Start Josh Downs or Emeka Egbuka? Week 3

Our Week 3 call

Start Josh Downs over Emeka Egbuka in Week 3.

De-vigged player props project Josh Downs at 11.9 points and Emeka Egbuka at 11.8, a gap of 0.2. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. Both numbers are 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 11.9 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 (13, 10 and 15 books).

Player prop markets imply 11.8 fantasy points for Emeka Egbuka, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The books have Emeka Egbuka at 48.5 receiving yards and 4.5 receptions, with a 28% chance to score a touchdown (14, 11 and 14 books).

That puts Josh Downs 0.2 points ahead of Emeka Egbuka on the books.

Injury status

Josh Downs is not on the injury report.

Emeka Egbuka 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, Emeka Egbuka played 86 percent of TB snaps, drew 18 percent of the targets, earned 28 percent of the air yards and had 10 percent of the red zone chances.

Emeka Egbuka, Week 1 against CIN: 49 of 57 snaps, 6 targets and 5 catches for 63 yards.

Emeka Egbuka, Week 2 against CLE: 56 of 65 snaps, 1 carry for -3 yards, 5 targets and 3 catches for 16 yards, 1 touchdown.

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, Emeka Egbuka played 17 games for TB and scored 195.7 PPR points, 11.5 a game, finishing WR23.

He caught 63 of 127 targets for 938 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 11 red zone targets and 603 air yards.

He was on the field for 78 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Emeka Egbuka, Week 18 of 2025 against CAR: 39 of 67 snaps, 3 targets and 1 catch for 8 yards, 1.8 PPR points.

Their other Week 3 calls

• Start Josh Downs over Denzel Boston.
• Start Josh Downs over Devaughn Vele.
• Start Josh Downs over DJ Moore.
• Start Emeka Egbuka over DJ Moore.
• Start Emeka Egbuka over DK Metcalf.
• Start Jameson Williams over Emeka Egbuka.