Should I play Josh Downs in Week 15?

Josh Downs emerged as a fantasy-relevant starting wide receiver in Week 3, earning the WR14 rank from Weeks 3 to 8. During this period, he maintained a strong average of 5.5 receptions on 7.3 targets, accumulating 67.6 receiving yards and an impressive 14.2 PPR fantasy points. However, his fantasy production took a hit after Week 8, raising concerns about his Week 15 outlook. Should Josh Downs fantasy football owners play him in Week 15?

Josh Downs’ Fantasy Football Outlook Week 15

The decline in Josh Downs’ fantasy performance can be traced back to a knee injury, although he managed to avoid missing games. Unfortunately, the injury significantly impacted his output, especially in Week 9, where he couldn’t finish the game. Since Week 10, it has become evident that Downs is experiencing a substantial dip in performance, averaging just 3.25 receptions on six targets, totaling 32.2 receiving yards and a disappointing 6.4 PPR fantasy points. Adding to the disappointment, he has failed to surpass 6.5 PPR fantasy points in three out of the four games during this stretch. That’s not all, as the target distribution is not going his way either. In the last two games, Michael Pittman Jr. has seen 11 or more targets. In this same period, Alec Pierce has either matched or surpassed Downs in targets.

Now, let’s analyze the Week 15 matchup against Pittsburgh. The Steelers currently rank around the middle against fantasy wide receivers, allowing the 18th-most fantasy points to the position. However, a closer look suggests that facing the Steelers might not be favorable for Downs. The Steelers have been effective at limiting WR2s who receive six or more targets, holding all seven instances this season to under 85 receiving yards. Only one of the seven managed to score a touchdown and exceed 15.5 PPR fantasy points.

Considering Downs’ recent performance and the Steelers’ success against WR2s, it sadly seems that you should bench him in Week 15. While hoping for a return to his mid-season form as soon as possible, it is not worth the risk, especially during playoffs.

If you want to see the Josh Downs fantasy football ranking for this week, check out our Week 15 fantasy football rankings. These rankings will be updated throughout the week.

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