Who Should I Start? CeeDee Lamb or Josh Downs

Friday, December 12, 7:45 PM

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (concussion) passed the league's concussion protocol and is off the injury report heading into their Sunday night tilt against the Minnesota Vikings. Lamb sustained this concussion during their Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday night. However, before exiting, the superstar wideout still made an impact, catching six of his eight targets for 121 yards on just 47% of the team's snaps. This was his second-straight game eclipsing the century mark. Since his three-game absence due to an ankle injury in Weeks 4 through 6, Lamb has returned to his high-end status at the position. During this seven-game stretch, Lamb has averaged a strong 17.6 PPR points per game and has continued to see a massive target share, earning 9.3 targets per game, despite playing alongside George Pickens. Given Dallas' high-octane passing game, QB Dak Prescott has been able to support both Pickens and Lamb as they have continued to produce WR1 stat lines on a weekly basis. Even though Lamb will face a formidable Minnesota secondary that has allowed the fewest PPR points to opposing WRs this season and just contained Terry McLaurin to 41 yards last Sunday, Lamb remains a must-start WR1 in all formats in the opening week of the fantasy playoffs.

Saturday, December 13, 1:01 PM

Across 12 games this season, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has recorded 44 receptions for 393 yards and three touchdowns on 65 targets. Downs has earned at least five targets in four out of his last five contests, but he's failed to crack 50 receiving yards in a game since Week 9. In Week 15, the Colts will turn to 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to replace the injured Daniel Jones (Achilles), who was lost for the season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Week 14. It's hard to project what Rivers will bring to the table for Downs and the Colts' pass-catchers, as Rivers has not played in an NFL game since the 2020 season. One certain thing is that Indianapolis faces a difficult matchup in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. Entering the weekend, Seattle ranks first among NFL defenses in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.0). Between the tough matchup and the Colts' quarterback uncertainty, Downs should likely be avoided by fantasy managers in Week 15.