DK Metcalf — Week 4: The Deep Ball Finally Landed
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Tuesday, Oct 6
Metcalf caught 5 of 9 targets for a season-high 115 yards, including a 43-yarder that started Pittsburgh's fourth-quarter comeback and catches of 22 and 28 on the drive that tied it. The 43 and the 28 were his first catches this season on throws that traveled 20 or more yards in the air, in a 27–24 loss to the Browns.
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The full read
21 to 10, Browns, 13 oh seven left in the fourth quarter, second and eight at the Pittsburgh 25. Aaron Rodgers threw deep right for DK Metcalf, 43 yards in the air, and Metcalf caught it at the Cleveland 32. +3.3 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and 5.8 points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it. Four snaps later Darnell Washington caught the touchdown that made it 21 to 16. Through three weeks Metcalf had been thrown to nine times on balls that traveled 20 or more yards in the air and caught none of them.
The rest came on the tying drive. Down 24 to 16, two 46 left, first and 10 at the Pittsburgh 33: deep left, 22 yards, out of bounds at the Cleveland 45. Two snaps later, second and four at the 39, deep left again, 28 yards to the 11. +5.7 points of win probability. The drive ended in Pat Freiermuth's touchdown and Rodgers's two-point run, 24 all.
The line: nine targets, five catches, a hundred 15 yards, five first downs, +5.6 expected points on the targets. Two came on third down on the opening drive, 15 yards on third and 11 seven on third and three; after the seven, a taunting penalty on him cost 15 yards, and the drive still ended in Roman Wilson's touchdown. Four throws his way fell incomplete: one deep in the first quarter, two short on second and third down, and a deep middle ball on second and 15 in the third.
Nine targets led the Steelers; Wilson and Jaylen Warren had six each.
Back in June the preview leaned toward Metcalf on lead-receiver target volume and named the deep connection with Rodgers as the whole ceiling. The volume has been there, 10, nine, five and nine targets. The deep part arrived Thursday. Four games: 33 targets, 16 catches, 213 yards, more than half of them on Thursday, and one touchdown.
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_Data via nflverse._
When DK Metcalf's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
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