Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Diontae Johnson vs Josh DownsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Diontae Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.3 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Diontae Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Diontae Johnson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.6-PPG advantage is real (9.3 to 6.7), and Diontae Johnson's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Josh Downs is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRBaltimore Ravens#99PPG LEADER

Diontae Johnson

PPG

9.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

712

Rec TDs

Targets

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

Diontae Johnson

Josh Downs

Head to Head

9.3 PPG6.7 PPG

15 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Diontae Johnson: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Diontae Johnson is producing at 42% of elite pace and Josh Downs at 30%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Diontae Johnson vs Josh Downs: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Diontae Johnson (Baltimore Ravens) finished the 2025 season averaging 9.3 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Josh Downs (Indianapolis Colts) came in at 6.7 PPG over 16 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Diontae Johnson carries a 2.6-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.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Diontae Johnson turned 95 targets into 712 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Josh Downs converted 88 looks into 566 yards and 4 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Diontae Johnson (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?

•Diontae Johnson outscored Josh Downs by a projected 44 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Downs played 16 games in 2025 compared to Diontae Johnson's 15. 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.
•Diontae Johnson saw 95 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

Diontae Johnson vs Josh Downs: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Diontae Johnson	Josh Downs
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.3	6.7
Games Played	15	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	140	107
Receptions	60	58
Rec/Game	4.0	3.6
Receiving Yards	712	566
Rec Yds/Game	47.5	35.4
Receiving TDs	3	4
Targets	95	88
Target Share/Game	6.3	5.5
Age	-	24
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 14

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Diontae Johnson holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.3 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 Diontae Johnson or Josh Downs in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Diontae Johnson has the edge at 9.3 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 Diontae Johnson and Josh Downs average in 2025?▾

Diontae Johnson averaged 9.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Josh Downs averaged 6.7 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.6 points per game.

Do Diontae Johnson and Josh Downs share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Diontae Johnson 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 Diontae Johnson or Josh Downs a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Diontae Johnson outscored Josh Downs by 2.6 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.