The injuries are piling up right as the fantasy standings are beginning to take shape. Is your star player injured, and you aren't sure if you should trade or drop them? What about players who are set to play through injury? Can you trust them? Read the NFL week 6 injury updates below to guide your roster decision-making and position your team to make a playoff push.

Quarterbacks

Lamar Jackson

Injury: Hamstring strain

Analysis: Jackson will miss another week with his right hamstring injury. Baltimore rolls into a week 7 bye, which will, in turn, give Jackson a whole four weeks to rehab his grade II hamstring injury. Generally, this is adequate time for full restoration of strength, range of motion, and explosiveness that should greatly reduce re-injury risk and any injury-related performance dips.

Brock Purdy

Injury: Toe injury

Analysis: Purdy is trending towards missing another week after only practicing on the side on Friday. A toe injury like Purdy's impacts not only pocket mobility but a quarterback's ability to push off the ground to generate throwing power. As we have already seen with Purdy, these injuries can linger and be re-aggravated. Expect San Francisco to continue to be patient with their franchise quarterback, but Purdy should be able to play well again soon.

Kyler Murray

Injury: Foot injury

Analysis: Murray is looking unlikely to play Sunday with a mid-foot injury. He missed two practices but did participate on Friday, which is encouraging; however, if Murray can play, his rushing upside will be limited. More than just his rushing, which is a massive part of Murray's fantasy value, is that this is most likely being his right foot (per video). As a right-handed passer, Murray pushes off his right foot for throwing power and to step up in the pocket. If Murray can play, expect a dip in fantasy production to the point that warrants considering other options. If he does not play, current reports suggest he may miss a few weeks. Average time missed with a non-surgical mid-foot injury is two weeks.

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Tua Tagovailoa

Injury: Right Hip / Left thumb injury

Analysis: Tua has mild injuries to the left (throwing hand) thumb and right hip, but does not carry an injury designation. The right hip is the one he dislocated in college, but clearly, this is not the same issue. As a left-handed passer, the right hip is NOT the one he powers off for throw power or to step up in the pocket, and I'm largely not concerned with this. If he takes another hit to the thumb, this could worsen and make it difficult to handle the ball and pass with accuracy. However, if he stays clean, it should not be a significant issue, aside from some handling issues.

Mac Jones

Injury: Left knee / Oblique injury

Analysis: Jones is trending towards starting again, but is dealing with a nagging left knee injury as well as an oblique injury. He has already played well through the left PCL injury, and again, this being his left knee is critical; it's not the one he pushes off for throw power with. The oblique injury is concerning. The obliques are critical for rotating the torso to create throwing power, and when injured, both power and accuracy can be off. If Jones does play, this would indicate his oblique injury is also mild, but still may impact his throwing.

Running Backs

Alvin Kamara

Injury: Ankle sprain

Analysis: Kamara was limited in practice all week with an ankle injury. Ankle injuries impact a runner's ability to change direction quickly and effectively, and have a high recurrence rate of around 29%. With Kamara able to practice in some capacity every day this week, I suspect he does play, but we may see more Kendre Miller than usual, limiting Kamara's upside. Running backs only average missing 1.2 games and a 7% dip in fantasy points upon return.

Bucky Irving

Injury: Foot / Shoulder Subluxation

Analysis: Irving will miss another week with both a left foot sprain and a shoulder subluxation. Foot sprains can impact a player like Irving's ability to quickly plant and change direction. Running backs with non-surgical foot injuries average missing two weeks, with a 6% dip in fantasy production when they return.

A shoulder subluxation occurs when the head of the humerus shifts slightly outside of the shoulder socket. It is not quite as bad as a full-blown dislocation, but it is usually associated with some labrum injury and has a high likelihood of subluxing again. NFL players average missing three games and can return and play well, but the risk will be elevated.

Chuba Hubbard

Injury: Calf strain

Analysis: Hubbard will miss another week after re-injuring his calf in week four. Calf muscles are critical for acceleration and speed, and as such are a major player in a runner's ability to be explosive. Recurrence is high, as Hubbard has experienced, with 15-20% of calf injuries re-injuring in season. Expect Carolina to be cautious after week six with re-integrating Hubbard back into their offense.

Jaylen Warren

Injury: Knee Injury

Analysis: Warren is back this week. Full practices all week tell us he's close to 100%. A more significant knee injury that would keep him out of practice could pose a threat to his change of direction, but this will not. Warren has proven to be a strong start this year.

Wide Receivers

Amon-Ra St. Brown

Injury: Wrist injury

Analysis: St. Brown was removed from the injury report. A mild wrist injury is not going to impact his ability to catch the ball, and certainly will not limit his route running or run after catch. He remains a dominant start this week.

CeeDee Lamb

Injury: High ankle sprain

Analysis: Lamb will miss another week as he tends to his left high ankle sprain. The challenge with a high ankle sprain is the loss of stability within the ankle. An ankle that is unstable ankle makes it difficult to push off to change direction, impacting speed, agility, separation, etc. Receivers average missing 2.8 games; this will be Lambs' 3rd game. Whenever he returns, receivers average no decline in fantasy points, meaning Lamb will likely produce for your fantasy team again soon.

Zay Flowers

Injury: Shoulder injury

Analysis: Flowers is truly questionable after being limited in practice all week with a shoulder injury. He will have to demonstrate adequate shoulder range of motion and stability to play, but if he can do this, his playing style, based on speed, agility, and route-running acumen versus high-pointing 50/50 balls, should allow him to be productive. Receivers average just a 7% dip in fantasy points after a shoulder injury. The bigger concern is the absence of Lamar Jackson.

Chris Godwin

Injury: Fibula Injury

Analysis: This one is interesting. Godwin is apparently dealing with a new injury, but to the same fibula he fractured last season, while his ankle dislocated. We know that major ankle surgeries significantly increase the risk for future injuries, and most people will never regain the same ankle mobility or strength. We've also seen video of Godwin walking, in which he clearly did not have a normal degree of ankle dorsiflexion (bending as the leg advances over the foot), which will impact the ankle's ability to absorb ground reaction forces. While we don't exactly know Godwin's prognosis, it is not surprising that he is dealing with another injury, and the re-injury risk whenever he returns remains extremely high.

Terry McLaurin

Injury: Quad / Core injury

Analysis: Terry will miss another week with his quad/core injury. We still await any real details on the condition, but as I discussed a few weeks ago, I'm concerned this is more than just a typical quad strain or contusion. The fact that he saw a core specialist makes me suspicious that this is either a sports hernia or a rectus femoris tendon injury, both of which can be challenging to treat conservatively and often see re-injuries. Let's hope I am wrong and he can get it right next week.

Darnell Mooney

Injury: Hamstring strain

Analysis: Mooney did not practice on Thursday or Friday, but as of this writing has not been officially ruled out. Considering Mooney is a wide receiver who likes to get deep, playing through a hamstring injury that is clearly nowhere near 100% is risky both for him personally from a re-injury standpoint, but also for fantasy managers. The hamstring is stressed maximally at top speed, which receivers like Mooney rely on. Playing well below 100% will be a big risk for injury and will also make it tough for him to have his full speed and explosion. Historically, receivers average a 15% dip in fantasy points after a hamstring injury. If Mooney can play, I'd expect this dip to apply to him.

Ricky Pearsall

Injury: PCL sprain

Analysis: Pearsall has again been ruled out as he rehabs a right PCL injury. The challenge with PCL injuries is the lost stability and proprioceptive feedback from the ligament. A receiver needs to confidently plant his foot and quickly change direction without being concerned about where his foot is landing and the knees' ability to withstand the ground reaction forces. With an acute PCL sprain, this is very difficult and is why we see players look slow and lack explosion in the first few games after injury (think Brock Purdy). Pearsall should be able to return and play well this season, but we may be weeks away. In the meantime, teammates Christian McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings will command a massive target share.

Quentin Johnston

Injury: Hamstring strain

Analysis: Johnston is truly questionable after being limited all week with a hamstring injury. Johnston is a burner, thriving down the field and on crossing routes. A hamstring injury is expected to impact his playing style more than any other positional archetype. The hamstring is a major sprinting muscle, with loads on the hamstring hitting its peak at the top 80-100% of a sprint. It takes about 30-40 yards to achieve top speed, and as we discussed, Johnston's game is built after running 30-40 yards. With him being limited all week, we know this is more than just tightness; this is a grade I injury where there is some (but not much) strength loss. This little loss of strength could make the difference in Johnston's ability to get deep.

Furthermore, hamstring injuries have a 20-30% recurrence rate, which will be higher in a player who is constantly stressing the hamstrings down the field. Receivers average a 15% dip in fantasy points after a hamstring injury. If Johnston can play, I suspect he will fit that mold.

Jauan Jennings

Injury: Rib / Ankle injury

Analysis: Jennings is trending towards playing in week 6 after missing multiple games this year with multiple injuries. Presently, he deals with rib and ankle injuries.

Rib injuries are more than just pain tolerance. Several critical muscles attach to the rib, including the lats, pecs, and obliques, which are critical for movements receivers need to make. When an injury is present, these muscles can lock down, impacting the player's ability to raise his arm and rotate his torso. When these impairments have been resolved, players can play, and this is likely where Jennings currently lands.

Ankle injuries impact a receiver's ability to quickly get in and out of his routes and create separation. Re-injury risk is high, around 29%. Receivers average a 16% dip in fantasy points after a rib injury, and a 10% dip after an ankle injury, making it likely Jennings is not going to be at his best. The uniqueness here is Jennings is essentially the only receiver standing in San Francisco, which could mean a lot of targets and production despite the injuries.

KaVontae Turpin

Injury: Foot injury

Analysis: Turpin will miss another game with a foot injury. A speedster like Turpin will have a hard time reaching his top speed and his ability to quickly change direction with a foot injury. Receivers with non-surgical foot injuries average missing 2.3 games, but see a massive 51% decline in fantasy points in the first game after injury.

Alec Pierce

Injury: Concussion

Analysis: Pierce has cleared the concussion protocol and will make his return. While there is no reason to expect a decline in fantasy production, a prior concussion increases the risk for future concussions.

Jalen Coker

Injury: Quad strain

Analysis: Coker's 2025 debut will be a game-time decision this week as he returns from a quad injury. The quad is a critical sprinting, cutting, and jumping muscle. When injured, it can significantly limit an athlete's explosiveness. The good news is Coker has had the better part of two months to rehab and should be damn close to 100%. Additionally, receivers actually average no drop-off in fantasy points after a quad injury. The question is, can Bryce Young really support any more pass catchers?

Tight Ends

Brock Bowers

Injury: PCL sprain

Analysis: Bowers will miss another week as he continues to rehab his PCL injury. As explained above with Pearsall, a PCL injury impacts the ability to plant and cut quickly and confidently. We've observed this with Bowers, who admitted that he was having difficulty separating after his injury. This is due to both the role of passive stability, but also the PCL is loaded with sensory receptors call proprioceptors which tell the brain where the limb is in space without the need to look. Generally, it takes players 4-6 weeks to look like themselves again. Better days are ahead for Bowers.

Dalton Kincaid

Injury: Oblique Injury

Analysis: An oblique injury has the potential to impact a tight end in both blocking and receiving. The obliques are strong muscles that rotate the torso, a movement required for twisting to make difficult catches. The obliques are also critical for stabilizing the core, creating a strong base to push and absorb contact when blocking. If Kincaid is able to get pain under control and strength restored to the point where he can do these actions, his fantasy production should be okay. Buffalo plays Monday night, so having a pivot available is critical. His teammate, Dawson Knox, would be a great pivot if Kincaid sits this week.

Brenton Strange

Injury: Quad injury

Analysis: Strange will miss considerable time with a quad and hip ligament injury. This most likely is a rectus femoris tendon injury, as the rectus femoris shares attachment points with the hip capsule and anterior hip ligaments, specifically the illiofemoral ligament. Strange will be on the injured reserve and can be dropped in re-draft formats.