Should I Start Josh Downs in Week 11? Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks (2024)

It's been a tale of two seasons for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs. After suffering an ankle injury during training camp, Downs missed the first two games of the season. However, he returned to action in Week 3 and saw just five targets to finish with three receptions for 22 yards.

Starting quarterback Anthony Richardson missed Weeks 4-6 and Downs thrived with veteran Joe Flacco under center, seeing 30 targets over a three-game span to finish with 24 receptions for 217 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, the Colts continued to shuffle quarterbacks over the first two months, and now Anthony Richardson has been named the starter for the rest of the season.

So, what should you do with Josh Downs in fantasy? Is he a start? Is he a sit? Let's dive in below, shall we?

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings
• Kicker fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Josh Downs Fantasy Football Outlook

Colts veteran receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was the team's presumed WR1 heading into the season based on ADP. However, Pittman has been sidelined with back and thumb issues and hasn't looked like his old self in 2024.

Nobody checked in more on Anthony Richardson these past two weeks than Josh Downs.

Josh is the first person Anthony called when he got the worst and then best news of his life.

Inside a bond that became a lifeline during their hardest weeks yet:https://t.co/N2OlGJ7FZr

— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) November 14, 2024

What's become clear to Colts fans and a lot of other people who have watched this team closely every week is that the gap between Pittman Jr. to Downs, Alec Pierce, and Adonai Mitchell isn't all that much. But the problem? It's their quarterback of course.

Richardson has struggled to complete even 50 percent of his passes in several games this season and it's hurt his wide receivers in the process.

Nonetheless, it's pretty obvious that Downs is a pretty good player in his own right, but exactly how quarterback proof is he?

Should I Start Josh Downs in Week 11?

In Week 8 with Richardson under center, Downs saw nine total targets to finish with four receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown.

The media doesn't want you to know that Josh Downs had his best fantasy game of the season in a game with Anthony Richardson under center.

(Please note: I will not be accepting any context or "yea but" statements at this time) https://t.co/KncPXc0dKk

— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) November 13, 2024

Per Derek Brown of FantasyPros, Downs has a 21.1% target share, 2.03 Yards Per Routes Run (YPRR), and a team-leading 29.1% first-read share in the three games he has played with Anthony Richardson this season.

Going forward, Downs remains a middling WR3 with upside even with Richardson under center. He is worth starting in all 3-WR formats and can be a solid flex option in PPR formats.

More Fantasy Football Analysis