NFL Wide Receiver Futures – Yards: D.K. Metcalf Is Pittsburgh’s Only Hope

D.K. Metcalf (Steelers)

• Over/Under 950.5 Receiving Yards

Any futures bets on the 2025 Steelers are a bit murky right now because of the waiting game Aaron Rodgers continues to put the team through. But regardless of Rodgers’ decision, a pick to like for Pittsburgh is for new wideout D.K. Metcalf to go over 950.5 receiving yards.

Why? They almost have to get this production out of him since they don’t really have other good receivers to throw to after trading George Pickens to Dallas. Pickens was never going to be a good fit with Metcalf as they play too similar of a style, and the Steelers were unlikely to ever extend Pickens’ contract because of his temper tantrums. So, he had to go.

But that really opens the door for a Metcalf 1,000-yard season this year. Metcalf has had at least 900 yards in all 6 of his NFL seasons, with at least 967 yards in each of the last 5 years, so he is used to clearing this line.

This Could Be a Big Year for DK

In Pittsburgh, he’s looking at Robert Woods and Calvin Austin as his main competition at wide receiver to take targets away from him, which isn’t saying much. The Steelers also have Pat Freiermuth at tight end, but offensive coordinator Arthur Smith sometimes forgets to get the tight end involved in the passing game, so he’s not a big threat to eat into Metcalf’s yardage either.

If you’re worried about the quarterback position holding Metcalf back, you probably shouldn’t be. The Steelers could get Rodgers, who will want to throw often and he favors the wide receiver position greatly. If they don’t get Rodgers, then Mason Rudolph threw for at least 240 yards in 3-of-5 starts with the Titans last year. He even had a game in Detroit where Calvin Ridley exploded for 143 yards.

Rudolph has always played adequately enough for the Steelers in the past, so he can put up some yardage to a talent like Metcalf. But once the Pickens trade was made, this number became very interesting to take the over. Injury seems to be the only way Metcalf should finish under 950.5 yards this year.

NFL Pick: D.K. Metcalf Over 950.5 Receiving Yards (-110) at Bet365

Ladd McConkey (Chargers)

• Over/Under 1000.5 Receiving Yards

In a loaded receiver draft class in 2024, Ladd McConkey stood out as well as anyone with 82 catches for 1,149 yards in 16 games. In the playoffs, he was the team’s best player with 197 yards and a touchdown.

For the season, McConkey was the only reliable target for quarterback Justin Herbert, who had a good year in his 1st season with Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman as his coaching brain trust. But you still get the sense the Chargers were holding some things back and could lean more into Herbert’s arm this year to win games.

But they also wanted to give Herbert more reliable weapons than just McConkey. They re-signed Mike Williams after his disastrous year away from the team. They used a 2nd-round pick on Tre Harris, and they signed tight end Tyler Conklin (Jets) in free agency.

Decent moves, but none of that should detract from McConkey continuing to be the best target in Los Angeles. He has great chemistry with Herbert, and they can get it done on the intermediate routes that lead to a lot of 15 and 20-yard gains. That shouldn’t change in the offense this year, and if anything, McConkey should only get better now that they know what he can do.

This line feels low, so take the over for McConkey to break 1,000 yards again in 2025.

NFL Pick: Ladd McConkey Over 1000.5 Receiving Yards (-110) at Bet365

Terry McLaurin (Commanders)

• Over/Under 975.5 Receiving Yards

Many said that Terry McLaurin was a great wide receiver in need of a better quarterback after dealing with a lot of journeyman and failed starters in Washington since 2019. Those fans were proven correct in 2024 as McLaurin had a career year with 1,096 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns. He caught 70.1% of his targets, also a career high.

That’s the power of adding a consistent, accurate, and great quarterback like Jayden Daniels. It also helps to have a better offensive scheme from coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who is back for 2025.

But McLaurin had to share the ball last year with several wideouts, and Dyami Brown is no longer there. However, the team traded for Deebo Samuel from the 49ers, and he’s looking to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2024 that didn’t showcase his best stuff.

That could give Daniels a great duo for his 2nd season, but it could also eat into McLaurin’s production. However, McLaurin has cleared 1,000 yards in 5 straight seasons. If the Commanders find themselves trailing a bit more this year as they won’t surprise teams in 2025, maybe that means more throwing and less running from Daniels, who is no longer a rookie.

It’s easy to see more passing yards in this offense this year, which should help offset any damage Samuel does to McLaurin’s target share. That’s why you should trust Daniels and the Washington offense to produce and take his over for yards.

NFL Pick: Terry McLaurin Over 975.5 Receiving Yards (-110) at Bet365

Zay Flowers (Ravens)

• Over/Under 900.5 Receiving Yards

In his 2nd year, Zay Flowers proved his value as a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver for Lamar Jackson. He made bigger plays than his rookie year when he finished with 858 yards, and he had 1,059 yards to make the Pro Bowl last year. He likely clears 1,100 yards if he didn’t get injured in the regular-season finale against Cleveland.

That injury sadly cost Flowers his postseason run, but he should be back and ready to go Week 1 this year. In this 2025 offense, you have to think Derrick Henry is at a bigger injury risk at age 31 after his huge workload last year that saw him exceed 1,900 rushing yards. Maybe the Ravens have to throw it a bit more this year.

As for the other receivers, the Ravens have Rashod Bateman, who has his own injury history. They also signed DeAndre Hopkins, and if you watched him with the Chiefs last year, you know he looks like he’s over the hill and not much of a factor anymore. The Ravens were huge on speed and creating separation last year, and Hopkins is more of a 50/50 ball receiver who doesn’t separate. It’s really not a good fit.

That’s why you should expect to see Flowers approach his numbers from last year with another 1,000-yard season well within his wheelhouse. The line at Bet365 is only 900.5, which is barely much higher than what he did as a rookie in 16 games in 2023.

Flowers is one of the brightest young stars in the Baltimore offense and a player to trust this year to deliver.

NFL Pick: Zay Flowers Over 900.5 Receiving Yards (-110) at Bet365

*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-Gambler

*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.