Start Josh Downs or Christian Watson? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start Josh Downs over Christian Watson in Week 5.

Market-based projections have Josh Downs at 13.4 points and Christian Watson at 12.9, a gap of 0.5. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 13.4 fantasy points for Josh Downs, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market has Josh Downs at 58.5 receiving yards and 5.5 receptions, with a 29% chance to score a touchdown (12, 10 and 14 market sources).

Player markets imply 12.9 fantasy points for Christian Watson, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market has Christian Watson at 60.5 receiving yards and 4.5 receptions, with a 34% chance to score a touchdown (14, 9 and 14 market sources).

That puts Josh Downs 0.5 points ahead of Christian Watson on the market projections.

Injury status

Josh Downs is not on the injury report.

Christian Watson is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 5

Through Week 4, Josh Downs played 79 percent of IND snaps, drew 23 percent of the targets, earned 36 percent of the air yards and had 11 percent of the red zone chances.

Josh Downs, Week 1 against BAL: 48 of 54 snaps, 4 targets and 2 catches for 37 yards.

Josh Downs, Week 2 against KC: 54 of 65 snaps, 9 targets and 7 catches for 72 yards.

Josh Downs, Week 3 against HOU: 48 of 71 snaps, 11 targets and 5 catches for 77 yards.

Josh Downs, Week 4 against WAS: 51 of 66 snaps, 4 targets and 3 catches for 16 yards.

Through Week 4, Christian Watson played 79 percent of GB snaps, drew 21 percent of the targets, earned 25 percent of the air yards and had 16 percent of the red zone chances.

Christian Watson, Week 1 against MIN: 52 of 68 snaps, 8 targets and 6 catches for 147 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Christian Watson, Week 2 against NYJ: 53 of 59 snaps, 11 targets and 4 catches for 41 yards, 1 touchdown.

Christian Watson, Week 3 against ATL: 53 of 66 snaps, 10 targets and 7 catches for 96 yards, 1 touchdown.

Christian Watson, Week 4 against TB: 41 of 60 snaps, 3 targets and 3 catches for 47 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Josh Downs played 16 games for IND and scored 136.4 PPR points, 8.5 a game, finishing WR44.

He caught 58 of 88 targets for 566 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 14 red zone targets and 422 air yards.

He was on the field for 58 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Christian Watson played 10 games for GB and scored 132.4 PPR points, 13.2 a game, finishing WR46.

He caught 35 of 55 targets for 611 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 6 red zone targets and 493 air yards.

He was on the field for 68 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 5 calls

• Start Davante Adams over Josh Downs.
• Start George Pickens over Josh Downs.
• Start Josh Downs over Malik Nabers.
• Start Christian Watson over Carnell Tate.
• Start Christian Watson over Denzel Boston.
• Start Christian Watson over DK Metcalf.