# Derek Brown: Brown is fading DK Metcalf again in 2026, arguing his underlying metrics and struggles against two-high coverage mean little upside at his current draft price.

**Claimed:** Sep 4, 2026
**Pundit:** Derek Brown — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/derek-brown
**Outlet:** FantasyPros — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fantasypros
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/09/7-fantasy-football-draft-landmines-experts-avoid-2026/

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

> I’m getting back aboard the “Fade D.K.” train in 2026 because I don’t see much upside at his current draft price.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **DK Metcalf to fall short of his draft cost (his current draft price)**
  - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- DK Metcalf — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dk-metcalf
- Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers

## What others said about the same people

- Bryan DeArdo on Drew Allar: A CBS Sports piece lays out Pittsburgh's quarterback pecking order: Aaron Rodgers starts, Mason Rudolph is the No. 2, rookie Drew Allar sits at No. 3 and Will Howard is fourth, with the Steelers expected to keep all four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster rather than trading Howard. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4af69b53-867a-4e1f-8e7d-7f699e4ed649 (scored 100)
- Jack Markowski on Will Howard: Markowski writes that Howard now appears locked into the 53-man roster, that Pittsburgh is unlikely to move Rudolph, and that Rudolph has the inside track to be the backup behind Aaron Rodgers. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1085a04c-1453-40e5-ad1f-1d1573417b37 (scored 100)
- Kevin Patra on Mason Rudolph: Patra argues the Steelers are increasingly likely to keep four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster, with Mason Rudolph and third-round pick Drew Allar both safe, leaving Will Howard's spot as the only real question. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5d2a53ae-b642-4021-9718-b3ab8e83c9b0 (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Robert Tonyan: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100)
- Noah Strackbein on Michael Pittman: Strackbein predicts the Steelers will keep six wide receivers on the 53-man roster: DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1552915f-2239-4d0e-afaa-a991d5963946 (scored 100)
- Jack Markowski on Will Howard: Markowski expects quarterback Will Howard to make the Steelers' 53-man roster as one of four quarterbacks provided he is healthy after his head injury. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/99ea5b2e-0891-490d-8ba9-dee6c1fb8076 (scored 100)

## More fantasy bust calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Ryan Wormeli on Zay Flowers: Host Ryan Warmley endorsed Ricky Pearsall as a bet worth making and put his rookie-receiver capital in Tetairoa McMillan, while fading Zay Flowers at his cost and opting out of Marvin Harrison Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/192d6e67-2e0e-49b3-bc82-4c8a77bd5950 (scored 0)
- Chris Welsh on Austin Ekeler: Welsh drafted Christian McCaffrey, Breece Hall, RJ Harvey, Tetairoa McMillan, Travis Hunter, the Rams and Saints receivers, Justin Fields (a top-10 QB), Drake Maye (QB10-14), Travis Kelce and Tyler Warren, while passing on Joe Mixon, the Commanders backfield, Tyreek Hill, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9f0f2132-f3b8-4813-b2b1-374b827d86a8 (scored 100)
- Joe Pisapia on Rashee Rice: Joey P (Joe Pisapia) played draft-or-pass on 2025 fantasy values: he passed on Christian McCaffrey at pick 7, Breece Hall, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Travis Hunter and Chris Olave, while drafting RJ Harvey, Tyreek Hill, Tetairoa McMillan, Puka Nacua, Tyler Warren and a late-round Joe Mixon. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c3c95c1c-64a4-42b6-9389-58d5fb5b27d1 (scored 0)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Breece Hall: Pat Fitzmaurice gave draft-or-pass calls: reluctant drafts on Christian McCaffrey, RJ Harvey, Tetairoa McMillan (his WR16), Rashee Rice at a ninth-round price, Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez, Chris Olave, Drake Maye (his QB8) and Tyler Warren, with passes on Breece Hall, Joe Mixon, Croskey-Merritt, Tyreek Hill, Travis Hunter, the Rams receivers and Justin Fields. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e36f1287-466c-4889-a7ea-c9d86f4b5182 (scored 0)
- Simon Hunter on Tetairoa McMillan: Simon is drafting Ashton Jeanty in the late first/early second and is comfortable taking him in the first round, is all-in on DeVonta Adams with the Rams, and calls Puka Nacua one of the most overdrafted players who should not be taken in the first round. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/15f74c4e-cd8f-455b-b84f-e4098e767a84 (scored 100)
- Sean Kerner on Travis Hunter: Kerner's top move is Travis Hunter to Jacksonville, though he calls Hunter's WR30 price a bit rich given usage uncertainty. He is all-in on Ashton Jeanty as a workhorse with top-five rookie upside, likes Ben Johnson's arrival for Caleb Williams and rookie TE Colston Loveland, expects DeVonta Adams to boost Matthew Stafford's touchdown total over 22.5, and is heavily drafting Jayden Higgins as Houston's No. 2 receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ec510a56-f0ae-4583-8e26-5b031d8d6d10 (scored 0)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

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