Week 6 Fantasy Injury Updates: The latest on James Conner, Khalil Herbert, and Anthony Richardson..
This week’s roster of injured players includes two prominent running backs and a standout rookie quarterback. James Conner, Khalil Herbert, and Anthony Richardson were all crucial players for their respective teams in 2023, but the Cardinals, Bears, and Colts will now have to figure out how to function without them. As a result, fantasy football owners will be forced to go to the waiver wire in Week 6 and beyond.
We’ll give you the latest on these impact pass-catchers and explain how their ailments could effect the Week 6 fantasy scene.
FOR MORE UPDATE CHECK; SportOclock.co.uk
On Sunday, backup running back Keaontay Ingram suffered a neck injury, forcing rookie Emari Demercado into action. The Cardinals struggled to move the ball without Conner, scoring only six points in his absence. Demercado rushed for 45 yards on 10 attempts in relief of Conner, who was claimed to be “feeling OK” after the game by head coach Jonathan Gannon. There hasn’t been another update on Conner, so it’s unknown what his status will be for the Cardinals’ trip to Los Angeles to face the Rams in Week 6. If the starter is out, we should expect to see more of Demercado in the future. We should expect a stronger performance with a week to prepare the bad game script he encountered upon his arrival on Sunday.
PPR RANKINGS FOR WEEK 6:
According to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, Herbert (ankle) suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Bears’ win over the Commanders on Thursday night, and the organization is considering placing the running back on injured reserve. In the third quarter, Herbert fell awkwardly on a catch and had his leg fold underneath him. The running back attempted to return but was unable to do so. After teammate running back Roschon Johnson sustained a concussion during the game, Chicago was left with a banged-up backfield that did just enough to give the squad its first win in nearly a year.
The third-year running back leads the Bears in rushing in 2023, with 272 yards in five games. Chicago had a rough start to the season, but their offense has found a groove in the last two games and was finally starting to click. It’s a big blow to lose Herbert for what appears to be at least a month, especially following Johnson’s concussion. When you add in the backup to the backup, Travis Homer, who is also going with an injury — a hamstring — it’s a formula for catastrophe.
D’Onta Foreman remains in Chicago, and Darrynton Evans was signed off the Dolphins’ practice squad on Monday. We’d aim to bring in Johnson and Foreman, who are both available in more than half of Yahoo leagues. One will get the most of the RB touches versus Minnesota this weekend.
STANDARD RANKINGS FOR WEEK 6:
Injury update for Anthony Richardson, Week 6 fantasy outlook
Richardson (shoulder) exited the game in the first half and did not return in the Colts’ win against the Titans on Sunday, raising more concerns than answers regarding the rookie. When he’s on the field, the big-bodied quarterback has been electrifying, but his health is becoming a serious concern. It’s the second time in five weeks that Richardson has been injured in some way.
The first was a concussion that forced him to miss Week 3, and now he’ll be out for a month due to an AC joint strain. The rookie’s dual-threat skills propelled him to the fourth overall choice in the April draft, but his inability to stay on the field and avoid huge hits may prevent him from becoming a star.
Head coach Shane Steichen is in a difficult position with Richardson since relegating him to the pocket restricts the offense’s ceiling, but permitting him to absorb so many hits may do the same. It’s the typical catch-22 situation. With a four-to-six-week absence ahead of him, he’ll have plenty of time to sort things out. Meanwhile, Gardner Minshew will take over the starting job, which he has done well so far. Minshew led the squad to victory in Week 3 and again on Sunday when Richardson was injured in the second quarter.
While he is unlikely to be started in single-QB leagues, he contributes to the floor and ceiling of the other offensive playmakers. Continue to start them without hesitation, while Richardson owners are limited to a few waiver wire choices. Sam Howell and Josh Dobbs are the best of the bad possibilities, but both have rushing potential and play in teams that must pass a lot.
Leave a Reply