Josh Downs vs Khalil Shakir: Who Should You Start?
Josh Downs (6.7 PPG) and Khalil Shakir (8.1 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two wide receivers are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Josh Downs played 16 games for the Indianapolis Colts; Khalil Shakir suited up 16 times for the Buffalo Bills.
A 1.4-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.
Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Josh Downs turned 88 targets into 566 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Khalil Shakir converted 95 looks into 719 yards and 4 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Josh Downs sits Week 14 while Khalil Shakir is off Week 12. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
