Josh Downs: requests trade from Colts, per ESPN report
THE FACT. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday that Colts receiver Josh Downs has requested a trade. Indianapolis has not announced or confirmed anything. Downs did not deny the report when he spoke to reporters, saying he is "open to whatever" and that the situation "could be different tomorrow," per ESPN's Stephen Holder and The Athletic's James Boyd. He has 26 catches for a team-high 307 yards and no touchdowns through seven games on an expiring rookie deal, and the Colts traded Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner on Tuesday.
THE VERDICT. Treat this as a reported request rather than a done deal, but the direction of travel is obvious with Indianapolis selling off veterans. Downs is still the Colts' leading receiver and says he is in this week's game plan, so hold him in redraft and flex him at Jacksonville. Dynasty managers should be encouraged, because a move to a functional offense is the best outcome available to him. Do not pay up for him in DFS until a destination is known.
Hold, sure, but flexing him at Jacksonville is where I get off the bus. Downs has 46 targets and zero touchdowns through seven games, and his last four weeks read 4, 6, 8 and 4 targets for 16, 47, 40 and 18 yards. That team-high 307 says more about this passing game than it does about him. Guys who just asked out rarely get featured, especially on a roster that shipped out Nelson and Buckner two days ago. I'm benching him. And the DFS line is backwards for me, he's a cheap punt in tournaments, not a pay-up.