If your fantasy football league hasn’t held its draft yet, it will soon enough. While some NFL fans allow their loyalties to determine who they select in fantasy football, league winners tend to know better.
Of course, the Seattle Seahawks roster has some intrigue in the fantasy football department, but outside of Jaxson Smith-Njigba, there aren’t many sure-fire fantasy studs to keep your roster at the top of the league.
Nonetheless, there are a few mid-to-late round Seahawks who can certainly flesh out most rosters, especially if you’re taking a chance at Elijah Arroyo or a deep-sleeper like Tyler Horton.
Aaron Rodgers’s age could limit former Seahawks WR DK Metcalf’s production
But if you find yourself missing out on one of those three options and Cooper Kupp, you may think to have a former Seahawk star in mind. After all, DK Metcalf is in a shiny new offense in Pittsburgh that is set to feature him as the primary target in an Aaron Rodgers-led attack. But one fantasy analyst is ready to pour cold water all over that idea before you click ‘draft player’.
According to Bleacher Report’s Joe Tansey, Metcalf is one veteran mid-round target to avoid. Tansey suggests that Metcalf’s pairing with Rodgers won’t have the same outcome as the former four-time MVP’s past No. 1 receivers.
On top of the potential for Rodgers to hit a wall put up by Father Time, the fact remains that Metcalf is one of few promising receiving targets for the Steelers. Freshly acquired tight end Jonnu Smith will likely play in the slot, and a rotation of unproven youngsters in Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson will play opposite of Metcalf.
While that leaves plenty of targets for Metcalf, it also allows defenses to put more attention on him.
FantasyPros ranked Metcalf as the No. 20 receiver in standard formats, which puts him ahead of players such as Jameson Williams, DeVonta Smith, and even George Pickens. It doesn’t take a fantasy expert to suspect that No. 1 wideouts such as Calvin Ridley or Courtland Sutton might be better options, at least for consistency’s sake.
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According to Sleeper, Metcalf hasn’t ranked as a top-15 receiver in PPR formats since 2021 after peaking as the No. 7 receiver in 2020. Last year, he ranked as the No. 32 wideout, his worst finish in PPR formats since his rookie season.
Of course, Metcalf had Geno Smith at quarterback, along with other issues in Seattle that have worsened his output beyond his control - shoddy run game, injuries, poor offensive line play.
Beyond the poor offensive line play, a true concern in Pittsburgh this season, the things holding Metcalf back in his new home are a bit too high a risk to justify drafting him high enough to be a weekly starter in your lineup.