Bernard caught all 5 targets for 30 yards and finished as the WR36, while DK Metcalf caught just 1 of 6 targets for 4 yards and finished as the WR69. Aaron Rodgers went 13 for 25 for 172 yards, no TDs and an INT (QB21). With Pittsburgh running the ball 33 times, there wasn’t much passing volume to go around.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact
Bernard played 50 snaps and ran 22 routes, close to Metcalf’s 54 snaps and 26 routes. Both drew a target on 23% of their routes, but Bernard caught everything while Metcalf came up empty. Darnell Washington led the team with 94 receiving yards on 3 catches, including a 58-yarder. Pat Freiermuth added 2 catches for 35 yards and a 1-yard rushing TD. Brandon Smith, signed to the 53-man roster Saturday, played 21 snaps as the third WR without a target. Ben Skowronek (calf) missed his third straight game.
Bernard has been the more reliable target over the last three weeks, catching 19 of 22 targets to Metcalf’s 14 of 27. Metcalf has a slight edge in yardage (153 to 144) thanks to a WR9 finish in Week 6 and a 56-yard day in Week 7 (WR33). Bernard was the WR3 in Week 6 but slipped to WR41 in Week 7 with 3 catches for 27 yards. His 6.0 yards per catch this week shows how short his slot role has been.
Pittsburgh is on bye in Week 9. Week 10 brings Cincinnati, which allows the 17th-most fantasy points to WRs and ranked 13th in our pass defense power rankings heading into Week 8. Philadelphia follows in Week 11, allowing the second-most points to WRs and ranking 27th in pass defense power (15.9 pass DVOA). Bernard is a WR3 with upside against the Eagles. Metcalf is a low-end WR2 on volume despite the dud.
