Josh Downs

WR, IND

Josh Downs has taken over as Indianapolis's clear lead receiver with Alec Pierce sidelined on IR, running 80-93% of routes and commanding 22-36% target shares over the last two weeks. He's expanded beyond his old slot-only, short-route profile into outside alignment and downfield work, turning a part-time piece into an every-week fantasy starter.

The arc here is pure role expansion: Yahoo's Matt Harmon and Josh & Hayden, Fantasy Life, RotoWire, and The Late-Round Podcast all tracked Downs moving from a shallow-target slot guy to a 90%+ route-share outside/vertical threat once Pierce went down. FantasyPros stood as the lone neutral voice twice, warning the target share hasn't fully converted to production and he could cap out as a floor-heavy PPR play without Pierce stretching the field. By October 1, Fantasy Life, FantasyPros, and Berry's show had all flipped fully bullish, framing him as a buy-low WR2 with touchdown regression coming versus Washington, and Fantasy Footballers noted a trade partner valued him at a third-round pick.

The line: Buy now while some shops still price him as a slot-only floor play — the role change is real and the touchdowns are coming. · updated Oct 01

Thursday, October 1

Both shows are bullish: with Pierce out, Downs is commanding a huge route and target share and seeing more downfield looks, making him a low-end WR2/buy-low with real touchdown upside against a soft Washington secondary.

▲ Fantasy Life Show: Now running an 88% route share with a 24% target share and strong in-breaking route usage, moved up to WR18/low-end WR2 and called a 'massive buy low.' listen ↗

▲ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Role has shifted downfield (11.5 avg depth of target) with Alec Pierce out; hosts expect touchdown regression to positive versus a Washington defense vulnerable through the air. listen ↗

Wednesday, September 30

▲ Establish The Run Fantasy Football: With Alec Pierce on IR, Downs posted a 31% target share and is now being used more as a vertical threat; hosts rank him ahead of several bigger names and call him a buy ahead of a great Commanders matchup. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Host called him his favorite buy-low target right now, noting opportunity outpaces production; a trade partner wanted a third-round pick for him. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Preferred over Rome Odunze in a trade scenario due to a much better short-term target and production floor in Indianapolis's run-heavy offense. listen ↗

▲ The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast: Downs has hit an 80% route share and 30% target share in two of his last two games, averaging 19.4 expected PPR points over that span, and JJ remains bullish the market hasn't caught up given uncertainty around Alec Pierce's return. listen ↗

Tuesday, September 29

▲ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Buy target due to heavy target share (9 and 11 targets in past two games) despite modest yardage; considered locked in as WR1 given Alec Pierce's recurring injury issues, with upside for more explosive games as the schedule eases. listen ↗

Monday, September 28

▲ Fantasy Football Today: Posted a career-high 172 air yards, showing an expanded route tree beyond short whip routes with Alec Pierce out. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Today: Second straight strong game despite Daniel Jones' inaccuracy limiting his ceiling; hosts say he should be a PPR starter. listen ↗

▲ Harris Fantasy Football Podcast: Became the clear intermediate/deep passing option with Alec Pierce out, drawing six targets in the first quarter before usage dried up. listen ↗

Saturday, September 26

▲ The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast: With Alec Pierce on IR, Downs is ranked 6-7 spots higher than consensus in rest-of-season rankings; a buy. listen ↗

Friday, September 25

▲ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Saw a 36% target share and over 40% of perimeter routes after Alec Pierce's injury; considered a rock-solid WR3 with WR2 upside going forward. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Life Show: Biggest beneficiary of Pierce's injury with route participation jumping to 91% and 30% target share; ranked WR3 for the week. listen ↗

▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Leads the NFL in separation score and should see more targets, but hosts worry he becomes a low-ceiling PPR floor play without Pierce stretching the field. listen ↗

▲ The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast: Early tweet about him playing more on the outside went viral; now seen as a strong buy who could ascend to WR2 status as his route share/target share grows, especially before a juicy Week 4 matchup vs Washington. listen ↗

▲ Yahoo Fantasy Football with Josh & Hayden: Was clearly the offensive centerpiece last week via slot usage and motion, avoiding top corner matchups by design; concern is a condensed passing game without Alec Pierce. listen ↗

Thursday, September 24

▲ Fantasy Focus Football: With Alec Pierce headed to IR, Downs (30% target share last week) becomes the clear top target alongside Tyler Warren behind Jonathan Taylor. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Start of the week vs. Houston; now the clear No. 1 WR with Alec Pierce out, coming off 7 catches for 72 yards and historically productive vs. this Texans defense. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Today: Becoming Daniel Jones' clear lead target (9 targets, 7 catches vs. KC) against a bad Texans secondary; ranked as a top-20 option and preferred over David Montgomery in full PPR. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Today: Emerging as Colts' lead receiver with heavy target volume; viewed as a strong No.2 WR play vs Texans. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Life Show: Elite route share with Alec Pierce out, likely avoiding top corner Derek Stingley due to slot alignment; viewed as a strong WR3 play. listen ↗

▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Target share doubled to 27.3% in Week 2 with 83% snap share and league-leading separation score, but production hasn't fully arrived yet; debated as a low-end WR3 against Houston. listen ↗

▲ RotoWire Fantasy Football With Theo Gremminger: Running 90% of routes with 22%+ target share, poised to be the clear WR1 with Alec Pierce on IR; still cheap at only 10 PPR points per game. listen ↗

▲ RotoWire Fantasy Football With Theo Gremminger: Seeing increased outside alignment and near full route participation with Alec Pierce on IR, making him a strong add/trade target, though this week's matchup vs. Houston's top corners is tough. listen ↗

▲ Rotoworld Football Show – Fantasy Football: Running 90% of routes in back-to-back games with more outside alignment, seeing 30% of targets and 42% of air yards last week — clearly usable as Indy's top receiver with Alec Pierce banged up. listen ↗

Wednesday, September 23

Every show agrees his role has fully flipped to a true every-down piece — route share and target share both spiking with Pierce out — putting him firmly in the WR3/flex-starter mix in all formats right now.

▲ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Becomes a high-end WR3 with Pierce out. listen ↗

▲ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Full-time role has emerged (27.3% target share, 83% snaps in Week 2); hosts view him as a WR3 with top-24 rest-of-season upside, especially with Alec Pierce out. listen ↗

▲ Yahoo Fantasy Football with Josh & Hayden: Expanded from a part-time slot role to 71% of two-WR snaps, winning on slants and outbreaking routes; considered a firm WR3 with Alec Pierce out. listen ↗

▲ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Role has fully changed with a 93% route share, leading all Colts receivers and running routes even in 12 personnel; considered an every-week fantasy starter. listen ↗

Tuesday, September 22

▲ Establish The Run Fantasy Football: 7 catches for 72 yards after a slow start; benefiting from Pierce's absence and Keenan Allen's poor play. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Today: Named the top shallow-league receiver add after posting 7 catches for 72 yards on 9 targets, benefiting further from Alec Pierce's injury and a possible Keenan Allen suspension. listen ↗

▲ Rotoworld Football Show – Fantasy Football: Targeted on 33% of routes with Pierce out, making him a must-start in 12-team leagues. listen ↗

▲ The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast: After Alec Pierce left with a heel injury, Downs ran 83% of routes including 42% from outside and posted a 36% target share; JJ thinks the market undervalues his perimeter upside due to his slot-only reputation. listen ↗

Monday, September 21

▲ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Got a huge target share with Pierce out and Keenan Allen looking done; considered a top waiver priority for Week 3. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Today: Downs is getting open constantly and posted a 9-target, 31-attempt share; hosts see him running away with the WR1 role as Keenan Allen fades. listen ↗

▲ Harris Fantasy Football Podcast: Getting more down-the-field work and is clearly the best remaining Colts receiver with Pierce out, boosting his short-term opportunity. listen ↗

▲ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Led the Colts in routes and targets (9), separating at all levels; hosts call him a locked-in WR3 with the Colts' passing volume. listen ↗

Saturday, September 19

▲ Fantasy Football Today: Preferred over Wicks/Black in flex if Alec Pierce is out, though Pierce is expected back. listen ↗

Follow Josh Downs

Get every take on him — and the rest of your roster — before waivers on Tuesday and before lineups lock on Sunday. Free through the season.