Start Josh Downs or Devaughn Vele? Week 3

Our Week 3 call

Start Josh Downs over Devaughn Vele in Week 3.

De-vigged player props project Josh Downs at 11.4 points and Devaughn Vele at 10.9, 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 books imply

Player prop markets imply 11.4 fantasy points for Josh Downs, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The books have Josh Downs at 50.5 receiving yards and 4.5 receptions, with a 26% chance to score a touchdown (15, 11 and 15 books).

Player prop markets imply 10.9 fantasy points for Devaughn Vele, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The books have Devaughn Vele at 48.5 receiving yards and 4.5 receptions, with a 25% chance to score a touchdown (16, 11 and 15 books).

That puts Josh Downs 0.5 points ahead of Devaughn Vele on the books.

Injury status

Josh Downs is not on the injury report.

Devaughn Vele is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 3

Through Week 2, Josh Downs played 86 percent of IND snaps, drew 22 percent of the targets, earned 30 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.

Through Week 2, Devaughn Vele played 93 percent of NO snaps, drew 19 percent of the targets, earned 19 percent of the air yards and had 10 percent of the red zone chances.

Devaughn Vele, Week 1 against DET: 82 of 90 snaps, 9 targets and 7 catches for 69 yards, 1 touchdown.

Devaughn Vele, Week 2 against BAL: 65 of 68 snaps, 7 targets and 5 catches for 64 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.

Josh Downs, Week 18 of 2025 against HOU: 1 carry for -5 yards, 4 targets and 4 catches for 61 yards, 9.6 PPR points.

In 2025, Devaughn Vele played 13 games for NO and scored 66.3 PPR points, 5.1 a game, finishing WR95.

He caught 25 of 39 targets for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 4 red zone targets and 259 air yards.

He was on the field for 51 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Devaughn Vele, Week 15 of 2025 against CAR: 38 of 69 snaps, 6 targets and 5 catches for 69 yards, 11.9 PPR points.

Their other Week 3 calls

• Start Josh Downs over Denzel Boston.
• Start Josh Downs over DJ Moore.
• Start DK Metcalf over Josh Downs.
• Start Devaughn Vele over Adonai Mitchell.
• Start Devaughn Vele over Denzel Boston.
• Start George Kittle over Devaughn Vele.