DK Metcalf vs Ricky Pearsall: Who Should You Start?
If you are choosing between DK Metcalf and Ricky Pearsall for your lineup, you are not alone. DK Metcalf finished the 2025 season at 10.5 PPG for the Pittsburgh Steelers (15 games), and Ricky Pearsall averaged 7.8 for the San Francisco 49ers (9 games).
That 2.7-point weekly advantage for DK Metcalf is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.
Target volume is the story here. DK Metcalf saw 99 targets in 2025, while Ricky Pearsall drew 53. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for DK Metcalf, even in weeks where Ricky Pearsall posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
Both share a Week 9 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking wide receivers this deep on your bench, plan your replacement wide receiver early.
