Josh Downs to the Chiefs is the deadline move that matters

Josh Downs spent nine weeks as the best receiver on a team that was selling everything. He finished that run with 33 catches, 354 yards and a touchdown, led the Colts in receiving yards and asked to be moved. On Tuesday he got his wish, and he landed in the one building every receiver wants.

The Chiefs needed him badly. Xavier Worthy came off late on Sunday with a left hamstring, the deep threat behind him is on IR, and the rest of the room is young. Downs has lined up in the slot on about 70% of his snaps this season. That's the job he walks into.

What changes for your lineup

Downs goes from a competent target hog in a broken offence to the third option in a good one. Fewer looks some weeks, far better looks every week. Rashee Rice is still the first read and Travis Kelce still eats over the middle, so Downs isn't a WR2. He is the kind of flex who catches six balls when the outside is covered, and he'll see plenty of that while Worthy is out.

Rice loses a little. He's been taking about half his snaps from the slot, and some of those underneath targets are Downs's now. It's a small dent in a WR1 week, not a reason to bench him.

Mahomes is the caveat

Patrick Mahomes bent his throwing elbow the wrong way against the Jets, finished the game, and had an MRI that Andy Reid called "more positive news than negative news." It's a strain, and he's day-to-day for Atlanta. If he sits, this whole room is a fade for a week and Kenneth Walker carries the offence. Check Friday's report before you lock Downs in.

Dynasty

Downs is 25 and his contract runs out after the season. Reports before the deadline said Kansas City wanted a long-term piece rather than a rental, and you don't spend two picks on a slot receiver you plan to let walk. Eight games of tape with Mahomes is the best audition he could get. If you've been holding him as a bench WR4, his price just went up. I'd keep him.