DK Metcalf vs Kyle Pitts

“Now the Steelers get an offensive-minded coach in Mike McCarthy who should give a boost to every skill position player. I don’t know if Metcalf will ever be a 100-catch receiver, but he established career-lows in receptions and yards, things I believe will be remedied in 2026.”

“Going as the WR34 in PPR leagues, DK Metcalf finished last season as the WR23 in the same format. While he had a lot of middling performances toward the back half of the season, the first six weeks (including a Week 5 bye) featured games with some nice production.”

“He turns 29 in December, and Pittsburgh can get out of his deal next offseason for an $18 million dead cap hit. This time next year, we could be looking at Metcalf coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons as a potential free agent entering his age-30 season.”

“His first year in Pittsburgh was one to forget for DK Metcalf. The Steelers traded a second-round pick to acquire his services and handed him a four-year, $132 million extension in the process. Instead, Metcalf ended up with career lows in targets (99) and receiving yards (850).”

“Bernard likely starts the 2026 season third on the wide receiver depth chart, behind DK Metcalf and newcomer Michael Pittman Jr. in Pittsburgh, though there is a path to targets for the rookie early on.”

“While DK Metcalf finished last year as the WR26, averaging 12.5 PPR fantasy points per game, fantasy players couldn't trust him in their lineups. The veteran scored single-digit fantasy points in 40% of his games, including five of the final eight contests. Furthermore, the Steelers vastly improved their wide receiver room this offseason, adding Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard.”

“DK Metcalf has established himself as the number one option in the Steelers offense and is the only wide receiver of note to have already played with Aaron Rodgers. Last season, Metcalf became a yards after the catch monster, generating 7.2 YAC per reception, the fourth-most among wide receivers with 50+ targets, a massive increase from his career average of 4.25 YAC.”

“Don't be surprised if Metcalf gets back to his 2023 form, when he racked up 1,114 yards and eight touchdowns.”

“With Aaron Rodgers reunited with his former Packers head coach, I think he's going to play a lot better this year, especially since it's his last season in the NFL. That's likely to mean a bounce-back season for Metcalf.”

“DK Metcalf averaged 10.5 fantasy points per game in half-PPR formats last season (WR24). Metcalf recorded his lowest receiving yards per game (56.7) since his rookie year.”

“Metcalf led the team with six receiving touchdowns, but only three came from throws inside the red zone, despite his size advantage down there. If McCarthy's scheme features him more in that area and he can jump to double-digit touchdowns, Metcalf has a chance to be a top-18 fantasy wideout once again.”

“The Steelers drew one of the hardest schedules against opposing pass defenses. Now, fantasy managers are trying to project target distribution between offseason addition Michael Pittman, DK Metcalf, Pat Freiermuth, and the rest of the offense without any guarantee that the quarterback play will even be efficient enough to support multiple fantasy-relevant pass catchers.”

“The much-maligned Kyle Pitts is being drafted in the seventh round.”

“Fantasy managers spent years paying for the Kyle Pitts breakout before it happened. Now that it finally did, no one seems interested in paying for it.”

“10.04: Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL) This seems late for Pitts, but the concerns about the quarterback play in Atlanta are giving his stock a hit. That is a legitimate concern, but it should be noted that Tua Tagovailoa was able to get Mike Gesicki and Jonnu Smith career seasons.”

“There are compelling midrange options such as Sam LaPorta and Kyle Pitts .”

“isn’t exactly encouraging, but Kyle Pitts led the team in target share last season at 22.7%”

“Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL) The Falcons’ quarterback situation with a nicked-up Tua Tagovailoa and an injured Michael Penix Jr”

“Those are all elite numbers, and if Pitts had put up those stats all year, especially the fantasy points per game, he would have been the TE1 for fantasy. The problem is that with Drake London active, Pitts had a 19% target share, 42.2 receiving yards per game, 1.43 yards per route run, a 20.2% first-read share, 0.093 first downs per route run, and 9.6 fantasy points per game. All of those per route metrics were still quite strong, but the fantasy points per game mark would have made Pitts the TE20 last year.”

“Last year, Kyle Pitts had a tale of two seasons. Yes, overall it was a wonderful year as the TE5 in fantasy points per game and easily his best statistical season since his rookie year, but it was wildly different with Drake London in and out of the lineup. Without London, Pitts had a 26.7% target share with 84.4 receiving yards per game, 2.81 yards per route run, a 27.8% first-read share, 0.120 first downs per route run, and 19 fantasy points per game (per Fantasy Points Data).”

“Schultz finished tied with Jake Ferguson for third among tight ends in receptions behind only Trey McBride and Kyle Pitts . Schultz finished sixth among TEs in receiving yards.”

“Atlanta used the franchise tag to retain Pitts before reaching a three-year extension, making him the fourth highest-paid TE in the league. Pitts was “drafted to be great,” and 2025 saw Pitts return to high levels of production.”

“Kyle Pitts finished as the TE2 with just 9.8 fantasy points per game — the LOWEST ever for a TE2.”

“Overvalued: Kyle Pitts, Tight End (TE7, Pick 81 Overall) Pitts finished last season with 118 targets, 88 receptions, 928 yards, and five touchdowns. Many peg this as his breakout season, as he finally cracked out of the mediocrity of his last three seasons and came close to kissing the heights he reached in his first year. I, however, am bearish on his chances of returning to his top-five TE (TE2 OVR, TE5 per game) 2025 campaign.”