DK Metcalf just drew 15 targets against Tampa Bay, catching 11 of them for 93 yards and 20.3 PPR points. With Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson both on injured reserve, Pittsburgh’s passing game is running through him. Now the Steelers head to Paris to face the Saints in an early Sunday kickoff. Find out whether you should start or sit DK Metcalf in Week 7.
DK Metcalf Start or Sit Advice for Week 7
The volume is locked in. Metcalf leads the Steelers with 52 targets, a 23.9% share at 8.7 per game, and he carries 35.4% of the team’s air yards. With Pittman out until at least Week 10 and Wilson until Week 11, Metcalf and Germie Bernard are the only established receivers left, and Ben Skowronek has been inactive the past two games. That concentration is what produced the 15-target game in Week 6.
New Orleans gives him room to work down the field. The Saints allow 110.7 air yards per game to wide receivers, above the league average of 102.9, and have surrendered 18 red zone targets and six receiving touchdowns to the position, both above league marks of 13.4 and 5.1. For a big-bodied receiver who wins at the catch point, that red zone volume is a meaningful opening. The Saints have faced Detroit, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Minnesota and the Giants, a group throwing right around league average against them, so those numbers are a fair read.
Pittsburgh’s passing volume supports him too. The Steelers throw 39.2 times per game and generate 36.3 targets per game, which leaves plenty of opportunity for a receiver commanding nearly a quarter of the looks.
The Biggest Fantasy Risk for DK Metcalf in Week 7
Efficiency has been the persistent issue. Metcalf has caught just 57.7% of his targets at 6.1 yards per target, so his production depends on volume more than big plays. His weekly line has bounced between 5.3 and 20.3 PPR points, and the 5.3-point game came just one week before his 20.3-point outing.
Touchdowns have also been scarce. He has scored only once this season and has just two red zone targets, while Bernard has six and Pat Freiermuth has five. Despite his size, Pittsburgh has not leaned on him near the goal line, which caps his ceiling in an offense scoring 22.8 points per game.
The Saints do one thing well that limits his upside after the catch. New Orleans allows just 39.0 YAC per game to receivers, well below the league average of 48.3, so Metcalf will need to make his plays at the catch point rather than in open space. The Saints have also collected 15 sacks, above the league average of 13.4, which could cut down the time Aaron Rodgers needs to push the ball downfield.
The international kickoff is a practical concern as well. With the game starting at 9:30 a.m. ET, fantasy managers will need to set lineups early.
Fantasy Outlook for DK Metcalf in Week 7
Metcalf is a Strong Start in Week 7 and belongs in lineups as a solid WR2. His target share is secure with Pittsburgh’s receiver room depleted, and New Orleans gives up air yards and red zone looks at an above-average rate.
The catch rate and limited red zone usage keep some volatility in his floor. Still, a receiver drawing this much volume in a matchup that allows downfield production is a strong bet for a useful afternoon. Lock him in before the early kickoff.