Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Josh Downs vs Tee HigginsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tee Higgins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tee Higgins is the better fantasy play this season.

Tee Higgins is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.1 PPG and 846 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Josh Downs (6.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Tee Higgins as the starter and Josh Downs as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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WRIndianapolis Colts#99

Josh Downs

PPG

6.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

566

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

WRCincinnati Bengals#13PPG LEADER

Tee Higgins

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

846

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Josh Downs

Tee Higgins

Head to Head

6.7 PPG12.1 PPG

16 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Tee Higgins: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #13 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Josh Downs is producing at 30% of elite pace and Tee Higgins at 55%. That ranking gap means Tee Higgins carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Josh Downs vs Tee Higgins: 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. Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals) came in at 12.1 PPG over 15 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Tee Higgins carries a 5.4-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 Tee Higgins converted 98 looks into 846 yards and 11 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Josh Downs sits Week 14 while Tee Higgins is off Week 6. 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

If you can acquire Tee Higgins 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. Tee Higgins (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Tee Higgins outscored Josh Downs by a projected 92 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Downs played 16 games in 2025 compared to Tee Higgins's 15. That durability gap means Josh Downs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Tee Higgins scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Tee Higgins saw 98 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 Tee Higgins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Josh Downs	Tee Higgins
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.7	12.1
Games Played	16	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	107	182
Receptions	58	59
Rec/Game	3.6	3.9
Receiving Yards	566	846
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	56.4
Receiving TDs	4	11
Targets	88	98
Target Share/Game	5.5	6.5
Age	24	27
Experience	3 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Tee Higgins holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.1 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 Tee Higgins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Tee Higgins has the edge at 12.1 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 Tee Higgins average in 2025?▾

Josh Downs averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Tee Higgins averaged 12.1 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 5.4 points per game.

When are Josh Downs and Tee Higgins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Josh Downs (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Tee Higgins (CIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Josh Downs or Tee Higgins a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Tee Higgins outscored Josh Downs by 5.4 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.