Start Josh Downs or Khalil Shakir? Week 2

Our Week 2 call

Start Khalil Shakir over Josh Downs in Week 2.

De-vigged player props project Khalil Shakir at 11.0 points and Josh Downs at 9.3, a gap of 1.8. Josh Downs'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. Drafters take Khalil Shakir at ADP 98 and Josh Downs at 93.

What the books imply

Player prop markets imply 9.3 fantasy points for Josh Downs, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

Player prop markets imply 11.0 fantasy points for Khalil Shakir, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

That puts Khalil Shakir 1.8 points ahead of Josh Downs on the books.

Week 2 matchups

Josh Downs and IND visit KC on Sunday at 8:20 PM ET.

KC allowed 13.0 fantasy points to WRs in its one game this season, the 2nd fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 55 yards and no touchdowns against KC.

Khalil Shakir and BUF host DET on Thursday at 8:15 PM ET.

DET allowed 55.6 fantasy points to WRs in its one game this season, the most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 293 yards and a touchdown against DET.

By points allowed to the position, Khalil Shakir has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Josh Downs is not on the injury report.

Khalil Shakir is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 2

Through Week 1, Josh Downs played 89 percent of IND snaps, drew 14 percent of the targets, earned 18 percent of the air yards and had 0 percent of the red zone chances.

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

Through Week 1, Khalil Shakir played 53 percent of BUF snaps, drew 21 percent of the targets, earned 10 percent of the air yards and had 43 percent of the red zone chances.

Khalil Shakir, Week 1 against HOU: 31 of 58 snaps, 6 targets and 4 catches for 40 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.

Josh Downs, Week 17 of 2025 against JAX: 35 of 57 snaps, 5 targets and 2 catches for 34 yards, 5.4 PPR points.

In 2025, Khalil Shakir played 16 games for BUF and scored 166.4 PPR points, 10.4 a game, finishing WR36.

He caught 72 of 95 targets for 719 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 13 red zone targets and 178 air yards.

He was on the field for 60 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Khalil Shakir, Week 17 of 2025 against PHI: 59 of 76 snaps, 7 targets and 6 catches for 35 yards, 9.5 PPR points.

Khalil Shakir, Week 16 of 2025 against CLE: 24 of 50 snaps, 5 targets and 4 catches for 34 yards, 7.4 PPR points.

Their other Week 2 calls

• Start Josh Downs over Jakobi Meyers.
• Start Josh Downs over Jordan Addison.
• Start Josh Downs over Quentin Johnston.
• Start Khalil Shakir over Jakobi Meyers.
• Start Khalil Shakir over Jordan Addison.
• Start Khalil Shakir over Matthew Golden.