Downs brings a complete profile to the mix after dominating in the slot playing for Phil Longo at UNC. He caught just under nine passes a game racking up over 1,000 yards and 11 TDs in 2022. Downs demanded similar volume playing with Sam Howell in 2021. He has a natural feel for how to beat zone and the lower ankle flexion to create consistent separation against man coverage. Downs' size (5-foot-9), small catch radius, and lack of vertical speed (testing time) could potentially be viewed as red flags in translating to the NFL, but he erases most doubts about his speed on game film. Downs' ability to win early in the route with his separation could make him a favorite for rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson -- the easy "lay up" throws are often a big part of the game planning mix for first-year quarterbacks. If you see Richardson and Downs developing an early rapport in training camp, get Downs on your radar as a late-round target. In rookie-only drafts, he's a solid second-round pick.
Downs only had five catches for 35 yards in Week 12 against Tampa Bay, but he got a whopping 13 targets, which is fantastic. He should continue to be a go-to option for Gardner Minshew in Week 13 against the Titans, and the passing game for the Colts might get more of an emphasis moving forward with Jonathan Taylor (thumb) out. Downs already beat up the Tennessee defense in Week 5 with six catches for 97 yards on six targets, and the Titans are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to receivers. Downs is a must-start option in three-receiver leagues and a borderline starter in all formats in Week 13.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Downs only had five catches for 35 yards in Week 12 against Tampa Bay, but he got a whopping 13 targets, which is fantastic. He should continue to be a go-to option for Gardner Minshew in Week 13 against the Titans, and the passing game for the Colts might get more of an emphasis moving forward with Jonathan Taylor (thumb) out. Downs already beat up the Tennessee defense in Week 5 with six catches for 97 yards on six targets, and the Titans are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to receivers. Downs is a must-start option in three-receiver leagues and a borderline starter in all formats in Week 13.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Five grabs in Week 12 win
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Downs brought in five of 13 targets for 43 yards in the Colts' 27-20 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Downs tied Michael Pittman for the team lead in targets but was much less efficient, compiling half of his teammate's catch total. Nevertheless, Downs' reception and receiving yardage tallies were both still good enough for second on the Colts on the afternoon, and his catch total was his highest since Week 8. Downs next sets his sights on a Week 13 road matchup against the Titans' vulnerable secondary.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Two catches in Frankfurt
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Downs recorded two receptions on three targets for 40 yards in Sunday's 10-6 win over the Patriots.
Downs played through a knee injury that was expected to keep him limited, and that came to fruition as he saw his lowest target total in a full game since Week 4. His primary contribution came on a 28-yard reception late in the fourth quarter that helped the Colts clinch a win. Heading into a bye, Downs should be able to return healthier for a Week 12 matchup against Tampa Bay.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Active, but likely limited Sunday
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Downs (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Patriots in Frankfurt, Germany, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.
Downs was unable to practice in any capacity this week, but he still showed enough progress in his recovery from a knee issue to take a questionable tag into Sunday. Though Downs ultimately attained active status after going through a pregame workout, Adam Schefter of ESPN relays that the Colts could be cautious with how they use the rookie wideout. If that's the case, Downs could cede more snaps than usual to Alec Pierce and Isaiah McKenzie, who may see expanded roles behind No. 1 wideout Michael Pittman.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Injures knee Sunday
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Downs suffered a knee injury during Sunday's contest at Carolina, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Prior to his departure, Downs gathered in his only target for 10 yards. As long as Downs is sidelined, Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, Isaiah McKenzie and Juwann Winfree will be the Colts' options at wide receiver.
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Colts' Josh Downs: On track to play Sunday
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Downs (knee) is on pace to play in Sunday's game at Carolina, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Downs was tacked onto the Colts' Week 9 injury report Thursday, practicing in a limited capacity that day and Friday and entering the weekend as questionable due to the knee issue. While he isn't 100 percent, he appears poised to go through a pregame warmup to see how the knee checks out. Ultimately, though, with a 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff on tap Sunday, his status won't be known until well after the early slate of games commence. If Downs is inhibited or even inactive, Alec Pierce and Isaiah McKenzie would experience increased reps alongside starting wide receiver Michael Pittman.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Team-high receiving yardage in loss
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Downs secured seven of nine targets for 72 yards and a touchdown in the Colts' 38-27 loss to the Saints on Sunday.
Downs led the Colts in receiving yards while checking in second in receptions and receiving yards to Michael Pittman. Downs' catch total was also a season high, and the speedy rookie now has at least five receptions in four consecutive games. Given his impressive body of work, Downs will likely be heavily involved once again in a Week 9 road battle against the Panthers.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Downs is working his way into must-start status, especially in three-receiver leagues, and Gardner Minshew appears to love the rookie receiver. In his past three games, Downs has scored at least 13.1 PPR points, and he has at least five catches and six targets in each outing against Tennessee, Jacksonville and Cleveland. He also has two games with at least 97 yards over that span, as well as two touchdowns, and Minshew should continue to lean on Downs in Week 8 against the Saints. While New Orleans is a tough matchup, Chris Godwin in Week 4 (19.4 PPR points), Nico Collins in Week 6 (12.0 PPR points) and Christian Kirk in Week 7 (21.0 PPR points) have all done well against this secondary in the past four weeks, so don't shy away from Downs as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week 8 Waiver Priority List
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Downs continues to have a breakout rookie campaign, and he's been awesome for most of the past five games. He's scored at least 13.1 PPR points in four games over that span, and he has four outings with at least six targets and five catches. He's scored a touchdown in each of the past two games against the Jaguars and Browns, and he was a star against Cleveland with five catches for 125 yards and a touchdown on six targets. Gardner Minshew is leaning on Downs quite a bit, and the production has been consistent with Minshew under center. Downs is worth starting in all three-receiver leagues, and he should be added where still available for at least 15 percent of your FAB.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week 7 Adds (WR Preview)
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Downs looks like a legitimate WR3 rest of the season, but a terrible matchup in Week 7 makes him slightly less appealing as a one-week fill-in. He has at least six targets and at least 13 PPR Fantasy points in three of his past four games.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Sleeper WRs
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Downs seems to thrive every time Gardner Minshew plays for the Colts, and that's going to happen in Week 6 at Jacksonville with Anthony Richardson (shoulder) on IR. Minshew has appeared in three games so far for the Colts in Week 2, Week 3 and Week 5. In those games, Downs has scored 7.7 PPR points, 13.7 PPR points and 15.7 PPR points, and clearly the two have a strong connection. The Jaguars have allowed five receivers to score at least 16.0 PPR points this season, and Michael Pittman should remain the go-to option in the passing game. But Downs is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues, with his value higher in PPR.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Downs seems to thrive every time Gardner Minshew plays for the Colts, and that's going to happen in Week 6 at Jacksonville with Anthony Richardson (shoulder) on IR. Minshew has appeared in three games so far for the Colts in Week 2, Week 3 and Week 5. In those games, Downs has scored 7.7 PPR points, 13.7 PPR points and 15.7 PPR points, and clearly the two have a strong connection. The Jaguars have allowed five receivers to score at least 16.0 PPR points this season, and Michael Pittman should remain the go-to option in the passing game. But Downs is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues, with his value higher in PPR.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Has breakout performance
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Downs recorded six receptions on six targets for 97 yards in Sunday's 23-16 win over the Titans.
Downs led the Colts in receptions and yards, both of which were also career-high marks. He did the majority of his damage on catches of 38, 27 and 25 yards -- two of which were delivered by Gardner Minshew. Downs also showed the ability to produce with Anthony Richardson (shoulder) under center, which could portend a bigger role in the offense moving forward.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week 6 Early Waiver Targets (Add/Drop)
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Sunday was Downs' breakout game, but he had already established himself as the No. 2 option in the passing game for the Colts before that. He caught all six passes thrown his way Sunday, but he also had a game with 12 targets just two weeks ago. And what's exciting about that is that game came with Gardner Minshew starting for the Colts at QB. Anthony Richardson exited Sunday's game with a shoulder injury, so if he has to miss time, Minshew should lead a more pass-heavy version of this offense, and that could put Downs in line to be a useful Fantasy option for Week 6.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Two catches in defeat
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Downs secured two of three targets for 34 yards during Sunday's 29-23 overtime loss to the Rams.
Downs made his biggest contribution to the game during the second quarter, snaring a deep ball from Anthony Richardson for 30 yards. The rookie wideout had enjoyed an expanding role on offense through the previous three games, but the entire Colts' receiving corps struggled against the Rams with no receiver topping 48 yards, which may help explain a dismal game for Downs.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week 4 Waiver Priority List
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Downs had a solid game in Week 3 at Baltimore with Gardner Minshew under center, and we'll see what happens once Anthony Richardson (concussion) is healthy. But in deep PPR leagues, Downs is worth adding for up to 5 percent of your FAB. Against the Ravens, Downs got 12 targets from Minshew and finished with eight catches for 57 yards. Now, he did get seven targets from Richardson in Week 1 against Jacksonville, so Downs should be considered the No. 2 receiver for the Colts behind Michael Pittman. Prior to the season, I thought Downs could be a nice outlet receiver for the Colts, and the rookie showed that with his Week 3 performance against Baltimore.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Three receptions in NFL debut
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Downs started as the slot receiver and had three receptions for 30 yards on seven targets in Sunday's loss to Jacksonville. He played on 57 of the offense's 72 snaps.
Downs didn't have a big game in his NFL debut, but there were some encouraging signs. He was second on the team in targets, and Isaiah McKenzie, his preseason competition for the slot receiver role, played just one snap on offense. If rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson improves as a passer, Downs could be much more productive later in the season.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Favorite for slot duties
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Downs is believed to be the front-runner for the Colts' slot receiver job, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Downs has been competing with veteran Isaiah McKenzie for the job, but the rookie has had a "big summer" at Colts camp and appears to have the leg up in three-wide sets alongside Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce. With Anthony Richardson under center, however, it's unclear if Downs will find his way into 2023 fantasy value in an offense that might be able to only support one pass-catcher.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Dealing with minor knee injury
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Downs missed practice Thursday with a knee injury, George Bremer of The Anderson Herald Bulletin reports.
Coach Shane Steichen described it as "a little bit of a knee issue" without elaborating any further. The third-round pick out of UNC isn't likely to be part of a high-flying pass attack his rookie year, but he did find a good place to earn early snaps once he moves past the knee injury, as Michael Pittman is the only player on Indy's roster with a 600-yard receiving season to his name. Alec Pierce had 593 yards as a rookie second-round pick last year, but it's possible he'd see fewer targets than Downs even if he's the No. 2 receiver in terms of snaps and the rookie is the No. 3.
