Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

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

Michael Wilson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.7 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Michael Wilson is the better fantasy play this season.

Michael Wilson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.0-PPG advantage is real (10.7 to 6.7), and Michael Wilson's 7 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#24PPG LEADER

Michael Wilson

PPG

10.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,006

Rec TDs

Targets

126

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Josh Downs

Michael Wilson

Head to Head

6.7 PPG10.7 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Michael Wilson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #24 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Josh Downs is producing at 30% of elite pace and Michael Wilson at 49%. That ranking gap means Michael Wilson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Josh Downs vs Michael Wilson: The Full Breakdown

Josh Downs and Michael Wilson 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 Michael Wilson posted 10.7 PPG in 17 appearances for the Arizona Cardinals.

A 4.0-PPG gap gives Michael 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. Michael Wilson saw 126 targets in 2025, while Josh Downs drew 88. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Michael Wilson, even in weeks where Josh Downs posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

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

If you can acquire Michael 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: Josh Downs (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Michael Wilson (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Michael Wilson outscored Josh Downs by a projected 68 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Michael Wilson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Josh Downs's 16. That durability gap means Michael Wilson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Michael Wilson scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Michael Wilson saw 126 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 Michael Wilson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Josh Downs	Michael Wilson
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.7	10.7
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	107	182
Receptions	58	78
Rec/Game	3.6	4.6
Receiving Yards	566	1,006
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	59.2
Receiving TDs	4	7
Targets	88	126
Target Share/Game	5.5	7.4
Age	24	26
Experience	3 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 14

Summary

Michael Wilson outscored Josh Downs by 4.0 PPG in 2025 (10.7 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 Michael Wilson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Michael Wilson has the edge at 10.7 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 Wilson average in 2025?▾

Josh Downs averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Michael Wilson averaged 10.7 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.0 points per game.

Do Josh Downs and Michael Wilson share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Josh Downs and Michael Wilson 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 Michael Wilson a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Michael Wilson outscored Josh Downs by 4.0 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.