Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Garrett Wilson vs Josh DownsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Garrett Wilson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.6 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Garrett Wilson is the better fantasy play this season.

Garrett Wilson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.9-PPG advantage is real (11.6 to 6.7), and Garrett Wilson's 4 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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WRNew York Jets#16PPG LEADER

Garrett Wilson

PPG

11.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

395

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

WRIndianapolis Colts#99

Josh Downs

PPG

6.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

566

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Garrett Wilson

Josh Downs

Head to Head

11.6 PPG6.7 PPG

7 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Garrett Wilson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #16 at the position). Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Garrett Wilson is producing at 53% of elite pace and Josh Downs at 30%. That ranking gap means Garrett Wilson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Garrett Wilson vs Josh Downs: The Full Breakdown

Garrett Wilson and Josh Downs are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Garrett Wilson averaged 11.6 PPG across 7 games with the New York Jets, while Josh Downs posted 6.7 PPG in 16 appearances for the Indianapolis Colts.

A 4.9-PPG gap gives Garrett Wilson 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. Josh Downs saw 88 targets in 2025, while Garrett Wilson drew 59. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Josh Downs, even in weeks where Garrett Wilson posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One scheduling note: Garrett Wilson is off Week 13 and Josh Downs Week 14. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Garrett Wilson 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: Garrett Wilson (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Josh Downs (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Garrett Wilson outscored Josh Downs by a projected 83 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Downs played 16 games in 2025 compared to Garrett Wilson's 7. That durability gap means Josh Downs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Garrett Wilson scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Josh Downs saw 88 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Garrett Wilson vs Josh Downs: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Garrett Wilson	Josh Downs
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	6.7
Games Played	7	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	81	107
Receptions	36	58
Rec/Game	5.1	3.6
Receiving Yards	395	566
Rec Yds/Game	56.4	35.4
Receiving TDs	4	4
Targets	59	88
Target Share/Game	8.4	5.5
Age	25	24
Experience	3 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 14

Summary

Garrett Wilson outscored Josh Downs by 4.9 PPG in 2025 (11.6 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 Garrett Wilson or Josh Downs in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Garrett Wilson has the edge at 11.6 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 Garrett Wilson and Josh Downs average in 2025?▾

Garrett Wilson averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 7 games in 2025. Josh Downs averaged 6.7 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 4.9 points per game.

When are Garrett Wilson and Josh Downs's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Garrett Wilson (NYJ) has a bye in Week 13, and Josh Downs (IND) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Garrett Wilson or Josh Downs a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Garrett Wilson outscored Josh Downs by 4.9 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.