The Titans and Steelers weren’t productive through the air last season, to say the least.
Pittsburgh averaged the 11th-fewest passing yards per game, while Tennessee racked up the third-fewest. As both sides enter 2026, they still have plenty of question marks surrounding their passing attacks but also have talented weapons to throw to. What's the outlook for two of the more gifted ones both in-game and in your lineup this weekend?
Let’s dig into the WR position and break down our NFL Week 1 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em NFL battle between Titans WR Carnell Tate and Steelers WR DK Metcalf for your fantasy football picks this week, including PrizePicks projections.
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Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em WRs, Week 1: Carnell Tate or DK Metcalf?
Who'd be the better pick out of this NFL Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em dilemma: Tate or Metcalf?
Why Start Carnell Tate?
Carnell Tate Week 1 PrizePicks Projections: 37.5 Rec Yards, 2.5 Recs (Goblin), 8.5 Fantasy Score
- The Titans have a new coaching staff this season. Robert Saleh is their head coach, and he brought in Brian Daboll to be the offensive coordinator. Before being the HC of the Giants, Daboll was the Bills’ OC and helped QB Josh Allen become one of the most productive players in the league.
- Tate averaged at least 14.1 yards per reception all three seasons in college. That included a mark of 17.2 in the 2025 campaign.
- WR Elic Ayomanor led the Titans with 79 targets last season. He was their big-play option, leaving him with an average depth of target of 12.1 yards.
- According to Pro Football Focus, Titans QB Cam Ward was seventh in dropbacks and eighth in pass attempts overall last year.
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Why Start DK Metcalf?
DK Metcalf Week 1 PrizePicks Projections: 48.5 Rec Yards, 3.5 Recs (Goblin), 10.5 Fantasy Score
- Metcalf led the Steelers with 99 targets in 2025 despite missing a pair of contests.
- The players with the most targets behind Metcalf were RB Kenneth Gainwell (85) and WR Calvin Austin III (55), who are no longer on the team.
- Metcalf (13) and Gainwell (17) were the only players on Pittsburgh last season to have double-digit red-zone targets.
- Via SumerSports, Metcalf's 22.45% target share was a top-25 mark for wideouts who ran 250+ routes a season ago.
- Per PFF, Metcalf was fourth among qualified WRs in the NFL with his average of 7.1 yards after the catch per reception.
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Week 1 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Verdict: Start Carnell Tate
In terms of matchups, Tate has a significant advantage over Metcalf for Week 1. Metcalf will face the Falcons, who were 13th in dropback EPA per play allowed last season, per RBSDM. Tate draws the Jets, who were dead last and also surrendered more passing TDs (36) than any club.
After sending CB Sauce Gardner to the Colts at the trade deadline, the Jets became even worse at the position. They didn’t significantly upgrade during the offseason, either, with CB Nahshon Wright being their most noteworthy addition. This will be the former third-round pick’s fourth team over the last four seasons.
Ward isn’t a top tier-QB, but he provides more fantasy upside than Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers does at this point. Among 43 QBs last year, Rodgers ranked 40th in average depth of target through the air at just 6.4 yards.
The Steelers also added WR Michael Pittman Jr., who is far more talented than any of the WRs they had behind Metcalf last year. Pittman registered at least 111 targets in each of his last five seasons with the Colts.
Tate has a great matchup for Week 1, while Metcalf might continue to be limited by Rodgers.
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Given who the two players' teams are facing, Tate seems to have the edge over Metcalf in fantasy land. That's without even considering environment, as Metcalf is now competing with Pittman for targets. If you're constructing a fantasy football lineup this weekend and are stuck between the two, the answer may be dictated by others.
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