NFL2026-10-17Tyler Huntley Starts Again as Lamar Jackson Misses Cleveland, and Quinshon Judkins Is a Game-Time Call for the Browns
By Verdexed NFL Desk
The Baltimore Ravens ruled out Lamar Jackson (left ankle) on Friday, and Tyler Huntley will start Sunday's AFC North game at Cleveland (1 p.m. ET). It is the second straight game Jackson will miss after spraining the ankle in the Week 4 win over Tennessee, and he did not practice at all this week. Head coach Jesse Minter told reporters the team would not hesitate with Huntley under center.
On the other side, the Browns listed running back Quinshon Judkins as questionable with an ankle injury after he missed Wednesday and Thursday and returned as a limited participant Friday. Backup Dylan Sampson (knee) has been ruled out, which makes the Judkins decision the most important fantasy call in this game.
Huntley has earned the benefit of the doubt
Huntley has won each of his last three starts as Jackson's fill-in, including last week's 30-23 overtime win in Atlanta. In that game he completed 24 of 32 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns, ran for another score, and finished by completing his final 11 throws, including the drive that tied the game late in the fourth quarter. He then capped a 14-play overtime drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
That is not Jackson's ceiling, and nobody should pretend it is. But it is a competent, mistake-light version of the offense, and it keeps the Ravens (4-1) at the top of the AFC North with a one-game lead. Cleveland (3-2) is the closest pursuer, so this game carries real division weight.
Fantasy fallout in Baltimore
Derrick Henry is the biggest beneficiary of a Huntley start. In Atlanta he carried 24 times for 102 yards, caught an 18-yard touchdown pass and converted the game-tying two-point try out of a direct snap. With Huntley, the Ravens lean on Henry for volume and use the short passing game as an extension of the run. He is a locked-in RB1.
Zay Flowers is the other piece to trust. He caught eight of nine targets for 53 yards and added a 13-yard run last week, leading the team in targets from Huntley. His yards per catch drop with the backup in, but the volume holds, which keeps him a WR2 in PPR formats and a WR3 in standard.
Mark Andrews is a tougher call. He lost a costly fumble in overtime in Atlanta, and a Huntley-led offense throws fewer intermediate passes, which is where Andrews makes his money. He remains a TE1 by positional scarcity, but his ceiling is lower until Jackson returns.
Huntley himself is a streaming option in two-quarterback and superflex leagues. His rushing gives him a floor, as last week's one-yard overtime touchdown showed.
The Cleveland backfield
The Browns' situation is murkier. Head coach Todd Monken described Judkins as day-to-day after a tweak to his ankle, and the limited Friday session suggests he will at least try to play. Even if he is active, there is a real chance he plays on a reduced workload.
With Sampson out, Jaleel McLaughlin projects as the lead back if Judkins sits, with Audric Estime behind him. McLaughlin is a speed back who does more damage in space than between the tackles, so even a full workload against Baltimore is not a guaranteed RB2 outcome.
| Browns RB | Status | Week 6 outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Quinshon Judkins | Questionable (ankle) | Game-time call, possible pitch count |
| Dylan Sampson | Out (knee) | Inactive |
| Jaleel McLaughlin | Active | Lead back if Judkins sits |
| Audric Estime | Active | Change-of-pace depth |
For managers starting Judkins, the safest move is to have McLaughlin rostered as a pivot and make the decision after the inactive list comes out about 90 minutes before kickoff. Because this is a 1 p.m. ET game, there are plenty of later-window alternatives if he is ruled out.
Betting angle
The market moved meaningfully on the Jackson news. Earlier in the week, with his status unresolved, Baltimore was priced as high as 5.5 points at some books. With Jackson officially out, the line settled around Ravens -3 with a total near 40, down from the 40.5 to 41.5 range seen earlier.
That shift reflects a lower scoring expectation with the backup in, but the market still respects Huntley's recent track record. Baltimore has been 2-3 against the spread this season, and Cleveland has been 3-2, so neither side has been a reliable cover. Divisional familiarity, a backup quarterback and a total around 40 point toward a grinding game decided by field position and turnovers.
The Verdexed angle
Huntley's run of wins has steadied Baltimore's season, but the more useful fantasy read is about usage: with the backup in, the Ravens' offense funnels through Henry and Flowers, and the secondary pieces become harder to trust. Start Henry with confidence, start Flowers in PPR, and treat Andrews as a lower-ceiling TE1.
For the model's view of the side and total, check the Week 6 picks at /blog/nfl-week-6-picks-2026 and the live board at /nfl/predictions, which reflect Jackson's absence.
What's next
The key question for the rest of October is when Jackson gets back on the practice field. He has not practiced since the injury, so the first sign of a Week 7 return would be limited participation early next week. Until that happens, managers who roster Jackson should plan on another possible absence and keep a streamer ready. Managers in Cleveland's backfield should watch Judkins' snap share on Sunday, because a limited workload this week could carry into the next.