Josh Downs · Makai Lemon · 2026 week 1

Josh Downs or Makai Lemon?

Wondering who you should start this week — Josh Downs or Makai Lemon? The start/sit call and the numbers behind it are below, plus who wins a straight-up trade. Rebuilt nightly.

Start Josh DownsJosh Downs projects 6.5 PPR points clear of Makai Lemon in week 1, drawing BAL — the 5th-ranked matchup for WRs. The numbers behind the call are below; overrule them with your eyes open.

Player	Wk 1	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Josh Downs START	vs BAL	12.5	5th · soft	8.9	691	Questionable
Makai Lemon	vs WAS	6.0	6th · soft	–	734	healthy

WRs vs BAL recently: Stefon Diggs 13.8 pts (W16) · Christian Watson 17.3 pts (W17) · Calvin Austin 11.5 pts (W18).

WRs vs WAS recently: DeVonta Smith 10.2 pts (W16) · KaVontae Turpin 14.6 pts (W17) · DeVonta Smith 5.2 pts (W18).

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Makai Lemon carries the higher trade value — 734 against 691 (a 6% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Makai Lemon gets the most. Momentum: Josh Downs -175 and Makai Lemon -303 over the last 30 days.

Open in Start/Sit (any scoring) Open in the Trade Analyzer

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Game logs, matchup ranks and form are the 2025 season — 2026 hasn’t kicked off. Projections, schedule and trade values are current 2026 numbers, refreshed nightly.