Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Josh Downs vs Michael PittmanWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Michael Pittman is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Michael Pittman is the better fantasy play this season.

Michael Pittman is the better play on a neutral week. 9.6 PPG with 784 yards gives a reliable baseline. Josh Downs at 6.7 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Michael Pittman higher, but do not fade Josh Downs entirely.

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

WRIndianapolis Colts#33PPG LEADER

Michael Pittman

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

784

Rec TDs

Targets

111

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Josh Downs

Michael Pittman

Head to Head

6.7 PPG9.6 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Michael Pittman: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #33 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Josh Downs is producing at 30% of elite pace and Michael Pittman at 44%. That ranking gap means Michael Pittman carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Josh Downs vs Michael Pittman: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Josh Downs and Michael Pittman for your lineup, you are not alone. Josh Downs finished the 2025 season at 6.7 PPG for the Indianapolis Colts (16 games), and Michael Pittman averaged 9.6 for the Indianapolis Colts (17 games).

That 2.9-point weekly advantage for Michael Pittman is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Josh Downs turned 88 targets into 566 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Michael Pittman converted 111 looks into 784 yards and 7 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

One scheduling note: Josh Downs is off Week 14 and Michael Pittman Week 13. 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

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. Michael Pittman (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Michael Pittman outscored Josh Downs by a projected 49 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Michael Pittman played 17 games in 2025 compared to Josh Downs's 16. That durability gap means Michael Pittman contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Michael Pittman scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Michael Pittman saw 111 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Josh Downs is 4 years younger than Michael Pittman (24 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Josh Downs vs Michael Pittman: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Josh Downs	Michael Pittman
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.7	9.6
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	107	163
Receptions	58	80
Rec/Game	3.6	4.7
Receiving Yards	566	784
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	46.1
Receiving TDs	4	7
Targets	88	111
Target Share/Game	5.5	6.5
Age	24	28
Experience	3 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 13

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Michael Pittman at 9.6 PPG, 2.9 points per game above Josh Downs's 6.7. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Josh Downs or Michael Pittman in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Michael Pittman has the edge at 9.6 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 Josh Downs and Michael Pittman average in 2025?▾

Josh Downs averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Michael Pittman averaged 9.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.9 points per game.

When are Josh Downs and Michael Pittman's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Josh Downs or Michael Pittman a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Michael Pittman outscored Josh Downs by 2.9 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.