Who should I pick up: Josh Downs or Khalil Shakir?

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 Khalil Shakir: 10.1 versus 9.8 projected FP in PPR. A longer-term hold can be a different decision; compare the outlook below before choosing who to drop.

Forecast updated Oct 30, 12:49 PM ET · PPR

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Josh Downs

WR · IND · vs JAC

Stats & schedule ›

10.1FF projected FP

Nov 1, 1:00 PM ET

63.5%rostered on ESPN-0.38 pp recent change

THE ALTERNATIVE

Khalil Shakir

WR · BUF · vs BAL

Stats & schedule ›

9.8FF projected FP

Nov 1, 1:00 PM ET

60.0%rostered on ESPN+0.77 pp recent change

WHY THIS PICKUP?

Fit the move to the job.

Josh Downs is the stronger immediate points option. Khalil Shakir 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.

Josh Downs

Josh Downs projects for 10.1 PPR points against JAC this week. His recent scoring average is 6.7 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 0.38 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 10.1 FP
ESPN: 8.4 FP
Sleeper: 10.2 FP
FantasyPros: 9.8 FP
Boosted Trees: 9.1 FP
Workload: 6.8 FP
Monte Carlo: 7.3 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:26 AM ET
Workload: Experimental · saved Oct 28, 9:08 PM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · central 80%: 0.7–14.7 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Khalil Shakir

Khalil Shakir projects for 9.8 PPR points against BAL this week. His recent scoring average is 12.2 FP. He is rostered in 60.0% of ESPN leagues, with a reported gain of 0.77 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 9.8 FP
ESPN: 9.3 FP
Sleeper: 9.3 FP
FantasyPros: 9.7 FP
Boosted Trees: 8.1 FP
Workload: 10.0 FP
Monte Carlo: 10.8 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:26 AM ET
Workload: Experimental · saved Oct 28, 9:08 PM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · central 80%: 1.2–21.2 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Roster data as of Oct 30, 12:30 PM ET / Oct 30, 12:30 PM 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	Josh Downs	Khalil Shakir
Next 3 weeks	28.9 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected	27.8 FP3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	89.8 FP10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye	101.9 FPHigher projection11/11 scheduled games projected
Weeks 15–18	34.6 FP4/4 scheduled games projected	37.3 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Josh Downs	Khalil Shakir
Week 8	10.1 FPvs JACHigher projection	9.8 FPvs BAL
Week 9	10.3 FPvs DALHigher projection	8.5 FPvs MIN
Week 10	8.5 FPvs MIA	9.5 FPvs NYJHigher projection
Week 11	9.0 FPvs HOU	9.2 FPvs MIAHigher projection
Week 12	8.4 FPvs NYG	8.6 FPvs KCHigher projection
Week 13	BYE	9.5 FPvs NEHigher projection
Week 14	8.8 FPvs PHI	9.5 FPvs GBHigher projection
Week 15	8.9 FPvs TEN	9.7 FPvs CHIHigher projection
Week 16	8.7 FPvs CIN	8.9 FPvs DENHigher projection
Week 17	8.0 FPvs CLE	9.2 FPvs MIAHigher projection
Week 18	9.1 FPvs JAC	9.5 FPvs NYJHigher projection

Outlook updated Oct 30, 12:58 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.

8.4 FP12.6 FP

DeMario DouglasWR · 44.8% rostered
10.6
Makai LemonWR · 39.6% rostered
10.5
Malik WashingtonWR · 37.5% rostered
10.4
Chris Godwin Jr.WR · 52.7% rostered
10.4
Khalil ShakirWR · 60.0% rostered
10.3

What about Josh Downs versus these pickups?

WR · Week 8

Josh Downs10.1projected FP

Ryan Flournoy9.9projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗WR · Week 8

DeMario Douglas10.4projected FP

Josh Downs10.1projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗WR · Week 8

Caleb Douglas10.8projected FP

Josh Downs10.1projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗WR · Week 8

Josh Downs10.1projected FP

Keenan Allen10.3projected 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 Douglas10.8projected FP

Malik Washington10.1projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗WR · Week 8