With another busy WR injury report in play for Week 6, there are a number of key fantasy football contributors to monitor this week. Let’s take a look at the latest injury news and examine the potential fantasy implications of the various concerns around the league.
WR Injury Report Heading Into Week 6
Note that practice status listings are as follows: DNP – did not participate, LP – limited participant, FP – full participant.
Tee Higgins, CIN | Ankle (DNP)
Tee Higgins came out onto the field with the Bengals for practice on Wednesday but headed straight to the rehab field. During his media availability, head coach Zac Taylor indicated that Higgins would be limited early in the week with his ankle sprain.
So it was somewhat surprising that Higgins was tagged as a non-participant on both Wednesday and Thursday. It will be interesting to see whether Higgins can get in a limited practice on Friday. It looks likely that Higgins will be, at best, questionable for Week 6.
We also saw Higgins come into last Sunday questionable, and the results were frustrating. He suited up, and fantasy managers likely largely trusted him in their lineups. However, he saw zero targets and did not play in the second half as he appeared to re-injure the ankle.
There did not seem to be much concern about Higgins’ availability when Taylor spoke to the media Wednesday. However, after two DNPs, Friday becomes crucial. Unless Higgins can get in at least a limited practice, we could see him ruled out of Week 6 on Friday. If Higgins misses the game, then Mike Thomas should see additional snaps, with Tyler Boyd potentially seeing a bump in targets as well.
Cooper Kupp, LAC | Foot (DNP -> LP)
While it was somewhat of a surprise to see Cooper Kupp on the Rams’ Week 6 injury report, Sean McVay had addressed his status before practice. When speaking to the media, McVay said he would be “smart” with Kupp this week but did not expect it to affect his status for the game. Kupp was upgraded from a non-participant to a limited participant on Thursday.
Kupp missing the game will likely push more targets in the direction of Allen Robinson, Tyler Higbee, and Ben Skowronek. Robinson would become a fringe 12-team flex starter, while Skowronek comes into 14-team fringe flex reckoning in PPR scoring.
Keenan Allen, LAC | Hamstring (LP)
It feels like we are in a never-ending loop with Keenan Allen. He has not played since hurting his hamstring in Week 1 and has seemingly suffered at least one setback. To open Week 6, he is once again on the field, working through individual drills. However, we have seen that before, and it did not amount to him suiting up on Sunday.
MORE: RB Injury Report Week 6
The practice report for the rest of the week will be intriguing to watch. If Allen plays, it would be tough to trust him in starting lineups this week. If he is absent, the same pattern continues. Mike Williams is a must-start, Joshua Palmer has 14-team PPR consideration, and DeAndre Carter is a 16-team league boom-or-bust Flex play.
Tyreek Hill, MIA | Foot (FP)
With all the focus on the return of Tua Tagovailoa, it was easy to miss the updates on Tyreek Hill. After Miami’s Week 5 loss, Hill was seen leaving the game in a walking boot, so it is promising that he was able to practice Wednesday and then again Thursday. He should be full-go for Sunday at this rate.
It is very telling how little was being made of this injury and that the focus around Hill was on his and the other team captains’ decision to have a ping-pong table removed from the locker room.
Chris Godwin, TB | Hip/Knee (LP -> DNP [Rest])
Russell Gage, TB | Ankle (DNP -> LP)
Julio Jones, TB | Knee (DNP)
Chris Godwin’s appearance on the Week 6 injury report with two new injuries is frustrating. There did not seem to be major concern coming out of Tampa Bay, and he was able to practice in a limited fashion. He has seen heavy usage whenever he has been active this season. We saw him downgraded to a non-participant, but that was listed as rest as opposed to a downgrade due to injury. As of Friday morning, the expectation is that Godwin will be active in Week 6.
Russell Gage saw his status upgraded from a non-participant Wednesday to a limited participant on Thursday. We saw him active last week after being downgraded to questionable heading into Sunday.
Regardless of his status Sunday, Gage does not have any more fantasy value than a fringe Flex option in 16-team leagues. His workload reduced significantly when Godwin returned, and his role has been extremely low-upside and PPR dependent.
It would be unwise to count on Julio Jones returning this week. Reports from a few weeks ago were of a partial tear to a knee ligament. The Buccaneers have no incentive to rush him back unless they suffer another spate of injuries at WR. For now, Jones is someone you can stash in deeper leagues, but for the most part, he appears droppable until his return.
Diontae Johnson, PIT | Hip (LP -> FP)
We saw Diontae Johnson get downgraded last week with a hip injury that ultimately amounted to nothing. Therefore, it is not surprising to see him listed, yet also to see a complete lack of concern from the Steelers’ coaches or beat writers. That lack of concern was proven to be correct, as Johnson was a full participant on Thursday. We should see Johnson active on Sunday, but in a tough matchup, he is more of a Flex starting option in 12-team leagues than he is a sure-fire WR2.
Michael Thomas, NO | Toe (DNP)
Jarvis Landry, NO | Ankle (DNP)
Chris Olave, NO | Concussion (DNP -> LP)
The WR situation in New Orleans remains messy. Michael Thomas has missed the last two games and was absent from practice again on Wednesday and Thursday. Meanwhile, Jarvis Landry missed last week and did not manage to get back to the field in the first two days of practice in Week 6. It would be tough to trust either of them even if they played. If they miss time, both Marquez Callaway and Tre’Quan Smith have intriguing upside in 16-team leagues.
The status of Chris Olave as he attempts to return from a concussion will be intriguing this week. He has a chance to play after progressing from a non-participant to a limited participant on Thursday. That is promising that he is working through the protocol, but we may have to wait for Saturday or Sunday for official confirmation.
If he manages to play, there should be no performance impact from his injury, so you can look to start him as you normally would. If he misses time, it increases the ceiling for Callaway and Smith to a point where they become fringe 14-team relevant.
Jakobi Meyers, NE | Knee (LP)
Nelson Agholor, NE | Hamstring (LP)
Of these two names, only Jakobi Meyers carries significant fantasy value. Meyers has proven himself to be something of a QB-proof fantasy option, especially in PPR formats. Assuming he is active, he would be a 14-team Flex option in PPR and half-PPR formats. He is more on the fringe of that sized league in non-PPR.
Rashod Bateman, BAL | Foot (DNP)
After he missed Sunday Night Football in Week 5, Rashod Bateman was absent from practice with his foot injury on Wednesday and Thursday. We need to see his status upgrade Friday if Bateman is to play Sunday. If he is active, he has 14-team Flex value. If he is absent, Devin Duernay appears to be the only Ravens WR who will carry any fantasy value as a potential Flex option in 14-team PPR leagues.
Zay Jones, JAX | Ankle (LP)
Zay Jones was once again limited in practice for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was able to play last week and saw eight targets, so there is not too much immediate concern. If he misses time, Christian Kirk and Marvin Jones should see an increase in target share.
Christian Watson, GB | Hamstring (DNP)
After missing Week 3 and playing just 25 and 29 percent of the offensive snaps in Weeks 4 and 5, Christian Watson is back on the injury report with his hamstring issue. Watson’s usage in the last two weeks has been down as he continues to manage the injury.
Until he is 100 percent healthy, Watson is close to impossible for fantasy managers to trust. Romeo Doubs, Allen Lazard, and Randall Cobb are the top-three Packers WRs right now, with Lazard and Doubs both in 12-team Flex contention.
Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG | Knee (LP)
Kadrius Toney, NYG | Hamstring (DNP)
Kenny Golladay, NYG | Knee (DNP)
The Giants WR room has been struggling in recent weeks, but there was a positive sign from Wan’Dale Robinson on the practice field this week. Robinson looked quick as he participated in practice in a limited fashion. He should have a chance to return in Week 6, but his fantasy relevance will be low considering the uncertainty surrounding his workload.
If anything, the presence of Robinson on the field adds confusion to the receiving group. If there is a chance he plays significant snaps, it could eat into the opportunities for Richie James, David Sills, and Darius Slayton.
Neither Kadarius Toney nor Kenny Golladay practiced on Wednesday. They do not have much huge fantasy relevance right now, but Toney would have the more intriguing upside if he manages to be active this week.