NFL Week 6 Roundup

Welcome back to the Weekly Roundup. As always, we will be highlighting this past week’s injury report, top performers, underperformers, and surprise producers. There was no shortage of stunning storylines during Week 6 of the 2023 NFL Season, so let’s recap the action.

INJURY ROUNDUP

Trevor Lawrence (JAX) - Knee

• The Jaguars franchise quarterback is dealing with a “non-significant” injury, per the team’s medical staff. Unfortunately, Lawrence will receive merely three days of rest as the Jaguars have a quick turnaround for Thursday Night Football. If Lawrence is unable to go, expect C.J. Beathard to see starter snaps.

Justin Fields (CHI) - Hand/Wrist/Thumb

• Justin Fields was unable to finish the Bears Week 6 loss to the Vikings after suffering an injury to his throwing hand/wrist. A dislocated thumb is the official designation, leaving the Bears franchise quarterback’s future availability in question. Fields was replaced by rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent who would be the likely starter in Fields' absence.

Kyren Williams (LAR) - Ankle

• Kyren Williams exited the Rams Week 6 contest early and is expected to miss at least one week with an ankle sprain.

Ronnie Rivers (LAR) - Ankle

• Ronnie Rivers would be the usual suspect to see increased volume in Williams' stead but he too suffered an injury in Week 6. Rivers is looking at a 4-5 week layoff as he recovers from a Grade 3 PCL sprain.

Damien Harris (BUF) - Neck/Head

• Damien Harris was carted off the field in a scary moment for all viewers on Sunday Night Football this past week. A neck sprain is the official designation after further testing, suggesting Harris could make a full recovery at some point this season.

Justin Jefferson (MIN) - Hamstring

• Justin Jefferson was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, he will be sidelined until Week 10 at the minimum.

Anthony Richardson (IND) - Shoulder

• The star rookie quarterback suffered an AC-joint sprain to his throwing shoulder after a forceful hit knocked him out of the Colts Week 5 contest. Richardson was promptly placed on injured reserve, keeping him sidelined for a minimum of four games with further rumors swirling that the star signal-caller will undergo season-ending surgery before returning to the team.

De’Von Achane (MIA) - Knee/Ankle

• De’Von Achane was placed on injured reserve before the Dolphins Week 6 game against the Panthers. 

Deebo Samuel (SF) - Shoulder

• Deebo Samuel was seen donning street clothes before the end of the 49ers' surprising upset loss to the Browns. The x-rays revealed no significant structural damage but Samuel has been dealing with several nagging injuries all season and should be questionable for the 49ers' next outing.

Ryan Tannehill (TEN) - Ankle

• Ryan Tannehill was carted off the field during the Titans' Week 6 loss to the Ravens. The veteran quarterback was then seen walking with crutches along the sidelines. An MRI will determine the extent of Tannehill’s injuries but the outlook is not good.

Daniel Jones (NYG) - Neck

• The Giants are optimistic that their starting quarterback avoided a serious injury but kept him sidelined for Week 6.

Jimmy Garoppolo (LV) - Back

• Garoppolo exited the Raiders Week 6 game with a back injury, placing veteran backup Brian Hoyer into the leading role. Garoppolo is in danger of missing the Raiders next contest, leaving Hoyer as the presumed start as rookie Aiden O’Connell is not yet ready to take on said role.

David Montgomery (DET) - Rib

• David Montgomery is expected to miss at least one game with a rib cartilage injury while rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs has yet to be removed from the injury report. 

Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) - Hamstring

• Jahmyr Gibbs popped up on the injury report after re-aggravating a hamstring injury in practice. He is reportedly “trending in the right direction” and could take on leading duties in the Lions' next outing.

Diontae Johnson (PIT) - Hamstring

• The Steelers officially removed Diontae Johnson from injured reserve this week, opening his 21-day practice window.

WEEKLY WEIGH-IN

Arizona Cardinals: Cutting Corners Without Conner

• The Cardinals' offense was unable to mount a single touchdown drive against the Rams, relying on three field goal attempts for their source of points.

• The backfield was a dysfunctional mess without James Conner leading the way. Joshua Dobbs led the team in rushing, needing just 47 yards on seven attempts to accomplish the lowly feat.

• Keaontay Ingram (10 RSH/40 YDS), Damien Williams (8 RSH/36 YDS), and Emari Demarcado (2 RSH/11 YDS) formed a committee of incompetence in the backfield. 

Atlanta Falcons: Fantasy-Friendly Falcons

• The Falcons offense is surprisingly upping their volume in the passing attack, supporting both Drake London and Kyle Pitts as top-quality fantasy assets (rightfully so) over the past two weeks.

• Desmond Ridder’s passing production has waned in efficiency but London (9 REC/12 TGT/125 YDS) and Pitts (4 REC/6 TGT/43 YDS/1 TD) were both highly effective with their opportunities despite the low-quality of target delivered by their quarterback.

• Tyler Allgeier (13 RSH/51 YDS) and Bijan Robinson (13 RSH/37 YDS) are locked in a timeshare for rushing opportunities but the latter of the two teammates has far surpassed the former in passing volume.

Baltimore Ravens: Golden Boot in the UK

• Justin Tucker knocked home six field goals en route to a Ravens 24-16 victory over the Titans.

• Zay Flowers was the recipient of the team’s only offensive touchdown, connecting with Lamar Jackson in the endzone for the rookie’s first career score.

Buffalo Bills: Can You Diggs It?

• The Bills barely scraped by the Tyrod Taylor-led Giants in a narrow 14-9 victory on Sunday Night Football.

• Stefon Diggs was the lone bright spot for both offenses, catching 10 of 16 targets for 100 yards.

• Diggs accounted for 16 of Allen’s 30 total pass attempts, 100 of Allen’s 169 passing yards, and 10 of Allen’s 19 total completions with no other member on the offense having more than three catches or 25 receiving yards.

Carolina Panthers: Feelin’ Thielen

• Bryce Young remains the only player this season (regardless of position) to be selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft without a win on their record.

• Adam Thielen is turning back time in a familiar WR1 role. Thielen has earned seven or more targets in five consecutive contests, hauling in 47 receptions, for 497 yards and four touchdowns in that span.

Chicago Bears: Bear Down

• Justin Fields was forced to exit the Bears game with an injury to his throwing hand, leaving the team with no contingency other than undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent to helm the offense.

• Bagent called his own number for the Bears' only offensive touchdown of the day. 

• Fields is expected to miss at least one week with a dislocated thumb.

Cincinnati Bengals: Back to Bungles

• The Bengals regressed to match their 2023 offensive woes after putting on a stellar performance the week prior.

• Burrow managed just 185 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception while the entire team combined for 46 rushing yards.

• Burrow has thrown for just seven touchdowns with four interceptions in his first six starts this season.

Cleveland Browns: Dawg Pound Downs 49ers in Upset Win

• The P.J. Walker-led Browns held off the undefeated 49ers at home, holding their opposition to 17 points and just 215 total yards.

• Amari Cooper was a big-play maven throughout the entire game, catching four of his eight targets for a whopping 108 yards (27.0 YPR).

• Mitch Wishnowsky, the 49ers punter, had more net yardage (314 YDS) than the entire 49ers offense (215 YDS).

• Kareem Hunt looked vintage in his change-of-pace role behind Jerome Ford. Hunt handled 12 carries for 47 yards with one touchdown, catching three of three targets for 24 yards as the team’s second-leading receiver.

Dallas Cowboys: *Updated Following Monday Night Football*

Denver Broncos: Listless and Lifeless

• The Broncos offense appears wholly incapable of maintaining any semblance of consistent production.

• The entire team managed just 197 yards of total offense (82 Passing Yards/115 Rushing Yards).

• Russell Wilson had a laughably menial 37-yards after the first two quarters in Week 6. He finished with 82.

• The Broncos have not beaten the Chiefs since September 17th, 2016 when the team was led by Peyton Manning en route to their Super Bowl-winning season.

Detroit Lions: The Sun King Returns

• Amon-Ra St. Brown returned to the lineup following a one-game absence, asserting himself as the best player on the offense and one of the top talents league-wide yet again.

• “The Sun God” caught 12 of 15 targets for 124 yards and one touchdown, leading the team in all receiving categories.

• Sam LaPorta continues to separate himself as one of the greatest rookie tight ends in NFL history. LaPorta’s 11 targets in Week 6 set a new single-game high for the Lions star tight end.

• The Lions’ 5-1 record marks the best start to their franchise’s season since 2009.

• The Lions have yet to lose a game in regulation this season.

Green Bay Packers: *BYE WEEK*

Houston Texans: Stroud Squeaks By Saints

• C.J Stroud threw two touchdown passes and the first interception of his young career in the Texans' close 20-13 victory over the Saints.

• Stroud’s record for consecutive pass attempts without an interception by a rookie quarterback ends at 192.

• The Texans' defense held the Saints on four consecutive drives when leading by one possession.

Indianapolis Colts: Not the Way the Offense was Taylor’d

• Gardner Minshew got his second start of the season for the injured Anthony Richardson, losing a one-sided contest to the Jaguars in a matchup of division rivals.

• Minshew tossed for 239 yards on 33/55 attempts but also coughed up three interceptions with only one touchdown.

• Zack Moss saw seven carries and seven targets (14 opportunities) while Johnathan Taylor received eight carries and six targets (14 opportunities). The Colts' running backs are locked in a timeshare for the time being but if you think the team paid Taylor 48.5 million dollars to be a backup to Moss, you are sorely mistaken.

• Michael Pittman has eight or more receptions in four of his six games this season.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Etienne Stays Eating

• The Jaguars have now won three straight games, taking victories in both of their international games.

• The defense easily dispatched the hype of Minshew Mania, forcing the Colts into three interceptions while holding the offense to 20 points.

• Travis Etienne has catapulted back into star territory, scoring two touchdowns in each of the Jaguars' past two contests.

Kansas City Chiefs: Kelce Can’t Be Stopped

• Travis Kelce was virtually unguardable in Week 6 as the star tight end boasted a 100.0% catch rating, hauling in nine of nine targets for a team-high 124 yards.

• Mahomes is quietly having the best rushing season of his career, posting 30 or more rushing yards in four of six games this season.

Las Vegas Raiders: King Kobi

• Jakobi Meyers has out-targeted Davante Adams in 100% of games played with Jimmy Garoppolo as the starting quarterback.

• Unfortunately, Garoppolo is expected to be sidelined for at least one week as he deals with a back injury.

• Rookie tight end Michael Mayer broke out after a disappointing start to his year one campaign. Mayer led the team with 75 receiving yards, catching five of six targets.

Los Angeles Chargers: *Updated Following Monday Night Football*

Los Angeles Rams: It’s Cooper’s World, Puka Is Just Living In It

• Cooper Kupp made his long-awaited return to the lineup, much to the dismay of Puka Nacua managers who assumed the star veteran would immediately suppress the production and value of his rookie teammate.

• None of those worries came to fruition in Week 5 as both wideouts posted high-quality outings for their fantasy managers.

• Week 6 wrote a different narrative into the Rams wideout saga as Kupp hauled in seven of nine targets for 148 yards and one touchdown while Nacua managed a mere 26 yards, catching four of his seven targets.

Miami Dolphins: I Am Speed

• The Dolphins may very well possess the fastest offense in NFL history.

• NextGen Statistics supports the above statement with some impressive MPH data. The seven fastest ball-carriers in the NFL this season are as follows:

• 1. Tyreek Hill - 22.01 MPH

• 2. De’Von Achane - 21.93 MPH

• 3. De’Von Achane - 21.76 MPH

• 4. Tyreek Hill - 21.66 MPH

• 5. Raheem Mostert - 21.62 MPH

• 6. Tyreek Hill - 21.52 MPH

• 7. De’Von Achane - 21.50 MPH

• The Dolphins' entire offense is averaging a top speed of 14.25 MPH (the fastest team average ever recorded since the inception of NextGen Statistics).

• Rookie De’Von Achane was sidelined, leaving Raheem Mostert to lead the charge.

• The veteran produced a sensational stat line once again, collecting 115 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.

• Tyreek Hill is pacing to break the single-season receiving yards record. Hill caught six of 10 targets for 163 yards and is now averaging 135.7 YPG.

Minnesota Vikings: Scoop and Score Seals Win

• The Vikings offense took a major step towards regression sans Justin Jefferson in Week 6.

• Kirk Cousins completed 21/31 passes for just 181 yards and one touchdown.

• Jordan Addison was the recipient of said touchdown but the rookie managed just 28 total yards on three receptions and five targets.

• T.J. Hockenson operated as the team’s top pass-catcher and will likely continue to do so in Jefferson’s stead.

• Jordan Hicks collected a scoop and score fumble return for a touchdown to help seal the Vikings narrow 19-13 victory over an injury-riddled Bears squad.

New England Patriots: Jonesin’ for a Change

• The Patriots' offense was a disaster in Week 4, scoring just three total points against a strong Cowboys defense.

• Mac Jones was eventually benched for second-year quarterback Bailey Zappe with head coach Bill Belichick citing Jones’ poor performance as the reason behind the decision.

• The exact same outcome in Week 5 led to another mid-game bench spot for Jones as the Patriots had their doors blown off in a 34-0 shutout loss to the Saints.

• Jones was able to finish the game in Week 6 but with disparaging results once again.

• The Patriots offense managed just 259 combined yards in their 21-17 loss to the Raiders.

• The Patriots have been outscored 93-20 in their last three contests.

New Orleans Saints: Saints Squander Several Scoring Chances

• The Saints had four separate possessions while trailing by one score or less during their Week 6 loss to the Texans. Those possessions yielded zero points.

• Derek Carr has been extending his target depth as he recovers from an AC joint sprain, completing 32/50 attempts for 353 yards but mounting just one touchdown drive for his offense.

• Chris Olave led the team in receptions (7), targets (10), and receiving yards (96) after having two down performances in Week 4 and Week 5.

• Alvin Kamara should be considered the unquestioned leader of the backfield as the veteran continues to dominate rushing opportunities and running back target shares for the Saints.

New York Giants: Battle For New York Ends in Controversy

• The Giants nearly upset the Bills in the unofficial battle for New York football supremacy, falling victim to a controversial pass interference call to close out the game.

• Saquon Barkley made his long-awaited return after missing the last three games. Barkley was immediately inserted into a workhorse role, handling 24 rush attempts for 93 yards. Barkley also caught four of his five targets but managed just five receiving yards total.

• Daniel Jones remains sidelined with a neck injury, placing Tyrod Taylor into the starting role until further notice.

New York Jets: Jets Soar Past Eagles with Upset Win

• The Jets' defense has made life a proverbial waking nightmare for opposing quarterbacks this season.

• Jalen Hurts was no exception to the embarrassment as the Jets held the Eagles quarterback to just one passing touchdown while forcing three interceptions.

• Garrett Wilson exited briefly with a scary non-contact injury but would ultimately return to put on a show against a soft Eagles secondary.

• Wilson caught eight of his team-high 12 targets for 90 yards, more than doubling every other member of the offense in total targets.

• Breece Hall was second on the team in targets, catching all five of his opportunities through the air for 54 yards, adding 39 rushing yards on 12 carries with one rushing touchdown.

Philadelphia Eagles: Undefeated No More

• The Eagles have made waves around the NFL with their near-unstoppable quarterback sneak, commonly referred to as “The Brotherly Shove.”

• The offense made headlines for all the wrong reasons in Week 6, dropping a heavily favored game to an underdog Jets squad.

• A.J. Brown has now collected six or more receptions with at least 125 yards in four consecutive contests. 

• In the last four games, Brown has 32 receptions for 564 yards and two touchdowns on 44 targets. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: *BYE WEEK*

San Francisco 49ers: Purdy’s First Loss

• The 49ers were handed their first loss of the season and the first regular season loss of Brock Purdy’s career, falling short to a ferocious Browns defense.

• Christian McCaffrey has now scored a touchdown in 15 consecutive contests, creeping ever closer to the NFL record as he tied Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith’s current record of 15 in Week 6.

• Brandon Aiyuk saw a season-high eight targets, catching four for 76 yards. Prior to Week 6, Aiyuk was boasting an absurd and unsustainable catch rating of 100.0% in healthy contests. 

Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks Shut Down

• The Seahawks made a late surge in attempts to overcome a struggling Bengals offense but were ultimately shut down on back-to-back drives to close out the contest.

• Kenneth Walker has a firm grip on a monstrous opportunity share with Zach Charbonnet merely providing depth for the second-year running back.

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to disappoint as the team elects to use him exclusively as a short-yardage threat.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Blundering Buccaneers

• The Buccaneers offense sputtered against a stout Lions front, managing just 206 passing yards and a menially ineffective 52 rushing yards.

• Baker Mayfield failed to lead a single touchdown drive, relying on two field goals for the Buccaneers' source of scoring.

• Rachaad White is averaging just 46.4 rushing yards per game (3.3 YPC) and 19.6 receiving yards per game despite boasting a top-10 opportunity share.

Tennessee Titans: Kingdom Collapse

• Ryan Tannehill was carted off the field with an ankle injury and was seen sporting crutches on the sidelines shortly thereafter.

• Malik Willis was inserted into the lineup over Will Levis.

• Willis attempted five passes, completing four for 74 yards while adding 17 rushing yards on three carries.

• Derrick Henry and Tyjae Spears remain locked in a snap share committee despite the veterans' continued dominance of the rushing opportunities.

• Spears led the team in receiving yards, needing just one catch and 48 yards to accomplish the lowly feat.

• A late 63-yard scamper from Henry proved to be too little, too late for the Titans.

Washington Commanders: Howell Bout That

• Sam Howell tossed three touchdowns in the Commanders' win over the Falcons in Week 6. Howell has thrown for at least one touchdown in all but one start during his NFL career, including five games this season.

• Terry McLaurin rightfully functioned as the team’s top wideout after Curtis Samuel handled that role one week ago.

• McLaurin caught six of 11 targets for 81 yards while no other member of the Commanders' offense saw more than four targets.

• Samuel remains a functional cog in the system, catching all four of his targets for 41 yards and one touchdown. Samuel should be rostered in all formats as he continues to provide utility. 

• Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson were the recipients of Howell’s remaining touchdown passes. catching six of seven targets for 65 yards and one touchdown. 

Much respect, thank you for reading. If you have any continued thoughts and would like to share, I am always available for an open conversation on Twitter: @PsychWardFF or Instagram: @psychwardff.

You can find my other works as the Lead Writer and DOC at Broto Fantasy Football.

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By Matt Ward