The Week 6 RB injury report has some intriguing names present for fantasy football managers. While it is not the most packed list of NFL injury updates at the RB position, there are certainly fantasy implications. Let’s examine the latest RB injury report coming out of Wednesday’s practices.
RB Injury Report Heading Into Week 6
Note that practice status listings are as follows: DNP – did not participate, LP – limited participant, FP – full participant.
Jonathan Taylor, IND | Ankle (DNP -> LP)
Nyheim Hines, IND | Concussion (LP)
Phillip Lindsay, IND | Back (not listed)
After Jonathan Taylor missed the Indianapolis Colts’ Thursday Night Football game last week, there was hope he would be able to return for Week 6. However, Taylor was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday, as he worked with the trainers on the side. The fact that Taylor was able to get out and work with the trainers was a positive sign.
He was then able to join practice in a limited capacity Thursday. Tests on his ankle came back negative, indicating there was no high-ankle sprain. While he was unable to play on the short week in Week 5, there is optimism that Taylor will be back on the field in Week 6.
If he plays, it is impossible to do anything other than throw him back into fantasy lineups. If he does miss Week 6, the Colts backfield will still have other question marks.
While Nyheim Hines was spotted in a red non-contact jersey, the fact he was on the field both Wednesday and Thursday is promising. That would indicate Hines has made some steps through the concussion protocol.
We will need to monitor his availability Friday, especially with Phillip Lindsay not seen at practice on Wednesday. Lindsay will not appear on the official practice injury report, as he has reverted back to the practice squad.
If Taylor misses time, Deon Jackson could be an intriguing player to look to as a 16-team Flex option. If Hines and Lindsay also struggle to suit up or are limited on Sunday, Jackson could creep into 12- and 14-team league Flex consideration as the Colts’ lead back.
Damien Harris, NE | Hamstring (LP)
Reports early in the week had Damien Harris set to miss a few weeks with the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 5. However, Harris was listed as limited on both Wednesday and Thursday of Week 6, raising some hopes he might be able to play on Sunday.
It will be interesting to see his status Friday because the Patriots also signed J.J. Taylor to the 53-man roster. That would suggest that Harris is, at best, a game-time decision for Week 6.
If Harris does play, it would be a surprise if he does not see a reduced workload, with Rhamondre Stevenson taking the bulk of the work. Whether Harris is active or not, Stevenson is essentially a must-start in all formats in what is a very nice matchup with a Browns run defense that has struggled in recent weeks.
Saquon Barkley, NYG | Shoulder (LP)
The presence of Saquon Barkley on the Wednesday injury report will have raised some eyebrows. He remained listed as limited on Thursday. Barkley left the game for a period against the Green Bay Packers before returning to score a crucial touchdown.
There appeared to be absolutely no concern over Barkley’s availability as of Wednesday, so this could be something that fizzles out on Friday if he is either a full participant or carries no injury designation into the weekend.
James Conner, ARI | Rib (DNP)
Darrel Williams, ARI | Knee (DNP)
The Cardinals’ practice report on Wednesday was somewhat difficult to decipher, as the team held a closed walkthrough rather than an open practice. Earlier in the day, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that James Conner’s status will become clearer later in the week, while Darrel Williams is expected to be out.
Cardinals’ head coach Kliff Kingsbury referred to Conner as day-to-day and was quoted as saying, “we will see” in regards to Williams. If Conner plays, it sounds like it will be a pain tolerance issue, which is tough to judge. He is a largely touchdown-dependent fantasy option right now, so it may end up being prudent to sit him out of an abundance of caution.
On Thursday, PFN’s Aaron Wilson reported that Conner could be set to miss the Cardinals’ Week 6 game and potentially longer. Conner and Williams were both absent from practice on Wednesday. If Conner misses time, Eno Benjamin figures to be the lead back but could split touches with one of a number of other backs on the roster.
Raheem Mostert, MIA | Knee (DNP -> LP)
Seeing Raheem Mostert on the injury report is something that fantasy managers have been used to in recent years. There was little focus on his status during the Dolphins’ media availability on Wednesday, so the concern seems minor.
He managed to get upgraded to limited on Thursday, so he is on track to play this weekend. If Mostert misses the game, Chase Edmonds should start, while Myles Gaskin could see a boost in value in and around the goal line as well as on short-yardage opportunities.
Melvin Gordon, DEN | Neck/Ribs (LP)
Mike Boone, DEN | Foot (LP)
The Broncos’ top two RBs were listed on the Week 6 injury report as they took to the field Thursday. However, the focus of the beat reporters was centered elsewhere. Therefore, we got relatively limited updates on what this means for either of them. We should expect to see both able to suit up Monday, but there is the potential that one or both could be questionable, which is not ideal for a Monday Night Football game.
Alexander Mattison, MIN | Shoulder (LP)
It was Alexander Mattison’s turn to be the Minnesota Vikings’ RB on the injury report in Week 6. Mattison was listed with a shoulder injury but was at least able to practice in a limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday.
Right now, it does not seem like he will miss the game, but we will need to monitor the situation going forward. The biggest fantasy impact will actually be a boost to Dalvin Cook’s value if Mattison is hurt and cannot play as many snaps as he might have otherwise.
Tyrion Davis-Price, SF | Knee (FP)
Tyrion Davis-Price appears set to return in Week 6. That is good news for Davis-Price but complicates a backfield that saw Jeff Wilson Jr. and Tevin Coleman getting touches last week.
It would be surprising to see Davis-Price get a heavy workload in his first game back, so his fantasy value will be limited. Additionally, you would expect him to eat into more of Coleman’s work than Wilson’s. Therefore, Wilson should be good to start for fantasy managers in Week 6.
Justice Hill, BAL | Hamstring (DNP -> LP)
Notably, Justice Hill remained absent from practice to open Week 6. We saw him manage to get back to practice in a limited fashion on Thursday, which is a good sign he might be able to play Sunday.
Regardless, we saw last week that Hill’s absence did not mean a significant increase in work for J.K. Dobbins. Instead, Kenyan Drake and Mike Davis stepped up to take on work, with Devin Duvernay also carrying the ball three times.