Drake London or Josh Downs: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Start London — the projection and consensus rank edges are too wide to ignore.
Drake London projects 13.8 to Downs's 9.1 and is the higher consensus play (WR7 to WR48). Downs's edge is the game script, 23.0 implied points to 19.8. The gap is wide.
Drake London
8.211.013.8 Projected Points
Josh Downs
5.07.19.1 Projected Points
Drake London’s market
Josh Downs’s market
Why Drake London
StartWR1 and primary target. Big-bodied X receiver who wins contested catches at the catch point with elite ball skills.
Start — every-week WR start at consensus WR7: 31% target share in 2025, 13.8 PPR projected vs PIT.
- Vegas implies 19.8 team points as 3.0-point underdogs.
- Listed WR on the latest depth chart with a 91% snap share in 2025.
Latest on London
TreVeyon Henderson won't suit up on Wednesday, leaving most of the backfield work for Rhamondre Stevenson.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Josh Downs
Toss-UpWR2 working primarily from the slot. Twitchy separator with reliable chain-moving production.
Toss-up — WR48 consensus, projects WR53 this week: 18% target share in 2025, 9.1 PPR projected vs BAL.
- Vegas implies 23.0 team points as 3.5-point underdogs.
- Listed WR-2 on the latest depth chart with a 59% snap share in 2025.
Latest on Downs
Josh Downs evaded the Colts' injury report entirely on Wednesday, signaling that he should be ready to go for the season opener against the Ravens.
ESPN · Sep 9, 2026The Colts have made clear Downs will be used across the formation this season after spending the last three seasons primarily working out of the slot.
SI.com · Aug 28, 2026Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Drake London | Josh Downs |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 8.211.013.8 | 5.07.19.1 |
| Consensus rank | WR7 | WR48 |
| Opponent vs position | PITno ranking yet | BALno ranking yet |
| Target share | 31%(2025) | 18%(2025) |
| Reception share | 29%(2025) | 17%(2025) |
| Implied total · spread | 19.8+3.0 | 23.0+3.5 |
| Depth chart | WR1 | WR2 |
| Snap share | 91%(2025) | 59%(2025) |
Signal breakdown
- 13.8 vs 9.1 projected PPR pointsDrake London +
- Rank 7 vs 48Drake London +
- Matchup (DvP composite)even
- Implied 19.8 vs 23.0 team pointsJosh Downs +
- No injury designationseven
- 91% vs 59% snap shareDrake London +
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