Who Should I Start? John Metchie III or Malik Washington
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 19.3 | 0.2 |
John Metchie III News
Friday, August 7, 9:00 AM
Carolina Panthers wide receiver John Metchie III, who is with his fourth different NFL team in 2026 in a little more than 11 months, had a 19-yard rush and a 36-yard kick return in Thursday's Hall of Fame preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. With rookie wideout Chris Brazzell II (knee) already ruled out for the 2026 season, The Charlotte Observer's Mike Kaye suggests that Metchie has a real shot to compete for the WR3 role this year in Carolina behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. The 26-year-old's primary competition will be Xavier Legette, a former first-rounder who has disappointed in his first two years in the NFL. If Metchie makes more noise in training camp and the preseason, he could have a role in the slot with the Panthers, although it wouldn't generate enough volume for the former second-rounder from Alabama to be much more than a bench stash in deeper redraft formats. In 16 games with the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans in 2025, Metchie had career highs with 33 catches, 274 yards, and two touchdowns on 48 targets.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.4 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 23.6 | 0.1 |
Malik Washington News
Tuesday, August 4, 11:59 AM
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington has a chance to climb to the top of an unsettled depth chart after making strides with his route pacing and breaks, according to C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald. Washington said he learned from playing behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, particularly in how they ran routes, prepared and attacked the game. Both receivers are now gone, leaving Washington with a much larger opportunity alongside new quarterback Malik Willis. The former sixth-round pick caught 46 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, then added 110 yards and another score on 17 carries. Those numbers do not make him an established lead receiver, and he still has to separate from Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell and Miami's rookie additions. Still, Washington's familiarity with the offense and growing connection with Willis give him a legitimate path to leading the team in targets. He is worth monitoring in deeper fantasy leagues while Miami sorts out the receiver hierarchy.
John Metchie III vs. Malik Washington
Still trying to decide between Metchie III and Washington? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that John Metchie III is projected to score 4.9 points this week while Malik Washington is projected to score 6.4 points.
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