The Indianapolis Colts have a passing game that could provide fantasy football value due to the relative cheapness in drafts. This makes sense due to quarterback concerns with either Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson under center.
But having a chance to get a top target like Josh Downs or Michael Pittman Jr. at such a low price should be appealing to round out one’s wide receiver room.
The question then becomes, though, who should you take between the two? Each of these wideouts comes at a similar average draft position (ADP), with Downs at WR48 and Pittman at WR49. With the two Colts receivers going back to back on average, here’s how best to approach this dilemma.
Who Should I Draft: Josh Downs or Michael Pittman Jr.?
The first factor to acknowledge with this Colts’ receiving room is that it’ll likely be Jones at quarterback. Richardson is currently dealing with a shoulder issue, which already puts him behind the former New York Giants QB in this position battle.
With Shane Steichen likely on the hot seat, it makes sense for him to roll with the more experienced quarterback in Jones, who would be a boost to Indianapolis’ passing game.
The next factor to consider is the price of each player. With both Downs and Pittman coming cheaply, it’s a good time to swing for the fence on the higher upside. But who would that be?
The case for Downs is that this is a 24-year-old, third-year wideout who had some impressive spike weeks last season:
- 8 catches, 82 yards, 1 TD (Week 4)
- 4 catches, 109 yards, 1 TD (Week 8)
- 5 catches, 84 yards, 1 TD (Week 11)
- 10 catches, 94 yards (Week 18)
NEW Josh Downs #ReceptionPerception profile is now up on the site 👀
Some highlights:
– 76.7% success rate vs. man coverage (90th percentile)
– 86% success rate vs. zone (92nd percentile)
– 77.1% success rate vs. press (82nd percentile)Josh Downs, without question, should be… pic.twitter.com/tqGLEjpmr2
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) June 10, 2025
That worked out to 72 catches for 803 yards and five touchdowns, which was WR33 in fantasy points per game. This was in only 14 games, so if Downs played a full season, you’re likely looking at 80+ catches for 1,000+ yards and at least one more touchdown.
On the other hand, Pittman is only one year removed from a WR19 finish in fantasy ppg and has three seasons of 80+ receptions. It’s clear that his back injury affected him last season, which is why we saw suppressed production of 69 receptions, 808 receiving yards, and three touchdowns.
Now that the back issue is further removed, Pittman may regain his form for the 2025 season.
The Verdict: Draft Downs Over Pittman
The best play here is to draft either of these Colts wideouts. They’re undervalued right now because the market is concerned that Richardson will hold back this passing game. But if Jones wins the starting job, you could bet that each receiver will rise in price, making them a value right now.
Yet, if you have to pick just one of the two, the better bet is Downs. This is simply because he’s a more explosive wideout who can produce at a high level out of the slot. We saw Jones pepper Wan’Dale Robinson in the slot at times with the Giants. Think of Downs as similar to Robinson, except more of a big-play threat.
Downs is still only 24 years old, so his best football is ahead of him. While there’s a chance that Pittman can regain his 2023 form, there’s also a risk that the back injury is lingering. This is the type of injury that can also flare up and affect Pittman’s production once again.
With that in mind, it’s more likely that Downs can give you a bigger profit than Pittman. Entering 2025 drafts, Pittman should be viewed more of as a floor play, with Downs being a shot at upside.
You have to love the spike weeks that Downs can bring to the table, making him the better option in Best Ball as well.
