Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Josh Downs vs Stefon DiggsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Stefon Diggs is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.9 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Stefon Diggs is the better fantasy play this season.

Stefon Diggs has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.2-PPG advantage is real (9.9 to 6.7), and Stefon Diggs's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Josh Downs is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRIndianapolis Colts#99

Josh Downs

PPG

6.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

566

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

WRNew England Patriots#30PPG LEADER

Stefon Diggs

PPG

9.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,013

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Josh Downs

Stefon Diggs

Head to Head

6.7 PPG9.9 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Stefon Diggs: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #30 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Josh Downs is producing at 30% of elite pace and Stefon Diggs at 45%. That ranking gap means Stefon Diggs carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Josh Downs vs Stefon Diggs: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Josh Downs (Indianapolis Colts) finished the 2025 season averaging 6.7 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Stefon Diggs (New England Patriots) came in at 9.9 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Stefon Diggs carries a 3.2-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Josh Downs turned 88 targets into 566 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Stefon Diggs converted 102 looks into 1013 yards and 4 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Josh Downs sits Week 14 while Stefon Diggs is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Stefon Diggs at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Josh Downs is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Josh Downs (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Stefon Diggs (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Stefon Diggs outscored Josh Downs by a projected 54 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Stefon Diggs played 17 games in 2025 compared to Josh Downs's 16. That durability gap means Stefon Diggs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Josh Downs scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Stefon Diggs saw 102 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Josh Downs is 8 years younger than Stefon Diggs (24 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Josh Downs vs Stefon Diggs: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Josh Downs	Stefon Diggs
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.7	9.9
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	107	168
Receptions	58	85
Rec/Game	3.6	5.0
Receiving Yards	566	1,013
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	59.6
Receiving TDs	4	4
Targets	88	102
Target Share/Game	5.5	6.0
Age	24	32
Experience	3 yrs	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Stefon Diggs holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.9 points per game. Josh Downs averaged 6.7 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Josh Downs or Stefon Diggs in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Stefon Diggs has the edge at 9.9 PPG compared to Josh Downs's 6.7 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Josh Downs and Stefon Diggs average in 2025?▾

Josh Downs averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Stefon Diggs averaged 9.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.2 points per game.

When are Josh Downs and Stefon Diggs's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Josh Downs (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Stefon Diggs (NE) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Josh Downs or Stefon Diggs a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Stefon Diggs outscored Josh Downs by 3.2 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.