Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially ruled out wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) for the Week 15 game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Pickens was expected to miss his second straight game earlier this week, so fantasy managers should have already moved him to their benches. It's a tough blow for the Steeler heading into a hostile environment and for fantasy managers in the first round of the playoffs. The team's top wideout will now try to get healthy for a Week 16 tilt against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. With the 23-year-old sidelined again, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Mike Williams and Scotty Miller will all have elevated roles, but tight end Pat Freiermuth might be the biggest beneficiary from a fantasy standpoint. In last week's win over the division-rival Cleveland Browns, Freiermuth and Jefferson both found the end zone.

According to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) remained sidelined during Thursday's practice for the second-straight day. Pickens now has one more opportunity on Friday to practice in some capacity. Earlier in the week, head coach Mike Tomlin noted that his No.1 wideout would be unlikely to suit up this weekend, and his current trajectory reinforces that claim. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status on Friday in case he can practice in some capacity. Since Russell Wilson has taken starting duties, Pickens has averaged an impressive 16.0 PPR points per game and averaged 81.2 yards per game during this span. If Pickens misses his second-straight contest, fantasy managers should expect tight end Pat Freiermuth and wide receivers Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III to see an uptick in targets.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) is not practicing on Wednesday ahead of the Week 15 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Pickens picked up a hamstring injury last week and was a surprise inactive ahead of last week's win over the Cleveland Browns. Given his lack of practice participation to begin the week, he's at real risk of missing another contest. Since Russell Wilson has taken over at quarterback, Pickens has hauled in 29 passes for 487 yards and three touchdowns in six games. He's been a strong option for fantasy football, so his potential absence is not ideal with the playoffs set to start in Week 15. Assuming he's out, Mike Williams or Calvin Austin III can be considered in flex spots, but in 12-team setups, there are likely better available options. The Eagles are one of the stingiest defenses against fantasy wideouts.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) has an outside chance of being able to suit up in Week 15 to face the Philadelphia Eagles. Tomlin said if he was pressed, he'd consider Pickens doubtful to play. Pickens suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain late last week in practice and didn't play in the Week 14 win over the division-rival Cleveland Browns. The 23-year-old deep threat is now looking unlikely for this weekend, so fantasy managers need to move him to their benches and look for backup options, if you don't have one already. Pickens is Pittsburgh's top wideout and quarterback Russell Wilson's favorite target, so a second straight absence will make things much more difficult against Philly. In Pickens' absence against Cleveland, tight end Pat Freiermuth scored and was the team's leading receiver, with receiver Van Jefferson also finding the end zone.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac writes that it's likely the Pittsburgh Steelers will be without wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles after he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in practice late last week and missed the Week 14 win over the division-rival Cleveland Browns. Pickens' injury is one that typically requires multiple weeks of rest, and the Steelers want to be cautious with their No. 1 wideout so that he's healthy for the playoffs. So fantasy managers that made the postseason shouldn't expect the 23-year-old pass-catcher to be available versus Philly. Tight end Pat Freiermuth and receiver Van Jefferson benefitted the most from Pickens' absence in Week 14, but Calvin Austin III and Mike Williams will see more offensive snaps as well if Pickens misses a second straight game.