The number of significant injuries across the NFL continues to grow, leaving fantasy football managers scrambling for solutions on their waiver wires. Thankfully, some reinforcements could return from the injured reserve starting in Week 6.
Below are the injuries that could impact fantasy in Week 6. Be sure to check this article daily for updates leading up to the games.
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants | Out
Darius Slayton suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of the New York Giants’ loss to the New Orleans Saints. Slayton did not participate in practice on Monday and Tuesday and was officially ruled out of Thursday Night Football against Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Jaylin Hyatt saw the most considerable increase in his snap share once Slayton went out in Week 5 and should be a full-time player against the Eagles. Expect most targets to continue funneling to Wan’Dale Robinson and TE Theo Johnson in the passing attack.
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens | Out
Lamar Jackson missed Week 5’s game, which was a blowout loss to the Houston Texans, thanks to his hamstring injury.
The Ravens’ playoff hopes are diminishing rapidly after a 1-4 start. Baltimore has not ruled Jackson out for Week 6, but things are not trending in a positive direction after he missed all three practices this week.
The team could start Cooper Rush against the Rams, especially with a bye week on the horizon in Week 7. That would give Jackson the best chance to heal and try to make a playoff push completely.
Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals | Questionable
Kyler Murray suffered a foot injury during Arizona’s loss to the Tennessee Titans. He finished the game, but his weekly status will require monitoring. Murray did not participate in practice on Wednesday or Thursday. He did log a limited practice on Friday, but is considered a game-time decision heading into Week 6.
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If Murray is too injured to play, veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett would get the Week 6 start against the Colts.
Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers | Out
Brock Purdy missed Week 5’s game against the Los Angeles Rams due to his toe injury. He had returned to the starting lineup in Week 4, but re-aggravated the injury.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan deemed Purdy’s injury “week-to-week,” which makes Mac Jones the team’s starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. Purdy was officially ruled out on Friday (10/10).
Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles play Thursday night in Week 5, so early-week injury reports are a bit more significant. That is why Saquon Barkley’s appearance on the injury report is concerning.
Before being upgraded to limited on Tuesday, Barkley was listed as a non-participant for Monday’s report. He has maintained that the injury is nothing he is worried about and is linked to “general soreness”.
The veteran running back is expected to play in Week 6. Barkley will hope to get back on track against the New York Giants after averaging a good, but not great, 16.1 PPR points per game (RB11) to start the season.
Barkley was not listed on Wednesday’s injury report, suggesting he will see his normal workload in Week 6.
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Out
Bucky Irving was held out of Week 5’s win against the Seattle Seahawks due to both a shoulder and a toe injury. Irving is expected to miss Week 6 due to the shoulder injury. He was officially ruled out on Friday.
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Rachaad White operated as the lead back in Week 5 with 14 carries for 41 yards and two touchdowns, and four receptions for 30 yards. He reprises that role in Week 6 if Irving is officially out.
Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers | Out
An ankle injury landed Chargers back Omarion Hampton on the injured reserve, which means he will be out for at least four weeks. He is expected to be able to return after this IR stint.
The Chargers are expected to split their backfield between Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal in the short term. The team also signed Nyheim Miller-Hines to add a pass-catching element to their backfield, potentially.
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers | Out
A calf injury kept Chuba Hubbard on the sidelines in Week 5, allowing backup Rico Dowdle to erupt for over 200 rushing yards against the Miami Dolphins.
Hubbard was officially ruled out on Friday after missing practice throughout the week. Veteran Rico Dowdle is set to make his second consecutive start against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6.
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints | Questionable
Alvin Kamara suffered an ankle injury during practice on Wednesday (10/8). He was able to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday, which reinforces the reports that the injury was considered minor.
Kendre Miller would significantly increase his role if Kamara cannot play.
Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaylen Warren missed Week 4’s game against the Minnesota Vikings due to a knee injury, and the Steelers had their bye week in Week 5, so Warren has had extra time to get up to full strength.
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Warren was removed from the injury report on Friday and is set to return to the starting lineup in Week 6.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants
Tyrone Tracy Jr. has missed the last two games for the New York Giants due to a shoulder injury. Since then, the second-year running back has logged back-to-back limited practices on Monday and Tuesday ahead of the Giants’ Thursday matchup against the Eagles.
The Giants removed Tracy from the injured report heading into Week 6, setting the stage for the veteran running back to return to the lineup. He will likely split touches with rookie Cam Skattebo.
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals | Questionable
Veteran wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was a surprise addition to the injury report on Friday (10/10) due to illness. There is no indication that Chase will miss Sunday’s game against the Packers, but he could be limited depending on how he feels.
Tee Higgins would be in line to see an increase in his workload if Chase is not at full strength.
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys | Out
CeeDee Lamb suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears and has missed Weeks 4 and 5. The Cowboys kept Lamb off the injured reserve, signaling their belief that he could return to full strength within four weeks.
Lamb did not participate in practice on Wednesday (10/8) or Thursday (10/9) before being officially ruled out on Friday. George Pickens and Jake Ferguson are set to have another big week against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
Amon-Ra St. Brown did not practice on Wednesday due to a wrist injury. There is no indication that St. Brown is at risk of missing Week 6’s game, but his practice participation must be monitored throughout the week. He did return to practice on Thursday, suggesting he will be on the field in Week 6.
Chris Godwin Jr., WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Out
The Buccaneers ruled Chris Godwin Jr. out of Week 6’s game due to his fibula. Godwin had worked his way back from a season-ending injury in 2024, so this can be considered some form of setback, even though this injury is unrelated to his ankle.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin (fibula) is not expected to play Sunday vs. 49ers, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 10, 2025
Godwin’s most recent injury is considered week-to-week but is not expected to land him on the injured reserve. Emeka Egbuka is set to be the focal point of Tampa Bay’s offense with Godwin and Mike Evans sidelined.
Fantasy managers looking for streaming options could consider turning to Sterling Shepard or Tez Johnson as deep sleepers for fantasy production.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders | Questionable
Terry McLaurin has missed Weeks 4 and 5 due to a quad injury, but he is expected to return to practice ahead of Week 6’s game against the Chicago Bears. In his Monday press conference, head coach Dan Quinn stated that he was “optimistic” that McLaurin would return in Week 6.
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McLaurin did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday, which puts his availability in serious question for Week 6.
Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Xavier Worthy did not practice on Thursday due to ankle and shoulder injuries. He did log a full practice on Wednesday, so it could just be a rest day for a receiver who missed the early portion of the season with a shoulder injury.
Worthy returned to practice on Friday and was removed from the team’s injury report. He is set to see his normal workload in Week 6.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers | Out
Ricky Pearsall missed Week 5 due to a minor PCL injury, which wasn’t helped by a short turnaround before the team’s Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Rams. Pearsall did not practice on Wednesday (10/8) and was limited to working on a side field on Thursday.
Pearsall was officially ruled out on Friday. The 49ers’ passing attack will flow through Christian McCaffrey, Jauan Jennings (if active), and Kendrick Bourne against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.
Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons | Questionable
Darnell Mooney left Atlanta’s Week 4 game against the Washington Commanders with a hamstring injury. The team expressed optimism that Mooney would not miss extended time with the injury thanks to the team’s bye in Week 5.
Mooney did not practice on Thursday or Friday, which puts his Week 6 status in jeopardy. If he is out, that means increased opportunities for Drake London and Kyle Pitts in the passing attack.
Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers | Questionable
Like Pearsall, Jauan Jennings missed Week 5’s game against the Los Angeles Rams due to an injury suffered in Week 4. Jennings initially stated that he was confident that he would be able to play in Week 5, which could put him closer to being active next week. Still, Jennings wasn’t helped by playing a Thursday game four days after suffering his rib injury.
Jennings returned to practice on Thursday and is trending towards playing in Week 6. He could see a significant workload, especially if Ricky Pearsall continues to trend towards being out.
Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers | Out
The Green Bay Packers opened Christian Watson’s 21-day practice window as he works to return from the PUP list due to his Week 18 ACL injury.
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The Packers have three weeks to get Watson up to speed before determining whether he can be activated or shut down for the season. He is a worthwhile stash in fantasy, but he cannot be trusted as a full-time player until we see him get some positive practice momentum.
He was ruled out for Week 6, but has a chance to make his 2025 debut in Week 7.
Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers | Questionable
Jalen Coker could not return from the injured reserve in Week 5, but the Panthers have officially opened up his practice window. Coker has 21 days to get up to work his way off the injured reserve and into the starting lineup. He was a full practice participant on Wednesday, but heads into Week 6 as a game-time decision.
The Panthers have been searching for a pass-catching presence outside of rookie Tetairoa McMillan. Coker showed flashes as a rookie despite being an undrafted free agent. Once he is activated, he should become a full-time part of the passing attack.
Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders | Out
Brock Bowers has been playing through a knee injury suffered in Week 1. Unfortunately, the second-year tight end suffered a setback last week heading into Week 5’s matchup against the Colts, ultimately making him inactive.
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After the game, head coach Pete Carroll described Bowers as “week-to-week”, even though the team did not commit to holding Bowers out for more than Week 5.
Bowers was officially ruled out on Friday. That means veteran tight end Michael Mayer has legitimate top 12 potential in fantasy.
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers | Out
George Kittle is eligible to return from the injured reserve in Week 6, but head coach Kyle Shanahan stated after Week 5’s win against the Rams that Kittle was considered a “long shot” to return in Week 6.
The team expects Kittle to return in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars | Out
Brenton Strange landed on the injured reserve with a hip injury after the team’s big win against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night.
Strange will now miss at least four weeks. Backup tight ends Johnny Mundt and Hunter Long aren’t significant receiving threats, so most of Strange’s target share will be absorbed by WRs Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, Dyami Brown, and Parker Washington.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills | Questionable
Dalton Kincaid wore a non-contact jersey at practice on Thursday (10/9) and Friday (10/10). He was listed as a limited participant, but there is no indication that he will miss Week 6 at this time.
Kincaid’s absence could open up more opportunities for Dawson Knox, but his targets would most likely be funneled to Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, and Josh Palmer.