DK Metcalf vs Rashee Rice: Who Should You Start?
Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. DK Metcalf (Pittsburgh Steelers) finished the 2025 season averaging 10.5 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Rashee Rice (Kansas City Chiefs) came in at 15.5 PPG over 8 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Rashee Rice carries a 5.0-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. DK Metcalf turned 99 targets into 850 yards and 6 touchdowns, while Rashee Rice converted 78 looks into 571 yards and 5 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: DK Metcalf sits Week 9 while Rashee Rice is off Week 6. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
