DK Metcalf vs Josh Downs: Who Should You Start?
Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. DK Metcalf (Pittsburgh Steelers) finished the 2025 season averaging 10.5 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.
DK Metcalf carries a 3.8-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. DK Metcalf turned 99 targets into 850 yards and 6 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.
DK Metcalf has his bye in Week 9, and Josh Downs rests in Week 14. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at wide receiver for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
