Josh Downs Leads Colts In Receiving Yards, Scores TD In Win
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs reeled in all five of his targets for 84 yards and a touchdown in a 28-27 win over the Jets on Sunday. With Anthony Richardson showing a bit more accuracy this week, Downs maintained his status as the Colts' most reliable pass catcher, leading Indy's receiving corps in yardage while scoring the only offensive touchdown outside of Richardson's two rushing scores. It was the third straight game with at least five catches for the 23-year-old and sixth time in nine games. The former third-round draft pick will face off with the Lions in Week 12, a defense that is easier to throw on than run against, and could be playing from behind all day which should afford him plenty of opportunities again.
Josh Downs Gets A QB Downgrade, Unfavorable Matchup In Week 11
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has been his team's most reliable fantasy receiver so far in 2024, but with the Colts switching back to Anthony Richardson at quarterback, Downs' fantasy value undoubtedly takes a hit. In three games together this season, Downs caught just eight of 17 targets from Richardson. Still, the 23-year-old leads his team in receptions (45), targets (66), yards per game (60.4), and yards after catch (211) despite playing in only eight of the Colts' 10 games. The schedule affords Downs no favors, however, with the Indy taking on the Jets this week on the road, a defense that has allowed the fewest points to WRs this season. While the former third-round draft pick has been a solid WR2 the last two weeks, his situation and matchup deem him closer to a WR3 in Week 11.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs led his team in targets and receptions in Sunday's 30-20 loss to the Bills, hauling in seven of 10 passes thrown his way for 72 yards. While it was productive and what fantasy managers have grown accustomed to from him, it could have been better had he not dropped what would have been an easy score early on in the game. Still, it was the third straight game in which the former third-round pick has recorded at least nine targets and sixth time in eight games that he's reached that level, affording him plenty of opportunities for receptions and a solid weekly floor. The 23-year-old will have a more difficult task in Week 11 as the Colts take on a Jets defense that has been great at limiting fantasy points to opposing receivers. Downs likely projects as a fringe WR2 next Sunday so long as Joe Flacco remains under center.
Josh Downs To Get Plenty Of Looks As WR2 In Week 10
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has been one of the lone bright spots on offense regardless of who has been under center for Indy, accruing nine or more targets in five of the seven games he's played and nabbing six or more receptions in four of them. One of those instances came just last week when he hauled in six of nine targets for 60 yards from Joe Flacco, who will once again be quarterbacking his squad in Week 10. While their opponent, the Buffalo Bills, has been good against the pass by allowing the sixth-fewest points to WRs, the Colts will be without Michael Pittman Jr. on Sunday, so Downs should be the unquestioned No.1 receiver. With a 6.58 aDOT, Downs' receptions will likely be of the short variety, but he does offer solid YAC (yards after catch) ability, and as four-point underdogs on their own turf, the Colts could be playing catch-up all game, so Downs should be dependably involved. As such, the 23-year-old is a solid WR2 this week.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs led the receiving corps in targets, receptions, and yards in Sunday night's 21-13 loss to the Vikings, hauling in six of nine balls thrown his way for 60 yards. No other receiver on the team caught more than three passes. Unfortunately, Downs and the rest of the offense were unable to find the end zone, with the lone TD for the Colts coming on the defensive side of the ball. The good news is that the 23-year-old has garnered at least nine targets in five of the seven games he's played this season, making him the most reliable fantasy asset out of all the pass catchers on the team. The bad news is that the Bills are his Week 10 opponent, and they've allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to WRs thus far. The UNC product is likely a WR3 in that matchup, perhaps borderline WR2 in PPR leagues.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (toe) logged his second consecutive full practice on Friday. He has been removed from the final injury report and will play in Week 9. The 23-year-old has posted mixed results this season, benefitting greatly from Joe Flacco while struggling to form a rapport with Anthony Richardson. Fortunately for Downs, Richardson was benched for Flacco earlier this week. Downs has 24 catches, 217 yards, and two touchdowns through parts of three games with the veteran quarterback in 2024, and he should continue to rank as a mid-to-low fantasy WR2 for Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs Fully Practice On Thursday
Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and Josh Downs (toe) both logged a full practice on Thursday according to James Boyd of The Athletic. This is a great sign as both wideouts were non-participants during Wednesday's initial practice session. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status during Friday's practice in case they face a setback. Pittman has been dealing with this back injury for a few weeks but has not missed any games. Downs has also been dealing with a lingering injury but has also not missed any time due to it. Both wideouts should be viewed as a solid options this weekend as they will face the Minnesota Vikings who have allowed the most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.
Josh Downs And Michael Pittman Jr. Miss Practice Wednesday
Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Josh Downs (toe) and Michael Pittman Jr. (back) did not practice on Wednesday. Both players have been battling their respective injuries for several weeks and have missed several consecutive Wednesday practices. Neither player was restricted in Week 8 so their lack of activity appears to be related to rest rather than a setback in their injuries. The Colts will need a full complement of wide receivers as they turn to Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback after benching Anthony Richardson this week. Both players have put up solid numbers with Joe Flacco under center for parts of three games in 2024. Downs has especially been a target hog since he first took the field in Week 3. He has earned nine or more targets in four of six games. In three games with Flacco playing a significant amount of snaps, Pittman saw a total of 23 targets. Both players are in a great position to see serious volume as the Colts will likely start to complete a significant amount of passes with Flacco. Fantasy managers should monitor the status of both leading up to the weekend, but for now, there is no cause for concern.
Josh Downs Goes Over 100 Yards, Finds End Zone In Loss
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs led his team's receiving corps in catches and yards in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Texans, reeling in four for 109 yards and a score. Downs was the only Colt to amass more than one reception in the contest with quarterback Anthony Richardson completing just 10 of 32 passes, and he nearly scored another touchdown but was down just shy of the end zone. The 23-year-old was also credited with 13 rush yards. Despite the solid effort, the former third-round draft pick will be volatile with such poor quarterback play and hard to trust on a weekly basis. In Week 9, the Colts will face the Vikings who have had seven wideouts record 78 or more receiving yards through seven games, so there's a chance he could have some Flex appeal, especially if Joe Flacco happened to be under center instead of Richardson.
Josh Downs Healthy But QB Play A Limiting Factor In Week 8
After missing practice Wednesday, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (toe) practiced in full Thursday and Friday, carrying no injury designation heading into the weekend. Still, with Anthony Richardson at quarterback, the team's pass catchers have limited upside as Richardson has a 47.4% completion rate and is averaging a meager 178 yards passing per game in the four full games he's played. In the two games Downs has played with Richardson under center, the 23-year-old has just four catches on eight targets, totaling a paltry 25 yards receiving. Regardless of QB, Downs is reliant on his yards after catch (YAC) ability, as the third-round pick has a low 5.24 aDOT, gaining 109 YAC (45.0% of 242 total). In Week 8, the Colts face the Texans who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, but Indy already took them on in Week 1 with Richardson completing just nine of 19 passes in the contest. Thus, Downs figures to be a WR5 this week or low-end Flex play.
Josh Downs
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Colts
