Josh Downs vs Rashee Rice: Who Should You Start?
There is a real production gap between these two wide receivers. Rashee Rice (Kansas City Chiefs) averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games in 2025, outscoring Josh Downs (Indianapolis Colts, 6.7 PPG) by 8.8 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.
Rashee Rice carries a 8.8-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 Rashee Rice converted 78 looks into 571 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 Rashee Rice Week 6. 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.
