It was a tough game for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, as they lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 37-20. It was a tough offensive day as the Jaguars placed an emphasis on stopping the Colts’ rushing attack after its performance against the Tennessee Titans.
After rushing for 165 yards against the Titans, Zack Moss had seven carries for only 21 yards. Jonathan Taylor wasn’t much better, carrying the ball eight times for 19 yards. This focus on stopping the run made Gardner Minshew II attempt 55 passes. His lone touchdown was to Josh Downs, so is it time for fantasy football managers to consider Downs on the waiver wire?
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Should Josh Downs Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 7?
In the game against the Jaguars, Downs had only five catches for 21 yards. However, there are more numbers that could have fantasy football managers taking a look at Downs. First, he scored a touchdown, which is always a good thing for receivers in fantasy football.
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Another thing that makes Downs interesting is that he was targeted eight times, trailing only Michael Pittman Jr., who had 14. In Week 3, Downs had only three targets. However, in the other four games he has played, he has averaged 7.8 targets, with the lowest being five.
He currently leads all rookie wide receivers in catches with 23, and only tight end Sam LaPorta has more among rookies with 25. While those are definitely numbers that show he has a chance to be a good receiver in the future, is it enough for fantasy football managers to take a chance on him?
There are a couple of reasons to avoid Downs and not make the move just yet. First off, the Colts offense could be in for a couple of very difficult matchups in the next couple of weeks.
Up first for the Colts are the Cleveland Browns, who showed how good their defense is by beating the San Francisco 49ers 19-17. The pass defense of the Browns is the best in the NFL, and they figure to give the Colts all kinds of fits. After that is the New Orleans Saints, which is once again one of the better defenses in the NFL.
Despite the loss to the Jaguars, the Colts are a team that could absolutely find themselves in the playoff race. For the Colts to be able to win games, they have to be a team that controls the line of scrimmage and runs the ball. They can’t win if Minshew is throwing the ball 55 times.
The Colts were in the game against the Jaguars, as the score was 7-3 after one. However, Minshew fumbled the ball and threw a pick that helped the Jaguars score two touchdowns in the quarter. This forced the Colts to abandon how they wanted to play and throw the ball a ton.
It is still too early to sign him to your team this year, but he is absolutely capable of being a player who could be on your team in the future.
