Josh Downs had his fantasy breakout game in Week 5 against the Titans, bringing in six receptions for 97 yards. While he’s still the odd man out in two receiver sets, the rookie is commanding targets when he’s on the field — making him a hot commodity on the Week 6 Waiver Wire.
WHO IS JOSH DOWNS?
As shown via PlayerProfiler, Downs has a strong NFL comp, elite burst, and elite agility at the NFL level.
Downs has a strong prospect profile that has already turned into numbers on the field. Downs has a strong breakout age of 19, was an early declare, has a 71 percentile 40-yard dash, and an outstanding 34.1% college target share.
Downs was a problem on the field at UNC, leading the Tar Heels in receiving his sophomore and junior season, all while being the favorite target for Sam Howell and future first-round pick Drake Maye.
USAGE AND PRODUCTION
Shane Steichen has already put his trust in Downs to play the slot for the Colts, and with the increased production, he could see more playing time in two wide receiver sets later this season. Steichen said the receiver has a “natural feel for the game” following his Week 5 performance.
Downs has been a target hog for the Colts through five games, seeing a 20.9% target share this season. Downs is second in the NFL in slot snaps, 28th in targets, and an expected fantasy points of 14.4. The rookie is already receiving great usage, and the production is slowly coming for him. The touchdowns will start to come for Downs later in the season.
HOW MUCH FAAB SHOULD YOU SPEND ON DOWNS?
Downs is already worth a flex spot on your roster, and with Anthony Richardson expected to miss time with a shoulder injury, Gardner Minshew should continue to pepper Downs with more targets.
The rookie wide receiver will only improve throughout the season and is already playing above his size at the NFL level. With Alec Pierce just working on his cardio this entire season, Downs will see an increased workload, with positive regression as the season goes on.
Downs is worth a 15% bid for the Week 6 waiver wire, and 20-25% for those needy at the WR position. Downs sits at 60 (-4 ECR) in The Wolf’s Rest of Season Big Board.
