Start Josh Downs or DJ Moore? Week 3

Our Week 3 call

Start Josh Downs over DJ Moore in Week 3.

De-vigged player props project Josh Downs at 11.3 points and DJ Moore at 11.7, a gap of 0.3. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. DJ Moore's number is scaled up from a partial market: the books have not posted every stat the position needs, so the rest is estimated from what they have.

What the books imply

Player prop markets imply 11.7 fantasy points for DJ Moore, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The books have DJ Moore at 49.5 receiving yards and 3.5 receptions, with a 35% chance to score a touchdown (14, 11 and 14 books).

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).

That puts DJ Moore 0.3 points ahead of Josh Downs on the books.

Week 3 matchups

DJ Moore and BUF host LAC on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

LAC allowed 39.9 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 2 games, the 7th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 184 yards and 1.5 touchdowns a game against LAC.

Injury status

DJ Moore is listed as questionable with a shoulder - ac joint injury.

Josh Downs is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 3

Through Week 2, DJ Moore played 51 percent of BUF snaps, drew 14 percent of the targets, earned 26 percent of the air yards and had 0 percent of the red zone chances.

DJ Moore, Week 1 against HOU: 44 of 58 snaps, 8 targets and 5 catches for 100 yards, 1 touchdown.

DJ Moore, Week 2 against DET: 23 of 74 snaps, 1 carry for -1 yards, 0 targets and 0 catches for 0 yards.

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.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, DJ Moore played 17 games for CHI and scored 170.2 PPR points, 10.0 a game, finishing WR35.

He caught 50 of 85 targets for 682 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 11 red zone targets and 460 air yards.

He was on the field for 85 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

DJ Moore, Week 18 of 2025 against DET: 3 targets and 1 catch for 11 yards, 2.1 PPR points.

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.

Their other Week 3 calls

• Start Chris Godwin Jr. over DJ Moore.
• Start Christian Watson over DJ Moore.
• Start DK Metcalf over DJ Moore.
• Start Josh Downs over Denzel Boston.
• Start Josh Downs over Devaughn Vele.
• Start DK Metcalf over Josh Downs.