Josh Downs: Schefter names receiver a Colts trade candidate
THE FACT. ESPN's Adam Schefter named Colts wide receiver Josh Downs among the players Indianapolis could deal, speaking Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show roughly an hour after he reported the Quenton Nelson trade to Seattle, according to Athlon Sports; NBC Sports carried the same report Tuesday. Schefter also listed DeForest Buckner, since traded to San Francisco, and Grover Stewart, and said the Colts do not want to move Jonathan Taylor.
THE VERDICT. Treat this as a sell-high window that closes at the deadline. Redraft: if a contender in your league needs slot help, move Downs now while the headline still carries value, because a trade means a new offense and a new quarterback with no promise of volume. Dynasty: hold, since a landing spot that throws more would lift his ceiling. If he stays in Indianapolis nothing changes. DFS: fade until his team is settled.
Respect the call, but I don't see a high to sell into here. Downs is WR56 in points per game and missed 10 PPR points in four of six games, so the market already knows exactly what he is. You'd be dumping a 21 percent target share for a bench flyer. He led Indy in targets in the Minnesota game, and with Pierce's heel keeping him out the slot work still points his way. Deadline week is when you buy guys like this. If he lands in a real passing offense, whoever held him wins that trade.