Oh snap, the Seahawks weren't kidding: DK Metcalf is heading to the Steelers in return for a 2025 second-round pick (52nd overall).

Pittsburgh Steelers Acquire WR DK Metcalf From Seahawks

Additionally, Metcalf is signing a five-year, $150-million contract with Pittsburgh, making him tied for fifth in terms of annual earnings at the position behind only Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Not too shabby for the 27-year-old veteran, who has caught the fifth-most TDs (48) and racked up the 11th-most yards (6,324) at the position since entering the league back in 2019.

Let's start with the Steelers, who add Metcalf to an offense that:

  1. Doesn't currently have a QB, although word on the street is that Justin Fields remains "priority A". Russell Wilson and Sam Darnold could also be possible.
     
  2. Already boasts one, uhm, how do we say this, demonstrative WR in George Pickens. Now, the lack of any additional, overly qualified pass-catchers means that most of the offense's targets should be funneled through its pair of feisty alphas; just realize there is suddenly a LOT of potential for Red Zone fireworks in the way of WWE moves and cornerback casualties. Fun for almost everyone … other than Steeleres fans, of course.
     
  3. Wasn't exactly overflowing with bunches of fantasy-friendly targets to begin with considering Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith's offense posted a -6% dropback rate over expected mark last season, making them the fourth most run-heavy group in the league.

Fantasy Football Impact For George Pickens, DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Metcalf (WR31 in PPR points per game) functioned as a bit of a boom-or-bust WR3 in 2024. He worked as the WR14 in PPR points per game (15.7) with a solid 23% target share during the first seven weeks of the season. However, from Weeks 11-18, after returning from injury? 10.7 PPR points per game (WR43) and a 20% target share.

Perhaps it was the mid-season MCL pull that knocked down Metcalf's numbers, but the emergence of Jaxon Smith-Njigba was another example of the veteran failing to completely dominate targets in his own offense. While neither Geno Smith nor Russell Wilson should have exactly been confused with Tom Brady during these years, guys like JSN and Tyler Lockett still found ways to earn more pass-game opportunities. Which is pretty wild considering Metcalf is a capital B BEAST; God doesn't make too many humans standing 6'3", weighing 228 pounds with 4.33 speed.

That said, the former second-round pick has never quite fully managed to turn his exceptional physical skills into consistently elite fantasy production.

Metcalf PPR points per game since entering the NFL:

  • 2019: 11.7 (WR41)
  • 2020: 17 (WR10)
  • 2021: 14.4 (WR22)
  • 2022: 13.3 (WR25)
  • 2023: 14.1 (WR22)
  • 2024: 12.8 (WR31)

Overall, the uncertainty under center and potential for a more run-heavy offense does constitute a slight downgrade for Metcalf in fantasy land, even if the addition is certainly an awesome upgrade to a Steelers WR room that had the third-fewest 2025 dollars devoted to the position entering Sunday.

For now, Metcalf and Pickens should both be viewed as the sort of boom-or-bust WR3s they have largely each been in recent years. The Steelers certainly have 150 million reasons why Metcalf can (and likely will) lead the way in targets, although both big-bodied instigators figure to flirt with some big-time performances inside an offense that racked up the fifth-most targets to WRs thrown at least 30 yards downfield last season.

For now, I'll be ranking Metcalf as my WR28 alongside Marvin Harrison Jr. and DeVonta Smith, while Pickens is my WR38 next to Jerry Jeudy and Jakobi Meyers.

Oh, as for the Seahawks: Sucks to suck for whoever winds up under center in Seattle, and JSN has a very real shot to lead the NFL in targets. This reality makes it tough to get the rising third-year slot maven outside the position's top 12 options; he's firmly in the low-end WR1 conversation next to fellow WR1 ballers like Drake London, A.J. Brown, Garrett Wilson, and Ladd McConkey.