The Steelers have been dealt a major blow this afternoon. Michael Pittman is officially ruled out for this weekend’s game vs. the Patriots due to a foot injury.
It’s a notable loss for Pittsburgh, who acquired the wide receiver from Indianapolis this offseason. Still, there’s enough weapons on the roster to keep this offense afloat. Following today’s news, is fellow wideout DK Metcalf ($5,200) a viable fantasy football starter against the Patriots in Week 2?
DK Metcalf Fantasy Outlook for Week 2 vs. Patriots
Metcalf was held in check last Sunday against the Falcons, only hauling in four catches for 40 yards (8.0 FPTS). It’s not the kind of start most fantasy managers envisioned, but there’s reason for optimism. He led all Steelers pass catchers with ten targets. Aaron Rodgers ($5,100) isn’t one to spread the ball around; the quarterback is more than willing to feed his favorite weapons. Last season, DK racked up 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns over 15 games. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but good enough to warrant flex consideration.
Pittman wasn’t the most involved in Week 1, snagging three catches (three targets) for 58 yards (8.8 FPTS). Still, his absence leaves Rodgers without many proven players on the outside. Youngsters Germie Bernard ($3,400) and Roman Wilson ($3,200) trail Metcalf on Pittsburgh’s wide receiver depth chart. Tight end Pat Freiermuth ($3,700) should remain involved in the offense, but he’s not what you’d call a target monster.
New England’s secondary is legit, headlined by standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez. In terms of receptions and receiving yards, these defensive backs did a stellar job in 2025. However, the Patriots were tied for the seventh-most touchdowns allowed to opposing wide receivers (17). Metcalf, one of the league’s better red zone threats, reached the end zone against this group last September. It’s also worth noting that the defending AFC champs had trouble locking down Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($8,100) last week. Seattle’s superstar wide receiver recorded eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown (26.2 FPTS). A performance half as good from Metcalf in this one wouldn’t come as a surprise.
The Steelers can be a frustrating offense for fantasy purposes. Week 1’s 20-13 victory over the Falcons is proof of that. When going up against third-string quarterback Cooper Rush ($4,200), Pittsburgh was more than content to chew clock. With that being said, Rodgers put up 10.1 intended air yards per pass attempt against Atlanta. That’s up from his mark of 6.0 last season. Metcalf, one of the league’s better deep threats, should benefit from more shots downfield. Keeping that in mind, Pittsburgh’s leading receiver is a middle of the road WR2/high-end flex option on Sunday.
