Josh Downs

NFL player. Position: WR. Team: IND.

Quick Facts

Position: WR
Team: IND (Indianapolis Colts)
Bye week (2026): 13
FantasyPros PPR rank (pulled 2026-05-21): 103

2026 Outlook

One of the biggest offseason risers: Downs is easily one of the biggest risers from this offseason. One year ago, the Colts' WR group was crowded with Downs in the slot, Alec Pierce as the X, Michael Pittman Jr. as the high-volume Z, and AD Mitchell as WR4 depth. Now Mitchell is gone and Pittman was traded, leaving the room much lighter. The team is ready to give Downs a look as the starting Z in addition to slot duties, which gives him a path to playing in two-receiver sets—something that was a significant roadblock last year when the Colts ran more heavy personnel after drafting Tyler Warren. He appears to have bulked up a bit to handle more snaps. Downs is an "awesome talent and one of the top separators in the league" and this is positioned as finally his year for a consistent, high-volume role (per Fantasy Football Roundtable: Here are our biggest offseason risers going into the 2026 NFL season).

FantasyPros also boldly predicts Downs will break through in 2026 as the top fantasy receiver for the Colts. On his contract year, Downs had career lows in receptions (58) and receiving yards (556) last season, but the Pittman trade positions him as a much more significant part of the Colts' offense. His short-area explosiveness and run-after-catch ability are well-suited to a scheme that will lean on shorter passes given Daniel Jones recovering from a torn Achilles. Downs' 7.2-yard average depth of target fits Jones's new constraints, making him the clear slot option and highest-volume receiver behind Tyler Warren's role as more of a blocker. (per 10 Bold Predictions for the 2026 Fantasy Football Season, 2026 NFL Preview: Which 10 Contract-Year Players Are Most Likely To Breakout?)

Week 9 home matchup against Dallas will feature an unusual dynamic: Downs will face off against his younger brother Caleb Downs, a safety for the Cowboys, in what will be their first on-field confrontation since high school. Josh is eager for the opportunity to prove himself against his brother and expects significant head-to-head reps in the slot. (per 3 Most Intriguing Indianapolis Colts Matchups in 2026)

Role / Depth Chart

(filled in by ingest — starter, backup, committee, snap share trend)

Injury Status

(filled in by ingest — current status, recovery timeline if applicable)

Recent News

2026-05-25 — 2026 Schedule: Analyzing the Cowboys' 5 AFC opponents - Dallas Cowboys (2026 Schedule: Analyzing the Cowboys' 5 AFC opponents - Dallas Cowboys)
2026-05-18 — 6 Late-Round Dynasty Rookie Draft Targets (2026 Fantasy Football) (6 Late-Round Dynasty Rookie Draft Targets (2026 Fantasy Football))
2026-05-08 — 2026 Fantasy Football Offseason Risers and Fallers: Rashee Rice a top five WR, RJ... (2026 Fantasy Football Offseason Risers and Fallers: Rashee Rice a top five WR, RJ...)
2026-05-11 — 2026 Fantasy Football TE Rankings May Update: Justin Boone's top tight ends (2026 Fantasy Football TE Rankings May Update: Justin Boone's top tight ends)
2026-05-29 — Fantasy Football Roundtable: Here are our biggest offseason risers going into the 2026... (Fantasy Football Roundtable: Here are our biggest offseason risers going into the 2026...)
2026-03-19 — Underdog Best Ball Strategy For The 2026 Big Board Pre-Draft Contest (Underdog Best Ball Strategy For The 2026 Big Board Pre-Draft Contest)
2026-05-30 — 3 Most Intriguing Indianapolis Colts Matchups in 2026 (3 Most Intriguing Indianapolis Colts Matchups in 2026)
2026-05-15 — Bold Predictions for Every Outcome of Colts' Crucial 2026 Campaign (Bold Predictions for Every Outcome of Colts' Crucial 2026 Campaign)
2026-05-27 — 18 Fantasy Football Draft Values: Picks for Every Round (2026) (18 Fantasy Football Draft Values: Picks for Every Round (2026))
2026-05-11 — Fantasy Football ADP Risers and Fallers: Josh Downs Is On His Way Up (Fantasy Football ADP Risers and Fallers: Josh Downs Is On His Way Up)

Open Questions

(scoped to this player — pulled from Fantasy Football Open Questions)

Sources

(receipts — every claim above should link to a source here)