George Pickens is the WR2 You Need in Fantasy Football

After George Pickens got traded to the Cowboys back in early May, I thought his fantasy draft position would skyrocket. A flashy, uber-talented player getting traded to the biggest market in sports almost always causes a player to move up draft boards, even if that hype might not be fully deserved. So, I was surprised to find out that Pickens has actually flown under the radar since the trade, and he has become one of my favorite targets in fantasy football drafts this season as a result. Here’s a look at why Pickens could be a massive value at his current ADP of WR29 and 61st overall.

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An Overview of Pickens’ Career

Pickens has put together a promising start to his career since being drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia. He has racked up 2,841 receiving yards through 48 career games and surpassed 100 targets in each of the last two seasons. However, Pickens only has 12 total career receiving touchdowns, which has hindered his fantasy value a bit. Since entering the league, Pickens has finished as the WR47, WR31, and WR41 in fantasy points per game. However, a lot of that lack of touchdown production can be attributed to the Steelers’ larger offensive struggles. Pittsburgh has not finished top-15 in total points scored or offensive EPA per play in any of Pickens’ three seasons, and never really had any stable quarterback play during that stretch.

The Steelers decided to move on from Pickens because he is due to be a free agent after the end of this upcoming season, and they had concerns that Pickens would not be worth paying alongside newly acquired DK Metcalf. Some of those concerns are certainly valid. In the long run, Pickens does not profile as a typical No. 1 receiver because he is not a very refined route runner and can be big-play reliant – Pickens has yet to exceed 63 receptions in any season. On the flip side, Pickens’ incredible contested-catch ability and explosiveness make him a phenomenal No. 2 receiver on a team, and he is certainly capable of leading the NFL in yards per reception like he did in 2023.

Pickens in the Cowboys Offense

Pickens will join Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb in a Cowboys offense that is primed for a bounce-back season. The Cowboys have desperately been searching for a No. 2 receiver ever since trading away Amari Cooper in March 2022, and Pickens is an ideal solution. Pickens’ skill set complements CeeDee Lamb perfectly. Pickens is almost exclusively an X-receiver, lining up on the outside for 82% of his snaps last year. Lamb, on the other hand, is much more versatile, splitting time between the outside and the slot almost 50/50. Together, the two make for an exciting receiver tandem that could very well rival Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for the best in the NFL.

Dak Prescott and the Cowboys get a lot of flak for their lack of postseason success in the last few years, but the fact of the matter is that whenever Prescott is healthy, they are one of the top offenses in the NFL. Prescott has played more than eight games in four seasons since 2019, and in those seasons, the Cowboys have ranked 6th, 1st, 3rd, and 1st in total points scored. Prescott should be back to 100% healthy to start the 2025 season, and with the Cowboys once again lacking a semblance of a running game, I fully expect them to maintain their elite offensive output with Prescott under center.

Assessing Pickens’ Floor and Ceiling

Pickens is admittedly a high variance draft swing this year. He won’t have the 90+ reception floor that other receivers do, and there’s always a chance he doesn’t click with Prescott in the Cowboys offensive system. The floor outcome for Pickens would be similar to some of the frustrating Mike Williams performances of years past, where he has a few spike weeks but ultimately is not nearly consistent enough to be a strong draft pick.

With this being said, if Pickens hits, I could see him finishing as a legitimate top-10 fantasy receiver. He will be playing with a competent quarterback in an offense with high expectations for the first time in his life, and the impact of that cannot go understated. If Pickens can convert on more red zone scoring this season, he would easily overcome the lack of high reception totals and at least be a startable WR2. Entering a contract year, Pickens has every reason to buy in and have a career year. Pickens is currently going as the WR29 in fantasy drafts near the top of the 7th round. I think that is an absolute steal, and I would gladly take Pickens over trendy WR2s like Xavier Worthy and Jameson Williams or WR1s stuck on bad teams like DK Metcalf in that range.

The Bottom Line

• George Pickens has been a bit disappointing in fantasy to start his career despite showing flashes, but a trade to Dallas is exactly what he needs to fully break out.
• Pickens fits in like a glove next to CeeDee Lamb in a Cowboys offense that should be among the best aerial attacks in the NFL once again.
• I am aggressively targeting Pickens at his ADP of WR29, and his top-10 positional upside well outweighs the potentially low floor.