Happy Tuesday! Every week I think the NFL has run out of ways to surprise me, and every week it proves me wrong.
Jalen Hurts is potentially out until 2027 with blood clots, J.J. McCarthy nearly pulled off a 24-point comeback in one quarter alone, and Kyle Pitts is somehow making people believe again.
Just another normal week in the NFL.
🏈 TNF reminder: Patriots @ Bears, Thursday, October 22 at 8:15 PM ET.
Let's get into it.
Inside Today’s Roundup:
What We Learned 🧠
Waiver Wire Report 💰
Beliefs Changed 🔄
Injury Fallout 🏥
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🧠 What We Learned
Scott Barrett and Brett Whitefield break down the biggest takeaways from Week 6 - the breakouts, usage shifts, and changing beliefs that matter moving forward.
🐻 D'Andre Swift Doesn't Need a Bellcow Role
D'Andre Swift's backfield still isn't entirely his, but Chicago's rushing environment is so good that it might not matter. Roschon Johnson finished with 13 carries in Week 6, including eight in the fourth quarter, while Swift handled most of the early work. It's the same frustrating split we've seen before, but the Bears are averaging over 30 expected fantasy points per game from their backfield, the most in the NFL.
The scary part? Only Derrick Henry has more carries inside the 10-yard line than Swift this season. He added four more in Week 6, giving him the high-value opportunities that matter most for fantasy. Even a 60% share of Chicago's backfield is worth roughly 18 XFP/G, putting Swift firmly in the RB1 conversation without needing every snap.
🎯 Bryce Young Is Becoming a Weekly Fantasy Starter
Remember when Bryce Young couldn't consistently crack 200 passing yards? Those days are distant now. Young has attempted 40+ dropbacks in every game this season, something he managed just three times all of last year - and Carolina is playing at one of the league's fastest paces. Young is making the most of it with Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker at his disposal.
The numbers are pretty ridiculous. Young topped 206 passing yards in just three of 17 games last season, but he's cleared 280 in each of his first five games this year. With the Panthers ranking among the league leaders in passing volume and Chuba Hubbard thriving alongside him, Young has gone from desperation streamer to a legitimate weekly QB1.
🏴☠️ The Raiders' Passing Game Is Quietly Cooking
The Raiders might not be winning many games, but Klint Kubiak has Kirk Cousins and this passing offense producing. Cousins has thrown for 300+ yards or three touchdowns in all but one game this season, while Trey Tucker erupted for 97 yards and two scores in Week 6. Michael Mayer also delivered another 95-yard performance, giving Las Vegas multiple fantasy-relevant pass catchers.
And this isn't your typical passing attack. The Raiders ran 39 snaps from 12 personnel in Week 6, leaning heavily on two-tight-end sets featuring Brock Bowers and Mayer. Scott Barrett and Brett Whitefield joked that Mayer is essentially the team's WR2, but the point is that Kubiak is finding ways to make both tight ends productive. Cousins is firmly in the streaming conversation, and Mayer is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
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💰 Waiver Wire Report
Our team breaks down the best available options, the injury-driven opportunities worth monitoring, and how much FAAB you should actually spend.
🔥 THE PRIORITY ADDS
Germie Bernard, WR - Top Priority
Apparently, Aaron Rodgers has a new favorite receiver. Bernard is averaging 9.7 targets, a 26% target share, and 15.9 FPG in three games without Michael Pittman. With Pittman and Roman Wilson sidelined, the rookie has become a focal point of Pittsburgh's passing game.
The Opportunity: Rodgers is averaging nearly 39 attempts per game, and Bernard has established himself in the slot with little immediate competition for targets.
The Take: An S-tier addition according to Scott and Brett, who see legitimate season-long upside. If he's still available, he should be near the top of your claims.
Terrance Ferguson, TE - Top Priority
Davante Adams is expected to miss 6-10 weeks, and Ferguson could be the biggest winner in Los Angeles. Before landing on IR, the rookie drew 9 targets, a 29% target share, and scored 17.4 fantasy points in his Week 2 breakout. Scott Barrett believes Ferguson could become the Rams' No. 2 receiving option behind Puka Nacua.
The Opportunity: Ferguson's fantasy points per route run double without Adams on the field. He's eligible to return in Week 8, and a featured receiving role in Sean McVay's offense offers enormous upside.
The Take: The highest-upside stash on this wire. Scott placed him in the S tier for TE-needy managers, with legitimate difference-maker potential.
Omar Cooper Jr., WR - Priority Upside Add
Cooper wasted no time introducing himself to the NFL. In his first full game, the rookie caught 6 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown on 7 targets while playing 82% of the snaps. The Jets' first-round pick looked like an established starter after missing most of the season with an ankle injury.
The Opportunity: Cooper could overtake Adonai Mitchell as the Jets' No. 2 WR, although Garrett Wilson's presence and a crowded receiving corps limit his immediate ceiling.
The Take: A worthwhile upside bet, not a guaranteed weekly starter. Brett and Scott settled on B tier, with the article recommending a modest bid.
👀 THE NEXT WAVE
T.J. Hockenson, TE: Ranked 3rd in TPRR and 5th in YPRR among qualifying TEs before his concussion. He's widely available after missing time and has appealing matchups against Indianapolis, Detroit, and Buffalo.
Jordyn Tyson, WR: Could return after New Orleans' Week 8 bye. The first-round rookie offers more explosive-play upside than Devaughn Vele and is worth stashing if you can afford to wait.
Antonio Williams, WR: Terry McLaurin's knee injury opens a larger role in Washington. Williams played a WR-leading 67% of snaps in Week 6 and could emerge as a consistent contributor after the bye.
Chig Okonkwo, TE: Caught all 7 targets for 69 yards in Week 5 and has cleared 60 yards in consecutive games. McLaurin's absence could push him into the No. 2 receiving role behind Stefon Diggs.
Kendre Miller, RB: Handled 20 carries for 70 yards while Alvin Kamara played just 26% of snaps in Week 6. He's a short-term RB3 candidate if Kamara continues to be limited.
Jaylin Noel, WR: Exploded for 107 yards and a TD on just four catches. His efficiency is undeniable, but Marvin Harrison Jr.'s arrival and Tank Dell's potential return complicate the path to consistent targets.
🚫 FOOL'S GOLD
Not every interesting box score deserves a waiver claim.
Trey Tucker, WR: His 97-yard, two-TD eruption was impressive, but Scott remains skeptical of his talent and weekly reliability. He's a volatile WR3/4, not a priority pickup.
Michael Mayer, TE: His 7-catch, 95-yard game showed the upside, but Brock Bowers remains the primary receiving weapon. The two-TE usage creates opportunities, not guaranteed weekly volume.
Tyrone Tracy, RB: Two touchdowns look tempting, but the Giants' backfield is a mess. Cam Skattebo could regain the lead role immediately, making Tracy a speculative stash rather than a safe starter.
DeMario Douglas, WR: A productive outing doesn't erase the uncertainty surrounding New England's crowded receiving rotation. Scott and Brett placed him in the D tier.
💸 HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU BID?
This is a week to spend on real opportunity, not chase every Week 6 breakout.
Germie Bernard - 10-15% FAAB
Terrance Ferguson - 4-6% FAAB
Antonio Williams - 3-5% FAAB
Chig Okonkwo - 3-5% FAAB
Omar Cooper Jr. - 2-4% FAAB
Jordyn Tyson - 2-4% FAAB
Tyler Higbee - 2-4% FAAB
Kendre Miller - 1-2% FAAB
Jaylin Noel - 1-3% FAAB
Tre Tucker - 1-3% FAAB
Mike Washington - 1% FAAB
The message: Bernard is worth the aggressive bid if he's somehow still available. Ferguson offers the best path to a second-half breakout, while Cooper and Tyson are appealing upside swings. After that, keep your bids modest and save your FAAB for a clearer opportunity.
Read the full Week 7 Waiver Wire Report for our team’s breakdown of every player who could matter this week and what you should spend.
🔄 Beliefs Changed
Week 6 forced Scott Barrett and Brett Whitefield to reconsider a few takes they entered the weekend believing. Here are the biggest changes:
J.J. McCarthy // Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images
📈 J.J. McCarthy - Maybe Brett Was Right All Along
J.J. McCarthy's Giants debut might have saved Brett Whitefield from his most infamous draft evaluation. Entering in the fourth quarter against New Orleans, McCarthy threw for 243 yards on 21 attempts, added 26 rushing yards, and nearly erased a 24-point deficit. His 11.6 YPA was more than double what the Giants had been getting from Jameis Winston.
Scott, who had spent months teasing Brett about McCarthy, admitted that maybe Brett was never wrong about the former first-round pick. McCarthy still has the gunslinger tendencies and turnover risk that made him difficult to trust in Minnesota, but his arm talent and rushing ability are impossible to ignore. Brett expects him to take over as New York's starter as early as Week 7, potentially making him a fantasy-relevant streamer.
🐆 Chuba Hubbard - Brett Admits He Got This One Wrong
Chuba Hubbard keeps making the preseason doubters look foolish, and Brett is officially among them. With Jonathan Brooks struggling to establish himself and AJ Dillon out, Hubbard has dominated Carolina's backfield and delivered RB1-level production every week. He's become a reliable centerpiece of an offense that's moving the ball far more effectively than expected.
Brett admitted that ranking Jonathan Brooks ahead of Hubbard at any point this preseason was a massive mistake. Carolina's increased passing volume and improved offensive play have only strengthened Hubbard's fantasy outlook. What looked like a potentially crowded backfield has instead become one of the more dependable situations for fantasy managers.
📉 Michael Wilson - The Buy-Low Case Is Getting Harder to Defend
The optimism surrounding Michael Wilson after Marvin Harrison Jr.'s departure is starting to fade. Wilson disappointed for the second straight week, and while Arizona's Week 5 matchup against Detroit offered a reasonable excuse, Week 6 didn't provide the bounce-back fantasy managers were hoping for. The Cardinals scored on six drives against the Rams but failed to reach the end zone, with Wilson drawing seven targets.
Scott and Ryan had been optimistic that Harrison's departure would unlock a bigger role for Wilson, but Scott acknowledged that he might not be the buy-low target they thought. The volume is still there, but the production hasn't followed, and uncertainty at quarterback adds another layer of risk. Wilson isn't a lost cause, but the confidence behind his rest-of-season WR2 outlook has taken a hit.
📈 Kyle Pitts - Is It Finally Time to Believe Again?
Kyle Pitts is doing his best to drag fantasy players back onto the hype train. After commanding target shares of just 5%, 9%, and 8% in Weeks 1-3, those numbers have climbed to 15%, 17%, and 21% over his last three games. He's averaging 15.3 FPG since Week 4, and his expanded role is becoming difficult to dismiss.
Ryan, who has been burned by Pitts before, admitted that the recent usage is encouraging, even if he's not ready to buy all the way back in. Atlanta also dropped back on nine of its 10 red-zone plays in Week 6 after entering the game with the league's lowest red-zone pass rate. That shift may not stick, but Pitts is finally giving skeptics a legitimate reason to reconsider.
Listen to the full Week 6 recap for more of the players rising and falling in their evaluations.
Injury Fallout
Jeff Mueller breaks down every notable situation in this week’s Injury Report, but these are the ones with the biggest fantasy fallout heading into Week 7.
Jalen Hurts // Ali Habib, ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
Jalen Hurts, QB - Blood Clots. Hurts is expected to miss at least three months after developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and blood clots in both lungs. He'll require blood thinners, ruling out contact football during treatment. His health is the priority, and a return this season is not expected.
Fallout: Philadelphia will need to move forward without its franchise QB, creating major uncertainty for the Eagles' passing game and fantasy-relevant receivers.
Projected Return: Potentially 2027
Davante Adams, WR - Ruptured Hamstring Tendon. Adams suffered a non-contact hamstring injury in Week 6, and Sean McVay confirmed he's expected to miss 6-10 weeks. Adams is reportedly set to undergo a procedure on the tendon, with the Rams hoping for a return around their Week 11 bye or shortly afterward.
Fallout: Puka Nacua should see an even larger share of the Rams' targets, while Konata Mumpfield could step into a bigger receiving role. Terrance Ferguson also becomes an intriguing stash as he approaches his return.
Projected Return: 6-10 weeks (approximately Weeks 12-16)
Romeo Doubs, WR - Right Shoulder. Doubs landed hard on his shoulder and was ruled out after trainers evaluated him. Mueller is concerned about a high-grade AC sprain, shoulder separation, or clavicle injury.
Fallout: New England's remaining receivers could see increased opportunities while Doubs is sidelined. His absence opens up targets in a passing game that has been productive with Drake Maye.
Projected Return: Week 9-12
Rashod Bateman, WR - Shoulder. Bateman exited early with a shoulder injury and was quickly ruled out. Mueller hasn't reviewed video of the injury, but the quick ruling suggests he could miss multiple games.
Fallout: Baltimore's remaining pass catchers could see more opportunities, with additional targets available while Bateman recovers.
Projected Return: Week 8-9
Tyler Warren, TE - Groin. Warren injured his groin during Friday's practice and missed Week 6. Mueller is concerned about a possible recurrence of the groin issue he dealt with in August.
Fallout: Indianapolis could be without its starting TE for another week or two, forcing fantasy managers to find a replacement at a thin position.
Projected Return: Week 8-9
Read the full article to be up to date on every injury that happened in Week 6.
Best of luck out there…hope the waiver wire treats you well.
See you this weekend 🤝
- Sean
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