Who Should I Start? Josh Downs or Rashid Shaheed

Tuesday, December 16, 12:43 PM

In 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers' first NFL game in five years with the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's 18-16 loss to the hosting Seattle Seahawks, wide receiver Josh Downs caught his lone touchdown pass. Downs played a season-high 72% of the offensive snaps in Week 15 in Rivers' first game replacing Daniel Jones, who is out for the year with a torn Achilles. The 24-year-old wideout was tied for second on the team with five targets, catching three of them for only 13 yards and his fourth touchdown of the year. All in all, it wasn't anything special for fantasy football production, but it was notable that Downs tied Michael Pittman Jr. in targets, with Alec Pierce seeing just one look from Rivers. With Rivers shotputting balls to his receivers, Downs could become a more attractive short-area target over Pierce to close out the season, making him worth a look off the waiver wire as WR depth. Downs is rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues.

Thursday, December 18, 10:56 AM

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed had the most productive game of his Seahawks career in Week 15, hauling in five of seven targets for 74 yards in the 18-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Shaheed was traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Seahawks at the trade deadline, but hasn't quite seen his former production until recent weeks. In Week 14, Shaheed had 67 yards and a huge kick return for a touchdown that changed the game against the Atlanta Falcons, and his best receiving output in Week 15. Shaheed faces the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16, which should be one of the biggest games of the regular season in 2025. The Rams have allowed he fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, so watch for Shaheed to make an impact on this game.