Start Mike Evans or DK Metcalf? Week 1

Our Week 1 call

Start Mike Evans over DK Metcalf in Week 1.

De-vigged player props project Mike Evans at 5.0 points and DK Metcalf at 5.0, a gap of 0.0. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. Drafters take Mike Evans at ADP 59 and DK Metcalf at 65. Market coverage on Mike Evans is 40 percent of what his position needs, so the market side of this carries proportionally less weight.

What the books imply

Player prop markets imply 5.0 fantasy points for Mike Evans, with 40 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

Player prop markets imply 5.0 fantasy points for DK Metcalf, with 40 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

That puts DK Metcalf 0.0 points ahead of Mike Evans on the books.

Week 1 matchups

Mike Evans and SF visit LAR on Thursday at 8:35 PM ET.

LAR allowed 47.9 fantasy points to WRs in its one game this season, the 4th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 147 yards and 3 touchdowns against LAR.

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, Mike Evans has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Mike Evans 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, Mike Evans played 8 games for TB and scored 84.8 PPR points, 10.6 a game, finishing WR76.

He caught 30 of 61 targets for 368 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 8 red zone targets and 331 air yards.

He was on the field for 65 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Mike Evans, Week 18 of 2025 against CAR: 50 of 67 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 34 yards, 5.4 PPR points.

Mike Evans, Week 17 of 2025 against MIA: 50 of 67 snaps, 7 targets and 3 catches for 31 yards, 1 touchdown, 12.1 PPR points.

Mike Evans, Week 16 of 2025 against CAR: 42 of 64 snaps, 9 targets and 5 catches for 31 yards, 1 touchdown, 14.1 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

Mike Evans scored 16.9 PPR points and DK Metcalf scored 8.0.

The call was right: Mike Evans outscored DK Metcalf by 8.9.

Mike Evans finished 11.9 points above the 5.0 the props implied.

Mike Evans, Week 1 against LAR: 49 of 65 snaps, 7 targets and 6 catches for 49 yards, 1 touchdown, 16.9 PPR points.

Mike Evans finished as the week's WR14 in PPR scoring.

DK Metcalf finished 3.0 points above the 5.0 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.

Their other Week 1 calls

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