The Fantasy Footballers Podcast Recap: Week 6 (Fantasy Football)
As we head into Week 6, Andy, Mike, and Jason deliver the news and advice you need to make rational decisions! Remember to listen to The Fantasy Footballers podcast, available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Monday – Week 5 Studs & Duds + Marv Trade Reactions!
News
The Arizona Cardinals traded Marvin Harrison Jr. and a 2027 7th-round pick to the Houston Texans for 2027 second- and sixth-round picks. Andy believes Marv will see a relatively high target share and will be allowed to succeed in Houston. Jason’s fever dream is Marv turns into a Tee Higgins-lite, but he does not believe Marv is talented enough to
Studs
QBs
This week’s top five QB scorers were Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, Jared Goff, Jameis Winston, and Jordan Love. Maye threw for 374 yards and four TDs, and rushed for 25 yards and a TD. Daniels ran for 103 yards and two TDs to account for most of his fantasy production, while Winston threw for 326 yards and three TDs on the other side of a perplexing Week 5 matchup. Goff scored his first rushing TD in over three years as Jason’s start of the week.
RBs
Jahmyr Gibbs turned 31 opportunities against the Cardinals into 207 scrimmage yards and two TDs to finish as the RB1 in Week 5. Jaylen Warren and Bucky Irving both finished with over 30 fantasy points. Braelon Allen saw 88% of the New York Jets’ RB opportunities and finished as the RB5 on the week.
WRs
Christian Watson scored multiple 40+ yard TDs to finish as the WR1 on the week, and Matthew Golden recorded 123 receiving yards against the Chicago Bears. Parker Washington had his first two-TD game and finished as the WR2 in London. Malik Nabers played the most snaps he has played this season and ended with 121 yards and a TD. George Pickens bounced back with nine receptions for 130 yards and a TD on Thursday Night Football.
TEs
Mike’s start of the week Isaiah Likely saw 13 targets for 11 receptions, 94 yards, and two TDs. Brock Bowers, Pat Freiermuth, Tyler Warren, and Sam LaPorta all finished between 17 and 19 fantasy points in Week 5.
Duds
QBs
Justin Herbert and Bo Nix combined for 244 yards and two TDs in their AFC West divisional matchup. Tyler Shough threw for 96 yards and two INTs against Brian Flores’ Vikings defense. Dak Prescott was “embarrassing” on Thursday Night Football, but still recorded 316 passing yards and a TD against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
RBs
Chase Brown surrendered 16 opportunities to Samaje Perine in Week 5, while recording 60 yards from scrimmage on 17 opportunities. Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier combined for 38 yards on 18 opportunities. RJ Harvey and Alvin Kamara both saw three carries and one target while their offenses struggled.
Zac Taylor on what the running attack will look like going forward:
“We’ll take it game to game.”
Could Samaje Perine get lead back duties going forward?#Bengals pic.twitter.com/J9MYAZlDay
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) October 11, 2026
WRs
Chris Olave only earned six targets in Week 5 en route to his worst game this season. The Bears’ pass-catchers continued their 2026 struggles, but Caleb Williams’ return represents a light at the end of the tunnel. Michael Wilson caught four passes for 30 yards against the Detroit Lions in his first game post-Marvin Harrison Jr. DK Metcalf, Carnell Tate, and Tee Higgins saw five or fewer targets in Week 5.
TEs
George Kittle was a late addition to the injury report on Sunday due to an illness, and his production dipped. He caught five passes for 24 yards against the Seattle Seahawks. Harold Fannin Jr. caught one pass for four yards against the New York Jets in Week 5. Juwan Johnson recorded four passes for 16 yards.
Tuesday – Week 6 Waivers + #AndysHole
News
TreVeyon Henderson suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Las Vegas Raiders and is likely week-to-week. David Montgomery is week-to-week with a groin injury. DeVonta Smith has a chance to play in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers. Deebo Samuel will miss a few weeks with a hamstring injury he suffered against the Seahawks. But the most important news from Monday was Andy hitting a hole-in-one after 2399 attempts on #AndysHole.
Jake "saving" @ProducerBorland from getting hit by a golf ball last night. #AndysHole pic.twitter.com/QU9oHFcZD9
— Fantasy Footballers (@TheFFBallers) October 13, 2026
Waiver Wire
RBs
The top two waiver wire RBs this week were Woody Marks and Marshawn Lloyd. Jason has Marks as a better Week 6 start, while Lloyd is the better long-term action. Dameon Pierce was widely available and could be the Philadelphia Eagles’ primary RB in Week 6.
WRs
Mike’s priority pickup this week was Germie Bernard, who showed flashes in Michael Pittman Jr.’s absence, and should see even more with Roman Wilson’s finger injury. Dontayvion Wicks is a dart throw at FLEX if DeVonta Smith misses another game. Keenan Allen saw nine targets in his return from injury and could be worth a pickup in PPR leagues.
TEs
Andy’s highest priority pickups and TE this week were Brenton Strange and Pat Freiermuth. Jason brought up Darren Waller as a good pickup now that the Wallerus is past his bye week.
Full Stream Ahead
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Andy – Matthew Stafford vs ARI
Matthew Stafford is rostered in over 90% of leagues, but Andy wants to make sure you pick him up if he is on your waivers and play him if you have him benched. Stafford’s averaged 48 pass attempts per game since Week 2, and the Los Angeles Rams have the highest implied team total of the last two years (33) against the Arizona Cardinals.
Mike – Jordan Love vs DAL
The Dallas Cowboys’ defense is 31st in defensive EPA per dropback and last in dropback success rate. Jordan Love just balled out against the Bears in Week 5, and may have figured out that throwing it deep to Christian Watson and Matthew Golden every play works against bad defenses.
Jason – Jameis Winston vs NO
The New Orleans Saints rank 26th in schedule-adjusted points allowed to QBs over the past three weeks while facing Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr., and Kyler Murray. Jameis Winston finished as a top-five QB in Week 5 and should see continued success in Week 6.
Wednesday – Fantasy Draft Redo + League Winners, Mailbag!
News
Ja’Kobi Lane’s practice window was opened after missing four weeks with a wrist injury and could return against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6. Raheim Sanders was placed on IR with a hip injury, and Dylan Sampson was designated for return. Jalen Coker is on track to play in Week 6. Zach Charbonnet could make his season debut in Week 7.
Fantasy Draft Redo
Kenneth Walker III was the biggest riser in the first round of this mock draft redo and was selected at the 1.02. Brock Bowers and Josh Allen were drafted at the back end of the draft, and the Ballers argued that their value over the rest of the players at the onesie positions is worth first-round picks.
Time for a FIRST ROUND REDO! 🔄 🏈
If we drafted today, this is how the first round would look 👀 pic.twitter.com/WbUlaofkI9
— Fantasy Footballers (@TheFFBallers) October 14, 2026
Christian Watson, Parker Washington, and Tetairoa McMillan were the biggest overall risers, selected with picks 19, 20, and 22. Watson’s 17-game pace is 1,612 yards and 20 TDs. Washington leads the league in yards per route run against press coverage this season, and he is on track to fulfill our preseason hopes and dreams for him. McMillan’s bye week has already passed, and the bonus game he gets now that he’s past his bye week is a big bonus.
Thursday – Start of the Week + Week 6 Games, Hurts Hurt!
News
Jalen Hurts was diagnosed with a superficial blood clot and is out indefinitely. DJ Moore, Jeremiyah Love, Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Lamar Jackson, and Quinshon Judkins were DNPs at practice on Wednesday, and their practice availability should be monitored throughout the week. Caleb Williams returned to a full practice on Wednesday and is trending toward playing in Week 6. TreVeyon Henderson and AJ Brown were limited participants on Wednesday with high ankle sprains. CeeDee Lamb will be good to go against the Packers on Sunday with a quad contusion.
Breaking: #Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is out for Sunday due to a superficial blood clot.
Full statement from the #Eagles on QB Jalen Hurts:
“On Thursday, October 8th, Jalen visited the training room after practice requesting treatment for his calf. He informed the medical staff he… pic.twitter.com/16hVutehsp— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 15, 2026
Starts of the Week
Thursdays are when the Ballers give their weekly picks for starts of the week. The Ballers’ picks are meant to give you confidence in players you might have hesitancy to plug into your lineup for a multitude of reasons.
Fantasy Forecast
CHI @ ATL(CHI -1.5, O/U 51.5)
Caleb Williams’ return brings hope to the Bears’ pass catchers in Week 6. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III rank as low-end WR2s in the Ballers’ consensus rankings, while Williams and Colston Loveland are borderline starts. D’Andre Swift will be a great play with Kyle Monangai missing another week with turf toe. Start your Atlanta superstars in Week 6, but you can bench everyone else on the Falcons.
TEN @ IND (IND -7, O/U 44.5)
This AFC South matchup could be a quick blowout for the Indianapolis Colts, but there may still be fantasy value. Jason is confident in Carnell Tate this week, despite having a disappointing output in Week 5. Tony Pollard is a fine start for teams dealing with bye weeks or injuries at RB this week. Josh Downs and Keenan Allen can be played in the FLEX, while Jonathan Taylor and Tyler Warren rank as the third-best plays at their position in Week 6.
NYJ @ NE (NE -7.5, O/U 43.5)
The matchup between Mike and Jason’s starts of the week at RB comes from the New England Patriots hosting the New York Jets. Drake Maye, Rhamondre Stevenson, Garrett Wilson, and Braelon Allen are auto-starts for the Ballers this week. Mike and Jason are plugging AJ Brown into their lineups if he returns. Mike would play Romeo Doubs if Brown does not return, but will not consider any other New England WRs.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
NO @ NYG (NO -1.5, O/U 45.5)
Isaiah Likely ranks as the Ballers’ consensus TE4 this week. Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo are the other Giants that you will likely play, but remember Jameis Winston was Jason’s full-stream ahead QB this week. Mike expects a bounce-back performance from his almost-my-guy Tyler Shough. Both Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller rank as low-end RB3s this week, and can be played in an emergency.
CAR @ PHI (CAR -3.5, O/U 39.5)
Andy says he might start Dameon Pierce if absolutely needed, but he would not start any other Eagles in Week 6. Chuba Hubbard could be a great play in a positive game script given Philadelphia’s injuries. Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker should be played this week, while Jason has Darren Waller as a TD-dependent play.
Friday – Week 6 Matchups + Wheel of Shame
News
Lamar Jackson and Jeremiyah Love were ruled out for Week 6 with ankle injuries. Rashee Rice was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Mike Evans, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Stefon Diggs were DNPs in the initial practice reports for Monday Night Football. Mike Vrabel said a decision on AJ Brown’s Week 6 status will be made on Saturday, so make sure to follow injury news throughout the weekend with Matthew Betz’s Injury Blitz podcast.
Fantasy Forecast
ARI @ LAR (LAR -12.5, O/U 51.5)
All of the Los Angeles Rams fantasy-relevant players grade out as great starts by the Ballers’ consensus ranking against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6. Tyler Higbee is Andy’s start of the week, and Blake Corum is a FLEX-worthy play. A positive game script for Trey McBride and Michael Wilson could make them great starts with the potential for garbage time. McBride ranks relatively low for his standards at TE6 this week, and Wilson’s at WR18.
LAC @ KC (KC 7.5, O/U 41.5)
The Los Angeles Chargers went from preseason darlings to not having any projected top-24 plays, including the onesie positions! Omarion Hampton is another RB who you could play if you have multiple injuries and bye weeks, but nobody else should be started. The Kansas City Chiefs are 6-2 following the bye week in the Patrick Mahomes era. Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Kenneth Walker should be started, while Xavier Worthy could be worth a dart throw.
BUF @ LV (BUF -4.5, O/U 53.5)
Jason’s start of the week Tre Tucker could be the beneficiary of a positive game script for the Las Vegas Raiders, while Brock Bowers’ double-digit target streak should continue. Both Ashton Jeanty and James Cook III are auto-starts every week. Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir could be solid FLEX plays if D.J. Moore misses Week 6. Mike wants to give you confidence in Dalton Kincaid having a bounce-back game and made Kincaid his Week 6 TE start of the week.
DAL @ GB (GB -1.5, O/U 53.5)
A rematch of last season’s Micah Parsons Bowl tie on Sunday Night Football projects to provide fantasy goodness throughout. Nine players rank as starts at their position, and the 53.5-point over/under implies that these expectations will be met. Jordan Love, Marshawn Lloyd, and Matthew Golden are starts of the week. Start all of your Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers in Week 6.
Fantasy Faceoff
Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Andy
QB: Geno Smith less than 221.5 passing yards
RB: Omarion Hampton more than 11.5 rushing yards
WR: Marvin Harrison Jr. more than 20.5 receiving yards
TE: Tyler Higbee 34.5 receiving yards
Mike
QB: Tyler Shough more than 232.5 passing yards
RB: Kenneth Walker II more than 59.5 rushing yards
WR: Parker Washington more than 61.5 receiving yards
TE: Isaiah Likely 52.5 receiving yards
Jason
QB: Josh Allen more than 13.5 rushing yards
RB: Bhayshul Tuten more than 8.5 receiving yards
WR: CeeDee Lamb more than 6 receptions
TE: Tyler Warren more than 5 receptions