Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Josh Downs vs Marvin Harrison Jr.Who should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Marvin Harrison Jr. is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.9 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Marvin Harrison Jr. is the better fantasy play this season.

Marvin Harrison Jr. has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.2-PPG advantage is real (8.9 to 6.7), and Marvin Harrison Jr.'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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WRIndianapolis Colts#99

Josh Downs

PPG

6.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

566

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

WRArizona Cardinals#39PPG LEADER

Marvin Harrison Jr.

PPG

8.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

608

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Josh Downs

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Head to Head

6.7 PPG8.9 PPG

16 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Marvin Harrison Jr.: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #39 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Josh Downs is producing at 30% of elite pace and Marvin Harrison Jr. at 40%. That ranking gap means Marvin Harrison Jr. carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Josh Downs vs Marvin Harrison Jr.: The Full Breakdown

Josh Downs and Marvin Harrison Jr. are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Josh Downs averaged 6.7 PPG across 16 games with the Indianapolis Colts, while Marvin Harrison Jr. posted 8.9 PPG in 12 appearances for the Arizona Cardinals.

A 2.2-PPG gap gives Marvin Harrison Jr. 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.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Josh Downs turned 88 targets into 566 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Marvin Harrison Jr. converted 73 looks into 608 yards and 4 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 14 bye. That means you need a backup plan at wide receiver for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Josh Downs (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Marvin Harrison Jr. (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Marvin Harrison Jr. outscored Josh Downs by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Downs played 16 games in 2025 compared to Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 12. That durability gap means Josh Downs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Josh Downs scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 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.
•Both players share a Week 14 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Josh Downs vs Marvin Harrison Jr.: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Josh Downs	Marvin Harrison Jr.
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.7	8.9
Games Played	16	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	107	107
Receptions	58	41
Rec/Game	3.6	3.4
Receiving Yards	566	608
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	50.7
Receiving TDs	4	4
Targets	88	73
Target Share/Game	5.5	6.1
Age	24	23
Experience	3 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 14

Summary

Marvin Harrison Jr. outscored Josh Downs by 2.2 PPG in 2025 (8.9 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 Josh Downs or Marvin Harrison Jr. in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Marvin Harrison Jr. has the edge at 8.9 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 Josh Downs and Marvin Harrison Jr. average in 2025?▾

Josh Downs averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Marvin Harrison Jr. averaged 8.9 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

Do Josh Downs and Marvin Harrison Jr. share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Josh Downs and Marvin Harrison Jr. share a Week 14 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at wide receiver for that week.

Is Josh Downs or Marvin Harrison Jr. a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Marvin Harrison Jr. outscored Josh Downs by 2.2 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.