Dynasty Rookie Report Card: Josh Downs and Tyson Bagent

Each week throughout the 2023 NFL season, I’ll cover two rookies in the Rookie Report Card and will generally write about the most prominent performers from that particular week. I’ll discuss how well he’s lived up to expectations at the NFL level and then grade the player in three categories: performance to date, rookie season potential, and long-term upside.

Josh Downs, WR IND

Week 7 stats: Five receptions on six targets for 125 yards and one touchdown; 23.5 PPR points, WR3 on the week.

The Indianapolis Colts made a splash in the 2023 NFL Draft when they paired Shane Steichen with Anthony Richardson. One of the primary architects of Jalen Hurts’ NFL success was now getting to work with the most athletic quarterback of all time from a testing standpoint. As excited as I was about Richardson coming to the NFL, I was skeptical it would be a good fit for his weapons operating in the field's short to intermediate areas. In the third round, the Colts selected Josh Downs, an incredible receiver at North Carolina who profiled primarily as a slot option at the NFL level because of size concerns. I dropped him down my rankings because it didn’t seem like a good fit with Richardson’s skillset. Boy, was I wrong. He’s seen fewer than five targets only once this season and was pivotal to the success of both Richardson and Gardner Minshew. Let’s get to know Downs as a prospect.