From the episode
Josh Downs has been a complete disappointment on his cost for where we drafted him. The fact that he got this role and is doing worse basically is awful. Scaling up a player's role doesn't always come with the same type of production, same type of efficiency, the same type of play. That is the case for Josh Downs.
STACKED’s take
Downs' expanded role failed to translate to production amid Daniel Jones' decline.
The source was bullish on Josh Downs heading into 2026, noting his efficiency as a slot receiver and expecting his role to expand. With the Colts removing Michael Pittman and not adding significant wide receiver talent, the source believed Downs would be forced into a full-time role and play outside, not just in the slot. The Colts coaching staff confirmed this plan during training camp and preseason. However, Downs has been a complete disappointment at his draft cost despite getting the expanded role he and the source wanted. The source attributes this partly to Daniel Jones being unexpectedly bad after his magical run with the Colts, noting that Jones was never that good to begin with and his decline has hurt all Colts pass catchers. The source's miss was underestimating how much Jones' injury recovery and regression would impact Downs' production, and failing to recognize that scaling up a player's role does not always result in improved efficiency or fantasy production.
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