Week 4 is already here, and fantasy managers are sweating over a bunch of borderline wideouts. Two guys squaring off on Thursday Night Football, Pittsburgh Steelers WR DK Metcalf and Cleveland Browns rookie Denzel Boston, are definitely at the top of that list. We’re talking about a veteran struggling to find his groove against a hotshot rookie who just hit a speed bump. This week, you gotta make the call between them.
DK Metcalf’s Path to Turning It Around
Let’s be real, Metcalf hasn’t had the start to the 2026 fantasy season anyone expected. He’s currently sitting at WR42 in PPR formats, which is wild for a guy like him. But hey, there are some encouraging signs that a turnaround could be coming, maybe even this week against the Browns. Through three games, Metcalf has seen a team-high 24 targets. That volume alone tells you they want to get him the ball. He’s also coming off his best fantasy outing in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals, pulling in three receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Now, about his Week 4 opponent, the Cleveland Browns. Their passing defense has been below-average so far in 2026, allowing the 15th most passing yards per game in the NFL, at 224.0. However, they have shown they can lock down opposing WR1s in two of their three games. In Week 1, Jacksonville Jaguars WR1, Parker Washington Jr., had five receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. Week 2 saw Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR1, Emeka Egbuka, limited to three receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown. And in Week 3, Carolina Panthers WR1, Tetairoa McMillan, was held to just two receptions for 17 yards. It’s not all doom and gloom for Metcalf though. He did play the Browns once in 2025 and put up solid numbers: four receptions on nine targets for 95 yards and a touchdown.
Denzel Boston’s Rookie Reality Check
On the other side, we’ve got Cleveland’s rookie wide receiver, Denzel Boston. He burst onto the scene with back-to-back good fantasy outings to kick off his rookie year. The hype was real! But then Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers happened, and he came back down to earth a bit. He finished with just two receptions for 41 yards on four targets, landing him as WR52 in PPR for the week. Before that, in Weeks 1 and 2 combined, he racked up seven receptions for 154 receiving yards and two touchdowns. That’s the guy we want to see!
His Week 4 matchup is against Pittsburgh, and the Steelers’ defense is tough against the pass, allowing the eighth-fewest passing yards per game in the NFL at 192.7. Even with that stingy yardage, the last two WR1s the Steelers have faced still managed to carve out solid fantasy days. New England Patriots WR1, Romeo Doubs, had three receptions on four targets for 96 yards. And in Week 2, Cincinnati WR1 Ja’Marr Chase went off for nine receptions, 98 yards, and a touchdown. So, can Boston get back to his early-season production? The numbers say it feels about 50/50.
The Final Call for Week 4
When it comes down to it, fantasy managers should start DK Metcalf and sit Denzel Boston for Week 4. Boston is coming off a disappointing outing against Carolina, a team that ranks in the top 10 for fewest passing yards allowed in the NFL. And guess what? His Week 4 opponent, the Browns, are being noted as similar in that defensive strength. So, for this Thursday Night Football clash, roll with the veteran looking for a resurgence, and maybe keep the rookie on your bench to see if he can bounce back next week.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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