Two players, one answer.
Josh Downs vs Michael Penix Jr.
Any format · Week 8 start/sit · PPR
Stats through week 7 of 2026
This week
Start Michael Penix Jr. · 14.9 to 9.8 projected (Week 8, PPR)
Rest of season
Josh Downs by 21% (redraft PPR)Dynasty
Michael Penix Jr. by 28% (Dynasty Superflex)
Week 8 · PPR · 71% held up in 2025
Start Michael Penix Jr.
On Sleeper's projections, Michael Penix Jr. is projected 5.1 points ahead of Josh Downs. In the 2025 season, a player projected that far ahead outscored the other 71% of the time.
QB · ATL
Michael Penix Jr.
14.9 projected
@ TB · Sun 1:00 PM ET
17.1 a game this season · last 3: 14.4, 23.1, 20.4
WR · IND
Josh Downs
9.8 projected
@ JAX · Sun 1:00 PM ET
8.2 a game this season · last 3: 7.7, 8.7, 3.8
What the call rests on
- Michael Penix Jr.: Sleeper's projection, last changed Tue, Oct 27, 5:40 PM ET
- Josh Downs: Sleeper's projection, last changed Tue, Oct 27, 5:40 PM ET
- Sleeper's projections read Tue, Oct 27, 5:50 PM ET.
- Injury statuses: Sleeper's player list, read Tue, Oct 27, 9:01 AM ET (once a day). Game-day inactives, about 90 minutes before kickoff, come after it.
| Same projections, scored | Jr. | Downs |
|---|---|---|
| PPR | 14.9 | 9.8 |
| Half PPR | 14.9 | 7.8 |
| Standard | 14.9 | 5.9 |
What could change it before kickoff
Nothing pending on either: both are expected to play, and the gap is wide enough that a typical projection update doesn't close it.
Open in Who should I start (your league, more players)
This week’s projections are Sleeper’s, scored with PPR settings. The percentage is how often a projected gap like this held up across the 2025 season; checked against 2026 games (not used to fit it), the stated chances so far run a few points high, so read a 60% call as nearer 55%.