Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Josh Downs vs Zay FlowersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Zay Flowers outscored Josh Downs by 5.1 PPG in 2025 with 6 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Zay Flowers is the clear pick. Josh Downs profiles as a matchup-dependent wide receiver who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

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

WRBaltimore Ravens#15PPG LEADER

Zay Flowers

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,211

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Josh Downs

Zay Flowers

Head to Head

6.7 PPG11.8 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Zay Flowers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #15 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Josh Downs is producing at 30% of elite pace and Zay Flowers at 54%. That ranking gap means Zay Flowers carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Josh Downs vs Zay Flowers: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Josh Downs and Zay Flowers for your lineup, you are not alone. Josh Downs finished the 2025 season at 6.7 PPG for the Indianapolis Colts (16 games), and Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 for the Baltimore Ravens (17 games).

That 5.1-point weekly advantage for Zay Flowers 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. Zay Flowers saw 118 targets in 2025, while Josh Downs drew 88. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Zay Flowers, even in weeks where Josh Downs posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One scheduling note: Josh Downs is off Week 14 and Zay Flowers Week 13. 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

Zay Flowers is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Josh Downs is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Josh Downs (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Zay Flowers (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Zay Flowers outscored Josh Downs by a projected 87 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zay Flowers played 17 games in 2025 compared to Josh Downs's 16. That durability gap means Zay Flowers contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Zay Flowers scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Zay Flowers saw 118 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 Zay Flowers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Josh Downs	Zay Flowers
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.7	11.8
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	107	201
Receptions	58	86
Rec/Game	3.6	5.1
Receiving Yards	566	1,211
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	71.2
Receiving TDs	4	5
Targets	88	118
Target Share/Game	5.5	6.9
Age	24	25
Experience	3 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 13

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Zay Flowers at 11.8 PPG, 5.1 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 Zay Flowers in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zay Flowers has the edge at 11.8 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 Zay Flowers average in 2025?▾

Josh Downs averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.1 points per game.

When are Josh Downs and Zay Flowers's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Josh Downs (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Zay Flowers (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Josh Downs or Zay Flowers a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Zay Flowers outscored Josh Downs by 5.1 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.