Start A.J. Brown or DK Metcalf? Week 8

Updated Oct 27, 11:41 AM ET. Locks at kickoff, graded after. Week 9 answer posts Tuesday.

Start A.J. Brown over DK Metcalf

Start

A.J. Brown

WR · NE · at MIA

Market projects: 13.7; recent weeks avg
MIA D vs WR: 23.8; 3rd fewest to WRs (2026)
Upside: Rising; 70 of 100 at WR
Snap share: 68%; Through Week 7
Target share: 22%; Through Week 7

Sit

DK Metcalf

WR · PIT · vs CLE

Market projects: 12.3; recent weeks avg
CLE D vs WR: 31.8; 14th most to WRs (2026)
Upside: Rising; 76 of 100 at WR
Snap share: 95%; Through Week 7
Target share: 24%; Through Week 7

Should I drop A.J. Brown for DK Metcalf?

Yes, on the rest of the season. DK Metcalf projects 106 market-implied PPR points from Week 8 through Week 17 (11.8 a game over 9 games), A.J. Brown 85 (9.4 a game over 9 games). For Week 8 the call starts A.J. Brown over DK Metcalf. So make the move after his Week 8 game.

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Our Week 8 call

Start A.J. Brown over DK Metcalf in Week 8.

Market-based projections have A.J. Brown at 13.7 points and DK Metcalf at 12.3, a gap of 1.4. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. No player market is posted for A.J. Brown this week yet, so his 13.7 is the average of his market-based projections in Weeks 6 and 7 (11.8 and 15.5); the call is rebuilt when his market posts. No player market is posted for DK Metcalf this week yet, so his 12.3 is the average of his market-based projections in Weeks 5, 6 and 7 (12.1, 11.8 and 13.0); the call is rebuilt when his market posts. Drafters take A.J. Brown at ADP 17 and DK Metcalf at 66.

What the market projects

No Week 8 player market is posted for A.J. Brown yet. His market-based projections were 11.8 and 15.5 points in Weeks 6 and 7, an average of 13.7, which stands in until his Week 8 market posts.

The market-based projection for A.J. Brown is 0-1 touchdowns (7 market sources).

No Week 8 player market is posted for DK Metcalf yet. His market-based projections were 12.1, 11.8 and 13.0 points in Weeks 5, 6 and 7, an average of 12.3, which stands in until his Week 8 market posts.

The market-based projection for DK Metcalf is 0-1 touchdowns (7 market sources).

That puts A.J. Brown 1.4 points ahead of DK Metcalf on these projections.

Week 8 matchups

A.J. Brown and NE visit MIA on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET.

MIA allowed 23.8 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 6 games, the 3rd fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 116 yards and 0-1 touchdowns a game against MIA.

DK Metcalf and PIT host CLE on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

CLE allowed 31.8 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 7 games, the 14th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 150 yards and a touchdown a game against CLE.

By points allowed to the position, DK Metcalf has the softer matchup.

Injury status

A.J. Brown is not on the injury report.

DK Metcalf is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 8

Through Week 7, A.J. Brown played 68 percent of NE snaps, drew 22 percent of the targets, earned 35 percent of the air yards and had 15 percent of the red zone chances.

A.J. Brown, Week 1 against SEA: 31 of 71 snaps, 4 targets and 3 catches for 26 yards.

A.J. Brown, Week 6 against NYJ: 52 of 68 snaps, 10 targets and 3 catches for 27 yards.

A.J. Brown, Week 7 against CHI: 49 of 54 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 48 yards.

Through Week 7, DK Metcalf played 95 percent of PIT snaps, drew 24 percent of the targets, earned 38 percent of the air yards and had 9 percent of the red zone chances.

DK Metcalf, Week 4 against CLE: 70 of 72 snaps, 9 targets and 5 catches for 115 yards.

DK Metcalf, Week 5 against IND: 55 of 60 snaps, 1 carry for 11 yards, 4 targets and 3 catches for 12 yards.

DK Metcalf, Week 6 against TB: 75 of 79 snaps, 15 targets and 11 catches for 93 yards.

DK Metcalf, Week 7 against NO: 59 of 64 snaps, 6 targets and 2 catches for 56 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, A.J. Brown played 15 games for PHI and scored 220.3 PPR points, 14.7 a game, finishing WR11.

He caught 78 of 121 targets for 1003 yards and 7 touchdowns, with 12 red zone targets and 735 air yards.

He was on the field for 91 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, DK Metcalf played 15 games for PIT 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 and 436 air yards.

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

Their other Week 8 calls

Locks at kickoff, graded after. When the start/sit engine grades week 8, the call and the result appear on the public record, wrong ones included.

Drop or keep

Should I drop A.J. Brown for DK Metcalf?
Yes, on the rest of the season. DK Metcalf projects 106 market-implied PPR points from Week 8 through Week 17 (11.8 a game over 9 games), A.J. Brown 85 (9.4 a game over 9 games). For Week 8 the call starts A.J. Brown over DK Metcalf. So make the move after his Week 8 game.
Should I drop DK Metcalf for A.J. Brown?
No. Keep DK Metcalf: he projects 106 market-implied PPR points from Week 8 through Week 17 (11.8 a game over 9 games), A.J. Brown 85 (9.4 a game over 9 games). For Week 8 the call starts A.J. Brown over DK Metcalf.