Coming off his best game of the season, Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf and the Steelers are atop the AFC North, but news broke on Monday morning that Metcalf is dealing with an injury that could impact his availability going forward. The Steelers do have an extra day before they face the Dolphins on Monday Night Football in Week 15, but who would be in line to step up if Metcalf is out? Would it be wide receiver Calvin Austin III, new arrival Adam Thielen, running back Kenneth Gainwell, or tight ends Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth?
Let’s dive in and take a look at the latest info on Metcalf’s situation and the fantasy football outlook for some of the players who could help fill in.
DK Metcalf injury update
Metcalf leads the team in catches, targets, receiving yards, and touchdowns this season as the true WR No. 1. He hauled in a season-high seven touchdowns for a season-high 148 receiving yards against the Ravens in Baltimore, and he finished the game, but on Monday morning, reports came out that he stayed overnight in the hospital.
He’s expected to fly back to Pittsburgh Monday and his status is unclear for Week 15. There’s a chance he is ready to go by next week and resumes his normal role, but at this point of the fantasy football season, it pays to be ready for every possibility.
Calvin Austin’s time to shine?
The team’s second receiver for most of the season has been Calvin Austin III, who has missed a few games but still ranks second on the team with 309 receiving yards on his 27 catches.
Austin has been fairly quiet lately with just one catch on four targets in the last two weeks. That one catch was a perfectly-placed 31-yard strike from Aaron Rodgers, which highlights his big-play potential. Austin has een very boom-or-bust throughout his career, but more opportunities next Monday would make him an interesting deep-league addition.
Welcome to the Steel City, Adam Thielen
Adam Thielen made his Steelers debut on Sunday after the Vikings released him last week. Just five days after signing with Pittsburgh, Thielen started the game and played the second-most snaps of any receiver (48%). He caught his only target for five yards.
Thielen would be another interesting deep league option if Metcalf is out, since he still could have a good game or two left in the tank if Aaron Rodgers looks his way more often on Monday night.
Wide receiver alternatives
If Metcalf’s targets are available next week and the other receivers struggle, the other targets could go to other positions. RB Kenneth Gainwell has the second-most catches on the team this season, with 50 catches ln 58 targets for 286 receiving yards. He would get a boost if the team needs more receiving help out of the backfield, and would be a low-end RB2 and a strong flex play if Metcalf is out.
The only receiving touchdown of the day against the Ravens came from RB Jaylen Warren, who would also get a bump from some extra targets.
Tight ends Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth have split time at tight end but both have been productive. Freiermuth has four touchdowns on his 28 catches for 307 receiving yards, while Smith has 30 catches but only 190 yards and two touchdowns.
Of the two tight ends, Freiermuth has a higher ceiling, especially with his red zone usage, but Smith also gets enough work to be on the radar if you’re looking for a depth play this week against the Dolphins. Smith also gets that revenge game narrative, facing the team that traded him to Pittsburgh this past offseason.
The Bottom Line
Keep a close eye on Metcalf’s practice status and ultimately his game status for Monday. Austin and Thielen have almost no fantasy value if he plays, but they have a high ceiling if he’s out, even though they remain high-risk. Austin is the slightly better of the two options if both are available.
Gainwell and Warren would also be busier without Metcalf, raising both their ceiling and their floor against Miami next week and making each of them strong starting options Odunze out, both Moore and Burden III are strong options. At tight end, Freiermuth would be a fringe start with good upside, while Smith would also be a deep-league option to watch if Metcalf is out.
