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The 2026 fantasy football season is developing at a rapid pace and Week 6 was one of the most eventful yet as Giants RB Cam Skattebo was benched, leading to interesting postgame comments. His backup, Najee Harris, admitted to confusion about the situation amid a wild week that also saw the return of Patriots star AJ Brown from injury.
Brown had a rough game in his return from injury, adding the suspense for fantasy players heading into Week 7 action. Caleb Williams bounced back for a huge game, putting an end to the fantasy experiment that was Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum, for the time being.
Heading into Week 7, Brown’s situation is among those to keep a close eye on as fantasy football players seek to put together their best possible team.
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Concern remains surrounding Brown’s situation as the Patriots prepare to tangle with the Bears at Soldier Field.
AJ Brown should bounce back, but it’s a tough road
AJ Brown admitted rust in what was one of the worst games of his career against the New York Jets. Brown’s performance, three catches for 27 yards, was troublesome, but his honesty afterward shows that he is a self-aware player with high hopes for the rest of the season.
Against the Bears, the Patriots’ defense will be tested. Coach Mike Vrabel has an opportunity to throw more downfield, but he would prefer to stop the Bears on defense and play a ball control game while using Brown sparingly on deep routes until he fully heals from a right high ankle sprain.
High ankle sprains are notoriously tough to come back from and typically take longer to come back from than original diagnoses. The Patriots star Brown will still be a factor on October 22 against the Bears, but fantasy owners should worry as he is not likely to put up big stats until the ankle feels right again.
Skattebo fumble issue persists
Skattebo’s benching was in large part due to his inability to hold onto the football. His fumble problems paved the way for Harris to muscle his way into the Giants’ lineup, but Harris didn’t do much with his opportunity.
Skattebo is still a worthy fantasy football option, but he is also still an undersized running back who is coming off of a rough injury fate dating back to last season. The Giants seem content to let Jameis Winston or JJ McCarthy throw the ball 25 times a game or more, which will limit Skattebo’s opportunities going forward.
The Giants’ fan favorite running back can still be a solid fantasy option, but he is one to worry about if you’re relying on him to put up big numbers every weekend.
Najee Harris mostly a goal line option
Harris didn’t take advantage of his chance in Week 6 as he was stuffed repeatedly. He ended up with four carries for two yards against the Saints, not an encouraging situation heading into Week 7.
Harris is a bigger, more physically imposing back compared to Skattebo which could net him some goal line carries going forward, but he isn’t a good fantasy starter until he proves otherwise.
JJ McCarthy was the Giants’ leading rusher in Week 6, showing the ineptitude of John Harbaugh’s team’s running game. Neither Harris nor Skattebo are worth RB1 options, but both have potential if the Giants can find the right balance on offense and defense.
Tanner McKee a huge wild card
Tanner McKee filled in for Jalen Hurts amid his scary blood clot issue, but his day against the Panthers included more incompletions than coach Nick Sirianni would like to see.
He did find a good rapport with key receivers DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, making him a huge wild card ahead of Week 7’s game against the Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field.
McKee and the Eagles have a lot of talent even without Hurts in the lineup, and McKee has shown signs of being a good fantasy option. If the Cowboys and Eagles get caught up in a shootout, McKee could throw for two or more touchdowns which would make him a solid fantasy option.
Josh Jacobs another wild card
Josh Jacobs of the Packers is expected to play ahead of Week 7 in Detroit, but he has an awful lot of rust to shake off. Pierre Strong Jr. played well as a runner and receiver against the Cowboys in Week 6, which should cut into Jacobs’ touches.
If you’ve been waiting to unleash Jacobs, Week 7 is a huge risk as the game is in Detroit and the Lions’ crowd will be fired up. Week 8 seems like a better bet as the Packers are sure to feast against an undermanned Detroit secondary in the passing game.
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