Updated October 18, 2026, 8:30 AM ET
Public Week 6 notes for the 2026 season: starts, sits, injuries, waivers, matchups, and trades. Each line is from this week's briefing, with the source it came from. Not a promise of results.
Starts · Sits · Injuries · Waiver targets · Matchups · Trades · Schedule · FAQ
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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
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
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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
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.
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
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
Source: ESPN NFL scoreboard, Week 6
These teams do not play this week. Players from them score zero, so plan a replacement for any you start.
Our top Week 6 waiver targets, by priority: Woody Marks (RB, HOU), FAAB 20%; MarShawn Lloyd (RB, GB), FAAB 10%; Brenton Strange (TE, JAX), FAAB 6%; Khalil Shakir (WR, BUF), FAAB 5%; Germie Bernard (WR, PIT), FAAB 4%. Each one has its reason and source above.
This week's calls: Jordan Love (QB, GB): 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; Tucker Kraft (TE, GB): 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; CeeDee Lamb (WR, DAL): 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; Drake Maye (QB, NE): 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.
This week's calls: Kirk Cousins (QB, LV): 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.
Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings. Players from these teams score zero in Week 6, so start a replacement.
Week 6 opens with Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos on Thu Oct 15, 8:15 PM ET and closes with Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers on Mon Oct 19, 8:15 PM ET.