Who should I pick up: Josh Downs or Makai Lemon?

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 Makai Lemon: 5.8 versus 4.4 projected FP in Standard. 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 · Standard

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Josh Downs

WR · IND · vs JAC

Stats & schedule ›

5.8FF projected FP

Nov 1, 1:00 PM ET

63.5%rostered on ESPN-0.41 pp recent change

THE ALTERNATIVE

Makai Lemon

WR · PHI · vs WAS

Stats & schedule ›

4.4FF projected FP

Nov 1, 8:20 PM ET

39.6%rostered on ESPN+0.24 pp recent change

WHY THIS PICKUP?

Fit the move to the job.

Josh Downs is the stronger immediate points option. Makai Lemon 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 5.8 Standard points against JAC this week. His recent scoring average is 3.7 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 0.41 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 5.8 FP
ESPN: 4.8 FP
Sleeper: 6.1 FP
FantasyPros: 5.8 FP
Boosted Trees: 4.9 FP
Workload: 4.1 FP
Monte Carlo: 4.3 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Workload: Experimental · saved Oct 28, 9:08 PM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · central 80%: 0.7–9.4 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Makai Lemon

Makai Lemon projects for 4.4 Standard points against WAS this week. His recent scoring average is 6.3 FP. The defensive matchup raises the FF estimate by 1.25%. He is rostered in 39.6% of ESPN leagues, with a reported gain of 0.24 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 4.4 FP
ESPN: 3.1 FP
Sleeper: 4.6 FP
FantasyPros: 4.0 FP
Boosted Trees: 2.9 FP
Workload: 3.8 FP
Monte Carlo: 6.7 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Workload: Experimental · includes FantasyPros stat inputs · saved Oct 28, 9:08 PM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · central 80%: 1.1–14.7 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	Josh Downs	Makai Lemon
Next 3 weeks	17.4 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected	7.9 FP2/2 scheduled games projected · 1 bye
Remaining regular-season schedule	53.3 FPHigher projection10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye	37.0 FP10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye
Weeks 15–18	20.4 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected	13.5 FP4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Josh Downs	Makai Lemon
Week 8	5.8 FPvs JACHigher projection	4.4 FPvs WAS
Week 9	6.4 FPvs DALHigher projection	3.5 FPvs NYG
Week 10	5.2 FPvs MIAHigher projection	BYE
Week 11	5.2 FPvs HOUHigher projection	3.6 FPvs PIT
Week 12	5.0 FPvs NYGHigher projection	4.2 FPvs DAL
Week 13	BYE	4.1 FPvs ARIHigher projection
Week 14	5.3 FPvs PHIHigher projection	3.7 FPvs IND
Week 15	5.2 FPvs TENHigher projection	2.9 FPvs SEA
Week 16	5.2 FPvs CINHigher projection	3.8 FPvs HOU
Week 17	4.7 FPvs CLEHigher projection	3.2 FPvs SF
Week 18	5.3 FPvs JACHigher projection	3.6 FPvs NYG

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.

6.0 FP8.1 FP

Caleb DouglasWR · 28.2% rostered
7.1
DeMario DouglasWR · 44.7% rostered
7.1
Khalil ShakirWR · 60.0% rostered
6.7
Malik WashingtonWR · 37.5% rostered
6.6
Ryan FlournoyWR · 21.0% rostered
6.3

What about Josh Downs versus these pickups?

WR · Week 8

Josh Downs5.8projected FP

Ryan Flournoy6.7projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗WR · Week 8

Josh Downs5.8projected FP

Khalil Shakir6.5projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗WR · Week 8

DeMario Douglas6.9projected FP

Josh Downs5.8projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗WR · Week 8

Caleb Douglas8.1projected FP

Josh Downs5.8projected 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 Douglas8.1projected FP

Malik Washington6.3projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗WR · Week 8