Garrett Wilson vs Josh Downs: Who Should You Start?
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 12 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.
