Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Davante Adams vs Josh DownsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Davante Adams is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.8 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Davante Adams is the better fantasy play this season.

Davante Adams is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 13.8 PPG and 789 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 Davante Adams 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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WRLos Angeles Rams#8PPG LEADER

Davante Adams

PPG

13.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

789

Rec TDs

Targets

114

Bye

Week 11

WRIndianapolis Colts#99

Josh Downs

PPG

6.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

566

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Davante Adams

Josh Downs

Head to Head

13.8 PPG6.7 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Davante Adams: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #8 at the position). Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Davante Adams is producing at 63% of elite pace and Josh Downs at 30%. That ranking gap means Davante Adams carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Davante Adams vs Josh Downs: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Davante Adams put up 13.8 fantasy points per game for the Los Angeles Rams in 2025, while Josh Downs managed 6.7 across 16 games with the Indianapolis Colts. A 7.1-point weekly edge is substantial at the wide receiver position.

Davante Adams carries a 7.1-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Target volume is the story here. Davante Adams saw 114 targets in 2025, while Josh Downs drew 88. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Davante Adams, even in weeks where Josh Downs posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Davante Adams sits Week 11 while Josh Downs is off Week 14. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Davante Adams 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: Davante Adams (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Josh Downs (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Davante Adams outscored Josh Downs by a projected 121 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Downs played 16 games in 2025 compared to Davante Adams's 14. That durability gap means Josh Downs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Davante Adams scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.0 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Davante Adams saw 114 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Josh Downs is 9 years younger than Davante Adams (24 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Davante Adams vs Josh Downs: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Davante Adams	Josh Downs
PPG (Half-PPR)	13.8	6.7
Games Played	14	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	193	107
Receptions	60	58
Rec/Game	4.3	3.6
Receiving Yards	789	566
Rec Yds/Game	56.4	35.4
Receiving TDs	14	4
Targets	114	88
Target Share/Game	8.1	5.5
Age	33	24
Experience	11 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 14

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Davante Adams holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 13.8 points per game. Josh Downs averaged 6.7 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Davante Adams or Josh Downs in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Davante Adams has the edge at 13.8 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 Davante Adams and Josh Downs average in 2025?▾

Davante Adams averaged 13.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Josh Downs averaged 6.7 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 7.1 points per game.

When are Davante Adams and Josh Downs's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Davante Adams (LAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Josh Downs (IND) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Davante Adams or Josh Downs a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Davante Adams outscored Josh Downs by 7.1 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.