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FFT Express - LAST-MINUTE Week 6 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Advice! Actives/Inactives & Q&A (10/11 Fantasy Football Podcast)

STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.

15 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Oct 18, 2026
Published
Sun, October 18, 2026
46
Player insights
31
Players mentioned
Topics
DeVonta SmithA.J. BrownQuinshon JudkinsWoody MarksAlvin KamaraBrandin CooksJosh DownsMike EvansStefon DiggsTerry McLaurinBucky IrvingCaleb WilliamsChris OlaveChristian Kirk
Player analysis

Player insights

46

A.J. Brown

NegativeProjection3:13

A.J. Brown is ranked around wide receiver 20 to 24 with a 12-point projection, down from the beginning of the season. Most owners will need to start him despite the ranking decline.

Insight page
PositiveProjection3:21

Expected to play in Week 6; ranked around wide receiver 20 to 24 with a 12-point projection.

Insight page
PositiveProjection11:57

The source's favorite pick among the three is A.J. Brown, stating 'A.J. Brown would be my favorite. I would go Brown,' indicating the highest confidence in Brown over DeVonta Smith and Ladd McConkie.

Insight page

Alvin Kamara

PositiveProjection3:39

Expected to play; ranked as the source's favorite Saints running back for Week 6, positioned one spot behind Damian Pierce in running back rankings.

Insight page
PositiveInjury10:37

Alvin Kamara is expected to play this week, indicating he has cleared injury concerns.

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Brandin Cooks

PositiveValue0:06

Brandon Cooks is widely available (rostered in most leagues) and represents a strong replacement option for managers waiting out Mike Evans or Stefan Diggs. The source projects Cooks would rank around wide receiver 36 if Evans is unavailable, and recommends adding him given the Washington pass defense weakness.

Insight page
PositiveValue6:31

Still available in most leagues; recommended as a pickup for anyone with Mike Evans or Stefan Diggs who needs to wait out their uncertain Monday night status.

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Bucky Irving

PositiveInjury12:25

Sean Tucker is not expected to play, which is good news for Bucky Irving managers who can 'breathe a sigh of relief' knowing their backup will get the workload.

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Caleb Williams

NegativeProjection5:48

Expected to start for the Bears in Week 6.

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Chris Olave

PositiveInjury10:37

Chris Olave is expected to play this week, indicating he has cleared injury concerns.

Insight page

Christian Kirk

NegativeInjury0:07

Christian Kirk has not yet been activated but has a chance to play in Week 6 and must be activated today. He is widely available (rostered in 13-14% of CBS Sports leagues). If both Kirk and Brandon Cooks play while Evans sits, the source would prefer to start Cooks.

Insight page

D.J. Moore

NegativeInjury12:38

D.J. Moore is questionable and the source is not expecting him to play, although he did get a practice in before the week ended; it's a four o'clock game so his status may change.

Insight page

D'Andre Swift

PositiveProjection15:02

In a flex start/sit question, the source chooses DeAndre Swift over D.J. Moore and Garrett Wilson, indicating Swift is the preferred start.

Insight page

DeVonta Smith

NegativeProjection3:13

With Jalen Hurts out, DeVonta Smith is ranked around wide receiver 20 to 24 with a 12-point projection. Most owners will need to start him despite the ranking decline from the beginning of the season.

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PositiveProjection4:08

Ranked higher than several backup running backs thrust into starting roles; the source would start him over Marshawn Lloyd and would only start Woody Marks over him in a flex situation.

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PositiveProjection11:57

The source has more confidence in DeVonta Smith than in Ladd McConkie, ranking Smith ahead of McConkie among the three returning Chargers/Eagles receivers.

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PositiveProjection13:57

In a start/sit question, the source chooses DeVonta Smith over waiting for Terry McLaurin, indicating preference for Smith this week.

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Garrett Wilson

NegativeProjection15:02

In a flex start/sit question, the source chooses DeAndre Swift over Garrett Wilson, indicating Wilson is not the preferred start.

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Jalen Hurts

NegativeInjury2:53

Jalen Hurts is on IR and will miss at least the next four games: Carolina, Dallas, at Washington, and the Giants. The Eagles face a tremendous stretch of schedule without their starting quarterback.

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Jeremy McNichols

NegativeRole3:56

May be activated for Monday night game; could serve as more of a ball carrier compared to other backup running backs who are primarily third-down backs.

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Josh Downs

PositiveProjection10:57

If Tyler Warren is out, Josh Downs would move back up closer to wide receiver 24 in the source's rankings, indicating Warren's presence suppresses Downs' value.

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NegativeProjection15:37

In a start/sit question, the source chooses Woody Marks over Josh Downs, indicating Downs is not the preferred start.

Insight page

Keenan Allen

NegativeProjection10:57

The source is 'the low guy on Keenan Allen' with him ranked in the 40s at wide receiver; if Tyler Warren were out, Allen would probably be a top-36 wide receiver, suggesting the source's current ranking is pessimistic relative to his potential.

Insight page

Kenyon Sadiq

PositiveInjury10:50

Kenyon Sadiq is back and expected to play this week, indicating he has cleared injury concerns.

Insight page

MarShawn Lloyd

NegativeProjection5:00

Ranked in the next tier below the RB1/RB2 cutoff; some analysts are more excited about him than the source, but he ranks below Devontae Smith in start/sit preference.

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Mike Evans

NegativeInjury0:06

Uncertainty surrounds Mike Evans' availability for Week 6; dueling beat writers have expressed conflicting expectations, with one suggesting he will play and another indicating pessimism about his participation. No official confirmation from Schefter or Rappaport has been reported as of the time of this discussion.

Insight page
NegativeInjury6:31

Playing status uncertain for Monday night; the source recommends that anyone with Mike Evans who needs to wait out his status should pick up Brandon Cooks as a contingency.

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Omar Cooper Jr.

NegativeDepth Chart10:41

The Jets activated Omar Cooper Jr., and the source suggests taking a look at him as a stash option.

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Omarion Hampton

NegativeProjection4:28

Ranked one spot behind Damian Pierce and Alvin Kamara; positioned at the cutoff between RB1s and RB2s for Week 6.

Insight page

Pat Freiermuth

NegativeInjury12:55

Pat Freiermuth is questionable; he and Tyler Warren are both one o'clock games, so their status will be known before kickoff. Freiermuth is a guy that a lot of people picked up.

Insight page

Quentin Johnston

PositiveDepth Chart11:57

Quinton Johnston is back this week against the Chiefs after being sidelined.

Insight page

Quinshon Judkins

NegativeInjury0:10

Quinshawn Judkins' situation 'doesn't sound great right now' heading into a 1 o'clock game in Week 6, though final clarity is expected before game time.

Insight page
NegativeProjection5:00

Uncertain playing status for Week 6; ranked at the cutoff between RB1s and RB2s alongside Omarion Hampton.

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NegativeInjury10:08

Judkins' status for a 1 o'clock game is uncertain; the source notes 'it doesn't sound great right now' regarding his availability.

Insight page

Rashee Rice

NegativeInjury10:54

Rasheed Rice is out this week, removing him from start consideration.

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Rashod Bateman

PositiveInjury10:37

Bateman is playing this week, indicating he has cleared injury concerns or was previously sidelined.

Insight page

Rhamondre Stevenson

PositiveProjection6:02

Moved down from RB14 to RB17 in rankings; still the best Patriots running back and ranked one spot ahead of Woody Marks for Week 6.

Insight page

Sean Tucker

NegativeInjury12:25

Sean Tucker is not expected to play this week.

Insight page

Stefon Diggs

NegativeInjury0:06

Stefan Diggs' status for Week 6 is unknown, similar to Mike Evans. The source recommends considering Brandon Cooks as a replacement option if waiting out Diggs' availability.

Insight page
NegativeInjury6:31

Playing status uncertain for Monday night; the source recommends that anyone with Stefan Diggs who needs to wait out his status should pick up Brandon Cooks as a contingency.

Insight page

Terry McLaurin

PositiveProjection6:31

Expected to play Monday night despite missing practice at some point during the week; the source assumes he will be ranked and available for start/sit consideration.

Insight page
NegativeProjection13:57

In a start/sit question, the source chooses DeVonta Smith over waiting for Terry McLaurin, indicating McLaurin is not the preferred start this week.

Insight page

Tyler Warren

NegativeInjury10:57

Tyler Warren is a game-time decision against Tennessee; if he were out, Josh Downs would move back up closer to wide receiver 24 in rankings, and Keenan Allen would likely be a top-36 wide receiver instead of the source's ranking in the 40s.

Insight page

Woody Marks

PositiveRole3:21

Thrust into a starting role due to running back injuries; ranked firmly inside the top 20 running backs for Week 6 with a favorable projection relative to other backup starters.

Insight page
PositiveRole3:36

Woody Marks has been thrust into a starting role due to running back injuries.

Insight page
PositiveProjection15:37

In a start/sit question between Josh Downs and Woody Marks, the source chooses Woody Marks, stating 'It's going to be Woody for me either way.'

Insight page
Full transcript

Episode Transcript

183
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2:30Get started today. Woo! Week six starter sit is a doozy.
2:34We got a lot of updates for you right now on Fantasy Football Today Express.
2:39Okay, everybody. Here we go. Buckle up. Adam and Heath here.
2:42Game starting in an hour and a half with the London game, Houston to Jacksonville.
2:47And thankfully, no crazy decisions to be made there, so you got some time to set your lineup.
2:53But first of all, Jalen Hurts is on IR, so he's going to miss at least the next four games today against
3:01Carolina, then Dallas, then at Washington, and then the Giants.
3:04This tremendous stretch of schedule, and they're going to have to do it without their starting quarterback.
3:09But Devontae Smith will play, Heath. So start or sit?
3:13I view him very similarly to how I view A.J.
3:16Brown in that most people who have them are going to need to start them.
3:21They're not ranked as high as they were at the beginning of the year.
3:26I've got them both right around wide receiver 20 to 24 with a 12-point projection.
3:31It's – you're probably starting them. It's been a wild week with running back injuries too.
3:36So we've got Woody Marks now thrust into a starting role.
3:40We've got Damian Pierce. We don't know what the split's going to be there.
3:44We've got Damian Pierce. We've got Tyler Algier as Jeremiah Love is out.
3:48We've got Rashad White and Austin Eckler, and it's a Monday night game.
3:53They might activate – you know, what's his name?
3:56Jeremy McNichols. Jeremy McNichols. I almost called him Jarek McKinnon.
3:59They might activate Jeremy McNichols, and he could be more of a ball carrier because those other guys are kind of more like third down backs.
4:08Would you start any of those guys over Devontae Smith?
4:11So if it was a flex situation, I would start Woody Marks over Devontae Smith.
4:16I would not start Damian Pierce, and he's my second favorite of the backups that are now starters.
4:22So only Woody Marks. There's one other running back that I was starting over.
4:26I wanted to talk about this group of running backs.
4:30I could find the league. Braylon Allen? No, like Braylon Allen, we're definitely starting over him.
4:35Whatever. What about the Saints guys? Kamara's going to play today.
4:39I have Kamara as my favorite Saints running back.
4:42He is one spot behind Damian Pierce. So Woody Marks is kind of firmly inside the top 20.
4:48Damian Pierce just outside the top 20. Kamara right behind him.
4:51I've got them both one spot ahead of Omarion and Hampton.
4:55And another guy you haven't mentioned yet, Quinshawn Judkins, who we don't know for sure if he's going to play.
5:02He's kind of Hampton. Judkins are kind of the cutoff for the RB2s for me.
5:06I think other guys are more excited about Marshawn Lloyd.
5:10But it's Algier. Marshawn Lloyd is the next group.
5:13Rashad White's with them. Okay, so you'd start Devontae Smith over Marshawn Lloyd.
5:17100%. Caught him in a mid-cough there. Yeah, it's weird.
5:20It's a week where we have a lot of backup running backs that are thrust into starting roles.
5:26And we don't really want to start them. Unfortunately, Damian Pierce would be the most appealing one.
5:32And he is. But he's got the worst matchup, basically, in fantasy.
5:36All right, so that's Devontae Smith and A.J. Brown, who you mentioned, who's going to play today, which is great.
5:43You could throw him in your... Damian Pierce doesn't.
5:46Woody Marks has the worst matchup. Woody Marks. Yes, Damian Pierce has a fantastic matchup.
5:50Yes. Damian Pierce has a good matchup. Woody Marks is the one that we like the best, but he's got a terrible matchup.
5:58Caleb Williams is expected to start. We kind of knew that.
6:02Travion Henderson is expected to play. Ramondre Stevenson is where in your rankings?
6:06He moved down from, like, RB14 to RB17. Still the best Patriots running back.
6:11Still ahead of all of those fill-in running backs.
6:14I think he's one spot ahead of Woody Marks for me.
6:17All right. We've got the Monday night. We're going to take a break after this.
6:22Let's talk about Monday night because there's a lot we don't know.
6:26We've got... I'm thinking Terry McLaurin will play. I assume you have him ranked.
6:31Yes. He missed the practice, I think, at some point in the week.
6:35We don't know about Mike Evans. We don't know about Stefan Diggs.
6:39There's... I just... Like I mentioned to you, I only have Mike Evans on one team.
6:44It's where you traded him to me. I just made the move.
6:48Anybody who has Stefan Diggs or Mike Evans and, like, needs to wait it out on them, go pick up Brandon Cooks.
6:56He's still available in most leagues. If there's no Mike Evans, there's already no Debo Samuel.
7:01The Washington pass defense is not good. Brandon Cooks is...
7:04Would probably be around wide receiver 36, I would guess, if there's no Evans.
7:09I would go add Brandon Cooks wherever you can if you want to wait out Evans or Diggs.
7:15But you just saw a report that expressed pessimism about Mike Evans.
7:19I have seen both from dueling beat writers. One that suggested they expected Mike Evans to play.
7:24One that suggested after what he saw, he did not expect Mike Evans to play.
7:29I don't think we have much reason. We haven't gotten anything from Schefter or Ian Rappaport that I've seen that's, like, giving
7:37us the hint of what they already know. Yeah.
7:40And we're... Oh, yeah. We're going to have live shows 830 to 930 and 1230 to 1 today, and hopefully we'll have more information there.
7:48Another guy you could get who complicates it with Brandon Cooks is Christian Kirk.
7:52Christian Kirk and Brandon Cooks are both rostered in 13 to 14% of CBS Sports Leagues, so they are widely available.
7:59Kirk might play. But Kirk hasn't been activated yet.
8:02He doesn't have... Yeah, not yet. He has to be activated today.
8:06But he's got a chance to play. You're going to have to drop somebody before the games start today, most likely, to pick up one of those guys?
8:16Well, the best thing you can do is put Kirk on IR.
8:20If you have an IR spot... You could do that.
8:23This is a guy that, like, I know a lot of people that are on IR, a lot of players on IR are being stashed.
8:31He's not one of them. So you could do both.
8:34You could pick up Cooks, and then you could pick up Kirk.
8:38And then if they both... Let's say they both played and Evans didn't, who would you start?
8:44I would probably go with Cooks. All right. We're going to take a break, and we'll answer some of your questions and give you a few more updates.
8:53It's a wild week. We'll be right back on FFT Express.
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10:05Terms apply. All right. The Cleveland situation, we made reference to.
10:08Quinshawn Judkins. It doesn't sound great right now, but it's a 1 o'clock game.
10:13We'll find out. Casey Concepcion's going to play. He's rostered about half our leagues.
10:18I like him. Two straight games with eight or nine targets.
10:21If you're in a pinch, obviously before leaving last week's game after one target.
10:26If you're in a pinch, look at Casey Concepcion.
10:29All of the Baltimore wide receivers are healthy, but their quarterback is not.
10:33But if you like Jacoby Lane, he's back. You want to stash him.
10:37Bateman's playing this week. Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara expected to play.
10:41The Jets activated Omar Cooper Jr. You could take a look at him just as a stash.
10:47We could get Adam Mitchell back next week, though.
10:50Kenyon Sadiq's also back for them. Kenyon Sadiq is expected to play, yes.
10:54Rasheed Rice is out this week. Tyler Warren. Tyler Warren is a game-time decision against Tennessee.
11:00If he were out, what would that do to your rankings?
11:03I would move Josh Downs back up closer to wide receiver 24.
11:07Keenan Allen would—I'm the low guy on Keenan Allen.
11:10I've got him in the 40s. He would probably be a top 36 wide receiver if there was no Tyler Warren.
11:17We're getting Ladd McConkie and Quinton Johnston back today against the Chiefs.
11:21Ladd McConkie or Devontae Smith and A.J. Brown? So this may prove wrong, but I have more confidence in Smith and A.J.
11:28Brown. than I do in Ladd McConkie. He's a good number three wide receiver.
11:33I agree with you because I have a lot of all three of those guys.
11:38And definitely he's last for me. But obviously he could be first.
11:42A.J. Brown would be my favorite. I would go Brown.
11:45You know, it's kind of really coming into fruition, the Heath bargain, the deal that I made to have the Chargers start
11:53so terribly, but then the Chiefs have to lose to them because the Chiefs don't have rice and they got McConkie and Quinton Johnston back.
12:01There you go. Sean Tucker is not expected to play.
12:04So Bucky Irving managers can breathe a sigh of relief there.
12:08D.J. Moore is questionable. Right now we're not expecting him to play, although he did get a practice in before the week ended.
12:15That's a four o'clock game. Maybe he does play, but keep an eye on it.
12:20And Pat Friermuth is questionable. So Friermuth and Warren, we're going to know.
12:25These are guys that play at one o'clock, I believe.
12:28And obviously Warren's a must start. And Friermuth is a guy that a lot of people picked up.
12:34And yeah, they're both one o'clock games. So stay tuned there.
12:37All right. And it's been a long list of updates here.
12:41Let's do some starter sit. Would you play Devante Smith or wait for Terry McLaurin?
12:46I would play DeVonta Smith. Devante Smith or Jeremy Bernard?
12:49It's Devante Smith for me. Final London games. Well, this is maybe the final game in London, but we've got, I think, three more games at 930 a.m.
12:59Don't get too excited. DeAndre Swift, D.J. Moore, or Garrett Wilson?
13:02Flex 1. Do we have three more games? I thought this was, I thought next week was the last one.
13:09No, there's a break. There's like next week. There were six.
13:13There were six overseas games this year, right? And we had two of them were night games.
13:18We got one in week seven. Yep. We got nothing in week eight.
13:22We've got, I don't know where this is. And we got something in week nine.
13:27I'd start DeAndre Swift over those guys. Well, that's disappointing.
13:31And I think in Germany in week 10. But I don't know where, I don't know where these arenas are.
13:37Josh Downs or Woody Marks? It's going to be Woody for me either way.
13:42Pick two. Braylon Allen, Alvin Kamara, Blake Corum, and Omari and Hampton.
13:46It will be Braylon Allen and I think I'd go with Hampton.
13:50Pick two. London, Evans, Pickens, Coker, Tedaroa, McMillan. So if you have this good of options, then I would get away from
13:57Mike Evans, even though I do have him ranked as a starter amongst those groups.
14:02I would go London and I would go Tedaroa.
14:05And one more. I would go London, Pickens, and McMillan.
14:08Right? Yes. Two wide receivers and a flex. Pickens is the third.
14:12Ladd or Jacoby Myers? It's Ladd over all of the Jacoby's.
14:16Tedaroa, McMillan, or George Kittle? Ooh. That is a tough one with the Evans injury situation.
14:21I have Tedaroa, McMillan projected for more points right now.
14:25I'd probably stick with that. DK Metcalf or Terry McLaurin?
14:28That's going to be DK for me. One more.
14:31Devante Smith, Luther Burden, Carnell Tate, Jeremy Bernard. Pick two.
14:34So my favorite of that group is Carnell Tate.
14:37I have Devante Smith second. Okay. Oh, and then, yeah, Brock Purdy questions are worth answering, I guess, with the Evans issue here.
14:45Stafford or Purdy? I'm going to move Purdy down to QB4, so Stafford will be ahead of him.
14:51There you go. All right, folks, we'll talk to you in 13 minutes.
14:55YouTube.com slash fantasy football today. See you later. Podcasts.

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