Should I start DK Metcalf or Puka Nacua in Week 8?

Where the draft room stands

Live drafts hold no current pick on DK Metcalf, and the board ranks him 37th overall on the rest of his evidence.

Live drafts hold no current pick on Puka Nacua, and the board ranks him 42nd overall on the rest of his evidence.

In 2QB drafts he goes at ADP 6.

The market-based projections

The market-based projection for DK Metcalf is 5.8 PPR points a game off 1 market across 2 market sources. That is 30 percent of what a wide receiver's projection needs, so it is a fragment of one rather than a projection.

The market-based projection for Puka Nacua is 5.1 PPR points a game off 1 market across 8 market sources. That is 30 percent of what a wide receiver's projection needs, so it is a fragment of one rather than a projection.

DK Metcalf's projection is not complete, so the two figures are not set against each other here.

This season through Week 7

Through Week 7, DK Metcalf has been on the field for 95 percent of PIT snaps, drawn 24 percent of the targets and had 9 percent of the red zone chances.

He has taken 19 of the offence's 58 third down targets, had 1 of its 7 chances inside the five and seen 5 of its 41 two minute targets.

His 58 targets have averaged 12.7 air yards.

In Week 5 against IND he carried 1 time for 11 yards, caught 3 of 4 targets for 12 yards and did not score.

In Week 6 against TB he caught 11 of 15 targets for 93 yards and did not score.

In Week 7 against NO he caught 2 of 6 targets for 56 yards and did not score.

Through Week 7, Puka Nacua has been on the field for 85 percent of LAR snaps, drawn 32 percent of the targets and had 17 percent of the red zone chances.

He has taken 17 of the offence's 39 third down targets, had 3 of its 17 chances inside the five and seen 6 of its 22 two minute targets.

His 62 targets have averaged 8.9 air yards.

In Week 5 against BUF he carried 2 times for 9 yards, caught 17 of 24 targets for 138 yards and scored 1 touchdown.

In Week 6 against ARI he caught 6 of 7 targets for 80 yards and did not score.

In Week 7 against LV he carried 2 times for 10 yards, caught 8 of 10 targets for 68 yards and scored 1 touchdown.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025 DK Metcalf played 15 games and scored 187.2 PPR points, 12.5 a game, finishing WR26.

He caught 59 of 99 targets for 850 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 13 red zone targets.

That came to 6.6 targets a game, a 60 percent catch rate and 14.4 yards a catch.

He was on the field for 87 percent of the snaps in the games he played.

In 2025 Puka Nacua played 16 games and scored 375.0 PPR points, 23.4 a game, finishing WR1.

He caught 129 of 166 targets for 1715 yards and 10 touchdowns, with 16 red zone targets.

That came to 10.4 targets a game, a 78 percent catch rate and 13.3 yards a catch.

He was on the field for 68 percent of the snaps in the games he played.

Puka Nacua was available for 1 game more.

Head to head

In 2025 Puka Nacua scored 23.4 PPR points a game and DK Metcalf 12.5, 11.0 a game between them.

DK Metcalf finished WR26 that year and Puka Nacua WR1.

Puka Nacua had 67 more targets than DK Metcalf, 166 to 99.

Puka Nacua had 865 more receiving yards than DK Metcalf, 1715 to 850.

This season DK Metcalf holds the bigger snap share, 95 percent against 85 percent.

This season Puka Nacua holds the bigger target share, 32 percent against 24 percent.

Byes and availability

DK Metcalf is off in Week 9 and Puka Nacua in Week 11, so either can cover the other's bye.