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We're now almost a third of the way through the NFL season, and we can't ignore what we're seeing on the field. It's time to fully depart from our preseason dreams and live in the reality of what is currently happening.
Week 6 Risers
QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Daniels fell in the rankings due to his elbow injury. But he returned in Week 5, rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns, and finished the week second in scoring behind only Drake Maye. He's back in the conversation as a plug-and-play QB1. The new brace on his left elbow should prevent future dislocations and ease any concerns his fantasy managers may have had. The 49ers, Eagles, and Rams over the next three games won't be easy matchups. But if Daniels can maintain QB1 production during that stretch, fantasy managers will feel good about relying on him as an every-week starter going forward.
RB Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tuten's snap share has risen in three of four games this year, peaking at 68 percent in Week 5. He continues to look like the most dynamic running back on the field, and the coaches are noticing. His 3.62 yards after contact per attempt rank eighth among 58 qualifying running backs. In that same sample, he also ranks sixth with 18 missed tackles forced and 11 breakaway runs. Despite being 13th in carries, he leads the league in carries that reach over 15 miles per hour. The film and analytics for Tuten are both solid, and his role is growing. He's the RB17 in PPR scoring, but he still has plenty of room to improve. Tuten is a prime buy-low candidate who would return RB1 numbers over the rest of the season.
RB Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins
Gordon's recent usage and production deserve an asterisk, as Jaylen Wright is recovering from a foot injury and the Dolphins just brought in rookie Kaytron Allen. But Gordon has dominated touches since De'Von Achane left in Week 3 and is PPR's RB10 over the last three weeks. Gordon was a much better running back prospect than his draft capital would imply. He won the Doak Walker Award in 2023, reserved for the best college running back. His 2024 campaign tanked his draft capital as Oklahoma State's team sputtered. But now he's showing what made him an unstoppable force in 2023: a punishing run style and above-average speed. As Wright heals up and Allen gets up to speed, it could cut into Gordon's workload. Until then, Gordon can be relied on as an RB2.
Week 6 Fallers
QB Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Shough was fantasy's QB3 through the first three weeks of the 2026 season. Over the last two weeks, he's been the QB31. The Falcons proved in Week 4 that Shough would unravel under consistent pressure, and the Vikings doubled down on that game plan in Week 5. Our Matt Waldman likes to talk about how teams change up how they'll play a young quarterback after their rookie season. Where they may throw soft coverage their way in Year 1, and the offseason to study them allows for more specific game plans around shortcomings. Shough is willing to stand tall in the pocket and make plays under pressure, but he hasn't replicated the success he showed early on by picking apart soft coverage. His next few matchups against the Giants, Steelers, and Browns aren't walks in the park. The first few weeks deluded us into thinking Shough was an elite must-start option, but he's starting to look more like a matchup-dependent streamer.
RB Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
For the second straight week, Hampton has been third in snaps among the Chargers running backs. Keaton Mitchell catches passes. Kimani Vidal breaks tackles and rips off chunk plays. Hampton runs into a wall almost every time he touches the ball. His 20.5% stuffed run rate is the 15th-highest of 58 qualifying running backs. His -13.97 EPA ranks seventh-lowest among all running backs. Hampton is a rhythm runner who isn't being afforded the chance to get into a rhythm. The Chargers fell to 0-5 and look like the least organized team in football. There's hope that they can make some change, but Mitchell and Vidal have been two bright spots in an otherwise embarrassing season. Hampton was drafted as an RB1, but he's unstartable until the Chargers make a drastic personnel change.
WR Deebo Samuel Sr., San Francisco 49ers
Samuel left Week 5's game with a hamstring injury and was promptly declared out for the rest of the game. An MRI on Monday led to a week-to-week designation. Samuel was looking good to start the year, as he typically does. But an injury derailed his momentum, as it typically does. He'll hope to return in the next few weeks, but managers in leagues with shallow benches may be forced to make a tough rostering decision as they navigate bye weeks. Samuel will hope to return to form once he's back from injury, but his absence could necessitate a trade, making his path to relevance a bit bumpier.
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