Brandon Aiyuk and DK Metcalf are about to fight again, as the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks meet on Thursday Night Football to begin Week 6 of the NFL season.
In a clash of teams boasting elite secondaries that can shut down the best receivers, one defining performance, good or bad, could change perceptions. Let's explore who between Aiyuk and Metcalf is likelier to create benefits.
Is Brandon Aiyuk a good fantasy pick in Week 6?
There's a reason the 49ers have prevented teams from snatching Brandon Aiyuk, securing him for the long term to the tune of $120 million over four years.
He's an elite playmaker who can excel at long range, burning cornerbacks who dare to tackle him. Without him, Kyle Shanahan's offense is reduced to having to rush or throw short, and it has shown in the first five games.
Christian McCaffrey may be the difference maker with his dual-threat ability and is the bigger reason for their decline, but Aiyuk has done them no favors either. In the first four games, he hasn't hit 100 yards.
When he finally did - against the Arizona Cardinals - it was a loss. He has also yet to reach the endzone, a streak Shanahan wants to end against a stacked secondary that boasts Pro Bowkers Riq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love.
Is DK Metcalf a good fantasy pick in Week 6?
On the other side, DK Metcalf also had a slow 2024 debut, catching only three passes for 29 yards against the Denver Broncos before exploding in the next three, hitting at least 100 yards and scoring a touchdown in two of them.
However, in the last game of that streak, a loss at the Detroit Lions, he had a costly fumble - which he would do again in a loss to the New York Giants, who restricted him to a paltry 56 yards.
Metcalf cannot afford to commit such a mistake against a defense filled with All-Pros and Pro Bowlers. including defensive backs Charvarius Ward and Talanoa Hufanga.
Whom should I start between Brandon Aiyuk and DK Metcalf?
In one of the closest and most competitive comparisons ever run on the SK Start/Sit optimizer, DK Metcalf just edges Brandon Aiyuk as the superior starting choice.
He may be predicted to be the less prolific runner after the catch (just under five points short), but his slightly higher TD potential puts him in the spot. In a game that may be decided by whichever secondary "blinks" the least, that's a very important attribute to have.
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