Who Should I Start? Brandon Aiyuk or Josh Downs

Tuesday, November 18, 10:38 AM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is over a year removed from his injury and should be nearing a return based on the team's expectations coming into the season. However, he still hasn't had his 21-day practice window opened, and that won't happen this week, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. While he's eligible to return at any point, the fact that he hasn't returned to practice at all yet indicates he's still multiple weeks away from making a significant fantasy impact. If you can stash him in an IR spot, he still could make a difference down the road, but for now, there are probably better options to have on your bench in most formats.

Saturday, November 15, 12:41 AM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs saw a massive reduction in snaps and targets during his last game against the Atlanta Falcons. In Berlin, Downs played a mere 43 percent of the Colts' offensive snaps, converting two targets into one catch for three yards. The 24-year-old impressed as the WR35 in PPR leagues last season, but he has taken a step backward this year. He ranks outside the top 40 receivers and can no longer be trusted on a week-to-week basis. One reason for Downs' struggles is the increased competition around him. Indy is leaning on the run more than usual given Jonathan Taylor's success, and they've also gotten exceptional contributions from Tyler Warren, Michael Pittman Jr., and Alec Pierce. This has left Downs as somewhat of the odd man out. We do expect him to command more than two targets per game going forward, but he's not startable for the time being. Managers should leave Downs on the bench when the Colts return from their bye in Week 12.