Josh Downs vs Parker Washington: Who Should You Start?
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. Parker Washington (Jacksonville Jaguars) came in at 9.7 PPG over 16 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Parker Washington carries a 3.0-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.
Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Josh Downs turned 88 targets into 566 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Parker Washington converted 95 looks into 847 yards and 5 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 Parker Washington Week 12. 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.
