Six weeks into the 2026 NFL season, major injuries and underproductive fantasy options continue to shake up the fantasy football landscape. Marvin Harrison Jr.’s arrival in Houston creates an interesting situation for the Texans’ receivers; the Giants have another backfield adjustment to navigate with Cam Skattebo; and the Raiders are giving fantasy managers plenty to think about with their running back rotation and Ashton Jeanty’s inefficiency.
This weekly piece will look at those trends and make recommendations for players who might be worth rostering or starting in our fantasy lineups. For Week 6, we’ll focus on the most meaningful changes in playing time, touches, targets, and opportunities, separating legitimate changes in roles from numbers inflated by game script.
If you have interesting usage notes, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter/X (@CableBoxScore) and let me know. Let’s dive into the 2026 NFL Week 6 usage!
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NFL Week 6 Usage Trends
ARIZONA CARDINALS
With Jeremiyah Love sidelined by an ankle injury, Arizona divided its backfield almost evenly between Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight. Allgeier played 56% of the snaps and received 19 touches, while Knight played 44% and received 17. Knight was more effective, gaining 98 total yards compared with 48 for Allgeier. Neither looks particularly trustworthy if Love returns next week or soon after.
ATLANTA FALCONS
Bijan Robinson and Drake London, who? Kyle Pitts was an interesting development, playing 74% of the snaps after averaging around 55% through five weeks. Pitts caught five passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns, making his increased playing time especially encouraging. Jahan Dotson caught the other of Michael Penix’s three touchdown passes.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Rashod Bateman suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter, opening more playing time for Devontez Walker, who took over Bateman’s role in the second half. Ja’Kobi Lane also returned from injured reserve and immediately reclaimed a role in three-receiver formations. Lane is an interesting dynasty stash, while Walker could have short-term value if Bateman misses time. Walker played 65% of snaps. Lane played 54%.
BUFFALO BILLS
With DJ Moore inactive again, Buffalo’s passing game continued to spread opportunities around. Josh Allen threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns against Las Vegas, with Keon Coleman catching one of the scores. Dalton Kincaid also suffered a rib injury, creating another situation worth monitoring. Coleman played 85% of snaps while the rest of the WR room looked like this: Shakir (60%), Palmer (25%), Skyler Bell (44%).
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Chuba Hubbard played an incredible 94% of Carolina’s offensive snaps with AJ Dillon sidelined, leaving almost no opportunities for Trevor Etienne or Anthony Tyus III. Hubbard had already been playing more than 80% of the snaps before this game, and Jonathon Brooks remains on injured reserve. Even if Dillon returns or they sign someone, Hubbard looks like a non-stop workhorse.
CHICAGO BEARS
Luther Burden III caught eight passes for 95 yards, but his playing time remains a concern. Burden was in for 39% of snaps, ran just 18 routes, and participated in only 44% of Chicago’s dropbacks, despite being targeted on an incredible 44% of his routes. Kalif Raymond continues to steal snaps in some formations, making Burden the rare fantasy option that can dominate without playing a large majority of snaps.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
The Cincinnati Bengals were on bye for Week 6.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
With Quinshon Judkins and Raheim Sanders sidelined, Cleveland turned to Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime against Baltimore. The two split carries evenly, with McLaughlin handling more receiving work and Estime getting short-yardage opportunities, including a touchdown. Dylan Sampson could return next week and would be the most interesting waiver-wire addition if Judkins remains sidelined.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Jake Ferguson’s playing time took a concerning turn against Green Bay. After averaging 72% of the snaps through five games, Ferguson lost early-down work to Brevyn Spann-Ford, who also played every snap in two-tight-end formations. Ferguson caught just two passes for 13 yards, while Spann-Ford caught four for 35. Ferguson’s touchdown-dependent fantasy value looks fragile as the Cowboys have an up-and-down offense plus a focused target tree.
DENVER BRONCOS
J.K. Dobbins continues to handle the majority of Denver’s rushing attempts, carrying 17 times for 41 yards and a touchdown against Seattle. RJ Harvey received just six carries but added three receptions for 31 yards and scored on the ground. Dobbins had 20 touches compared with Harvey’s nine, although Harvey was considerably more efficient. Dobbins remains the preferred early-down back, while Harvey offers more receiving upside.
DETROIT LIONS
The Detroit Lions were on bye for Week 6.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Pierre Strong Jr. led Green Bay’s running backs in carries after MarShawn Lloyd briefly exited with an injury, but the bigger development is the expected return of Josh Jacobs from the commissioner’s exempt list. Strong has been handling passing downs, which could leave Lloyd as the odd man out. Jacobs should reclaim the lead role, making both backups difficult to trust and Jacobs probably comes in right away and plays 65% of snaps.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Marvin Harrison Jr. played just 11 snaps (19%) in his Texans debut, but Houston made a point of getting him involved, targeting him four times. That was just one fewer than Nico Collins, despite Collins playing 71% of the snaps. Harrison caught three passes for 34 yards, while Jaylin Noel led the receivers with four catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Harrison should eventually take snaps from Kayshon Boutte and Xavier Hutchinson, but this is becoming a crowded receiving corps, especially with Tank Dell potentially returning as soon as next week.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Tyler Warren was inactive with a groin injury, but Indianapolis didn’t replace his enormous workload with one player. Will Mallory handled the primary receiving tight end role, catching two passes for 20 yards, while Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree split blocking duties. Alie-Cox caught a touchdown in the red zone and would have some deep-league or two-tight-end streaming appeal if Warren misses additional time, but nobody is likely to replicate Warren’s usual 90%-plus snap share.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Brian Thomas Jr. may have officially lost his role in Jacksonville. Thomas played just 15 first-half snaps and didn’t see the field after halftime, finishing without a reception. Travis Hunter caught four passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington remain the primary receivers, leaving Thomas difficult to roster outside deeper leagues.
Bhayshul Tuten scored twice against Houston, but Chris Rodriguez Jr. surprisingly challenged him for early-down work. Rodriguez played 19 snaps compared with 21 for Tuten before Tuten dominated the second half, playing 19 of 24 snaps. Tuten remains the clear fantasy starter.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
With Rashee Rice out, Xavier Worthy caught all seven of his targets for 73 yards. Jalen Royals and Andrew Armstrong took on larger roles, but Worthy was the clear beneficiary in the passing game. He should be a dependable fantasy starter as long as Rice remains sidelined. Worthy was at a full 85% of snaps in this game and no other receiver had more than 75%.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Ashton Jeanty’s reduced workload is becoming a legitimate concern. After playing 76% of the snaps through four weeks, Jeanty played just 53% in Week 5 and 58% against Buffalo. Mike Washington Jr. took approximately half the early-down snaps, finishing with nine carries for 43 yards compared with Jeanty’s 10 for 22. Jeanty scored a touchdown and remained more involved in the passing game, but this is no longer the workhorse role fantasy managers drafted him for.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
The Chargers continued their frustrating three-man running back rotation against Kansas City, with Omarion Hampton, Kimani Vidal, and Keaton Mitchell all playing between 27% and 46% of the snaps. Hampton regained some passing-game opportunities but averaged just 2.6 yards per carry. With no clear lead back emerging, this remains one of the least attractive backfields for fantasy managers. Add in the horrific quarterback play from Justin Herbert, and I don’t want anyone from this team.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Tyler Higbee played a season-high 83% of the snaps against Arizona, taking every snap in two-tight-end formations and on third downs. He caught four passes for 22 yards, while Colby Parkinson scored a touchdown despite running fewer routes. Higbee’s playing time makes him the preferred fantasy option, particularly with Terrance Ferguson still sidelined. All of these tight ends (Ferguson should be back soon), could have some fantasy value with Davante Adams now out for the next 6-10 weeks with a knee injury.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
The Miami Dolphins were on bye for Week 6.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
The Minnesota Vikings were on bye for Week 6.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
TreVeyon Henderson surprisingly played through his ankle injury, but his limited role didn’t translate into a larger workload for Rhamondre Stevenson. Instead, Corey Kiner became a significant part of the rotation, rushing 11 times for 57 yards. Henderson handled just 34% of early-down snaps, and Stevenson averaged only 2.6 yards per carry. This was a frustrating three-man committee.
A.J. Brown returned and played 76% of the snaps but had four drops and looked very rusty, while Romeo Doubs suffered a shoulder injury after catching a 42-yard touchdown. DeMario Douglas caught seven passes for 86 yards and a score,
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Kendre Miller could be a significant waiver-wire target after Alvin Kamara aggravated an injury against the Giants. Kamara played just nine snaps over the final five drives of the first three quarters and didn’t play in the fourth quarter. Miller took over much of the early-down work, while C.J. Donaldson continued handling passing situations. Miller could have legitimate flex value if Kamara misses time.
NEW YORK GIANTS
What a disaster for Cam Skattebo managers. After averaging more than 18 touches per game through five weeks, Skattebo was demoted and played just six snaps without a single touch against New Orleans. Tyrone Tracy Jr. led the backfield with nine touches and two touchdowns, while Devin Singletary played 36% of the snaps and Najee Harris just 15%. Skattebo played only 8%, leaving this a four-man committee nobody can trust right now.
NEW YORK JETS
Rookie Omar Cooper Jr. returned from injured reserve and immediately established himself as a major part of the Jets’ passing game. Cooper played 82% of the snaps, ran routes on 85% of dropbacks, and caught six passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. He also played ahead of other receivers in two-receiver formations, making him one of the week’s more interesting waiver-wire targets. Target him this week.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
With Saquon Barkley sidelined again, Dameon Pierce handled nearly the entire backfield after Carson Steele suffered a shoulder injury in the first quarter. Will Shipley also landed on injured reserve, leaving Philadelphia dangerously thin at running back. Pierce would be a viable fantasy starter again if Barkley misses Week 7.
DeVonta Smith returned and ran routes on only 71% of dropbacks, while Dontayvion Wicks exited with a leg injury. Darius Cooper took over Wicks’ role, but this offense may look totally different now with Jalen Hurts done for the year and Tanner McKee taking reps the rest of the season.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Rico Dowdle returned, but Jaylen Warren remained Pittsburgh’s preferred running back. Warren played 31 of the team’s final 37 snaps in the fourth quarter and overtime, including nearly all passing situations.
Germie Bernard is also becoming a must-roster player with Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson sidelined. Bernard caught 11 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown, while playing 61% of his snaps from the slot. He has established himself as a significant part of Pittsburgh’s passing game, and Aaron Rodgers clearly trusts him.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Mike Evans left this game early with an Achilles injury, which makes five wide receivers now injured for the 49ers. As a result, the only other wide receivers who received targets were Brandin Cooks (two) and Jordan Watkins (one). Expect a lot of targets for Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle (18 combined on Monday) until San Francisco can get any of their top receivers back.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Emanuel Wilson’s workload took a surprising step backward against Denver. After handling at least 20 carries in consecutive games, Wilson received just 14 carries for 52 yards and played only 32% of the snaps. George Holani received five carries for 20 yards and a touchdown. Wilson remains the preferred rushing option, but his playing time is concerning since it seems Zach Charbonnet is going to start preparing to return soon.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Bucky Irving played a career-high 85% of Tampa Bay’s offensive snaps against Pittsburgh, including 91% of early downs and every two-minute drill snap. Kenneth Gainwell was reduced to just two carries and one reception. Irving managed only 49 total yards on 21 touches, but the workload was encouraging.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Tennessee continues to shift toward its younger receivers, with Carnell Tate playing the most consistent role. Tate has averaged 82% of the snaps this season, while Wan’Dale Robinson’s playing time fell to 59% against Indianapolis, his second-lowest mark of the season. Elic Ayomanor took additional snaps from Robinson, while Calvin Ridley went without a reception for the third time this season. Tate is the receiver to prioritize in this offense.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
With Jacory Croskey-Merritt going on IR, the Commanders chose to run the ball only 13 times with their running backs. Rachaad White had seven attempts for 27 yards, Jeremy McNichols rushed five times for 13 yards, and Austin Ekeler got it one time for three yards. Jayden Daniels rushed four times, and this looks like a backfield fantasy managers should avoid completely.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 7 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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