D.K Metcalf vs. Diontae Johnson: Who Will Have More Receiving Yards in Seahawks vs. Steelers?

Sunday Night Football in Week 6 will feature a matchup of two division winners from the 2020 season, but neither team will look the same in tonight's game.

The Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers both come into Sunday’s showdown at 2-3, and the Seahawks are down star quarterback Russell Wilson. 

That gives Pittsburgh a chance to grab a win at home against a normally-tough opponent, as Geno Smith will start at quarterback for the Seahawks. WynnBET Sportsbook has the Steelers as five-point favorites in the matchup. 

Pittsburgh lost receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for the season last week against the Denver Broncos, and that means that Diontae Johnson will play an even bigger role in the Steelers’ offense. 

Johnson is an up-and-coming wideout in the league, but can he finish with more receiving yards than Seahawks star D.K. Metcalf? The third-year wideout will have to make things happen with Smith, but he did finish with two scores (one from Smith) in Seattle’s loss in Week 5 to the Los Angeles Rams. 

D.K Metcalf Receiving Yards Prop | 65.5 (Over -125/Under -115)

Metcalf’s receiving yards prop may seem a little low this week, but it is mainly because Smith is under center against a tough Steelers’ pass defense. 

Pittsburgh has elite pass rusher T.J. Watt on the edge, and the team has totaled 10 sacks in five games this season. The Steelers are middle of the pack in terms of yards allowed, but they could fluster Smith, who is making his first start in four years. 

Metcalf has actually gone over this number just two times this season, finishing with 60, 53, 107, 65 and 98 yards in his five games. 

Diontae Johnson Receiving Yards Prop | 67.5 (Over -125/Under-115)

Johnson had been a target hog in the Steelers offense until last week when he saw just two targets against the Denver Broncos. Johnson made the most of them, reeling in both passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, but it didn’t live up to the 35 targets he saw in his first three appearances this season. 

With Smith-Schuster out, this figures to be a huge chance for Johnson to bounce back. The Seahawks have allowed the third-most passing yards in the NFL this season, so there’s a chance Ben Roethliseberger can turn back the clock to exploit this defense. 

Who Finishes With More Yards: D.K. Metcalf or Diontae Johnson?

I’m going to side with the oddsmakers and take Johnson to win this matchup. 

While I think Metcalf is the more explosive player, I can’t trust Smith to look as good as he did against the Los Angeles Rams last week. 

Johnson has seen one less target than Metcalf this season, and he missed Week 3 with an injury. 

The Steelers offensive line has forced them to try and win by throwing the ball, and with JuJu out I think Johnson is one of the prime beneficiaries in the offense.