Josh Downs: normal role Sunday despite trade request
THE FACT. Colts coach Shane Steichen said Friday that Josh Downs will handle his usual role Sunday against Jacksonville despite requesting a trade earlier in the week, per ESPN's Stephen Holder. Indianapolis has reportedly fielded offers for Downs but has not acted on the request.
THE VERDICT. Start him. With Alec Pierce on injured reserve, Downs sits in a thinned Colts receiver group alongside Keenan Allen and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and he is expected to be one of Daniel Jones' most-targeted options. Redraft: flex or better in all formats, and the trade chatter is not a reason to bench him. DFS: playable at his usual price, because the coaching staff has said the plan is unchanged. Dynasty: hold through the November 10 deadline. A move to a contender raises his ceiling rather than lowering it.
Respect the role note, but the role is exactly the problem here. Downs has 46 targets through seven games and that has turned into 26 catches, 307 yards and zero touchdowns, and he has been held under 50 receiving yards four straight weeks. That is a 20 percent target share producing WR5 numbers, and a Friday podium quote does not fix the ceiling. I am benching him outside deep PPR and skipping him in DFS. Dynasty I am selling, not holding. The trade buzz is the best market he has had all year, and it disappears November 10.