Who should I pick up: Darius Cooper or Josh Downs?

The claim now. The weeks ahead. Make room for the right player.

THE PICKUP CALL

For this week: Josh Downs

If both are available and you need Week 8 points, pick up Josh Downs over Darius Cooper: 8.0 versus 3.7 projected FP in Half-PPR. A longer-term hold can be a different decision; compare the outlook below before choosing who to drop.

Forecast updated Oct 30, 12:12 PM ET · Half-PPR

THE ALTERNATIVE

Darius Cooper

WR · PHI · vs WAS

Stats & schedule ›

3.7FF projected FP

Nov 1, 8:20 PM ET

10.0%rostered on ESPN-0.85 pp recent change

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Josh Downs

WR · IND · vs JAC

Stats & schedule ›

8.0FF projected FP

Nov 1, 1:00 PM ET

63.5%rostered on ESPN-0.41 pp recent change

WHY THIS PICKUP?

Fit the move to the job.

Josh Downs is the stronger immediate points option. Darius Cooper is more widely available across ESPN leagues, but league-wide ownership cannot tell us who is available in yours. For a WR vacancy, compare the immediate matchup with the weeks you actually need covered. A rising roster percentage can explain interest in a player; it does not increase his projected score. If you must drop someone, check the full roster in GamePlan before making the claim.

Darius Cooper

Darius Cooper projects for 3.7 Half-PPR points against WAS this week. His recent scoring average is 5.9 FP. The defensive matchup raises the FF estimate by 2.5%. He is rostered in 10.0% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.85 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 3.7 FP
ESPN: 3.4 FP
Sleeper: 2.2 FP
FantasyPros: 3.4 FP
Boosted Trees: 2.1 FP
Workload: 2.6 FP
Monte Carlo: 4.6 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:04 AM ET
Workload: Experimental · includes FantasyPros stat inputs · saved Oct 28, 9:08 PM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · central 80%: 0.7–9.4 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Josh Downs

Josh Downs projects for 8.0 Half-PPR points against JAC this week. His recent scoring average is 5.2 FP. The defensive matchup raises the FF estimate by 6.25%. He is rostered in 63.5% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.41 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 8.0 FP
ESPN: 6.6 FP
Sleeper: 8.1 FP
FantasyPros: 7.8 FP
Boosted Trees: 7.2 FP
Workload: 5.5 FP
Monte Carlo: 5.8 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:04 AM ET
Workload: Experimental · saved Oct 28, 9:08 PM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · central 80%: 0.8–11.9 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Roster data as of Oct 30, 11:30 AM ET / Oct 30, 11:30 AM ET. Recent change uses ESPN’s reported field; its lookback window is not specified. Saved model estimates are supporting evidence, not independent votes.

THE HOLD, NOT JUST THE CLAIM

What comes after this week?

Future FF estimates are separate from the current-week pickup call. Totals describe the player, not extra points for your roster. Weeks 15–18 are a calendar view; your league’s playoff weeks may differ. Green highlights the higher displayed projection when both outlooks are known; ties and incomplete comparisons stay neutral.

Window	Darius Cooper	Josh Downs
Next 3 weeks	7.1 FP2/2 scheduled games projected · 1 bye	23.2 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	34.4 FP10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye	71.6 FPHigher projection10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye
Weeks 15–18	13.1 FP4/4 scheduled games projected	27.5 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Darius Cooper	Josh Downs
Week 8	3.7 FPvs WAS	8.0 FPvs JACHigher projection
Week 9	3.4 FPvs NYG	8.4 FPvs DALHigher projection
Week 10	BYE	6.9 FPvs MIAHigher projection
Week 11	3.4 FPvs PIT	7.1 FPvs HOUHigher projection
Week 12	3.8 FPvs DAL	6.7 FPvs NYGHigher projection
Week 13	3.6 FPvs ARIHigher projection	BYE
Week 14	3.4 FPvs IND	7.0 FPvs PHIHigher projection
Week 15	2.9 FPvs SEA	7.0 FPvs TENHigher projection
Week 16	3.6 FPvs HOU	7.0 FPvs CINHigher projection
Week 17	3.2 FPvs SF	6.3 FPvs CLEHigher projection
Week 18	3.4 FPvs NYG	7.2 FPvs JACHigher projection

Outlook updated Oct 30, 12:24 PM ET. Health and roles can change.

PICKUP RANKINGS · WR

More options. The same scale.

FF–Monte Carlo midpoint order within this pickup pool. The window connects two estimates; it is not a confidence interval. Rankings may differ from the FF points-only call above.

7.6 FP9.4 FP

DeMario DouglasWR · 44.7% rostered
8.9
Caleb DouglasWR · 28.2% rostered
8.6
Khalil ShakirWR · 60.0% rostered
8.5
Malik WashingtonWR · 37.5% rostered
8.5
Chris Godwin Jr.WR · 52.7% rostered
8.2

What about Josh Downs versus these pickups?

WR · Week 8

Josh Downs8.0projected FP

Ryan Flournoy8.2projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗WR · Week 8

Josh Downs8.0projected FP

Khalil Shakir8.2projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗WR · Week 8

DeMario Douglas8.7projected FP

Josh Downs8.0projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗WR · Week 8

Caleb Douglas9.4projected FP

Josh Downs8.0projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗

More WR pickup decisions

Recorded comparison interest informs the order where available, followed by nearby projected options. These are not claims that both players are free agents in your league.

WR · Week 8

Caleb Douglas9.4projected FP

Malik Washington8.2projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗WR · Week 8