WR · CAR
transaction
FA: John Metchie dropped
sleeper-tx-free_agent+2 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Drops: John Metchie
John Metchie
WR · CAR · 26 yrs · exp 4 · Alabama
Status
- Game status
- Active
Keep Trade Cut (SF TEP)
From latest snapshot · trend vs ~7d prior when data allows.
Value
1,346
Rank
#348
Pos rank
#133
7d trend
—
Value history (90d)
One snapshot point per calendar day (shown in your timezone).
Latest: Sep 7, 2026 · 1,346
News
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
general
6 Lions who improved their practice squad chances in preseason finale
Detroit Lions players who boosted their chances of landing on the practice squad
general
Who’s on the Outside Looking In Before Houston’s Final Preseason Game
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
A breakdown of who is on the block for Texans roster cutdowns
WR · CAR
transaction
Waiver: John Metchie added
sleeper-tx-waiver+2 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: John Metchie
WR · CAR
transaction
Waiver: John Metchie added, Ja'Tavion Sanders dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+2 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: John Metchie. Drops: Ja'Tavion Sanders
general
100 notes from the Houston Texans preseason matchup against LA Chargers
100 notes from the Houston Texans preseason matchup against LA Chargers
WR · CAR
analyst
John Metchie - Candidate for No. 3 receiver job?
sleeper-rotowire+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Metchie is competing for a depth role in Carolina, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports. With rookie third-round pick Chris Brazzell (knee) ruled out for the season, Metchie might have a chance to push Xavier Legette for the No. 3 job, though this report suggests Metchie is also on the roster bubble. Metchie and Legette offer contrasting styles, which could work in Metchie's favor on a team where the top two wide receivers (Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker) look a lot more like Legette. At 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, Metchie figures to take a lot of snaps in the slot if he ends up earning a role in the Carolina offense. He had a 19-yard rush and a 36-yard kick return Thursday night in the Hall of Fame Game against Arizona
analyst
John Metchie III a Candidate for WR3 Job in Carolina
Carolina Panthers wide receiver John Metchie III, who is with his fourth different NFL team in 2026 in a little more than 11 months, had a 19-yard rush and a 36-yard kick return in Thursday's Hall of Fame preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. With rookie wideout Chris Brazzell II (knee) already ruled out for the 2026 season, The Charlotte Observer's Mike Kaye suggests that Metchie has a real shot to compete for the WR3 role this year in Carolina behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. The 26-year-old's primary competition will be Xavier Legette, a former first-rounder who has disappointed in his first two years in the NFL. If Metchie makes more noise in training camp and the preseason, he could have a role in the slot with the Panthers, although it wouldn't generate enough volume for the former second-rounder from Alabama to be much more than a bench stash in deeper redraft formats. In 16 games with the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans in 2025, Metchie had career highs with 33 catches, 274 yards, and two touchdowns on 48 targets
general
Report: Panthers rookie WR Chris Brazzell to have season-ending knee surgery
Word on Wednesday was that Panthers rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell would miss up to eight weeks after tearing his LCL during practice, but his absence from the field is set to be even longer. Joe Person of TheAthletic.com reports that Brazzell received a second opinion about the knee injury and that he and the team concluded that the best course of action is for the third-round pick to have season-ending surgery . Brazzell is the second Panthers player to suffer a serious knee injury since camp opened last week. Linebacker Nic Scourton will miss the season with a torn ACL. The Panthers also placed wide receiver Dan Chisena on injured reserve this week. The Panthers have signed wideouts Casey Washington and Gabriel Benyard over the last two days. They join Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, John Metchie, Jimmy Horn, Brycen Tremaine, David Moore, and Ainias Smith as available options at wideout
WR · CAR
transaction
FA: John Metchie added
sleeper-tx-free_agent+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: John Metchie
general
Jets 2026 Position Breakdown: Will Garrett Wilson bounce back after injury-plagued 2025?
Heading into the 2026 season, the Jets have made a series of moves to improve their roster and overall depth, but are they ready to compete for a playoff spot? In this series, we’ll break down the depth chart for every position group. This time, we’ll go in depth at the wide receiver position … Starters: Garrett Wilson , Adonai Mitchell , Omar Cooper Jr. Backups: Isaiah Williams , Arian Smith , Tim Patrick Key additions/losses: Cooper was drafted with the 30th overall pick and Patrick was signed in free agency, while John Metchie III and Tyler Johnson departed in free agency Top performers in 2025: Wilson led the team with 395 yards and four touchdowns on 36 catches, despite only playing seven games 2025 ranking per PFF: Wilson was 36th out of 91 qualifying wide receivers in overall grade With three consecutive thousand-yard seasons to start his career, Wilson has already established himself as a top wide receiver and was deservedly rewarded with a big money deal ahead of last season. However, after a strong start saw him rack up 384 receiving yards in the first five games, Wilson only made two more appearances, leaving with a knee injury in both before being shut down for the rest of the year. The Jets will hope Wilson bounces back in 2026, and they’ve strengthened the personnel around him by bringing in Geno Smith at quarterback and two first-round pass-catchers, including tight end Kenyon Sadiq . Cooper was the other first-round pass-catcher and could start along with Wilson. The pair will have good interchangeability in terms of their ability to produce outside or in the slot. Mitchell was added at the deadline last season and showed some flashes of his potential as the Jets’ top passing game option down the stretch. In addition, Patrick was added recently, giving New York some much needed size and an experienced veteran, which was also something they lacked. Beyond the first four options, the Jets don’t have a lot of experience at wideout, so they could be at a disadvantage if there are a series of injuries. Smith and Williams are core special-teamers, but Smith had a disappointing rookie season while Williams worked his way into the rotation and ended up being voted as the team’s 2025 MVP. Longshot options to unseat either of these players include undrafted rookie Caullin Lacy and last year’s preseason standout Jamaal Pritchett . Arguably, the rotation doesn’t necessarily need to run five or six-deep because New York has tight ends and running backs who are capable of lining up in the slot -- and probably won’t have more than three receivers on the field very often anyway. Mitchell’s history is well-documented. He’s a tantalizing talent who has never reached his full potential, something which is in large part attributed to his struggles with diabetes. Apparently, when he is struggling with the symptoms, it can affect his focus, stamina, and effort level. As he was trying to move up the depth chart in Indianapolis and earn a chance to prove himself, it’s not hard to imagine how frustrating this has been for him. If the Jets can get the condition under control, the upside is practically limitless. In fact, his former wide receiver coach Reggie Wayne once called Mitchell the most talented receiver he’s ever seen. However, it’s clearly not as simple as keeping an eye on his levels, because the Colts knew all about his condition and still struggled to get the best out of him. Last season was Mitchell’s first chance at an extended run of playing time after he was traded to the Jets, and he was productive despite New York's passing game struggles, but did have some lapses. If the lightbulb can come on and Mitchell can prove he deserves to start and be a significant part of the gameplan, it will take the pressure off Cooper to deliver before he’s ready and could open up the passing game to a level not seen in recent seasons. Wilson will obviously be the number one option, but there should be a good battle between M [... truncated ...]
WR · CAR
transaction
FA: John Metchie dropped
sleeper-tx-free_agent+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Drops: John Metchie
general
One year into his career, Arian Smith’s roster spot with the Jets doesn’t seem like a lock
Through the summer, we will be counting down the Jets roster player by player. We continue the series by discussing Arian Smith. Name: Arian Smith Number: 82 Year With Jets: 2nd Projected Role: Depth wide receiver and special teams coverage player His 2025: The Jets selected Smith with a high fourth round pick in the NFL Draft. I personally was shocked by the selection. There wasn’t much obvious to suggest that Smith should have been anything higher than a priority undrafted free agent. He didn’t have much production in college. He was undersized, and his game was unrefined. Other than timed straight line speed, there weren’t many obvious pluses that Smith was bringing to the table. Sometimes a team seemingly reaches but strikes gold because it knows something the general public doesn’t. If this was the case with Smith, it didn’t reveal itself in year one. The Jets had an offense with nothing proven at receiver aside from Garrett Wilson , who missed half the season with injury. The ground was fertile for a young player to step up and show he belonged. Smith managed only 7 receptions all season long for 52 yards. Perhaps most ominously, he lost playing time after the team acquired Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie near the trade deadline. It’s one thing to lose snaps to Mitchell who had flashes. But it can’t be a good sign for Smith that he rated lower than Metchie on the depth chart considering the team passed on bringing Metchie back on a cheap contract. After the addition of Omar Cooper in the NFL Draft, there doesn’t seem to be a path for Smith to see many snaps on offense. Even using his speed for manufactured touches in space is likely off the table. The Jets have Isaiah Williams for that. 2026 will be a success if: Smith develops into a special teams ace. I think you have to get past the way Arian Smith was acquired. Everything we have seen both before and since the 2025 NFL Draft suggests the Jets reached massively picking him at 110th overall. He is unlikely to ever justify that slot. Barring a string of injuries at wide receiver, he probably won’t get more than a handful of snaps on offense. Where he can help the Jets potentially is on special teams. He was by all accounts and excellent gunner on punt coverage in college. The trade of Irv Charles to the Seattle Seahawks takes Smith’s top competitor for that spot away. While Smith is unlikely to make much of an impact on offense, the Jets showed a preference last year for special teams standouts filling their last few roster spots. That could be Smith’s ticket to make a contribution. I don’t think he’s a lock to make the team by any stretch of the imagination, but at this point I would make him a slight favorite to earn that job. Odds of making the roster: More Likely Than Not (51-75%)
analyst
Can John Metchie III Carve Out a Fantasy-Relevant Role with the Panthers?
After a quiet start to the year with the Philadelphia Eagles, wide receiver John Metchie III was a 2025 trade deadline acquisition of the New York Jets, where a much thinner depth chart allowed him to catch 28 passes for 253 yards and two scores over his final eight games. While not earth-shattering numbers, his 17-game pace of 60-538-4 would represent career-highs across the board, and he proved himself a fantasy viable player with two finishes as the WR17 or better. His one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers was one of the more under-the-radar signings of the 2026 free agency period, but in another receiver room that thins out quickly behind Tetatiroa McMillan and Jalen Coker, there is a role to be carved out in an offense that has seen more than 63% of its targets go to wide receivers in the past two years under Dave Canales. The Panthers spent a 2026 third-round pick on Chris Brazzell II, and 2024 first-rounder Xavier Legette is still on the team, so there's no guarantee of Metchie's spot in the pecking order, but at RotoBaller's WR129, he is a dart throw whose value has sunk so low he can almost be seen as a free throw-in as part of a larger trade
general
After extension, Jalen Coker is hoping for eight more years in Carolina
Pro Football TalkSource ↗
Jalen Coker entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2024 and put together two seasons worthy of a contract extension. The Panthers recently rewarded the wideout with a three-year extension that will keep him under contract through 2029. Coker, 24, hopes to stay in Charlotte much longer. “It was a huge opportunity for me,” Coker said Tuesday, via Kassidy Hill of the team website. “Your dream is to always go get to the NFL, of course, but to stay around and to continue to contribute and to make an impact every Sunday, that’s always been my goal. “This wasn’t the end of my story. This isn’t where I want to be finished at. I just want to continue to build, continue to do good things for this organization down the line. Hopefully, I can stay for eight more years. I didn’t want it to be like I finally made it. I can relax. I can take the foot off the gas a little bit. No, now I’ve got to prove it even more.” In 22 games, Coker has made 65 receptions for 872 yards and five touchdowns. Coach Dave Canales identified Tetairoa McMillan and Coker as the top two wide receivers, but the Panthers believe they are deep at the position. Xavier Legette and John Metchie are among others on the depth chart. “I think we’ve got so many guys that can play on this team, and it’s just going to continue to push us to be better every single day,” Coker said
WR · CAR
outlook
2026 Season Outlook
sleeper-outlook+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Metchie, a 2022 second-round pick, missed his rookie season while recovering from leukemia and struggled to carve out a role in Houston. The trend continued after his trade to Philadelphia in August 2025, but a move to the Jets in October finally sparked some momentum. Across nine games in New York, he posted a career-best 29-256-2 line on 44 targets despite inconsistent quarterback play. That stretch earned him a one-year deal with Carolina for 2026, where he'll compete for a depth role behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. The Panthers need a steady rotational option for Bryce Young, giving Metchie a path to relevance if he builds on late-season progress
analyst
Xavier Legette Drops Weight in the Offseason
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette said he lost seven to nine pounds in the offseason and is now down to 221 pounds, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Legette also said he's tried to "bulletproof" his hamstrings after previously having issues with them. The 25-year-old, who was the 32nd overall pick in 2024 out of South Carolina, has failed to live up to his lofty draft capital in his first two years in the NFL in Carolina. Legette has totaled 84 receptions on 148 targets for 860 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 31 regular-season games (25 starts). His production took a dip last year, too, as he finished with a 35-363-3 line on 64 targets across 15 regular-season contests. Last year's first-rounder, Tetairoa McMillan, looks like the real deal, and Jalen Coker appears primed to be a breakout candidate in his third year as the team's WR2. That leaves Legette battling with John Metchie III and rookie Chris Brazzell II for targets as the Panthers' WR3. In standard 12-team fantasy leagues in 2026, Legette should go undrafted
general
Panthers sign WR Malick Meiga
Pro Football TalkSource ↗
The Panthers announced the addition of a wide receiver to their 90-man roster on Monday. They have signed Malick Meiga ahead of their mandatory minicamp. Tight end Heinrich Haarberg was waived off of the roster in a corresponding move. Meiga went undrafted after catching 19 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown at Coastal Carolina last season. The Panthers drafted Chris Brazzell in the third round and signed John Metchie to go with Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, and Jimmy Horn at receiver. Haarberg signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in May. He played quarterback at Nebraska before moving to tight end in 2024
general
Panthers sign WR Malick Meiga
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
The Panthers announced the addition of a wide receiver to their 90-man roster on Monday. They have signed Malick Meiga ahead of their mandatory minicamp. Tight end Heinrich Haarberg was waived off of the roster in a corresponding move. Meiga went undrafted after catching 19 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown at Coastal Carolina last season. The Panthers drafted Chris Brazzell in the third round and signed John Metchie to go with Tetairoa McMillan , Jalen Coker , Xavier Legette , and Jimmy Horn at receiver. Haarberg signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in May. He played quarterback at Nebraska before moving to tight end in 2024
analyst
Jimmy Horn Jr. A Dynasty Non-Factor After Quiet Rookie Season
Jimmy Horn Jr.'s quiet rookie season and lack of playing time make him a non-factor in dynasty leagues
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.