Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs is massively undervalued in 2026 fantasy football ADP.
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NFL Training Camps across the country are now underway, and the amount of information we are getting from teams is like drinking through a firehose. We are seeing what teams will actually look like this season, and both players and coaches are giving the media more information to digest. No, not all of this information is useful, and some of it may not even be true, but specifics involving usage will always make my ears perk up.
That is exactly what we have, after Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen spoke about fourth-year wide receiver Josh Downs.
Let’s get into what Steichen actually said about the Colts wide receiver, then we will discuss what this means for Josh Downs’ fantasy football value.
Josh Downs’ Fantasy Football Value Rises
Over three NFL seasons, Josh Downs has consistently performed well when given the opportunity. When someone ahead of him on the depth chart missed time, Downs has been able to capitalize on the increased opportunities. However, playing almost exclusively in the slot has limited his ceiling and the number of opportunities on the field.
Shane Steichen says this is about to change for the upcoming season. And given that it’s a contract year, it couldn’t come at a better time for Downs.
When asked about Josh Downs, Steichen said he is really excited for him this season, stating they will be “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.”
Previously, when the Colts ran 12 personnel (two tight ends, two wide receivers), Downs was the odd man out since he was just a slot receiver. But after trading away Michael Pittman Jr., the Colts want to give Downs more opportunities to play outside receiver as well. This likely means he will see the most targets and snaps of his career.
As I always say, opportunities lead to productivity in fantasy football. If his opportunities increase, well, you know the drill.
Josh Downs’ Fantasy Stats
Let’s take a look at how Josh Downs’ fantasy football stats for his career stand up, then we can project what this increase in role actually means. Over his three-year career with the Colts, Downs has averaged 4.21 receptions, 45.5 yards and 10.17 fantasy points per game in PPR scoring. This leaves much to be desired.
However, across games where Downs saw at least seven targets, he averaged 5.8 receptions, 52.9 yards and 12.6 fantasy points. In career games where he played at least 70% of the offensive snaps, he has averaged 6.0 receptions, 53.5 yards and 14.35 fantasy points. Clearly, he has thrived when his number of opportunities increased.
Last season, Michael Wilson finished as WR16 overall and averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game. AJ Brown was WR9, averaging 14.7 fantasy points per game. If Josh Downs’ fantasy success when he has seen at least seven targets or at least 70% of the offensive snaps is any indication, he could find himself ranking in this range by the end of the season.
I believe he will average around 70% of the offensive snaps, so we will see if Daniel Jones can get him the ball consistently. If so, Downs could easily be one of the better values in fantasy football drafts. Currently, he is getting drafted as WR44, which is 92 overall, per Fantasy Football Calculator.
