George Pickens
Wide Receiver #14
George Pickens News
George Pickens Has Work Cut Out For Him Against Strong Texans Secondary
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is fresh off his best game of the 2026 season, but it still feels like there's meat left on the bone for fantasy managers who drafted him in the second round of fantasy drafts. His eight catches for 82 yards against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3 constituted his best game of the season, but he hasn't reached the end zone yet and ranks outside the top-30 fantasy football wide receivers through three games. It's been a far cry from his WR5 overall finish in 2025, in which he eclipsed 25 PPR fantasy points on five separate occasions. A tough matchup with the Houston Texans on the road lies ahead -- they have one of the best pass defense in the NFL in recent times. Pickens matches up well against all but the best cornerbacks in the NFL, and having wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to draw away coverage helps immensely, but he's just a mid-range WR2 with upside for this matchup. He should be started in all leagues anyway, as he's been targeted at a high enough rate that an explosion game feels imminent.
Oct 2, 2026 10:08 PM EST
George Pickens Looking for a Contract Extension
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens will be an unrestricted free agent in 2027, and he's looking to sign an extension in Dallas, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Pickens was traded to the Cowboys from the Steelers before last season, and he had his best season in the NFL with 93 catches for 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, all personal bests. Pickens hasn't found the end zone in the Cowboys' first three games this season, but he has remained very involved, with a total of 16 catches for 150 yards on 25 targets. Pickens is playing this season on a $27.3 million franchise tender, looking to prove he's worth a massive payday this coming offseason, whether that comes from the Cowboys or another team.
Oct 1, 2026 5:22 AM EST
George Pickens Looking To Score His First Touchdown of 2026 in Week 3
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is looking to find the end zone for the first time in his 2026 NFL season after being held scoreless in his first two contests. He was expected to bust out the gates immediately with big performances in Week 1 and 2, but was held to just 68 yards receiving across those two games. It's been WR CeeDee Lamb that had a monster breakout game, in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders. The Cowboys face the Baltimore Ravens at home this week, who have a tougher pass defense than both the Cowboys' previous opponents. Pickens had good games last season against quality defenses, though, such as the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12, against whom he caught all nine of his targets for 146 yards and one touchdown. While the former Pittsburgh Steeler might not live up to his ADP in fantasy football , he should still be started in all leagues for Week 3 as a WR2 with WR1 upside.
Sep 26, 2026 8:28 AM EST
George Pickens Not Yet Hitting His Full Potential
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is coming off a WR5 finish in PPR leagues last year, but his start to the 2026 season has been relatively underwhelming. The 25-year-old has just nine catches for 68 yards through the first two games, and he's still searching for his first touchdown of the year. It's not like the Cowboys' entire passing offense took a step back; CeeDee Lamb has at least 15.4 PPR points in each of his first two games, and Dak Prescott has six passing touchdowns. Pickens has been the outlier of the group, and while he has still been able to maintain WR3/flex level production in fantasy football, managers would certainly like to see him return to his WR1 form. A potential shootout Sunday against the Ravens could help him get back on track, but until we see it happen, he should be treated as a WR3/flex in fantasy football.
Sep 25, 2026 6:18 AM EST
George Pickens Snags Six Passes In Week 2 Win
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens played less of an ancillary role in his team's Week 2 win over the Washington Commanders. He caught six of his eight targets for 40 receiving yards, finishing with 10.0 PPR fantasy points. The Pickens WR1 rumors have been effectively stamped into the ground and buried under 10 tons of soil, as his teammate, wideout CeeDee Lamb, racked up 153 receiving yards and two scores. It's been a sluggish start to the season for Pickens, who looked like one of the best receivers in the NFL for stretches of 2025. Lamb's continuing recovery from a high-ankle sprain contributed to that, though. Pickens' play has been pretty uncharacteristic of the player we've come to know. A Week 3 home showdown with the Baltimore Ravens could help him get back on track. They have a much better pass defense than the Commanders do, but Pickens has put up highlight catches against strong opponents in the past. He's falling quickly into WR3 territory, but should continue to be started in fantasy leagues. A player of his caliber, when healthy, is capable of putting up respectable numbers, and he should start getting touchdowns.
Sep 20, 2026 10:10 PM EST
George Pickens Primed To Bounce Back In Week 2
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens got off to a slow start in Week 1 against divisional rival New York Giants when he hauled in just three of his six targets for a paltry 28 receiving yards. He figures to get back on track in Week 2, when Dallas takes on another divisional rival in the Washington Commanders at home. Washington lost 24-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, so both teams will be looking to right the course with a bounce-back win. The Commanders pass defense allowed the fifth-most passing yards in the NFL in 2025, while the Cowboys unit was the worst in the NFL. Pickens averaged 12.0 PPR fantasy points across his two contests against Washington last season. He's a startable WR2 if he can manage that again and haul in at least one touchdown. A fully healthy CeeDee Lamb might make it difficult for Pickens to be worth his ADP in fantasy drafts, but he should still be started in all leagues.
Sep 19, 2026 3:40 AM EST
George Pickens Flops In Week 1 Loss
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens entered 2026 with massive expectations, but met none of them in Week 1. He was targeted six times, hauling in three passes for 26 yards. He was quiet even against one of 2025's worst NFL defenses, especially against the pass. Pickens may need some time to get going, but the entire offense looked sluggish in what should have been an easy matchup. A dominant 2025 gave way to a flop for Pickens in Week 1. Nobody really did much, though. Dallas possessed the ball only two times in the second half, and scored touchdowns on both drives. Their defense struggled mightily, though, with Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart effectively able to move the ball and grind the clock down. Pickens' uncharacteristic drop in the first quarter punctuated a night he hopes to forget before Week 2, when Dallas faces another divisional rival in the Washington Commanders.
Sep 13, 2026 8:04 PM EST
George Pickens A Borderline WR1 In Week 1
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens proved he was one of the best overall wideouts in the NFL in 2025. His production certainly benefited from the injury to elite WR teammate CeeDee Lamb, but even when both were on the field, Pickens clearly looked like and produced like the better receiver. This season, Lamb should be fully healthy from his ankle sprain last season, so perhaps he presents more of a challenge to Pickens' dominance. Still, the Cowboys have one of the best passing offenses in the NFL, and it's capable of supporting two high-end fantasy football producers. Pickens is healthy, and has been monstrously difficult to defend in contested catch situations and downfield targets. He has fantastic hands and top-tier concentration and strength at the catch point. Pickens is a must-start in all fantasy leagues for Week 1 against the New York Giants, who have had trouble with their pass defense for many seasons now.
Sep 12, 2026 8:24 AM EST
George Pickens to be Best Cowboys Receiver Again in 2026?
The Dallas Morning News' Joseph Hoyt predicts that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens will have a better fantasy football season in 2026 than CeeDee Lamb for the second straight year. Hoyt projects Pickens to come down with 90 catches, 1,380 yards, and 12 touchdowns after the 25-year-old caught 93 of 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns as a first-time Pro Bowler in 2025 in his first year with the Cowboys. Pickens was late to some team meetings and did not always appear to be locked in, but teammates and coaches have said he has been different as he heads into a contract year. The former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers has continued to make plays in training camp and looks as comfortable as ever in a pass-happy offense. It might be difficult for Pickens to outproduce Lamb for a second straight season, but even if he doesn't, he should have a pretty high fantasy floor. RotoBaller has Pickens ranked as the No. 8 fantasy WR for 2026, with Lamb coming in at No. 5. If Pickens stays healthy, he should have another big season.
Sep 4, 2026 1:34 PM EST
George Pickens Keeps Pushing His Stock Higher
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens keeps making it harder to write off last year's breakout as a one-season spike. Pickens finished 2025 with 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 137 targets, good for a WR5 finish in PPR, then followed it with one of the loudest camps on the roster. Dallas' own coverage repeatedly highlighted him for making plays downfield and winning in contested situations, and the buzz carried through joint practices and the team's return to Texas. CeeDee Lamb is healthy again and remains one of the league's best receivers, so Pickens is not suddenly walking into a bigger share by default. What has changed is the confidence that last year's production was sustainable. Pickens is still starting opposite Lamb, still tied to Dak Prescott, and Dallas spent the summer talking about how difficult he has been to cover. He enters the season as WR8 in RotoBaller's latest half-PPR rankings. After the camp he just put together, another high-end fantasy season looks well within reach.
Sep 4, 2026 7:12 AM EST
George Pickens Could Make Another Major Leap This Year
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens enjoyed a career year in 2025, but he might soar even higher during the 2026 season. In his first campaign with Dallas, Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. He ranked as the overall WR5 in PPR leagues and outproduced teammate CeeDee Lamb -- not only in total, but also on a points-per-game basis. At first glance, it seems like Lamb, who missed three games last year but is now healthy, should step back up as the top pass catcher in Dallas this year, but that's not guaranteed. Recently, an audio clip went viral of DallasCowboys.com writer Nick Eatman saying that Pickens could end up being the No. 1 receiver ahead of Lamb in 2026. "This might cause some issues, but it does seem like Pickens has kind of elevated as the dude," Eatman said. "CeeDee is really good, but Pickens is the one that defensive coordinators are going to have even more of a problem with." In a similar vein, there has been plenty of chatter in recent weeks that Pickens had a better training camp than Lamb. To be clear, this is not an anti-Lamb sentiment, but rather excitement about the potential for Pickens to take an even bigger step forward in 2026. If it seems like he could repeat or even surpass his WR5 finish from last year, then he's somewhat of a steal at his current ADP of 25.4, which corresponds to the third round of fantasy drafts and makes him the 10th receiver off the board.
Aug 30, 2026 8:41 PM EST
George Pickens' Standout Camp Continues as Cowboys Return to Texas
After a summer spent in Oxnard, California, the Dallas Cowboys returned to Frisco for their first local training camp practice on Tuesday night, and as he has done since arriving with the team, wide receiver George Pickens continued to make plays. One of the highlights of the night was a deep connection from Dak Prescott that the 2025 second-team All-Pro was able to haul in while keeping both feet inbounds, prompting team staff writer Tommy Yarrish to note that commenting on Pickens' standout moments has almost become repetitive. After a brief ramp-up period in his first season with the Cowboys, a Week 3 ankle injury to CeeDee Lamb thrust Pickens into the spotlight, allowing him to rack up a career-high 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on his way to a WR5 fantasy finish, remaining dominant even following Lamb's return. With the Cowboys' offense capable of producing two legitimate fantasy difference-makers at the position, Pickens is RotoBaller's WR8 and a perfectly suitable option to build around as a number one receiver in 2026 drafts.
Aug 26, 2026 5:48 AM EST
George Pickens Continues to Stand Out in Cowboys Camp
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens has been one of the biggest standouts of training camp, and Dak Prescott says it is exactly what he expected. Jon Machota reports that no Cowboys player has stood out more this summer. Prescott praised Pickens for his energy, catches and playmaking, then pointed to the different ways Dallas can use him alongside CeeDee Lamb. Pickens is coming off a career year in his first season with the Cowboys, finishing with 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. He is playing 2026 on the franchise tag, but there has been no sign of that affecting his work. Dallas has seen Pickens make plays throughout camp, and Prescott believes the next step is figuring out how he and Lamb can stress defenses together, including using one to create openings for the other. Pickens already proved he can produce at a high level in this offense. Nothing from camp suggests that is about to change.
Aug 21, 2026 10:02 AM EST
George Pickens the Cowboys' "Best Offensive Player" in Joint Practices
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens "continues to have a strong camp" and was the team's "best offensive player" in a joint practice with the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Pickens had a breakout first season in Dallas in 2025, recording 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 137 targets across 17 games. The Cowboys may get more out of star wideout CeeDee Lamb this season, who missed time in 2025 with an ankle injury. However, it appears as though Pickens is still standing out amongst Dallas' myriad offensive weapons and could be in line for another big year. RotoBaller currently ranks Pickens as the WR8 for redraft leagues heading into 2026.
Aug 19, 2026 12:26 PM EST
George Pickens Has Been Dominant at Cowboys Camp
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens has been dominant at training camp as he enters a "contract year" in 2026. Pickens has put on a clinic on 50/50 balls, leaving Cowboys fans excited about the team's offense with him and a healthy CeeDee Lamb. In his first year with the Cowboys in 2025, Pickens had a career year, hauling in 93 of 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, finishing as the WR5 in half PPR formats. While a holdout loomed for Pickens in 2025, he will play under the franchise tag as he awaits his extension. With the way he's been practicing and entering his second season with the offense, he could be in line for a monster contract if he has another great showing in 2026.
Aug 12, 2026 7:49 PM EST
George Pickens Seen Practicing on Thursday
Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver George Pickens was seen practicing at training camp on Thursday and made a nice catch in close coverage down the sideline, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Although the Cowboys didn't really make much of an attempt to sign Pickens to a long-term extension this offseason, he showed up to training camp and has been on the field after signing his one-year, $23.7 million franchise tag for the 2026 campaign. The 25-year-old former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 from the University of Georgia hit a new level in his first year in Dallas in the Cowboys' pass-happy offense, even while sharing targets with CeeDee Lamb. Pickens led the Cowboys with 93 receptions on 137 targets for 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in a career year to become a Pro Bowler for the first time in his fourth NFL season. He and Lamb will continue to torment defenses in 2026, with Pickens coming at a high price in fantasy drafts as a surefire WR1 after his breakout 2025 campaign.
Aug 6, 2026 12:35 PM EST
George Pickens Officially Arrives for Cowboys Training Camp
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens officially arrived in Oxnard, California, on Monday for the start of the team's training camp, according to NFL.com. Pickens signed his franchise tag for the 2026 season and will make $27.3 million this year. Despite a career year in 2025 in his first year in Dallas, the Cowboys want to see the 25-year-old run it back in his second year with the team. The former second-rounder in 2022 by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the University of Georgia caught 93 of his 137 targets last year for a career-high 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games (15 starts). Pickens was the Cowboys' leading receiver, getting a boost from CeeDee Lamb missing three games due to injury. He will have plenty of motivation for another big year as he heads into free agency next March, and the Cowboys' pass-happy offense could support both Pickens and Lamb once again. Lamb is probably the safer high-upside WR1 pick in fantasy, but after Pickens' big 2025, he is also going to be taken as a WR1 in the early rounds of fantasy drafts this fall.
Jul 27, 2026 5:17 PM EST
George Pickens Will Officially Play on Francise Tag in 2026
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens will officially play the 2026 season on his $27.3 million franchise tender after the deadline for tagged players to agree on long-term contracts passed on Wednesday, per ESPN. The Cowboys announced before the NFL draft in April that they didn't plan to engage Pickens in long-term extension talks, so this was the expected outcome. The last time Dallas signed a tagged player to an extension was receiver Dez Bryant in 2015. Pickens has signed his tender, which puts him under contract for 2026. Since reaching an extension with Bryant in 2015, quarterback Dak Prescott, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, tight end Dalton Schultz, running back Tony Pollard, and now Pickens have played on the franchise tag. Pickens, 25, was a first-time Pro Bowler and broke out for a career year in 2025 in his first year in Dallas after they acquired him in a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, catching 93 of 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games. He'll be pricey in fantasy drafts going into his second year in Dallas, and RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 9 fantasy WR for 2026.
Jul 15, 2026 4:10 PM EST
George Pickens an Ideal Big-Swing WR2 in 2026 Drafts
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens put up career numbers across the board in his first year with the team, ending the 2025 season with 93 catches on 131 targets, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. While some of his best work came early in the year while five-time Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb was sidelined and slowed by a high ankle sprain, Pickens remained more than capable of winning weeks even as the secondary option in Dallas' high-volume passing offense. Quarterback Dak Prescott was the only player in the NFL to complete more than 400 passes in 2025, while the Cowboys' 4,735 total passing yards were the most in the league. Lamb enters his seventh season healthy and with expectations of leading the receiver room once more, providing one of the safest floors in all of fantasy, but in Brian Schottenheimer's up-tempo, big-play hunting system, Pickens' spike games are capable of winning weeks. Currently priced outside the first round with an ADP around 23 overall, he projects as one of the highest-ceiling WR2s for 2026, but he can also still serve as a team's WR1, with much of his risk mitigated by the ability to build a reliable stable of running backs.
Jul 14, 2026 6:00 AM EST
Cowboys Plan to Move George Pickens Around More on Offense
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Thursday that he is planning to move star wide receiver George Pickens around the formation more in 2026, per the team's official website. Pickens was absent from organized team activities in the spring after failing to reach a long-term contract extension with the organization, but he is present this week for mandatory minicamp. The 25-year-old former second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of the University of Georgia broke out in 2025 after the Dallas Cowboys acquired him from Pittsburgh, catching 93 passes for a career-high 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 137 targets in 17 games (15 starts). The vast majority of Pickens' snaps in 2025 in his first year in Dallas came out wide, but it sounds like he could spend more time inside in the slot in Year 2 in Big D, which should help the Cowboys create more mismatches for the big-play threat. Even with CeeDee Lamb commanding a high target share, the Cowboys should continue to throw the ball enough under Schottenheimer to make Pickens a legitimate WR1 again in fantasy in 2026.
Jun 18, 2026 12:13 PM EST
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