Who Should I Start? Josh Downs or Brian Thomas Jr.

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).

Monday, November 18, 3:04 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. hauled in 5-of-7 targets for 82 yards in the team's 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. The rookie wideout was the only Jaguars player to record more than 28 receiving yards on a day when quarterback Mac Jones tossed for 138 yards. His target and reception total tied tight end Evan Engram for the highest marks on the team. BTJ recorded three receptions of at least 20 yards and could have had an even bigger day if a late 33-yard reception wasn't overturned. Despite the woes of the Jags' offense, the sensational 22-year-old continues to perform, though it's worth noting that he did appear to get injured on the overturned reception. Fortunately, he'll get a bye in Week 12 before a divisional clash against the Houston Texans in Week 13.