Who Should I Start? Josh Downs or Puka Nacua

Friday, September 6, 1:12 PM

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen has officially ruled wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) out for the Week 1 regular season contest on Sunday versus the division-rival Houston Texans. Things had been trending this way all week as Downs was unable to practice due to a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in August. The 23-year-old worked off to the side in practices this week, though, and appears to be getting close to a return, so it's possible he may be able to make his 2024 debut in Week 2 at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. With Downs officially out this weekend, it will make both rookie Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce a bit more attractive as DFS sleepers behind WR1 Michael Pittman Jr. The 21-year-old Mitchell was selected with the 52nd overall pick back in April in the second round. He has the ability to line up inside or outside and should give fantasy managers a bit more upside than Pierce.

Friday, September 6, 6:28 PM

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is set up nicely for success against the Detroit Lions in Week 1. Nacua will line up against the Lions' revamped secondary of rookie Terrion Arnold and veteran Carlton Davis III. He should see success with Matthew Stafford under center and pick up where he left off during a breakout rookie campaign last year. He had a knee issue in the preseason but is fully off the injury report and is ready to go. The BYU product commanded 9.4 targets per game last season and racked up 105 catches for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. With Cooper Kupp back fully healthy the red-zone usage might be a bit of a concern for Nacua as Stafford seems to look for Kupp a lot in those situations. But Nacua should work the middle of the field on the short and intermediary routes and is a high-upside PPR play, who could be in for a huge game if he can find the end zone.