Start DK Metcalf or Josh Downs? Week 6

Our Week 6 call

Start DK Metcalf over Josh Downs in Week 6.

Market-based projections have DK Metcalf at 11.8 points and Josh Downs at 12.2, a gap of 0.4. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. DK Metcalf still gets the call because it also weighs where drafters take each player, ADP 66 against 96, and that outweighs a gap this size.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 12.2 fantasy points for Josh Downs, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for Josh Downs is 52 receiving yards, 4-5 receptions and 0.4 touchdowns (14, 12 and 14 market sources).

Player markets imply 11.8 fantasy points for DK Metcalf, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for DK Metcalf is 51 receiving yards, 4-5 receptions and 0.4 touchdowns (13, 12 and 14 market sources).

That puts Josh Downs 0.4 points ahead of DK Metcalf on the market projections.

Week 6 matchups

Josh Downs and IND host TEN on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

TEN allowed 35.9 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 5 games, the 11th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 174 yards and 0.8 touchdowns a game against TEN.

DK Metcalf and PIT visit TB on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

TB allowed 30.3 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 5 games, the 13th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 139 yards and 0.8 touchdowns a game against TB.

By points allowed to the position, Josh Downs has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Josh Downs is not on the injury report.

DK Metcalf is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 6

Through Week 5, Josh Downs played 80 percent of IND snaps, drew 20 percent of the targets, earned 29 percent of the air yards and had 9 percent of the red zone chances.

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.

Josh Downs, Week 5 against PIT: 60 of 71 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 47 yards.

Through Week 5, DK Metcalf played 95 percent of PIT snaps, drew 21 percent of the targets, earned 32 percent of the air yards and had 4 percent of the red zone chances.

DK Metcalf, Week 2 against NE: 68 of 70 snaps, 9 targets and 4 catches for 27 yards.

DK Metcalf, Week 3 against CIN: 59 of 62 snaps, 5 targets and 3 catches for 31 yards, 1 touchdown.

DK Metcalf, Week 4 against CLE: 70 of 72 snaps, 9 targets and 5 catches for 115 yards.

DK Metcalf, Week 5 against IND: 55 of 60 snaps, 1 carry for 11 yards, 4 targets and 3 catches for 12 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, DK Metcalf played 15 games for PIT and scored 187.2 PPR points, 12.5 a game, finishing WR26.

He caught 59 of 99 targets for 850 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 13 red zone targets and 436 air yards.

He was on the field for 87 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 6 calls

• Start Josh Downs over Adonai Mitchell.
• Start A.J. Brown over Josh Downs.
• Start Josh Downs over Carnell Tate.
• Start A.J. Brown over DK Metcalf.
• Start DK Metcalf over Carnell Tate.
• Start Christian Watson over DK Metcalf.