George Pickens's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens hauled in three of eight targets for 53 yards in a Week 6 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Pickens was the subject of much discussion heading into the contest after seeing limited playing time in Week 5. He once again was the favorite target of quarterback Justin Fields and managed to lead the Steelers in receiving on Sunday. Still, he dropped a few passes and underwhelmed relative to expectations as the team's clear WR1. The 23-year-old came down with a deep ball from Fields late in the fourth quarter for a 31-yard gain, but this was with the game well in hand. He'll hope to turn things around next week at home against the New York Jets.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was unusually quiet last week and will look to make an impact against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Head coach Mike Tomlin labeled Pickens' surprisingly low snap share in Week 5 as "load management", basically stating that he hopes to keep the 23-year-old fresh for when he is on the field. While this could continue to be a part of the team's gameplan, the Steelers were clearly lacking playmakers in their loss to Dallas last Sunday night. Pickens will need the ball in his hands more frequently for Pittsburgh to find success offensively. Las Vegas has been more vulnerable to the run than the pass but should not be considered a pass defense to avoid, especially with the Steelers struggling on the ground so far this season. Pickens is the favorite weapon of quarterback Justin Fields, who will be starting again this week. Even with a reduced snap count, Pickens earned a target on 26% of Fields' pass attempts last week, a far greater share than any of his teammates. The duo should be able to connect on more opportunities against the Raiders, making Pickens a low-end WR2 or flex option with upside.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said "load management" was the reason why wide receiver George Pickens was in on just 57 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, which was down nearly 30 percent from the previous week. For comparison, Mark Kaboly cites that top wideouts Mike Evans (87%), Garrett Wilson (96%), Justin Jefferson (95%) and Brandon Aiyuk (92%) were all much more involved for their respective teams. The 23-year-old Pickens had only three catches on seven targets for 26 yards. Pickens has yet to score a touchdown through five weeks of the NFL season and is falling to WR3/flex status on a weekly basis in this Steelers offense. He currently ranks as the WR38 in half-PPR scoring with 23 receptions for 310 yards in five contests. The good news is he has a good bounce-back opportunity in Week 6 against the Raiders.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens recorded three receptions for 26 yards on seven targets in a 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. It was an oddly quiet night for Pickens, who was out-snapped by fellow wideouts Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III. When asked about the situation, head coach Mike Tomlin labeled it "snap management" and stated that there was no underlying reason for Pickens' minimal role. With Pickens on the sideline, it was made apparent that the Steelers are lacking explosive pass-catchers, making his limited utilization all the more confusing. He did manage to contribute on a pivotal possession late in the fourth quarter, gaining 21 yards on a short pass from Justin Fields that set up a go-ahead touchdown. The 23-year-old should be more involved in a Week 6 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens had his best showing of the campaign in Week 4 and will look to carry positive momentum into a primetime showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. Through the first four weeks of the season, Pickens has earned over 28% of the team's targets with quarterback Justin Fields at the helm. Fields has been steady as a passer in 2024 and consistently displays trust in Pickens as his go-to receiver. Dallas' defense has been solid against opposing wideouts but did allow rookie sensation Malik Nabers to post 12 receptions for 115 yards last week. The Cowboys are a bit banged up defensively, with linebacker Micah Parsons (ankle) out and defensive back Trevon Diggs (ankle) questionable for Sunday night's contest. Although Diggs is expected to suit up, Pickens could benefit from any limitations faced by the former All-Pro corner. Pickens is yet to find the end zone this season but continues to offer fantasy managers plenty of upside due to his ability to make plays down the field. The 23-year-old should be locked into lineups as a WR2 this week.