Oct 20, 2026, 4:34 PM ET

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn expects to make adjustments on both sides of the ball during the team's Week 7 bye, according to Nicki Jhabvala. Quinn stressed that the changes won't mean overhauling either system, but said the Commanders should look "more precise" when they return. Washington heads into the break at 1-4-1 following Monday's 23-17 loss to San Francisco, a game in which the 49ers built a 20-3 halftime lead and outgained the Commanders 303-90 over the first two quarters. Washington rallied in the second half but couldn't complete the comeback, which underlines the inconsistency Quinn hopes to fix. He hasn't specified any personnel or play-calling changes ahead of the team's November 1 matchup against Philadelphia.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Nicki Jhabvala

Oct 20, 2026, 4:03 PM ET

The NFL could expand its international schedule to 10 league-run games in 2027, according to Mike Garafolo. League executive Peter O'Reilly indicated Tuesday that the NFL is considering using its full international allowance under the current collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association. Owners approved the increase from eight to 10 league-run games in May, though the league hasn't finalized next season's schedule yet. A record nine international games are scheduled for 2026 across seven countries, including the league's first regular-season contests in Australia and France. Jacksonville's separately arranged annual game at Wembley Stadium doesn't count toward the league-run limit, which means the overall international schedule could potentially reach 11 games in 2027. Commissioner Roger Goodell has previously expressed interest in eventually expanding to 16 international games per season, which would require additional negotiations with the players' union.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Mike Garafolo

Oct 19, 2026, 12:25 PM ET

The Indianapolis Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard on Monday, and Dan Patrick's sources have told him that the Colts' first call will be/has been to former quarterback Peyton Manning. Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon put both Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen on clear notice back in January, so barring a significant turnaround, the Colts will likely be looking for a new head coach soon, too. It is unclear if Manning has any interest in becoming the franchise's GM, which would include ownership interest in the Colts. Ballard had been Indy's GM since the 2017 season. The Colts have started out 2-4 on the season after just losing to the previously winless Tennessee Titans 26-20 at home on Sunday in Week 6. It could be an enticing offer for Manning with an ownership stake and the ability to pick his own quarterback. The Colts gave QB Daniel Jones an extension in the offseason despite the fact that he was coming off a torn Achilles tendon. Jones has underwhelmed so far through six games, throwing four touchdowns and six interceptions, but he has also been without a key weapon on offense in receiver Alec Pierce (heel). Making things more difficult for the next GM of the Colts is the fact that Indy traded their 2027 first-rounder (10th overall) to the New York Jets last year for cornerback Sauce Gardner. Since former franchise QB Andrew Luck retired before the 2019 season, the Colts have made two playoff appearances (one win) and are now on their seventh different starting QB.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Dan Patrick Show

Oct 19, 2026, 9:46 AM ET

The Indianapolis Colts have fired general manager Chris Ballard, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Following a 26-20 loss to the 0-5 Tennessee Titans, the Colts made changes, starting with their general manager. Ballard has been with the Colts since 2017 and has a 72-82-1 record with the team. The Colts spent two first-round picks on cornerback Sauce Gardner and signed big contracts for quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce. The Colts are 2-11 in their last 13 games, and after their loss to the Titans, the team made a drastic change after Week 6. While it's unclear who will replace Ballard as general manager, this does not bode well for head coach Shane Steichen's long-term outlook in Indianapolis, nor for Jones, who has regressed markedly in 2026.--Nathan Harvey
Source: Indianapolis Colts

Oct 18, 2026, 2:56 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy (ankle) reportedly twisted his ankle near the end of the first half of Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Pewter Report. McCarthy spent the entire halftime break inside the blue medical tent, with the CBS Sports broadcast subsequently reporting that he would continue coaching despite the injury. The 62-year-old is in his first season leading Pittsburgh after previously serving as head coach of the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. No further details regarding the severity of the ankle injury have been reported, and there is currently no indication that McCarthy's coaching responsibilities or Pittsburgh's offensive play-calling will be affected.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Pewter Report

Oct 17, 2026, 5:59 PM ET

The San Francisco 49ers' D/ST put up their best fantasy production to date in Week 5 despite giving up 29 points in the team's win over the Seahawks. The unit's success was driven by San Francisco's five sacks, one interception, and two fumble recoveries, including one in Seattle's end zone for a touchdown. A boom week like that will be hard to follow, especially with the losses in personnel the 49ers will have in Week 6. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw will serve a one-game suspension for an illegal headbutt last week, and Joey Bosa (knee, calf) will need at least one more week to recover before returning to action. Additionally, defensive back Upton Stout (shoulder) and lineman Mykel Williams (knee) are questionable. The Commanders have done well at protecting the ball but allowed five sacks last week and are in the middle of the pack with 23 points scored per game. San Francisco doesn't make for an elite option, but they will be a serviceable streamer in Week 6.--Dan Stephens
Source: NFL.com

Oct 17, 2026, 12:25 PM ET

The Atlanta Falcons defense/special teams unit came into last week's contest allowing just 48.3 rush yards per game but ended up yielding a whopping 208 yards on the ground to the Ravens, with an additional 201 yards allowed through the air and three total touchdowns. On the bright side, for a unit that was having trouble getting to the quarterback and forcing turnovers, the Falcons recorded four sacks and recovered a fumble, which was returned for a touchdown in the contest. Unfortunately, the team will be without CB C.J. Henderson (groin), who leads the defense with 23 solo tackles and six passes defended while also logging one of the unit's four forced fumbles thus far. Also, with one of the highest over/unders on the slate this week (52.5), there is expected to be a lot of offense. Whether or not that means Caleb Williams will be under center for the Bears has yet to be determined, but it could mean there are more reliable options available to stream on the waiver wire. Atlanta is ranked as the No. 18 defense this week at RotoBaller.--Jarod Rupp
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 17, 2026, 12:12 PM ET

The New York Giants' defense struggled mightily in Week 5 against the Washington Commanders and are looking to bounce back this week. They allowed 27 points and 378 yards on offense and couldn't force any turnovers in the 27-27 tie with the Commanders. While they got to Jayden Daniels five times last week, the Giants D/ST managed only 5.0 fantasy points in standard formats. Despite last week's struggles, their defense has been a solid unit in 2026, ranking sixth in turnovers (8) and 11th in fantasy points scored. Now, they face a New Orleans Saints offense that ranks 16th in points and yards this season but has also allowed 11 turnovers (third-most). It's going to come down to turnovers for the Giants D/ST in what could be a relatively high-scoring game in Week 6.--Nathan Harvey
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 17, 2026, 11:47 AM ET

The Buffalo Bills defense has struggled to prevent opposing offenses from moving the football, and Monday's overtime victory against the Rams was another example. Buffalo surrendered 34 points and 383 passing yards, allowing Los Angeles to remain competitive throughout the game. The unit has also struggled to create interceptions, recording just two through five games, although Greg Rousseau has provided some pressure with six sacks. Sunday's opponent, Las Vegas, scored only 17 points in its Week 5 loss to New England, but the Raiders still possess dangerous receiving options, including Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker. Buffalo's ability to generate sacks could provide fantasy production, especially if it forces Las Vegas into obvious passing situations. However, the Bills have not demonstrated enough defensive consistency to warrant unquestioned starting consideration. Ranked D/ST16 in RotoBaller's Week 6 rankings, Buffalo is a lower-end streaming option for managers in deeper leagues.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 17, 2026, 8:11 AM ET

The Chicago Bears D/ST has been up and down through the season's first five weeks, but has done well to limit opposing offenses' yardage and scoring. In Week 6, they'll face an Atlanta Falcons squad that has been a favorable matchup for opposing defenses on the year as a whole. Chicago's unit has been solid, ranking ninth in total yards allowed per game (311.4), though they have really shone against the run. The Bears allow 96 rushing yards per game, tied for the ninth-best mark in the league, so an Atlanta offense that averages the second-most yards on the ground (166.8) will test them this weekend. If Chicago can keep the Falcons' superstar rusher in check, its pass rush should keep causing issues in the backfield. The unit's 12 sacks are the eleventh-highest total in 2026 so far. Fantasy managers can rely on Chicago's defense as a sound fantasy stream in Week 6, officially ranking as RotoBaller's D/ST11--Alex Ciulla
Source: ESPN

Oct 17, 2026, 7:40 AM ET

The Houston Texans D/ST takes on the Jaguars in a big division game early on Sunday morning in London. Houston's defense had been struggling during the team's 0-4 start but bounced back with a good game against the Titans, allowing only three points, forcing two turnovers, and piling up four sacks in last week's road win. Will Anderson Jr. had three of those four sacks, while Jake Hansen picked off Cam Ward and Jalen Pitre recovered a fumble from Tyjae Spears. The Texans will face a much tougher opponent this week, though, since the Jags have only had three turnovers in five games while allowing an average of 2.0 sacks per game. They have been one of the top 10 worst matchups for defenses this season, but the Texans still have enough talent and big-play potential to be a fringe option in Week 6. RotoBaller ranks them as the No. 10 D/ST for the week, making them a decent start if a D/ST in a better matchup isn't available.--Zach Thompson
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 17, 2026, 4:27 AM ET

The Baltimore Ravens' DST will face their former offensive coordinator, Todd Monken, and his Cleveland Browns in Ohio in Week 6. The Ravens' defense survived a high-octane Falcons offense, logging three sacks and a walk-off interception to win in overtime. The unit got a much-needed boost last week with the long-awaited return of defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike, and outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson (finger) is expected back after his two-game absence, which should give the DST another jolt. The three sacks against the Falcons are the team's most since Week 2, and their pass rush is key to the Ravens' game plan and fantasy managers. The Ravens' DST has a 36.5% quarterback-pressure rate and a 5.2% sack rate. Cleveland leads the league in sacks taken (19) and sack rate (11.3%) after five weeks, and Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has faced a 40.22% pressure rate, which bodes well for the Ravens' front seven. This AFC North slugfest has one of the lowest over/unders on the Week 6 slate and is historically low-scoring, with the Browns scoring 20 points or fewer since October 2024. However, rookie wide receivers Denzel Boston, the frontrunner for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, and KC Concepcion (concussion), who cleared protocol late Friday afternoon, represent the type of downfield threats that the Ravens' secondary has struggled to contain this season. Nonetheless, the Ravens DST is RotoBaller's fourth-ranked defense in Week 6 and is a solid streaming option before tougher matchups in Weeks 7 through 9.--Matt McCauley
Source: ESPN

Oct 17, 2026, 2:08 AM ET

The New Orleans Saints D/ST recorded two sacks, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown in Week 5's loss to the Vikings. The score came on a fumble recovery by safety Jonas Sanker, who returned it 87 yards for a touchdown. It was the first defensive touchdown of the season for the Saints, who will now face a Giants team that has allowed at least two sacks in every game and has committed at least one turnover in four of five games. The Saints have been poor defensively, ranking 31st in points allowed, and have recorded just five total takeaways on the season. They remain a safe option with limited upside in Week 6 and rank 12th in RotoBaller's rankings.--Dakota Legg - RotoBaller
Source: ESPN.com

Oct 17, 2026, 1:54 AM ET

The Jacksonville Jaguars defense/special teams unit is a solid starting fantasy defense in Week 6 against the Houston Texans. The Texans offense has been solid passing-wise but has struggled to run the ball. That means they could be in for a rough time, given the Jaguars defense has been one of the best in the NFL against the run. That should make the Texans one-dimensional and predictable. C.J. Stroud has been solid so far this season, but he has shown in the past he can be turnover-prone in spurts. David Montgomery is also out with injury, meaning Woody Marks will do his best to improve the Houston rushing attack. If the Jaguars can take Marks out of the game, they will have the Texans where they want them. The Jaguars D/ST is a low-end starting option in Week 6 due to their ability to force turnovers and stop the run against a solid but mistake-prone Texans offense.--Seth Quinn - RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller D/ST Rankings