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    Downs has team-high 11 targets in Week 3 win

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    IND Wide Receiver #2
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    Josh Downs caught 5-of-11 targets for 77 yards in Indianapolis’ Week 3 win over the Texans.

    This target boost brought to you by Alec Pierce’s heel injury. The Colts didn’t really land any deep targets but they pounded the Texans’ middle-of-field zone coverages and Downs was a main beneficiary. He’ll be in the WR3 ranks next week against the Commanders.
McCarthy offers Giants offense a 'high ceiling'
Kyle Dvorchak discusses the New York Giants' reported move to start J.J. McCarthy at quarterback this Sunday against the Houston Texans.

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  • IND Wide Receiver #14
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    Pierce, dealing with a heel injury since mid-September, will continue rehabbing and remain on injured reserve ahead of the Colts’ Week 7 game against the Vikings. Since Week 3, Keenan Allen leads the Colts with a 24 percent target share, while Josh Downs has 17 percent of the team’s targets and 26 percent of the team’s air yards. Neither wideout is a great option in Week 7 against a marauding Minnesota defense.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    It was a rough fantasy day for Downs, who committed two terrible drops and was stopped at the one-inch line on his second quarter end-around. He was also the intended target on one of Daniel Jones’ two interceptions, though the miscue was Downs’ fault after he bobbled a ball up into the air. On top of everything, Downs also tweaked his shoulder. He did at least remain in the game. Just not looking up to the No. 1 receiver task as the Colts await Alec Pierce’s return, Downs is sadly maxing out as a low-ceiling WR3 option in fantasy leagues.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    Given how Downs’ season is going, it’s hard to believe he’s going to do much with the extra runway, but Tyler Warren (groin) popping up on the report could shift more targets to Downs and Keenan Allen on Sunday against the Titans.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    The good news is that it looks like Downs is trending towards getting off the injury report on Friday. The bad news is that it’s hard to make much more than a WR3 case for the receiver given how bogged down Indianapolis’ passing offense looks at the moment.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    Typically, rest days are entirely inconsequential. Recently, the Colts listed Keenan Allen with a rest designation on Wednesday. He picked up a groin injury during the practice week, and although they added the groin injury to the injury report, they kept the rest designation on there as well. He didn’t play. Downs could end up being perfectly fine, but given the Colts’ recent handling of a similar situation, his participation levels on Thursday and Friday are worth monitoring.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    The good news is that Downs ran a route on 44 of the Colts’ 47 dropbacks. He was also targeted down the field a few times. The bad news is that Daniel Jones was not effective and hasn’t been throughout the season. Downs did have another 15-yard completion called back due to a penalty away from the ball, but it wouldn’t have made a huge difference in his day. Downs is still on the WR3 radar because the Colts play the Titans next week, but until Jones can get it going, it’s hard to trust anybody other than Tyler Warren in this passing attack.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    With Alec Pierce and IR and Keenan Allen ruled out, this was supposed to be Downs’ breakout performance. Instead, Downs went missing for most of the game. He caught two passes in the first quarter, another in the second, and did not touch the ball again for the remaining 35 minutes of the contest. Downs finished fourth on the team in targets and was used primarily for check-down duties, though that’s all Daniel Jones was capable of today. Downs should still be treated as the team’s No. 1 receiver for Week 5 versus Pittsburgh, but his stranglehold on the targets is at least in question now.
  • IND Wide Receiver #10
    This one went under the radar. Allen was limited on Wednesday with a “rest” designation. He remained limited on Thursday, but the Colts tacked a groin injury next to his name while maintaining the “rest” designation and hope for a Week 4 appearance along the way. Allen was downgraded on Friday, unable to practice, and should be considered truly questionable to face the Commanders this week. Were he to sit, No. 1 wide receiver Josh Downs would get a helpful target share boost.
  • IND Wide Receiver #14
    Pierce will be sidelined for at least four weeks after suffering the injury in Week 2 against Kansas City. Pierce had seen 19 percent of the Colts’ targets and 53 percent of the team’s air yards in Week 1 against the Ravens, resuming his role as a strictly-downfield pass catcher. With Pierce out, Josh Downs should have every chance to operate as the Colts’ No. 1 wideout while Tyler Warren sees a bump in targets. Laquon Treadwell is likely to take over as the team’s lone deep threat. Treadwell can be picked up in 14-team fantasy formats ahead of the Colts’ Week 3 matchup with the Texans.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    Downs operated as the unquestioned top dog through the air following the first quarter departure of Alec Pierce, the latter of whom left with a heel injury on the same foot as his offseason surgery. That setup appears likely to continue should Pierce miss time, although the short-area nature of Downs’ role all but requires significant volume to return scores beyond WR3 production. Even so, Downs should mostly avoid the lockdown perimeter corners of the Texans in Week 3, where he will be an upside WR3 in fantasy circles.

Rotoworld

  • MIN Wide Receiver #18
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    Justin Jefferson (ankle) was limited on Wednesday.

    This is just a maintenance day for the Vikings’ No. 1 wide receiver. Jefferson has an excellent matchup this week against the struggling Colts’ defense. The unit will likely be without No. 1 CB Sauce Gardner (calf), further enhancing Jefferson’s WR1 outlook for Week 7.
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    Cam Jurgens (concussion) is practicing in full for Week 7 against the Bengals.

    The Ravens acquired Jurgens from the Eagles two weeks ago, but he hasn’t made his Baltimore debut yet while he works through the league’s concussion protocol. A full practice today puts him on track to suit up in Week 7. His return will move rookie Vega Ioane back to right guard.
  • MIN Wide Receiver #3
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    Jordan Addison (hamstring) is practicing in full for Week 7 against the Colts.

    Addison, well-rested coming off his team’s Week 6 bye, is ready to go. The Colts’ defense has played poorly, and they will likely be without top CB Sauce Gardner (calf). Addison can be a volatile producer at times, but he warrants WR3/FLEX treatment this week.
  • BAL Wide Receiver #7
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    Rashod Bateman (shoulder) was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

    Bateman left the Ravens’ Week 6 game against the Browns and did not return, though head coach Jesse Minter told reporters on Monday that he was going to be fine. Expect the team to manage his reps in practice this week with an eye on getting him ready for Sunday. Bateman has made a handful of splash plays this year, but his production is low-volume and high-variance. He will be a low-end FLEX option for Week 7.
  • DEN Running Back #20
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    Broncos designated Jonah Coleman (ankle) to return from injured reserve.

    Coleman can return to practice this week and the team now has 21 days to bring him off injured reserve. He could be back on the field as soon as Sunday. With the Broncos’ offense struggling and two backs already seeing work in the backfield, it’s hard to imagine Coleman having much fantasy value in his first game back. He’s worth stashing in deeper leagues, but it might be a while before fantasy managers want him in their lineups.
  • LA Wide Receiver #17
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    Rams coach Sean McVay said the Rams have not had discussions about bringing in a receiver with Davante Adams (hamstring) sidelined for 6-10 weeks.

    Earlier today, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that the Rams “will at least explore the possibility of trading for a wide receiver.” Obviously, McVay doesn’t want to tip off other wide receiver-needy NFL teams about their potential entrance into the trade market, and he has no reason to be honest with us. Acquiring a new wide receiver makes sense, and the Rams were aggressive players in the trade market last offseason. Stay tuned.
  • LA Wide Receiver #17
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    ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports that the Rams “will at least explore the possibility of trading for a wide receiver.”

    Adams is set to undergo a procedure after rupturing his hamstring tendon in Week 6 against the Cardinals. He will be sidelined for 6-10 weeks. The Rams were already very thin at wide receiver and Puka Nacua has spent multiple weeks on the injury report as well. Acquiring a capable wide receiver makes sense, but as Graziano mentions, the Rams have already traded away a lot of their draft capital. Thus far, GM Les Snead has already given up their 2027 first- and third-round picks, and their 2028 second-round pick and their 2029 third-round pick. He notes that Rams QB Stetson Bennett played for Browns coach Todd Monken in college. Perhaps Monken would be interested in a reunion.
  • MIA Quarterback #2
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    Malik Willis (right thumb) is practicing in full for Week 7 against the Jets.

    ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques reports that Willis received treatment for his thumb injury on his right, throwing hand, though he did not share what exactly the injury is. Hopefully, it is nothing serious. If his ball placement is impacted, the Jets’ D/ST would benefit. Willis is a volatile QB2 against them this week. Willis underwent surgery on his left thumb in August 2025.
  • MIA Running Back #5
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    Jaylen Wright (foot) was limited on Wednesday.

    The Dolphins’ speedy back will likely serve as a change-of-pace option behind Ollie Gordon, who has outplayed Wright since De’Von Achane’s season-ending knee injury. Wright does not need to be rostered in 12-team formats.
  • MIA Wide Receiver #7
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    Caleb Douglas (ankle) was limited on Wednesday.

    Douglas told reporters that he has finally progressed to being “day-to-day,” giving him a real chance to suit up in Week 7 against the Jets. Douglas should be added in 12-team formats. He played very well early on and will likely warrant FLEX consideration upon his return.