Josh Downs · Xavier Worthy · 2026 week 8

Josh Downs or Xavier Worthy?

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

Start Josh Downs — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 1.1 points. The matchup leans Josh Downs (JAX allow the 3rd-most WR points), but you can defend either call.

Player	Wk 8	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Josh Downs START	@ JAX	10.2	3rd · soft	6.7	624	healthy
Xavier Worthy	@ DEN	9.1	27th · tough	9.8	378	healthy

WRs vs JAX recently: Tee Higgins 15.7 pts (W4) · Darius Cooper 13.1 pts (W5) · Jaylin Noel 16.7 pts (W6).

WRs vs DEN recently: Marquez Valdes-Scantling 2.2 pts (W5) · Jaxon Smith-Njigba 13.4 pts (W6) · Michael Wilson 6.6 pts (W7).

🎓 The coach's read

Josh Downs projects 1.1 points higher in PPR.
Josh Downs faces JAX, 3rd most generous to WRs.
Xavier Worthy faces DEN, 27th most generous to WRs.

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Josh Downs carries the higher trade value — 624 against 378 (a 39% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Josh Downs gets the most. Momentum: Josh Downs -639 and Xavier Worthy +10 over the last 30 days.

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

More WR decisions

Josh Downs or Tre Tucker?Josh Downs or Marvin Harrison Jr.?Josh Downs or Denzel Boston?Xavier Worthy or Antonio Williams?Xavier Worthy or Jakobi Meyers?Xavier Worthy or Jordan Addison?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.