The Seattle Seahawks have a whole lot of question marks in their receiving corps, so they prioritized the wide receiver position in the 2019 NFL Draft, selecting University of Mississippi wide receiver D.K. Metcalf with the 64th overall pick.
There were some who actually felt Metcalf would go in the first round as a result of a ridiculous Scouting Combine in which the 6-foot-3, 230-pound wideout posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.33 seconds, but he nearly fell to the third round due to his lack of overall productivity on the collegiate level and the fact that he has very poor lateral movement and questionable route running ability.
But, Metcalf is a physical freak who same have likened to Josh Gordon, so he was probably worth the second-round pick the Seahawks used on him just based on potential alone.
And you know what? Metcalf might get a pretty big opportunity during his rookie campaign.
It's looking more like Doug Baldwin, who has been a mainstay in the Seahawks' receiving corps since 2011, is retiring due to persistent injury issues, which leaves Tyler Lockett as the only truly dependable wideout in Seattle's passing game.
That means Metcalf could very well be the Seahawks' No. 2 receiver going into 2019, which could make him a rather significant player in Fantasy Football.
So, just what should we expect from the 21-year-old in his first NFL season?
Well, if anyone tells you they definitely know what he is going to do, they are blowing smoke, because I'm not even sure Metcalf himself knows just how much he is going to produce this coming season.
As freakish of an athlete as Metcalf is, let's face facts here: he is coming off of a sophomore campaign in which he hauled in just 26 receptions for 569 yards and five touchdowns. Sure, the yards per catch are nice, but where is the overall production? Can Metcalf really be anything more than a deep threat on the NFL level?
Again, this is where Metcalf's route-running ability comes into play, and that is generally what separates the very best wide receivers from the ones who are just decent. He has a lot of work to do in that category, and he would be wise to learn from Lockett, who is an exceptional route runner and is truly one of the most underrated wideouts in the league.
Still, we have to assume that Russell Wilson will be throwing Metcalf's way quite a bit in 2019, but just how many targets will Metcalf receive?
Here is the thing: because the Seahawks are a run-heavy offense, even Lockett was targeted only 70 times in 2018. Wilson threw just 427 passes overall, which is a low number in today's pass-heavy game.
With Seattle's receiving corps potentially (if not likely) missing Baldwin, it's entirely possible that Pete Carroll will once again limit the passing game in favor of pounding the ball with running back Chris Carson, so, realistically speaking, Metcalf is probably not the best option for a No. 2 receiver in your league.
A realistic expectation for Metcalf is something like 30-40 catches for 500-600 yards and maybe five touchdowns, and that's assuming Baldwin doesn't play.
So, if you are looking for a potentially dynamite No. 3 or 4 receiver on your Fantasy Football squad, Metcalf could be a good pick. But, more than likely, he won't have a very big year statistically, so there are other, more proven wideouts who will represent safer options.
And remember: if Baldwin ends up playing in 2019, that changes Metcalf's potential output completely to the point where he might even be a 20-catch guy in his first season, so tread lightly.
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