The Seattle Seahawks Trade DK Metcalf to Steelers: 2025 Fantasy Football Implications
We have a major shakeup in the NFL that will undoubtedly affect fantasy football for 2025, as the Seattle Seahawks have traded star wide receiver DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick. This move is significant, as it changes so many things for both of these offenses going forward. In today’s discussion, we explore how this blockbuster deal affects fantasy football for 2025.
Seattle Seahawks
After DK Metcalf requested a trade last week and Geno Smith was traded over the weekend, it was clear that the Seattle Seahawks were headed towards a retooling phase of sorts. The team wanted to get younger and cheaper, especially on offense. Not to mention that Seattle also cut wide receiver Tyler Lockett recently, moving on from another franchise staple. Just days after requesting a trade, DK Metcalf has been dealt, leaving Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the only established pass catcher in Seattle. After essentially doing nothing as a rookie in 2023 fantasy-wise, Smith-Njigba broke out in 2024, averaging 14.9 fantasy points per game. The up and coming receiver also averaged 7.8 targets per game last season, and that was with DK Metcalf still on the team. With Metcalf no longer on the team, Smith-Njigba will seemingly be a target hog in 2025. Plus, it is being reported that Sam Darnold is signing with the Seahawks on a huge three-year deal, so that is good news for Smith-Njigba. With the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, Darnold was able to support two fantasy relevant receivers in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, so the veteran signal caller has a proven track record. Fantasy managers should be trying to do everything they can to get Jaxon Smith-Njigba on their team in 2025. His future is extremely bright.
Pittsburgh Steelers
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team finally adds that big name wide receiver that they have been wanting for so long. After missing out on Brandon Aiyuk last summer, the Steelers finally get their guy in DK Metcalf. This acquisition is great for real life football, but for fantasy purposes, it is a bit more complicated. This offense already has a young and talented receiver in George Pickens, who averaged 7.1 targets per game in 2024. Not to mention Pat Freiermuth, who averaged 4.4 targets per game in 2024 in his own right as well. Add in DK Metcalf, who averaged 7.2 targets per game with the Seahawks in 2024, and you suddenly have a very crowded offense for fantasy football in 2025. The Pittsburgh Steelers also love to run the football a ton as well, which is just another layer on top of all of this. We still do not know what the quarterback situation will look like in 2025 either, so there are just too many things going against this offense for fantasy purposes in 2025. If Russell Wilson is back under center in Pittsburgh in 2025, then fantasy managers should stay away from this offense altogether. However, if it is Aaron Rodgers under center for this team in 2025, then fantasy managers should take whichever receiver presents the most “value” in drafts between Pickens and Metcalf, although I would not be too eager about either one honestly.