Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

CeeDee Lamb vs Josh DownsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

CeeDee Lamb is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.6 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

CeeDee Lamb is the better fantasy play this season.

CeeDee Lamb is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.6 PPG and 1,079 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Josh Downs (6.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster CeeDee Lamb as the starter and Josh Downs as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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WRDallas Cowboys#11PPG LEADER

CeeDee Lamb

PPG

12.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,077

Rec TDs

Targets

117

Bye

Week 14

WRIndianapolis Colts#99

Josh Downs

PPG

6.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

566

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

CeeDee Lamb

Josh Downs

Head to Head

12.6 PPG6.7 PPG

13 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

CeeDee Lamb: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #11 at the position). Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, CeeDee Lamb is producing at 57% of elite pace and Josh Downs at 30%. That ranking gap means CeeDee Lamb carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

CeeDee Lamb vs Josh Downs: The Full Breakdown

CeeDee Lamb and Josh Downs are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. CeeDee Lamb averaged 12.6 PPG across 13 games with the Dallas Cowboys, while Josh Downs posted 6.7 PPG in 16 appearances for the Indianapolis Colts.

A 5.9-PPG gap gives CeeDee Lamb the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Target volume is the story here. CeeDee Lamb saw 117 targets in 2025, while Josh Downs drew 88. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for CeeDee Lamb, even in weeks where Josh Downs posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 14 bye. That means you need a backup plan at wide receiver for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire CeeDee Lamb at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Josh Downs is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: CeeDee Lamb (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Josh Downs (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•CeeDee Lamb outscored Josh Downs by a projected 100 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Downs played 16 games in 2025 compared to CeeDee Lamb's 13. That durability gap means Josh Downs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Josh Downs scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•CeeDee Lamb saw 117 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Both players share a Week 14 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

CeeDee Lamb vs Josh Downs: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	CeeDee Lamb	Josh Downs
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.6	6.7
Games Played	13	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	164	107
Receptions	75	58
Rec/Game	5.8	3.6
Receiving Yards	1,077	566
Rec Yds/Game	82.8	35.4
Receiving TDs	3	4
Targets	117	88
Target Share/Game	9.0	5.5
Age	27	24
Experience	5 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 14

Summary

CeeDee Lamb outscored Josh Downs by 5.9 PPG in 2025 (12.6 to 6.7). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start CeeDee Lamb or Josh Downs in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, CeeDee Lamb has the edge at 12.6 PPG compared to Josh Downs's 6.7 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did CeeDee Lamb and Josh Downs average in 2025?▾

CeeDee Lamb averaged 12.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Josh Downs averaged 6.7 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 5.9 points per game.

Do CeeDee Lamb and Josh Downs share a bye week?▾

Yes, both CeeDee Lamb and Josh Downs share a Week 14 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at wide receiver for that week.

Is CeeDee Lamb or Josh Downs a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

CeeDee Lamb outscored Josh Downs by 5.9 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.