Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Josh Downs vs Tank DellWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tank Dell is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.5 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tank Dell is the better fantasy play this season.

Tank Dell has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.8-PPG advantage is real (8.5 to 6.7), and Tank Dell'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.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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WRIndianapolis Colts#99

Josh Downs

PPG

6.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

566

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

WRHouston Texans#99PPG LEADER

Tank Dell

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

588

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Josh Downs

Tank Dell

Head to Head

6.7 PPG8.5 PPG

16 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Downs: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Tank Dell: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Josh Downs is producing at 30% of elite pace and Tank Dell at 39%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Josh Downs vs Tank Dell: The Full Breakdown

Josh Downs and Tank Dell are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Josh Downs averaged 6.7 PPG across 16 games with the Indianapolis Colts, while Tank Dell posted 8.5 PPG in 12 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 1.8-PPG gap gives Tank Dell the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Josh Downs turned 88 targets into 566 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Tank Dell converted 72 looks into 588 yards and 4 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 14 bye. That means you need a backup plan at wide receiver for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Josh Downs (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Tank Dell (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Tank Dell outscored Josh Downs by a projected 31 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Downs played 16 games in 2025 compared to Tank Dell's 12. That durability gap means Josh Downs 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.
•Josh Downs saw 88 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Both players share a Week 14 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Josh Downs vs Tank Dell: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Josh Downs	Tank Dell
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.7	8.5
Games Played	16	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	107	102
Receptions	58	48
Rec/Game	3.6	4.0
Receiving Yards	566	588
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	49.0
Receiving TDs	4	4
Targets	88	72
Target Share/Game	5.5	6.0
Age	24	-
Experience	3 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 14

Summary

Tank Dell outscored Josh Downs by 1.8 PPG in 2025 (8.5 to 6.7). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Josh Downs or Tank Dell in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Tank Dell has the edge at 8.5 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 Tank Dell average in 2025?▾

Josh Downs averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Tank Dell averaged 8.5 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 1.8 points per game.

Do Josh Downs and Tank Dell share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Josh Downs and Tank Dell share a Week 14 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at wide receiver for that week.

Is Josh Downs or Tank Dell a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Tank Dell outscored Josh Downs by 1.8 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.