Josh Downs
23-Year-Old
2024 Receiving Stats
REC
0
YDS
0
TD
0
AVG
0.0
TAR
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Downs lasted until pick 79 of the 2023 NFL Draft, with massive usage his final two seasons at North Carolina (195 catches for 2,364 yards and 19 TDs) balanced out by an underwhelming physical profile (4.48-second 40-yard dash time at 5-foot-9, 171 pounds). Fortunately for Downs, he's playing in an era where tough legislation of defensive penalties and trends favoring quick passes have helped many undersized receivers find success. He might just be the latest case, especially if one assumes that a mid-season knee injury held him back in the second half of his rookie campaign. Downs averaged 5.3 catches for 63.3 yards on 7.0 targets over his first eight games, before hurting his knee and playing just 26 totals snaps Weeks 9 and 10. He never missed a contest but averaged just 3.6 catches for 35.4 yards on 5.4 targets in seven games after a Week 11 bye. Downs took at least 64 percent of his snaps from the slot in all 17 games, and his 601 routes ranked 13th among wideouts (teammates Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman were eighth and 12th, respectively). Over the first eight weeks, Downs was targeted on 17.8 percent of routes and produced 1.50 yards per route run -- mediocre by starting-wideout standards but pretty good for a 22-year-old. Over the final seven weeks, Downs plunged to a 14.4 percent target rate and 0.94 YPRR. Pittman, meanwhile, was at 27.5 percent and 2.25 YPRR over the same stretch, unencumbered by quarterback Gardner Minshew's mediocrity. The Colts have huge hopes for Anthony Richardson in 2024, but even if he pans out, it won't necessarily boost the cumulative receiving production. After all, an offense with Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor both healthy would likely rank near the top of the league in rush attempts and run rate near the goal line. Downs thus faces a tricky breakout path even though he appears locked in as a starter, and he won't be helped by the fact that he's recovering from a high-ankle sprain, which could threaten his availability for Week 1. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Inactive against Green Bay
Downs (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game at Green Bay, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Downs is working his way back from a high-ankle sprain that he sustained Aug. 7. Downs had a good week of practice as he went from limited early in the week to full practice on Friday. However, the Colts are likely being cautious with his return. He may be able to make his 2024 debut next week against Chicago. Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell will continue to see ample snaps alongside No. 1 wideout Michael Pittman with Downs out.
Downs is working his way back from a high-ankle sprain that he sustained Aug. 7. Downs had a good week of practice as he went from limited early in the week to full practice on Friday. However, the Colts are likely being cautious with his return. He may be able to make his 2024 debut next week against Chicago. Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell will continue to see ample snaps alongside No. 1 wideout Michael Pittman with Downs out.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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2024
2023
2024 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Josh Downs lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the Packers pass defense compare to other NFL teams this season?
The bars represents the team's percentile rank (based on QB Rating Against). The longer the bar, the better their pass defense is. The team and position group ratings only include players that are currently on the roster and not on injured reserve. The list of players in the table only includes defenders with at least 3 attempts against them.
@ Packers
Sunday, Sep 15th at 1:00PM
Overall QB Rating Against
93.0
Cornerbacks
91.1
Safeties
79.2
Linebackers
117.5
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2024 Josh Downs Split Stats
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Measurables Review
View College Player Page
How do Josh Downs' measurables compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 9"Weight
171 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.48 secVertical Jump
38.5 inBroad Jump
131 inHand Length
9.25 inArm Length
30.38 in
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Josh Downs See More
Juan Carlos Blanco dives into the latest as of Sunday morning on a star-packed Week 2 injury report.
Jerry Donabedian breaks down all the injury news from Friday, including a bombshell update on Christian McCaffrey that sets up Jordan Mason and Deebo Samuel for huge numbers the next few weeks.
Erik Siegrist previews the Monday night matchup as the Jalen Hurts and the Eagles play host to the Falcons.
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Downs, a 2023 third-round draft pick, was a target monster his final two seasons at North Carolina, especially in QB Sam Howell's final year in 2021 when he commanded an absurd 40 percent target share. His production was great, but how Downs adapts to the NFL game will depend on how well he can overcome his physical limitations -- he's listed at 5-10, 175, and doesn't have standout speed (4.48). Still, Downs is a crafty route runner who should fit well in the slot for Indianapolis. He'll compete with Isaiah McKenzie for the third receiver/slot role in training camp. Indianapolis wide receiver coach Reggie Wayne called Downs the best receiver in the 2023 draft class, so perhaps he's the favorite to win the job.
More Fantasy News
Viewed as 50-50 to play
Downs (ankle), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers, is considered "50-50" to play Week 2, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Questionable despite full practice
Downs (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers after logging a full practice Friday.
ANALYSIS
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Remains limited at practice
Downs (ankle) remained a limited participant at practice Thursday.
ANALYSIS
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Logs limited practice
Downs (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
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Set for limited practice
Downs (ankle) is slated to be a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Looking to clean up details
Downs is practicing releases and studying coverages to improve his production in 2024, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Despite putting up 68 receptions and 771 yards in his rookie season, Downs has been viewed as something of an afterthought in the Colts offense this offseason. Indianapolis signed Michael Pittman to a long-term extension and then selected Adonai Mitchell in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, though both will play outside while Downs finds the majority of his playing time in the slot. His ability to get open quickly and in the short areas of the field should help him maintain a significant role in the receiving corps even with increased competition.
Despite putting up 68 receptions and 771 yards in his rookie season, Downs has been viewed as something of an afterthought in the Colts offense this offseason. Indianapolis signed Michael Pittman to a long-term extension and then selected Adonai Mitchell in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, though both will play outside while Downs finds the majority of his playing time in the slot. His ability to get open quickly and in the short areas of the field should help him maintain a significant role in the receiving corps even with increased competition.