Start DK Metcalf or Carnell Tate? Week 8

Updated Oct 27, 11:46 AM ET. Locks at kickoff, graded after. Week 9 answer posts Tuesday.

Start DK Metcalf over Carnell Tate

Start

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

Sit

Carnell Tate

WR · TEN · at CIN

Market projects: 11.0; recent weeks avg
CIN D vs WR: 31.4; 15th most to WRs (2026)
Upside: Moderate; 46 of 100 at WR
Snap share: 82%; Through Week 7
Target share: 26%; Through Week 7

Should I drop Carnell Tate 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), Carnell Tate 98 (10.9 a game over 9 games). For Week 8 the call starts DK Metcalf over Carnell Tate.

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DK Metcalf rookie cards Carnell Tate rookie cards

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Our Week 8 call

Start DK Metcalf over Carnell Tate in Week 8.

Market-based projections have DK Metcalf at 12.3 points and Carnell Tate at 11.0, a gap of 1.3. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. 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. No player market is posted for Carnell Tate this week yet, so his 11.0 is the average of his market-based projections in Weeks 5, 6 and 7 (10.4, 11.2 and 11.3); the call is rebuilt when his market posts. Drafters take DK Metcalf at ADP 66 and Carnell Tate at 81.

What the market projects

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).

No Week 8 player market is posted for Carnell Tate yet. His market-based projections were 10.4, 11.2 and 11.4 points in Weeks 5, 6 and 7, an average of 11.0, which stands in until his Week 8 market posts.

That puts DK Metcalf 1.3 points ahead of Carnell Tate on these projections.

Week 8 matchups

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.

Carnell Tate and TEN visit CIN on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

CIN allowed 31.4 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 6 games, the 15th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 138 yards and a touchdown a game against CIN.

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

Injury status

DK Metcalf is not on the injury report.

Carnell Tate is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 8

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.

Through Week 7, Carnell Tate played 82 percent of TEN snaps, drew 26 percent of the targets, earned 45 percent of the air yards and had 5 percent of the red zone chances.

Carnell Tate, Week 4 against BAL: 54 of 64 snaps, 12 targets and 9 catches for 145 yards.

Carnell Tate, Week 5 against HOU: 48 of 63 snaps, 5 targets and 1 catch for 6 yards.

Carnell Tate, Week 6 against IND: 34 of 46 snaps, 7 targets and 6 catches for 70 yards, 1 touchdown.

Carnell Tate, Week 7 against CLE: 56 of 63 snaps, 7 targets and 5 catches for 69 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

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 Carnell Tate 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), Carnell Tate 98 (10.9 a game over 9 games). For Week 8 the call starts DK Metcalf over Carnell Tate.
Should I drop DK Metcalf for Carnell Tate?
No. Keep DK Metcalf: he projects 106 market-implied PPR points from Week 8 through Week 17 (11.8 a game over 9 games), Carnell Tate 98 (10.9 a game over 9 games). For Week 8 the call starts DK Metcalf over Carnell Tate.