Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Josh Downs vs Quentin JohnstonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Quentin Johnston is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.2 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Quentin Johnston is the better fantasy play this season.

Quentin Johnston has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.5-PPG advantage is real (11.2 to 6.7), and Quentin Johnston's 8 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

WRLos Angeles Chargers#18PPG LEADER

Quentin Johnston

PPG

11.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

735

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Josh Downs

Quentin Johnston

Head to Head

6.7 PPG11.2 PPG

16 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Quentin Johnston: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #18 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Josh Downs is producing at 30% of elite pace and Quentin Johnston at 51%. That ranking gap means Quentin Johnston carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Josh Downs vs Quentin Johnston: 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. Quentin Johnston (Los Angeles Chargers) came in at 11.2 PPG over 13 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Quentin Johnston carries a 4.5-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 Quentin Johnston converted 84 looks into 735 yards and 8 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 Quentin Johnston Week 7. 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

If you can acquire Quentin Johnston 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. Quentin Johnston (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Quentin Johnston outscored Josh Downs by a projected 76 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Downs played 16 games in 2025 compared to Quentin Johnston's 13. That durability gap means Josh Downs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Quentin Johnston scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Josh Downs vs Quentin Johnston: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Josh Downs	Quentin Johnston
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.7	11.2
Games Played	16	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	107	146
Receptions	58	51
Rec/Game	3.6	3.9
Receiving Yards	566	735
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	56.5
Receiving TDs	4	8
Targets	88	84
Target Share/Game	5.5	6.5
Age	24	24
Experience	3 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Quentin Johnston holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.2 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 Quentin Johnston in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Quentin Johnston has the edge at 11.2 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 Quentin Johnston average in 2025?▾

Josh Downs averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Quentin Johnston averaged 11.2 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 4.5 points per game.

When are Josh Downs and Quentin Johnston's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Josh Downs (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Quentin Johnston (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Josh Downs or Quentin Johnston a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Quentin Johnston outscored Josh Downs by 4.5 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.