Michael Carter II and Jalyx Hunt are out, A.J. Epenesa is doubtful, and DeVonta Smith returns with no designation (CBS Sports). The Eagles signed running back Jaydon Blue from the practice squad behind Dameon Pierce (Inquirer). Carolina is a 3-point favorite with a 39.5 total (ESPN/DraftKings). Official inactives are due around 11:30am ET.

Patriots 3-2

Sun Oct 18 | vs NYJ | 1:00pm ET | CBS

New England (3-2) hosts the Jets (2-3) at 1pm ET as a 7.5-point favorite (ESPN/DraftKings). The Patriots activated A.J. Brown from injured reserve Saturday; he is officially questionable, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reported he is expected to play in his first game since spraining his ankle in Week 1 (Patriots.com, NFL.com). TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) and left tackle Will Campbell are likely to play, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, with Henderson expected on a pitch count (NBC Sports). Christian Gonzalez is back with no designation; cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Karon Prunty are out. For the Jets, Breece Hall (quad), Adonai Mitchell, Joseph Ossai and Dylan Parham are out, rookie Omar Cooper Jr. is set to return, and Kenyon Sadiq is expected to play (CBS Sports, NBC Sports). Drake Maye has 643 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception over his last two games (NFL.com).

Sources

Week 6 start/sit page