Start Christian Watson or DK Metcalf? Week 1

Our Week 1 call

Start DK Metcalf over Christian Watson in Week 1.

De-vigged player props project DK Metcalf at 8.9 points and Christian Watson at 5.1, a gap of 3.8. Drafters take DK Metcalf at ADP 65 and Christian Watson at 56. Market coverage on DK Metcalf is 70 percent of what his position needs, so the market side of this carries proportionally less weight.

What the books imply

Player prop markets imply 5.1 fantasy points for Christian Watson, with 40 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

Player prop markets imply 8.9 fantasy points for DK Metcalf, with 70 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

That puts DK Metcalf 3.8 points ahead of Christian Watson on the books.

Week 1 matchups

Christian Watson and GB visit MIN on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET.

MIN allowed 55.2 fantasy points to WRs in its one game this season, the 2nd most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns against MIN.

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

ATL allowed 22.4 fantasy points to WRs in its one game this season, the 8th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 124 yards and no touchdowns against ATL.

By points allowed to the position, Christian Watson has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Christian Watson was not on the injury report when the call was made.

DK Metcalf was not on the injury report when the call was made.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Christian Watson played 10 games for GB and scored 132.4 PPR points, 13.2 a game, finishing WR46.

He caught 35 of 55 targets for 611 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 6 red zone targets and 493 air yards.

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

Christian Watson, Week 17 of 2025 against BAL: 29 of 47 snaps, 6 targets and 5 catches for 113 yards, 1 touchdown, 22.3 PPR points.

Christian Watson, Week 16 of 2025 against CHI: 45 of 72 snaps, 6 targets and 2 catches for 17 yards, 3.7 PPR points.

Christian Watson, Week 15 of 2025 against DEN: 27 of 66 snaps, 5 targets and 3 catches for 29 yards, 5.9 PPR points.

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.

DK Metcalf, Week 16 of 2025 against DET: 65 of 74 snaps, 9 targets and 4 catches for 42 yards, 8.2 PPR points.

DK Metcalf, Week 15 of 2025 against MIA: 52 of 66 snaps, 3 targets and 3 catches for 55 yards, 1 touchdown, 14.5 PPR points.

How Week 1 went

DK Metcalf scored 8.0 PPR points and Christian Watson scored 32.7.

The call was wrong: Christian Watson outscored DK Metcalf by 24.7.

DK Metcalf finished 0.9 points below the 8.9 the props implied.

DK Metcalf, Week 1 against ATL: 64 of 67 snaps, 10 targets and 4 catches for 40 yards, 8.0 PPR points.

DK Metcalf finished as the week's WR50 in PPR scoring.

Christian Watson finished 27.6 points above the 5.1 the props implied.

Christian Watson, Week 1 against MIN: 52 of 68 snaps, 8 targets and 6 catches for 147 yards, 2 touchdowns, 32.7 PPR points.

Christian Watson finished as the week's WR2 in PPR scoring.

Their other Week 1 calls

• Start Christian Watson over Alec Pierce.
• Start Courtland Sutton over Christian Watson.
• Start Christian Watson over DJ Moore.
• Start DK Metcalf over Alec Pierce.
• Start DK Metcalf over Brian Thomas Jr..
• Start Brian Thomas Jr. over DK Metcalf.