Elic Ayomanor vs Josh Downs: Who Should You Start?
The gap between Elic Ayomanor and Josh Downs is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 0.7 PPG in 2025, this is one of those wide receiver decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Elic Ayomanor averaged 6.0 PPG with the Tennessee Titans across 16 games, and Josh Downs posted 6.7 with the Indianapolis Colts in 16.
When two wide receivers are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.
Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Elic Ayomanor turned 89 targets into 515 yards and 4 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.
Elic Ayomanor has his bye in Week 5, 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.
