Well, another week in the NFL, another catastrophic series of injuries and events for your fantasy football team. If you thought you were cruising to a championship, Week 6 probably delivered a swift, brutal kick to the gut. The injury report reads like a casualty list from a medieval battle, and your roster is likely in shambles. Let’s sift through the wreckage and see which of your star players are done for and who might just be milking it for a week off.
The Quarterback Catastrophe: When Your Signal Callers Can’t Signal
Let’s start with the signal-callers, the supposed leaders of men. The quarterback position was a mess this week.
Anthony Richardson (QB – IND): In what can only be described as a freak accident that perfectly sums up the Colts’ luck, Richardson fractured his orbital bone with an elastic band before the game even started. You can’t make this stuff up. He was the backup, so your fantasy team is fine, but it’s a bizarre footnote in a season of weirdness.
Kyler Murray (QB – ARI): Murray sat out with a mid-foot sprain, an injury that sounds suspiciously vague. They’re calling it a “multi-week absence,” which is coach-speak for “we have no idea, but it’s not good.” Jacoby Brissett stepped in and, frankly, didn’t look half-bad, feeding Trey McBride like it was Thanksgiving. The offense won’t completely crater, but Murray’s fantasy managers are in for a frustrating wait.
J.J. McCarthy (QB – MIN): After being sidelined with a high-ankle sprain since Week 2, McCarthy is apparently ready to return. Great. While his rushing ability provides a decent floor, we still don’t know if he can consistently support fantasy studs like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. His return is more of a question mark than a triumphant comeback. Don’t get too excited.
Running Back Roulette: The Position That Eats Dreams
If you have a healthy running back, put them in a bubble. The position is a minefield.
Blake Corum (RB – LAR): The rookie left the Rams’ game with an ankle injury and didn’t return. The severity is still up in the air, but any time a promising young back goes down, it’s a major blow. Keep an eye on the practice reports, but start looking at your waiver wire for emergency options.
Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR): Dealing with a calf strain, Hubbard is looking iffy for Week 7. Rico Dowdle has been surprisingly effective in his place. Even when Hubbard returns, this is screaming “disgusting 50/50 committee.” You might be better off avoiding this backfield altogether.
Emari Demercado (RB – ARI) & Dylan Laube (RB – LV): Both left their games with ankle and hamstring injuries, respectively. Let’s be honest, unless you’re in a 32-team league where you have to start a mailman, you weren’t relying on these guys anyway. Move along.
Wide Receiver Ward: When Your WR1s Become Bench Warmers
The wide receiver position took a beating this week, with some big names heading to the locker room.
Puka Nacua (WR – LAR): Just when you thought the Puka fairytale couldn’t end, he goes down with an ankle injury. The Rams are calling it “day-to-day,” which is about as reliable as a weather forecast. It’s a mild low-ankle sprain, and the smart move would be to rest him before their Week 8 bye. If he’s out, Davante Adams becomes an even bigger target hog. Jordan Whittington becomes a speculative add for the truly desperate.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI): The star rookie suffered a concussion and is almost certain to miss Week 7. Concussions are no joke, and the Cardinals will be cautious. This is a massive hit to their offense and your fantasy lineup. Trey McBride is about to see a ridiculous number of targets.
Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ): A hyperextended knee will likely sideline Wilson for several weeks. This is a disaster for the Jets and for anyone who drafted him. The team will lean even more on Breece Hall and the run game. Rookie tight end Mason Taylor might see more looks, but replacing a talent like Wilson is impossible.
Emeka Egbuka (WR – TB): Another hamstring victim. Egbuka is expected to miss at least Week 7. With the Bucs’ receiving corps already banged up, Baker Mayfield might be throwing to the hot dog vendor. Sterling Shepard is a name to watch on the waiver wire, but this situation is ugly.
Calvin Ridley (WR – TEN): Hamstring. See a pattern here? Ridley’s absence leaves a void in a Titans offense that was already struggling. Elic Ayomanor gets a bump, but with Cam Ward playing poorly, none of the Tennessee pass-catchers are trustworthy.
Tight End Troubles: The Forgotten Position Gets Forgotten Again
David Njoku (TE – CLE): A knee injury has his status in doubt. If he misses time, rookie Harold Fannin Jr. becomes an intriguing streaming option in a Browns offense that loves its tight ends.
Mike Gesicki (TE – CIN): A pectoral injury landed him on IR. He wasn’t a fantasy factor, but his absence solidifies the roles for the other pass-catchers in Cincinnati.
This week was a bloodbath. Your championship hopes might be hanging by a thread, but the waiver wire is your lifeline. Make your moves, say a prayer to the fantasy gods, and get ready to do it all again next week. It’s a brutal game, but someone has to win. Why not you?
Fantasy Football Survival Guide: Who to Pick Up
With all this carnage, the waiver wire is where championships are won. Mac Jones has been exceptional filling in for Purdy. Jacoby Brissett is getting praise in Arizona. Rico Dowdle is crushing it while Hubbard recovers.
On the receiving end, Elic Ayomanor is the obvious pickup with Ridley down. Sterling Shepard and Tez Johnson could see targets with Tampa Bay’s injury issues. Harold Fannin Jr. becomes a low-end TE1 option with Njoku sidelined.
The Hard Truth About 2025 Fantasy Football Injuries
Look, injuries happen. That’s football. But this season feels different. Maybe it’s the new tackling techniques, maybe it’s bad luck, or maybe players just aren’t built like they used to be. Whatever the reason, 2025 fantasy football injuries have been more devastating than usual.
The managers who succeed this season won’t be the ones who drafted perfectly: they’ll be the ones who adapt quickly, work the waiver wire religiously, and don’t get sentimental about dropping injured players who might not return to form.
Your championship hopes don’t have to die with your injured stars. Sometimes the best fantasy seasons come from the ashes of your original roster. Just ask anyone who picked up Elic Ayomanor three weeks ago.
