Start Parker Washington or Josh Downs? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start Josh Downs over Parker Washington in Week 5.

Market-based projections have Josh Downs at 12.5 points and Parker Washington at 13.7, a gap of 1.2. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 12.5 fantasy points for Josh Downs, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market has Josh Downs at 57.5 receiving yards and 4.5 receptions, with a 31% chance to score a touchdown (14, 11 and 14 market sources).

Player markets imply 13.7 fantasy points for Parker Washington, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market has Parker Washington at 60.5 receiving yards and 4.5 receptions, with a 40% chance to score a touchdown (9, 12 and 14 market sources).

That puts Parker Washington 1.2 points ahead of Josh Downs on the market projections.

Week 5 matchups

Parker Washington and JAX host PHI on Sunday at 9:30 AM ET.

PHI allowed 37.0 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 4 games, the 10th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 162 yards and a touchdown a game against PHI.

Injury status

Josh Downs is not on the injury report.

Parker Washington is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 5

Through Week 4, Josh Downs played 79 percent of IND snaps, drew 23 percent of the targets, earned 36 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.

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.

Through Week 4, Parker Washington played 76 percent of JAX snaps, drew 26 percent of the targets, earned 41 percent of the air yards and had 13 percent of the red zone chances.

Parker Washington, Week 1 against CLE: 35 of 57 snaps, 6 targets and 5 catches for 83 yards, 1 touchdown.

Parker Washington, Week 2 against DEN: 48 of 59 snaps, 12 targets and 7 catches for 98 yards.

Parker Washington, Week 3 against NE: 50 of 62 snaps, 5 targets and 3 catches for 40 yards, 1 touchdown.

Parker Washington, Week 4 against CIN: 49 of 61 snaps, 1 carry for 3 yards, 3 targets and 1 catch for 7 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, Parker Washington played 16 games for JAX and scored 184.7 PPR points, 11.5 a game, finishing WR27.

He caught 58 of 95 targets for 847 yards and 5 touchdowns, with 12 red zone targets and 582 air yards.

He was on the field for 61 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 5 calls

• Start Christian Watson over Josh Downs.
• Start Davante Adams over Josh Downs.
• Start DK Metcalf over Josh Downs.
• Start Carnell Tate over Parker Washington.
• Start CeeDee Lamb over Parker Washington.
• Start Christian Watson over Parker Washington.