Who Should I Start? Keenan Allen or Josh Downs

Saturday, December 13, 12:19 AM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen enters the Week 15 road game against the Kansas City Chiefs on a decline, having caught all three of his targets for just 22 yards last week. Since Week 7, Allen has only caught 19 passes compared to 44 in the first seven weeks. The Chiefs, who have allowed the ninth fewest passing yards this season, are a tough matchup, though the potential questionable status of their top defensive back, Trent McDuffie (knee), could slightly help the passing game. However, with the offensive line battered, Justin Herbert playing injured, and the team leaning on the run, Allen's floor and ceiling are considerably lower. RotoBaller ranks Allen at WR53 this week. Unless the Chargers fall behind early by multiple scores or if fellow wide receiver Quentin Johnston (groin) is ruled out, Allen remains an unreliable WR5 who should only be started in deeper leagues.

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.