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    Josh Downs Fantasy Waiver Wire: Analyzing If You Should Consider Adding the Colts WR

    Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs has put together back-to-back impressive performances. Should you add him in your fantasy football league?

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    Despite Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback Anthony Richardson missing time, receiver Josh Downs has flourished over the last two weeks. Once backup QB Joe Flacco stepped in for the Colts, Downs became a lethal weapon with legitimate fantasy football value.

    While Flacco continues to thrive and Richardson works his way back from an oblique injury, Downs is a player to potentially add in your fantasy football league.

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    Should Josh Downs Be Added Off the Fantasy Waiver Wire in Week 6?

    All stats are from TruMedia unless otherwise stated.

    Downs missed the first two games of the regular season due to a high ankle sprain that he suffered during practice. Once he returned in Week 3, Downs underwhelmed managers with Richardson at QB.

    In Week 3, Downs hauled in three receptions on five targets for just 22 yards against the Chicago Bears. But when Richardson went down with an oblique injury in Week 4, his production skyrocketed as Flacco began to pepper him with targets.

    Over the last two weeks, Downs was surprisingly the 10th-highest-scoring WR in full-PPR leagues. With Flacco at quarterback, he has generated 17 receptions on 21 targets for 151 yards and one touchdown.

    Since Downs returned to action, only four receivers have had more receptions than the second-year wide receiver. Stefon Diggs, Garrett Wilson, Drake London, and Wan’Dale Robinson are the only players with more than Downs’ 20 receptions since Week 3.

    While Robinson’s name is a bit of a surprise, Downs has joined elite company. Regardless of who is starting at QB for the Colts, Downs should continue to receive a high volume of targets as he becomes a key cog in their offense.

    Downs has also proven to be one of the NFL’s most efficient high-volume targets since Week 3. Among players with 26 or more targets over the last three weeks, he has the second-highest reception percentage (76.9%), which only trails Robinson (77.4%).

    Although Downs will have to compete with Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce for targets, he has a clear role as the Colts’ starting slot WR. He has played 89.3% of his total snaps at slot WR in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.

    Once Richardson returns to action for the Colts, it’ll be interesting to see if he can get on the same page with Downs. While other quarterbacks have had success throwing to Downs, Richardson has yet to establish that connection with Indianapolis’ promising WR.

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