The Indianapolis Colts will face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding WR Josh Downs.
Is Josh Downs Playing in Week 18?
Downs popped up on the practice report with an ankle injury. He dealt with a high-ankle sprain earlier in the season, but it hasn’t been an issue for a while now. He practiced in full all week and carries no injury designation into the season finale.
We’ll continue to monitor the Colts’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Josh Downs in Week 18?
Everything Josh Downs had put on film with Joe Flacco before last week was borderline special. He was vacuuming in targets at a high rate and looking like a receiver to watch for years to come.
And then, in a game that turned into a shootout, he operates as the third option behind Alec Pierce (94.5% snap share) and Michael Pittman Jr. (93.2%). I didn’t have that on my bingo card, and it resulted in just 22 yards on his 26 routes run against the Giants.
I’m not dismissing all of the good that Downs had done with Flacco before last week, but I’m certainly not sticking out my chest on him as a top-20 play like I was. Flacco funneled 12 targets in his direction (nine catches for 69 yards) in a Week 5 meeting with the Jags, and that has me thinking that a Flex rebound is certainly possible.
I have Downs ranked as a middling WR3 this week, profiling more of a floor than a ceiling PPR play.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 18 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Josh Downs’ Fantasy Points Projection in Week 18
As of Sunday, Downs is projected to score 13.1 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 5.3 receptions for 58.6 yards and 0.3 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Josh Downs’ Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 11:45 PM ET on Saturday, January 25.
Conference Championship WR PPR Rankings
1) A.J. Brown | PHI (vs. WAS)
2) Terry McLaurin | WAS (at PHI)
3) DeVonta Smith | PHI (vs. WAS)
4) Khalil Shakir | BUF (at KC)
5) Xavier Worthy | KC (vs. BUF)
6) Hollywood Brown | KC (vs. BUF)
7) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (vs. BUF)
8) Keon Coleman | BUF (at KC)
9) Dyami Brown | WAS (at PHI)
10) Mack Hollins | BUF (at KC)
11) Amari Cooper | BUF (at KC)
12) Curtis Samuel | BUF (at KC)
13) Olamide Zaccheaus | WAS (at PHI)
14) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (vs. BUF)
15) Jahan Dotson | PHI (vs. WAS)
16) Jamison Crowder | WAS (at PHI)
17) Luke McCaffrey | WAS (at PHI)
18) Justin Watson | KC (vs. BUF)
19) Johnny Wilson | PHI (vs. WAS)
20) Parris Campbell | PHI (vs. WAS)
21) Nikko Remigio | KC (vs. BUF)
22) Ainias Smith | PHI (vs. WAS)
