Josh Downs Fantasy Stats

Used primarily from the slot through the first three seasons of his career, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has seen extensive outside work throughout training camp, with a lack of positional depth leading to a projection of expanded usage in two-receiver sets. With the Colts signing veteran receiver Keenan Allen on Monday night, there is now reason to question how that plan may be affected, but Colts analyst Destin Adams believes Downs will still see the bulk of the work alongside Alec Pierce when two receivers are on the field, with Allen mixing in as needed. Then when the team moves to 11-personnel, Downs will kick inside while Allen mans the 'Z'. While Adams' assessment is reassuring for those calling for a Downs breakout, the impact that Allen had in making Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey one of fantasy's biggest disappointments in 2025 can not be overlooked, and Downs, who has been coming off the board as the WR43, is likely to see his ADP drop.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (back) briefly left training camp practice on Saturday after taking a hard fall on a leaping catch, but he later returned and should be fine, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. The Colts rested their starters in Thursday's preseason opener against the New England Patriots, including Downs, and it remains to be seen if he'll suit up for the second preseason contest on Saturday, Aug. 22, against the Atlanta Falcons. The 25-year-old has been standing out this summer as one of quarterback Daniel Jones' primary targets in the passing game with Alec Pierce still recovering from offseason ankle surgery and with Michael Pittman Jr. now in Pittsburgh. The former third-rounder in 2023 from North Carolina took a step back in 2025 with a 58-566-4 line in 16 games after going for a career-high 803 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 14 games in 2024. Even if Pierce is healthy this year, Downs has an excellent opportunity to increase his target share, making him an interesting WR3/flex target in fantasy football drafts.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (back) exited Saturday's practice early after landing hard on his back, according to Andrew Moore of Sports Illustrated. According to Moore, Downs tried to walk it off but appeared to still be in pain. The 25-year-old is day-to-day for now, as the Colts should provide an update soon. Before the injury, Downs was having a strong training camp but did miss practice earlier in the week with a groin injury. The Colts are already down Alec Pierce (ankle) and can't afford to lose Downs on top of it. Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine would see an uptick in snaps if Downs were to miss any time. With Michael Pittman Jr. on the Steelers, Downs is set for a breakout year and should see an uptick in targets. Barring injury news, Downs is currently RotoBaller's WR40 and could be relied on right out of the gate with Pierce still sidelined.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (groin) is in attendance for Tuesday's joint practice session with the New England Patriots, according to The Athletic's James Boyd. Downs missed three consecutive practices while dealing with a groin issue, but after a travel day on Monday, he will take the field in Foxboro. With starters unlikely to see much, if any, action in the team's preseason opener on Thursday, Tuesday's work against an unfamiliar opponent will serve to prepare the team for the regular season, and Downs' presence is a major boon. At RotoBaller's WR40, Downs is a 2026 breakout candidate who could be in line for his second career 100-target season following the departure of Michael Pittman Jr. in an offseason trade to the Steelers.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (groin) is not practicing on Sunday as he deals with a groin issue that has now sidelined him for the past two days. With Alec Pierce (ankle) missing all of training camp on the PUP list as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery, Downs had been a focal point of the Colts' offense, but with his absence testing the team's positional depth, quarterback Daniel Jones will likely take to the field on Sunday with a first-team offense of Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and a potential combination of Anthony Gould and Laquon Treadwell (hamstring). At RotoBaller's WR40, Downs is a popular breakout candidate ahead of his fourth season, but any prolonged absence could see him slip in drafts.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (groin) is not practicing on Saturday due to a groin injury sustained during training camp last week. The fourth-year receiver is eyeing a breakout season, with many vacated targets after veteran wideout Michael Pittman Jr. was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March. With Alec Pierce (ankle) still on the PUP list and the next-best wide receivers on the roster, Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, the Colts need Downs to be healthy and produce in 2026. While it doesn't sound like a major injury, fantasy managers should monitor Downs' status over the next few weeks.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has been one of the stars of training camp as the team prepares to feature him more heavily in 2026, according to ESPN. Downs caught 58 passes for a career-low 566 yards and four touchdowns last season after averaging 103 targets and 787 receiving yards over his first two years. Michael Pittman Jr.'s departure has opened a much larger opportunity, and the Colts are also giving Downs more work outside after using him primarily in the slot throughout his career. Head coach Shane Steichen said Downs can now play both spots and expects his role to grow this season. Tyler Warren and Alec Pierce will still command plenty of attention, but Indianapolis appears determined to get Downs back to being a central part of the passing game. If the expanded usage carries into the regular season, he has a strong chance to climb back toward the 100-target range and regain consistent value in PPR leagues.

In what was a productive day for the Indianapolis Colts offense on Saturday, wide receiver Josh Downs stood out as a favorite target for quarterback Daniel Jones. Downs caught four passes and a touchdown during competitive 11-on-11 work, and was consistently open while running crisp routes and standing out from the rest of the receiver group, according to beat reporter Andrew Moore. With Alec Pierce still not practicing after undergoing offseason ankle surgery, Downs ran with Ashton Dulin and Laquon Treadwell in three-receiver sets, and as the only true lock from that trio to see regular work on game days, the fourth-year veteran took advantage of the opportunity to further develop his chemistry with Jones. The early days of camp indicate that Downs will see an expanded role in 2026, making him one of the better potential values in the middle rounds of drafts, and he is RotoBaller's WR42.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen told The Coachspeak Index that the team wants to get wide receiver Josh Downs involved in multiple formations in 2026. "Getting him involved any way we can, whether it's in 12 personnel -- obviously, he plays a lot in the slot in 11 personnel. But just trying to find different ways to get him the ball," Steichen said. The 24-year-old pass-catcher's fantasy stock is on the rise this summer with veteran Michael Pittman Jr. now in Pittsburgh and with Alec Pierce (ankle) starting training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Downs, a third-rounder in 2023 from North Carolina, took a step back in 2025 with a 58-566-4 line in 16 games in his third season in the league after a career year in 2024 in which he caught 72 of his 107 targets for 803 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games. Another breakout could be coming for Downs if QB Daniel Jones (Achilles) makes a successful return, making him an attractive WR4/flex target as a sleeper in upcoming fantasy football drafts.

The Athletic's James Boyd lists Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs as a breakout candidate in 2026 after the departures of Adonai Mitchell and Michael Pittman Jr., who were traded to the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively. Alec Pierce (ankle) is also recovering from offseason surgery that could slow him down early on. Downs is an established receiver in the NFL, having recorded 2,140 yards and 11 touchdowns on 198 receptions in his three years in the league. However, the 24-year-old former third-rounder from the University of North Carolina in 2023 is coming off a career-low 566 receiving yards in 2025. Downs should have more opportunities in his fourth year in the NFL, though, and he'll be motivated as he enters a contract year if he plans on cashing in next offseason on the free-agent market. There's more risk in the Colts' offense as a whole with quarterback Daniel Jones coming off a torn Achilles tendon, the increase in route share and per-route target rate should be enough to put Downs on fantasy managers' radars as a great value pick in the later rounds of drafts. RotoBaller currently has Downs ranked as the No. 42 fantasy WR for 2026.