Who Should I Start? DK Metcalf or Brian Thomas Jr.

Monday, January 5, 3:07 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf has rejoined the team following his two-game suspension in Weeks 17 and 18 for an altercation with a fan during the team's Week 16 contest in Detroit against the Lions. Pittsburgh's offense really struggled the final two weeks of the regular season, but they did just enough to beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night to clinch the NFC North title and a spot in the postseason. Veterans Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen tried to help pick up the slack in the passing attack with Metcalf out, and it also helped that the Steelers got Calvin Austin III back from an injury in Week 18. Metcalf's return will help the Steelers stretch the field, but he'll be a volatile DFS play during Wild-Card weekend against the Houston Texans and their top-ranked defense. In 15 regular-season games, Metcalf was tied for 25th among wideouts with 10.5 half-PPR points per game.

Monday, January 5, 10:46 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. had a disappointing year relative to preseason expectations in 2025, recording 48 receptions for 707 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets across 14 games played. Down the stretch of the regular season, Thomas Jr. appeared to slide down the pass-catcher pecking order in Jacksonville. The 23-year-old recorded just nine catches for 106 yards and zero touchdowns on 15 targets over his final three contests. Thomas Jr. also played fewer than 80% of Jacksonville's offensive snaps in five out of his team's six final games. The Jaguars are now set to face the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the AFC playoffs. In the regular season, Buffalo allowed the fewest passing yards (2,894) of any defense in the NFL. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues may find Thomas Jr. tough to trust given his difficult matchup and diminished role in Jacksonville.