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Head to Head

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Josh Downs vs Tory HortonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tory Horton is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.4 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tory Horton is the better fantasy play this season.

Tory Horton is the better play on a neutral week. 8.4 PPG with 161 yards gives a reliable baseline. Josh Downs at 6.7 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Tory Horton higher, but do not fade Josh Downs entirely.

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
16
Rec
58
Rec Yds
566
Rec TDs
4
Targets
88
Bye
Week 14
WRSeattle Seahawks#46PPG LEADER
Tory Horton
PPG
8.4
Games
7
Rec
13
Rec Yds
161
Rec TDs
5
Targets
22
Bye
Week 11

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Josh Downs
Tory Horton

Head to Head

6.7 PPG8.4 PPG
16 GP7 GP
Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Tory Horton: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #46 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Josh Downs is producing at 30% of elite pace and Tory Horton at 38%. That ranking gap means Tory Horton carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Josh Downs vs Tory Horton: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Josh Downs and Tory Horton for your lineup, you are not alone. Josh Downs finished the 2025 season at 6.7 PPG for the Indianapolis Colts (16 games), and Tory Horton averaged 8.4 for the Seattle Seahawks (7 games).

That 1.7-point weekly advantage for Tory Horton is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Target volume is the story here. Josh Downs saw 88 targets in 2025, while Tory Horton drew 22. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Josh Downs, even in weeks where Tory Horton posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Josh Downs has his bye in Week 14, and Tory Horton rests in Week 11. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at wide receiver for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

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. Tory Horton (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Tory Horton outscored Josh Downs by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Josh Downs played 16 games in 2025 compared to Tory Horton's 7. That durability gap means Josh Downs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Tory Horton scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.7 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 Tory Horton: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatJosh DownsTory Horton
PPG (Half-PPR)6.78.4
Games Played167
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)10759
Receptions5813
Rec/Game3.61.9
Receiving Yards566161
Rec Yds/Game35.423.0
Receiving TDs45
Targets8822
Target Share/Game5.53.1
Age2423
Experience3 yrs-
Bye WeekWeek 14Week 11

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Tory Horton at 8.4 PPG, 1.7 points per game above Josh Downs's 6.7. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Josh Downs or Tory Horton in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Tory Horton has the edge at 8.4 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 Tory Horton average in 2025?

Josh Downs averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Tory Horton averaged 8.4 PPG over 7 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Josh Downs and Tory Horton's bye weeks in 2026?

Josh Downs (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Tory Horton (SEA) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Josh Downs or Tory Horton a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Tory Horton outscored Josh Downs by 1.7 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.

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