Who Should I Start? Cole Kmet or Josh Downs

Saturday, November 23, 5:41 AM

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet is a risky fantasy start in Week 12, as he faces a tough Minnesota Vikings defense and continues to be a secondary option in the Bears' inconsistent offense. While Kmet had a slight uptick in usage following the offensive coordinator change last week, finishing with just three receptions for 42 yards, he remains a volatile fantasy play. The fact that he's no longer splitting tight-end duties with Gerald Everett is a positive, but it hasn't yet translated into consistent fantasy production. Kmet has shown the ability to have spike weeks, but more often than not, he's been a disappointment, especially in tough matchups. The Vikings' defense is one of the stingiest in the league, ranking 4th in points per game allowed and 5th in EPA per pass, making it difficult for any passing game to thrive. With several teams on bye, Kmet could be a desperation streaming option if you need a tight end but expect volatility. He carries significant risk in a matchup that limits his upside.

Friday, November 22, 6:30 PM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs leads his team in targets (71) and yards per game (63.0). Quarterback Anthony Richardson looked his way five times in Week 11 and Downs caught all five balls for 84 yards and a touchdown. Coming into the contest with a 44.4% completion rate, there were concerns about Richardson's ability to get his receivers the ball, but he proved that he could still do it, even against a strong Jets pass defense (20-for-30, 66.7%). The Colts are seven-point underdogs for Sunday's contest against the Lions so there should be plenty of opportunities for Downs as the offense tries to keep pace with Detroit. With five catches in six of nine games played and the clear No. 1 receiver, the former third-round draft pick has a pretty reliable floor. The second-year pro sets up as a back-end WR2 this week with some small upside given his ability to find the zone (four TDs in 2024).