Alec Pierce (heel) was injured early in Week 2 at Kansas City, and Downs has been great in the past two games against the Chiefs and Texans with 12 catches for 149 yards on 20 targets. He scored at least 12.7 PPR points in each outing, and he should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues against Washington in Week 4 in London. The Commanders are No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and four guys (Dontayvion Wicks, CeeDee Lamb, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp) have scored at least 14.6 PPR points this year. Keenan Allen is also worth using as a sleeper, and he just had 18.3 PPR points in Week 3 against Houston. Both Indianapolis receivers should have success against this Washington secondary in Week 4.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Garners 11 targets in victory
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Downs caught five of 11 targets for 77 yards during Sunday's 19-17 win over Houston.
Downs garnered the most targets on the team, narrowly edging out tight end Tyler Warren (10), while his 77 receiving yards led the way for Indianapolis. With Alec Pierce (heel) sidelined for the foreseeable future, Downs appears to have taken command as the team's No. 1 option at wide receiver. Over three games to open the regular season, the wideout has reeled in 14 of 24 targets for 186 yards, and he'll have a strong chance to secure his first touchdown of the season in Week 4 against the Commanders.
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Colts' Josh Downs: WRs to Start
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Alec Pierce (heel) has been placed on injured reserve, and Downs is now the No. 1 receiver for the Colts heading into Week 3 against Houston. Pierce was injured in Week 2 at Kansas City, and Downs had seven catches for 72 yards on nine targets against the Chiefs. The Texans have struggled against opposing receivers in two games, allowing four touchdowns. D.J. Moore, Josh Palmer, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have all scored at least 10.4 PPR points. I like Downs as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues for Week 3.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Seven catches as Pierce (heel) exits
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Downs caught seven of nine targets for 72 yards in Sunday's 33-30 overtime loss to the Chiefs.
Downs paced the Colts in targets, catches and receiving yards in a game that Alec Pierce (heel) exited in the first half. Pierce was the Colts' leading receiver last season, ahead of Tyler Warren, Michael Pittman (foot) and Downs. With Pierce hurt and Pittman now in Pittsburgh, Downs has a clear path to significant target volume from Daniel Jones in Week 3 at home against the Texans.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Catches two passes in Week 1
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Downs caught two of four targets for 37 yards in Sunday's 41-23 loss to the Ravens.
Downs' four targets tied Jonathan Taylor for fourth on the team behind Alec Pierce (six), Keenan Allen (six) and Tyler Warren (five), but it was notable that Downs led the team with 32 routes on Daniel Jones' 34 dropbacks. He was in the slot 78.8 percent of the time, and his 93.8 percent route participation suggests Downs is an every-down wideout this season after playing behind both Michael Pittman and Pierce in previous seasons. Downs should have better days moving forward and gets a Week 2 date with the Chiefs next Sunday.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Sleeper WRs
Rotowire
Downs recently dealt with a calf injury in practice, but he's expected to be fine for Week 1 against the Ravens. I'm counting on Downs to be a go-to option for Daniel Jones, and Downs is worth using as a starter in three-receiver leagues. We'll see how the Colts distribute targets for Downs, Alec Pierce and Keenan Allen, but Pierce's playing time could be limited since he missed so much time in training camp due to a foot injury. Ideally, Downs or Tyler Warren will lead Indianapolis in targets in Week 1 -- and potentially all season -- and we can start Downs with confidence on a weekly basis moving forward.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Downs recently dealt with a calf injury in practice, but he's expected to be fine for Week 1 against the Ravens. I'm counting on Downs to be a go-to option for Daniel Jones, and Downs is worth using as a starter in three-receiver leagues. We'll see how the Colts distribute targets for Downs, Alec Pierce and Keenan Allen, but Pierce's playing time could be limited since he missed so much time in training camp due to a foot injury. Ideally, Downs or Tyler Warren will lead Indianapolis in targets in Week 1 -- and potentially all season -- and we can start Downs with confidence on a weekly basis moving forward.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Dodges injury report
Rotowire
Downs (calf) is not on the Colts' injury report Wednesday.
The fourth-year receiver downplayed the calf injury that slowed him towards the end of summer. Downs evaded the injury report entirely Wednesday, signaling that he should be ready to go for the opener against the Ravens. Indianapolis may be at full strength at receiver with Alec Pierce trending in the right direction as well.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Taking part in Tuesday's practice
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Downs (calf) was spotted on the field participating in Tuesday's practice, Jake Arthur of Roundtable.io reports.
Downs missed some practice time last week with what he termed as a "very minor" calf injury. The Colts will release their first Week 1 injury report Sept. 9, and if his activity Tuesday is any indication, Downs could be off the report entirely as the team prepares for its season opener against the Ravens.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Calf injury appears minor
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Downs said his calf injury is "very minor" and believes he will resume practicing soon, Jake Arthur of Roundtable.io reports.
The injury prevented Downs from practicing both Tuesday and Wednesday, but it does not appear he is facing any sort of extended absence. With Alec Pierce (ankle) still sidelined, Keenan Allen, Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine figure to get more reps with the first team for the time being.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Tending to calf issue
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Downs is not practicing Wednesday due to a calf injury, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.
Downs sat out Tuesday's practice with an undisclosed injury, and the reason for his absence is now known. The extent of his setback is uncertain, but the Colts are down their top two options at wide receiver for the time being.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Held out with injury
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Downs is not practicing Tuesday due to an unspecified injury, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Further details were not provided, but Downs dealt with a couple injury issues earlier in training camp and has now picked up another. Further details about his latest setback figure to be revealed in short order.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Sees positives in team's veteran WR addition
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Downs is excited to play alongside veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen, whom the Colts signed to a one-year contract Monday, Paul Bretl of USA Today Colts Wire reports.
Allen and Downs have overlapping skills sets, but both shifty wide receivers should get plenty of playing time given the Colts' lack of established alternatives at the position besides Alec Pierce (ankle), who is on the active/PUP list. Downs believes sharing the field with Allen will result in him seeing more one-on-one matchups. The 2023 third-round pick had a career-low 566 receiving yards in 2025 after recording 771 receiving yards in his rookie regular season and 803 receiving yards in 2024.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Makes return to practice Tuesday
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Downs (groin) is back at practice Tuesday, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
While the extent of Downs' participation is uncertain, a quick return to practice confirms his groin injury isn't serious. He was held out over the weekend and now seems ready to return after missing just a few days. With Alec Pierce (ankle) still unavailable, Downs is the unquestioned No. 1 WR at Indianapolis practices these days.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Nursing groin injury
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Downs did not participate in Saturday's training camp practice due to a groin injury, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
It's unclear when Downs picked up the injury or the severity of the issue, but his status will be worth monitoring over the coming week ahead of Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots. The 2023 third-rounder is lined up for an expanded role in the Colts' offense this season after Michael Pittman was traded to the Steelers in March. Downs is coming off a 2025 regular season in which he caught 58 passes (on 88 targets) for 566 yards and four touchdowns across 16 games.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Four catches in defeat
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Downs caught all four of his targets for 61 yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to Houston.
Downs was able to secure multiple passes for the seventh straight game, while his 61 receiving yards were his second-highest total over that stretch. The wide receiver has now completed his third campaign in Indianapolis having caught 58 of 88 targets for 566 yards and four touchdowns while adding one carry for three yards and 68 yards on punt returns over 16 regular-season contests. Downs will enter the offseason on the final year of his rookie contract.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week 17 Waiver Priority List
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In two starts with Philip Rivers against Seattle and San Francisco, Downs has eight catches for 78 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. We'll see if Rivers starts again in Week 17 against Jacksonville now that the Colts are out of playoff contention, but Downs is worth adding in case Rivers gets one more chance to play. Downs could be a No. 3 Fantasy receiver against the Jaguars.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Catches TD from Rivers
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Downs caught three of five targets for 13 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 18-16 loss to the Seahawks.
Downs caught Philip Rivers' first touchdown pass following a five-year layoff on an eight-yard connection in the second quarter. Outside of scoring the only touchdown for either team, Downs had another quiet performance as Rivers threw for only 120 yards. Following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles injury, the Colts' passing game has lost most of its fantasy appeal heading into a MNF home game against the 49ers on Dec. 22.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Deemed DNP on practice estimate
Rotowire
Downs (hip/knee) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice estimate.
With Downs logging a DNP in Wednesday's walk-through as he contends with hip and knee issues, the wideout's status is now worth monitoring as Sunday's game against the Jaguars approaches. In each of his last two games, Downs has caught two of his six targets for a combined total of 54 yards in that span.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Two receptions in loss
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Downs caught two of six targets for 44 yards in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Texans.
Downs was limited to two or fewer catches for a third straight week, though he did lead the team in targets versus Houston. The wide receiver has now reeled in five of 14 targets for 57 yards without finding the end zone over the last three games. Downs hasn't exceeded 57 receiving yards in any of the 11 contests he's played in this year, limiting his ceiling greatly from a fantasy perspective.
