We’ve nearly reached the halfway point of the 2026 fantasy football regular season. If you still have a relatively healthy squad, you’re one of the lucky ones.
Week 6 yet again featured a number of big-name players going down with injuries, including a few that have long-term ramifications. With the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders headed into a bye in Week 7, fantasy managers may be scrambling for replacements up and down their rosters.
Every week, we’ll be breaking down the biggest injury news that could shape your fantasy football lineup moving forward. Let’s dive into all of the most notable updates ahead of Week 7.
Notable QB Injuries
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (blood clot)
When Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts popped up on the injury report with a calf injury leading into Week 5, it raised some alarms. However, Hurts played through the injury and practiced fully last Wednesday, which seemed to suggest it wasn’t a big deal.
About that.
On Thursday, the Eagles announced that Hurts had been diagnosed with a superficial blood clot and would miss their Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers. Two days later, they placed Hurts on injured reserve, which guaranteed that he would be out through Week 10.
On Monday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Hurts is now expected to miss the rest of the season “after doctors discovered multiple blood clots” in his lungs. He’ll be on blood thinners for at least the next three months, which means he’s not allowed to participate in football activities during that span.
Tanner McKee stepped in for Hurts on Sunday and went 26-of-45 for 215 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. He was able to keep DeVonta Smith (seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown) and Dallas Goedert (six catches for 61 yards) afloat, so all hope is not lost for the Eagles’ skill-position players. If anything, the Eagles might be in more trailing, pass-friendly game scripts moving forward.
Notable RB Injuries
Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin)
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt originally hurt his groin in training camp and missed the team’s final two preseason games, but he was able to play through it once the regular season started. However, he aggravated the injury in the Commanders’ Week 5 tie against the New York Giants and missed their Week 6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
It went from bad to worse on Monday, as the Commanders placed him on IR, which means he’ll now miss at least their next four games. Rachaad White took over as their lead running back against the Niners, although the Commanders fell into an early deficit and never got their ground game on track.
White is worth a pickup if he’s available on your league’s waiver wire, but it’s hard to have much faith in him in standard 10-team leagues. He’ll be a desperation flex option in 12-team leagues or deeper, though, particularly in points-per-reception formats.
Browns RB Quinshon Judkins (ankle)
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins suffered a “tweak” in his ankle during their Week 5 loss to the New York Jets, according to head coach Todd Monken. He wound up missing practice Wednesday and Thursday and got in a limited practice Friday, which earned him a questionable tag heading into their Week 6 game against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. But after testing out his ankle in pregame warmups, he got ruled out.
With Judkins sidelined, Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime split carries for the Browns. McLaughlin had nine carries for a team-high 41 yards, while Estime had nine carries for 19 yards. Quarterback Deshaun Watson also chipped in with eight carries for 29 yards.
If Judkins can’t return in Week 7, Dylan Sampson could further muddy the Browns’ backfield. He’s been on injured reserve since suffering a knee injury in the season opener, but he got in two limited practices last week. He’s worth picking up given Judkins’ uncertain status, particularly in PPR leagues.
Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love (ankle)
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love has been dealing with ankle injuries ever since the preseason. According to Darren Urban of the team’s website, he aggravated a left ankle injury “a couple of times” against the New York Giants in Week 4, and trying to play through it hasn’t helped.
“We felt like it wasn’t improving and maybe even getting a little bit worse,” Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters Friday. “At that point, it’s like, if it’s not improving, it’s getting a little bit worse, we got to do what’s right for the player.”
Bam Knight had 15 carries for a team-high 80 yards in the Cardinals’ upset win over the Los Angeles Rams, while Tyler Allgeier had 18 carries for 38 yards. If the Cardinals decide to rest Love again in Week 7, the more explosive Knight appears to be the preferred play over Allgeier.
Notable WR Injuries
49ers WR Mike Evans (Achilles)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans came into Week 6 nursing both ribs and Achilles injuries, which had him questionable heading into Monday Night Football. That wasn’t apparent early on against the Commanders, as he erupted with three catches for 94 yards in the first half.
However, Evans aggravated his injury after hauling in a 16-yard pass shortly before halftime. He was questionable to return at first, but the Niners ruled him out early in the third quarter, according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
We likely won’t learn the severity of the injury until Tuesday at the earliest. The fact that Evans was initially questionable to return perhaps suggests that he didn’t tear his Achilles, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he misses time either way. That would be another blow to the Niners’ injury-ravaged receiving corps, which is already missing Deebo Samuel, De’Zhaun Stribling and Christian Kirk.
Rams WR Davante Adams (hamstring)
Losing to the previously 1-4 Cardinals would have been bad enough for the Rams in Week 6. But on Monday, head coach Sean McVay told reporters that veteran wide receiver Davante Adams suffered a hamstring injury late in the game that is expected to sideline him for six to 10 weeks.
A source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Adams “hopes to return on the front end of the six- to 10-week time frame, as close to the post-Week 11 bye as possible.” Either way, managers now need to plan not to have Adams for most (if not all) of the rest of the fantasy football regular season.
In Adams’ absence, fellow wideout Puka Nacua will continue to be peppered with targets. The Rams could lean more heavily on tight end Tyler Higbee and running back Kyren Williams in the passing game, too. But Adams’ injury is a major blow to the Rams, who are now sitting at 2-4 after entering the season as the Super Bowl favorites.
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin (knee)
Mike Evans wasn’t the only star receiver who couldn’t finish Monday night’s game. Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was carted off the field with a knee injury late in the first quarter and was ruled out shortly thereafter.
Much like with Evans, we might not get updates on McLaurin’s status moving forward until the Commanders can do more testing on Tuesday. But considering the nature of his injury, fantasy managers should already start making contingency plans.
Tight end Chig Okonkwo led the Commanders with seven catches for 69 yards in McLaurin’s absence, while Treylon Burks had four catches for 66 yards before getting shaken up late. Stefon Diggs (six catches for 44 yards and a touchdown) already shouldn’t be on waiver wires, but Antonio Williams (three catches for 50 yards) would be worth a pickup if McLaurin’s injury proves to be serious.
Chargers WR Ladd McConkey (concussion)
Ladd McConkey’s nightmarish start to the season continued in Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He was technically active for their Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos, although he never made it onto the field due to a foot injury.
McConkey was back in action for Week 6, but he barely lasted one quarter. He wound up suffering a concussion against the Chiefs and finished with only one catch for 17 yards.
With both McConkey and second-year wideout Tre’ Harris sidelined, Quentin Johnston had a team-high 57 receiving yards (on only one catch), while KeAndre Lambert-Smith doubled his career reception total by hauling in five catches for 32 yards.
The Chargers are on bye in Week 7, which gives McConkey additional time to recover from his concussion before they’re back in action against the Rams in Week 8. But until the Chargers get their offense back on track, it’ll be hard to start any Chargers player with confidence, including McConkey.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com