RADIO
Josh Downs' fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 12 (2023). Our advice on whether you should start or sit Josh Downs for fantasy lineups.
BALLER MOVE: Start in 12+ Team Leagues
POSITIONAL VALUE: Flex / WR3
ANALYSIS: Downs has subtly been one of the best rookie receivers this season. Despite being taken as the 12th WR off the board in the NFL draft this past April, he currently ranks No. 5 among rookies in receiving yards while playing mostly with a backup QB. The North Carolina product is one of the smaller pass-catchers in the league at 5-9, 171 lbs, but has already shown an elite ability to get open and quarterback Gardner Minshew is finding him downfield.
Downs has only seen four targets in his past two weeks, but an injury has been the main culprit of this decline. In Week 9 against Carolina, Downs suffered a knee injury in the first half and did not return after managing only one catch for 10 yards. He didn't practice at all the subsequent week but still played against the Patriots and ended with 40 yards. The Colts had their bye last week so Downs is now back to full strength, and he should regain the form we saw from Weeks 5-8 where the third-round pick averaged 7.3 targets and 79 receiving yards per game.
In Week 12, he also faces a Buccaneers defense that has been touted as a "pass-funnel" unit, in that opposing teams usually have a field day through the air against their secondary. Tampa ranks 29th against opposing wideouts and quarterbacks this season, 30th in yards allowed, 28th in yards per attempt, and 22nd in touchdowns given up. In other words, you can throw all over them.
Colts home games have also averaged the highest point total in the entire NFL with 57 points, suggesting that this one could be a shootout. Downs is definitely in flex consideration this week and even has some upside to boot.
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