Who Should I Start? Josh Downs or Brian Thomas Jr.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 26.9 | 0.1 |
Josh Downs News
Wednesday, March 4, 7:12 AM
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs was a popular breakout candidate heading into 2025, but it was ultimately his teammate, Alec Pierce, who took the next step and led the team with his first career 1,000-yard season. With Pierce now facing unrestricted free agency, it seems inevitable that a shakeup is coming to the Colts' wide receiver room. Should Pierce end up leaving for a top-of-market deal, a giant hole will be left atop the depth chart. However, for Downs' fantasy future, it might be more beneficial if Pierce stays in Indianapolis. Pierce and Downs play very different games, as evidenced by the 11.6-yard differential in their 2025 ADoT. For the Colts to retain Pierce likely means moving on from Michael Pittman Jr. and his $29 million cap hit, either through trade or release, which would represent a best-case scenario for Downs. Pittman has led the team in targets every season since 2021, with most of his looks coming in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field, also patrolled by Downs.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.1 | 56.9 | 0.4 |
Brian Thomas Jr. News
Thursday, March 12, 2:42 PM
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was not being shopped in recent trade talks, general manager James Gladstone said on Thursday. Gladstone said rumors of Thomas being shopped were "fraudulent claims" and that the team never received an offer for the wide receiver. The second-year general manager went as far as to say that Thomas will be a big part of the Jaguars' offense going forward. Fantasy managers should be excited to hear that, but the comments should obviously be taken with a grain of salt. Thomas is coming off a very frustrating second season in the NFL, catching just 48 passes for 707 yards and two touchdowns across 14 games. To make matters worse, he faces plenty of competition in the passing game from a crowded receiver room that features Jakobi Meyers, Travis Hunter, and Parker Washington. Managers who trust Gladstone's comments might consider buying low on Thomas in dynasty leagues. Otherwise, he's probably more of a "hold" for the time being.
Josh Downs vs. Brian Thomas Jr.
Still trying to decide between Downs and Thomas Jr.? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Josh Downs is projected to score 6.3 points this week while Brian Thomas Jr. is projected to score 13.0 points.
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