Josh

Downs

Schefter listed out DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, and Downs as players that could potentially be on the move as the Colts continue what from all outside appearances looks to be a fire sale. He thinks Buckner will be the next player on the move and likely go for less than Quenton Nelson. Downs certainly hasn’t impressed with his opportunity this season, but he’s a valuable receiver and Indianapolis didn’t exactly but him in an ideal scenario with Alec Pierce hurt and Keenan Allen playing alongside him while Daniel Jones struggles to regain his 2025 form.

Downs’ four targets were the most on the team, though he caught just two for 18 yards. His lack of red zone usage and deep targets cap his ability to get explosive plays or touchdowns. He led all Colts wideouts with 52 snaps, tallying seven more than second-place Laquon Treadwell. Even with Tyler Warren (groin) out, Downs is losing middle-of-the-field targets to Keenan Allen. Given his low output with both Warren and Alec Pierce out, Downs is a low-ceiling WR4/FLEX play for Week 8 against the Jaguars.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.