Most of the offseason noise in Indianapolis was about Alec Pierce's new contract and the departure of Michael Pittman. Downs could sneakily be the big winner here, and the sleeper is worth a pick in Round 8 of a full-PPR league. Downs' aDOT the past two seasons has been much closer to Pittman's, which indicates he could pick up a large share of Pittman's targets. To do that, he will need to be on the field more in two-receiver sets. In 16 career games with a snap share over 70%, Downs has averaged 12.6 PPR Fantasy points per game. He doesn't turn 25 until August, so he is an excellent Dynasty buy as well. It is quite possible he leads the Colts in targets in 2026 and becomes the next Colts wide receiver to get a big payday.
Colts' Josh Downs: Exits practice with possible upper body injury
Rotowire
Downs exited Saturday's practice after a hard fall on his back, Andrew Moore of Colts on SI reports.
Downs tried to walk it off but was still in pain and had to leave for at least a few snaps. The Colts are already treacherously thin at wide receiver with Alec Pierce (ankle) still not practicing and uncertain for Week 1.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Makes return to practice Tuesday
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Downs (groin) is back at practice Tuesday, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
While the extent of Downs' participation is uncertain, a quick return to practice confirms his groin injury isn't serious. He was held out over the weekend and now seems ready to return after missing just a few days. With Alec Pierce (ankle) still unavailable, Downs is the unquestioned No. 1 WR at Indianapolis practices these days.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Could practice Tuesday
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Head coach Shane Steichen said Sunday that Downs (groin) could potentially be available for Tuesday's joint practice with the Patriots, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
Downs was held out of Saturday's practice due to a groin injury, but the positive news is that he is considered day-to-day. Participating in Tuesday's joint practice would be a step in the right direction for the fourth-year wideout, though he may be held out of Thursday's preseason opener against New England.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Nursing groin injury
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Downs did not participate in Saturday's training camp practice due to a groin injury, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
It's unclear when Downs picked up the injury or the severity of the issue, but his status will be worth monitoring over the coming week ahead of Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots. The 2023 third-rounder is lined up for an expanded role in the Colts' offense this season after Michael Pittman was traded to the Steelers in March. Downs is coming off a 2025 regular season in which he caught 58 passes (on 88 targets) for 566 yards and four touchdowns across 16 games.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Larger role after Pittman trade?
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Downs has an opportunity to earn more targets in 2026, as Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports Friday that the Colts have officially traded Michael Pittman to Pittsburgh.
Downs has averaged a respectable 97.7 targets across his first three NFL regular seasons, but he could get even more opportunities after the departure of Pittman, who drew at least 111 targets in each of his last five campaigns with the Colts. The Colts re-signed wide receiver Alec Pierce and quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles), keeping intact the rest of a passing game in which Downs finished fourth on the team with 566 receiving yards in 2025, trailing Pierce (1,003), rookie tight end Tyler Warren (817) and Pittman (784).
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Colts' Josh Downs: Four catches in defeat
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Downs caught all four of his targets for 61 yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to Houston.
Downs was able to secure multiple passes for the seventh straight game, while his 61 receiving yards were his second-highest total over that stretch. The wide receiver has now completed his third campaign in Indianapolis having caught 58 of 88 targets for 566 yards and four touchdowns while adding one carry for three yards and 68 yards on punt returns over 16 regular-season contests. Downs will enter the offseason on the final year of his rookie contract.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week 17 Waiver Priority List
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In two starts with Philip Rivers against Seattle and San Francisco, Downs has eight catches for 78 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. We'll see if Rivers starts again in Week 17 against Jacksonville now that the Colts are out of playoff contention, but Downs is worth adding in case Rivers gets one more chance to play. Downs could be a No. 3 Fantasy receiver against the Jaguars.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Continues clicking with Rivers
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Downs brought in five of nine targets for 65 yards in the Colts' 48-27 loss to the 49ers on Monday night. He also rushed once for three yards.
Downs led the Colts in receptions and tied Tyler Warren for the team lead in targets, once again displaying some solid chemistry with Philip Rivers after catching the latter's first touchdown pass since the 2020 season in Week 15. Downs has drawn a total of 14 targets over his first two games working with the veteran signal-caller, and he's likely to be busy again in a Week 17 home matchup against the Jaguars on Sunday.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Catches TD from Rivers
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Downs caught three of five targets for 13 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 18-16 loss to the Seahawks.
Downs caught Philip Rivers' first touchdown pass following a five-year layoff on an eight-yard connection in the second quarter. Outside of scoring the only touchdown for either team, Downs had another quiet performance as Rivers threw for only 120 yards. Following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles injury, the Colts' passing game has lost most of its fantasy appeal heading into a MNF home game against the 49ers on Dec. 22.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Deemed DNP on practice estimate
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Downs (hip/knee) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice estimate.
With Downs logging a DNP in Wednesday's walk-through as he contends with hip and knee issues, the wideout's status is now worth monitoring as Sunday's game against the Jaguars approaches. In each of his last two games, Downs has caught two of his six targets for a combined total of 54 yards in that span.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Two receptions in loss
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Downs caught two of six targets for 44 yards in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Texans.
Downs was limited to two or fewer catches for a third straight week, though he did lead the team in targets versus Houston. The wide receiver has now reeled in five of 14 targets for 57 yards without finding the end zone over the last three games. Downs hasn't exceeded 57 receiving yards in any of the 11 contests he's played in this year, limiting his ceiling greatly from a fantasy perspective.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week 12 Waiver Priority List
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Downs had a down game in Week 10 against Atlanta with one catch for 3 yards on two targets. But prior to that he had scored at least 11.4 PPR points in four games in a row, with three touchdowns over that span, and he had three outings over that stretch with at least seven targets. He should be viewed as the third-best Fantasy receiver on the Colts behind Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce, and obviously Tyler Warren is a huge factor in the passing game as well. But Downs can still be a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues, and he's worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Sleeper WRs
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Downs has scored a touchdown in three games in a row, and he has scored at least 12.9 PPR points in each game over that span. He's doing a nice job playing off Michael Pittman, Tyler Warren, and Alec Pierce, and Daniel Jones should continue to look for Downs in this matchup. He has at least seven targets in three of his past four games, and the Falcons have allowed four receivers to score at least 12.8 PPR points in their past two games against Miami and New England. Downs should be considered a high-end No. 3 receiver in the majority of leagues in this game in Berlin.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week 10 Waiver Priority List
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Downs has scored a touchdown in three games in a row, and he should be added in all leagues for at least 5-10 percent of your remaining FAB. He continues to do a good job playing off Michael Pittman, Tyler Warren and Alec Pierce, and Downs has at least seven targets in three of his past four games, with two games over that span with at least 15.7 PPR points. I like Downs as the second-best receiver in Indianapolis behind Pittman, slightly ahead of Pierce, and Downs should be a weekly starter in all three-receiver leagues for the rest of the season.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Back at practice Thursday
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Downs (hip) was on the field for practice Thursday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Downs sat out Wednesday's session, but his return to the field a day later bodes well for his Week 9 availability. The Colts will release their second practice report of the week later Thursday, when it will be known whether the wideout was a limited or full participant.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Set to return Sunday
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Coach Shane Steichen said Friday that Downs has cleared concussion protocol and will play Sunday against the Titans, Amanda Foster of the Colts' official site reports.
The wideout was trending in the right direction after practicing fully Thursday, and with Downs past the concussion that sidelined him Week 7, he'll reclaim his role in a Colts' WR corps that also features Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce. In six games prior to his concussion, Downs compiled a 26-217-1 line on 34 targets, a pace that has given the 2023 third-rounder a degree of fantasy utility in deeper formats and makes him a lineup option for those in need of WR help with six teams on bye this week.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Practices fully Thursday
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Downs (concussion) practiced fully Thursday.
After returning to a limited practice Wednesday, Downs -- who was inactive Week 7 -- upgraded to full participation a day later while shedding his non-contact jersey in the process, per James Boyd of The Athletic. Friday's injury report will reveal whether Downs carries an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans or is fully cleared to reclaim his role in a Colts WR corps that also features Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Limited in return to practice
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Downs (concussion) was limited at practice Wednesday.
Downs didn't practice last week before being ruled out ahead of this past Sunday's 38-24 win over the Chargers. With a return to practice, albeit in a limited capacity, the wideout is trending in the right direction as this weekend's game against the Titans approaches. Also making strides toward a return to action in Week 8 is fellow WR Ashton Dulin (chest), who practiced fully Wednesday.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Won't play Sunday
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Downs (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
The same applies to Ashton Dulin (chest), a context that results in Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce being slated to lead the Colts' Week 7 WR corps. Adonai Mitchell is on track to be active and contribute Sunday, while Anthony Gould is available to mix in. Additionally, Laquon Treadwell and Coleman Owen represent possible practice-squad elevations.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week 7 Adds (WR Preview)
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It was a slow start to the season for Downs but he has six catches in each of his last two games and leads the Colts with a 20.5% target share since Week 2. I would still prefer to start Pittman, but that gap continues to shrink, and both are worthy of consideration as low-end WR3s. Dows has posted a 76% catch rate this year but has only averaged 8.3 yards per catch, so he is more valuable in full PPR than he is half or non.
