Start DK Metcalf or Khalil Shakir? Week 8

Our Week 8 call

Start DK Metcalf over Khalil Shakir in Week 8.

Market-based projections have DK Metcalf at 12.3 points and Khalil Shakir at 11.3, a gap of 1.1. 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 Khalil Shakir this week yet, so his 11.3 is the average of his market-based projections in Weeks 5 and 6 (11.5 and 11.1); the call is rebuilt when his market posts. Drafters take DK Metcalf at ADP 66 and Khalil Shakir at 103.

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 Khalil Shakir yet. His market-based projections were 11.5 and 11.1 points in Weeks 5 and 6, an average of 11.3, which stands in until his Week 8 market posts.

That puts DK Metcalf 1.1 points ahead of Khalil Shakir 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.

Khalil Shakir and BUF host BAL on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

BAL allowed 35.8 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 7 games, the 7th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 182 yards and 0.6 touchdowns a game against BAL.

By points allowed to the position, Khalil Shakir has the softer matchup.

Injury status

DK Metcalf is not on the injury report.

Khalil Shakir 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 6, Khalil Shakir played 63 percent of BUF snaps, drew 20 percent of the targets, earned 13 percent of the air yards and had 11 percent of the red zone chances.

Khalil Shakir, Week 3 against LAC: 48 of 66 snaps, 3 targets and 1 catch for 6 yards.

Khalil Shakir, Week 4 against NE: 45 of 59 snaps, 8 targets and 7 catches for 82 yards.

Khalil Shakir, Week 5 against LAR: 44 of 64 snaps, 3 targets and 3 catches for 80 yards.

Khalil Shakir, Week 6 against LV: 41 of 68 snaps, 6 targets and 4 catches for 34 yards, 1 touchdown.

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.

In 2025, Khalil Shakir played 16 games for BUF and scored 166.4 PPR points, 10.4 a game, finishing WR36.

He caught 72 of 95 targets for 719 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 13 red zone targets and 178 air yards.

He was on the field for 60 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 8 calls

• Start A.J. Brown over DK Metcalf.
• Start DK Metcalf over Carnell Tate.
• Start Christian Watson over DK Metcalf.
• Start Carnell Tate over Khalil Shakir.
• Start Khalil Shakir over Denzel Boston.
• Start Khalil Shakir over Germie Bernard.