Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Josh Downs vs Mike EvansWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Mike Evans is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.7 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Mike Evans is the better fantasy play this season.

Mike Evans has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.0-PPG advantage is real (8.7 to 6.7), and Mike Evans's 3 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.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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WRIndianapolis Colts#99

Josh Downs

PPG

6.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

566

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

WRTampa Bay Buccaneers#40PPG LEADER

Mike Evans

PPG

8.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

368

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Josh Downs

Mike Evans

Head to Head

6.7 PPG8.7 PPG

16 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

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

Josh Downs vs Mike Evans: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Josh Downs (Indianapolis Colts) finished the 2025 season averaging 6.7 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) came in at 8.7 PPG over 8 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Mike Evans carries a 2.0-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Target volume is the story here. Josh Downs saw 88 targets in 2025, while Mike Evans drew 62. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Josh Downs, even in weeks where Mike Evans posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Josh Downs sits Week 14 while Mike Evans is off Week 10. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

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. Mike Evans (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Mike Evans outscored Josh Downs by a projected 34 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Downs played 16 games in 2025 compared to Mike Evans's 8. 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.
•Josh Downs is 8 years younger than Mike Evans (24 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Josh Downs vs Mike Evans: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Josh Downs	Mike Evans
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.7	8.7
Games Played	16	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	107	70
Receptions	58	30
Rec/Game	3.6	3.8
Receiving Yards	566	368
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	46.0
Receiving TDs	4	3
Targets	88	62
Target Share/Game	5.5	7.8
Age	24	32
Experience	3 yrs	11 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Mike Evans holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 8.7 points per game. Josh Downs averaged 6.7 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Josh Downs or Mike Evans in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Mike Evans has the edge at 8.7 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 Mike Evans average in 2025?▾

Josh Downs averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Mike Evans averaged 8.7 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 2.0 points per game.

When are Josh Downs and Mike Evans's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Josh Downs (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Mike Evans (TB) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Josh Downs or Mike Evans a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Mike Evans outscored Josh Downs by 2.0 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.