What Do We Do With DK Metcalf In Fantasy This Year?

Fantasy managers face tough calls when players change teams, and DK’s move illustrates perfectly.

One of the biggest challenges we have as fantasy drafters is figuring out the value of players who have changed teams. Sometimes the upside or downside is obvious when the player is traded or free agents himself into a significantly better or worse situation. But what did DK land in? He’s clearly the No. 1 receiver on the Steelers. Yay! But that’s the problem, it’s the Steelers! Boo!

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The Seahawks weren’t the most prolific passing team last season, but they supported a middle-of-the-pack, adequate passing attack that supported DK Metcalf. As fantasy players, we have no idea what to expect this season in Pittsburgh. Last season’s two QBs are gone, replaced by the ghost of Aaron Rodgers. Contrary to what most people believe, Aaron Rodgers was not terrible last season. He was a solid, middle-of-the-league, adequate QB. Aaron Rodgers won’t be DK’s downfall. He can do the job.

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Last year, DK started the season on fire with three consecutive 100-yard games and two touchdowns. On the season, he averaged 15 yards per catch despite the knee injury he struggled with during the second half of the season. Could that knee injury have contributed to his inconsistency in the second half of the season? Let’s not sugar-coat it, though. At only seven Clutch games, DK had his worst consistency season since his rookie year, although his knee injury likely contributed to that.

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I believe that DK still has “IT”, but I don’t think the Steelers have what he needs to rise any higher than a good flex/WR3 in 2025. DK’s current ADP is 51, at the 5.03 pick. Under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith (the Kyle Pitts killer), the Steelers have one of the most run-heavy offenses in the league. DK may be fully healthy and the No.1 receiver, but it’s not going to be inconsistency that drags him down this season; it’s the offensive scheme.

Sure, DK will occasionally have a big game, but it’s not going to be as consistent as he did on the Seahawks. I’m not drafting him in the 5th round. I don’t trust the game plan to feature DK Metcalf as much as we are used to seeing throughout his fantasy career.

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