Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) didn't officially practice this week and was ruled out for Saturday's game against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens for the third straight game, but he is running and did make an effort to be cleared this week. The Steelers are optimistic that Pickens will be ready to go next Wednesday on Christmas Day to face the Kansas City Chiefs. The 23-year-old picked the worst possible time to miss games for fantasy managers relying on him in the postseason, but he could be back next week to resume his role as Pittsburgh's No. 1 wideout. If Pickens is active next week, fantasy managers will be hard-pressed not to throw him back in their starting lineups, even in a tough matchup against the Chiefs' stingy defense. Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson and Mike Williams have done little in Pickens' absence, with tight end Pat Freiermuth being the biggest beneficiary.
Dec 20, 2024 6:15 PM EST
Per the NFL's Tom Pelissero, the Pittsburgh Steelers have ruled out wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) for this Saturday's divisional clash with the Baltimore Ravens. Pickens has been shelved since popping up as a late-week addition on the team's Week 14 injury report and will miss his third straight contest. It comes as no surprise, considering he put together another week's worth of DNPs ahead of the outing. With the 23-year-old inactive again, wideouts Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III will work as Pittsburgh's top two options at the position. Mike Williams, Scotty Miller, and Ben Skowronek will rotate in behind them. In Week 15, Williams led that trio by five snaps (15).
Dec 19, 2024 3:27 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) is missing another practice on Wednesday but was able to do positional drills off to the side. Pickens has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and is up in the air to return on a short week in a big divisional clash on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens. A return to the practice field on Thursday, however, would be a good sign that Pickens is trending in the right direction. Despite missing the last two games due to injury, the 23-year-old would be an enticing fantasy play against the Ravens secondary if he's able to return to the field this weekend. The last time these two teams met on Nov. 17, Pickens had season-highs in catches (eight) and targets (12) for 89 yards. If he misses a third straight contest, Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson would continue to see a boost snaps and targets in a great matchup.
Dec 18, 2024 3:14 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) is not taking part in Tuesday's practice, but he is on the side field getting a workout in. The rising star has missed each of the last two games with a hamstring injury. Since Russell Wilson took over for Justin Fields in Week 7, Pickens has posted at least 12.9 half-PPR fantasy points in four of six games. The third-year pro out of Georgia will be set up for a big game if he can return in Week 16. The Steelers are set to face a Baltimore Ravens defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to wideouts. If he cannot play, Calvin Austin III and Mike Williams are the next up on the depth chart, but neither is a safe option in the fantasy football playoffs. Fantasy managers should monitor Pickens' status throughout the rest of the week.
Dec 17, 2024 2:07 PM EST
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.
Dec 13, 2024 3:38 PM EST
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.
Dec 12, 2024 4:03 PM EST
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.
Dec 11, 2024 2:48 PM EST
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.
Dec 10, 2024 12:20 PM EST
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.
Dec 9, 2024 4:15 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) suffered a hamstring injury late last week in practice and was inactive for the Week 14 win over the division-rival Cleveland Browns on Sunday. According to a league source, Pickens is dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. There was optimism late Saturday night that Pickens would be able to play, but head coach Mike Tomlin made the call to hold the third-year player out for the first time in his NFL career. Tomlin will not speculate on Pickens' availability for a Week 15 showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, and we probably won't have a better idea on his status until later this week. Pickens has been up and down in 2024 but has had much more upside since quarterback Russell Wilson took over the offense. With Pickens out on Sunday, tight end Pat Freirmuth led the team with 48 receiving yards and scored, while Scotty Miller was second on the team with 38 receiving yards on three receptions.
Dec 9, 2024 12:59 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. He had been listed as questionable after logging a limited practice on Friday, and while the expectation all along was that he would be able to play, it ultimately appears that's not the case. The 23-year-old has been the Steelers' best receiver all season long, and he has been particularly excellent since Week 7, catching 29 passes for 487 yards and three touchdowns during that span. With Pickens sidelined, Calvin Austin III should step up as the Steelers' No. 1 receiver, ranking as a respectable WR3/FLEX play in fantasy football. Van Jefferson and Mike Williams could also be in line for additional opportunities.
Dec 8, 2024 11:40 AM EST
According to ESPN'S Adam Schefter, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Browns. However, Schefter added that "the team wants to test him pre-game to make sure he's good to go." The wideout popped up on the injury report unexpectedly and was limited during Friday's practice, resulting in a questionable designation. But assuming all goes well before the opening kick, Pickens will be on the field. He began the year by failing to find the end zone in Pittsburgh's first six contests. Since then, the 23-year-old has three touchdowns. There is potential for more in Week 14, considering the Browns defense has surrendered 14 touchdowns to opposing wideouts during the 2024-25 campaign, one of the worst marks in the National Football League. Of course, assuming Pickens is active, that should mean less work for Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson, and Pat Freiermuth.
Dec 8, 2024 1:47 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) suffered a new injury in practice this week and was listed as limited on Friday. As a result, the Steelers designated him as questionable to play in a divisional battle this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns in Week 14. This one came out of nowhere, so fantasy managers may have to adjust last minute with the 23-year-old wideout, who has become much more interesting in fantasy since quarterback Russell Wilson took over the offense from Justin Fields. Since Week 10, Pickens has caught 20 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns on 32 targets, but fantasy managers may be forced to move him to their bench this weekend. If Pickens doesn't get cleared to play on Sunday, Calvin Austin III would likely operate as Pittsburgh's WR1, with Van Jefferson and tight end Pat Freiermuth also seeing increased roles in the passing game.
Dec 6, 2024 3:27 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens hauled in three of his six targets for 74 yards and a touchdown in a Week 13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. While he didn't lead the team in targets or receptions, he paced all Steelers in receiving yards in a vintage Russell Wilson performance. The two connected for a 17-yard score early in the first quarter and later on a deep ball for a gain of 36 yards. Pickens has now scored three times since Wilson took over QB1 duties and is establishing himself as a consistent fantasy asset. He'll look to provide better results against the Cleveland Browns next week than he did in Week 12's loss.
Dec 1, 2024 5:22 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens is earning nearly 30% of his team's targets and should once again serve as quarterback Russell Wilson's top option in a Week 13 clash with the Cincinnati Bengals. Pickens and the Steelers' offense struggled to get much going in the snow last week but could get back on track on Sunday. The Bengals surrender the 10th-most passing yards as well as the 12th-most fantasy points per contest to opposing wideouts. With Cincinnati scoring at such a high rate this season, Pittsburgh will likely need to air it out to keep up with their divisional rival. Pickens should be heavily involved this week and thus can be started in all fantasy formats as a low-end WR1.
Nov 30, 2024 2:09 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens came down with four of his seven targets for 48 yards in a 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Outside of a 31-yard deep ball he caught in the first quarter, it was a relatively quiet night for Pickens, who had four straight showings with over 70 yards heading into Thursday night. The weather conditions in Cleveland weren't ideal for big plays downfield and surely impacted Pickens' performance. While Pickens has been incredibly productive with yardage this season, his touchdown upside is limited in this Steelers offense that has struggled to find the end zone over the past two weeks. He'll look to get back on track against another divisional opponent in the Cincinnati Bengals next week.
Nov 22, 2024 11:23 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens enters Week 12 with the fourth-most receiving yards in the NFL and will look to advance his breakout campaign against the Cleveland Browns. Although the Browns have been solid defensively this year, they have been exploited by opposing wideouts. Cleveland allows the fourth-most fantasy points per game to receivers despite surrendering the fourth-fewest receptions to the position. In other words, the Browns give up big plays and touchdowns, which is exactly how Pickens tends to make an impact. The third-year pro has only scored twice this season but is tied for the sixth-most red zone targets in the league and has had multiple touchdowns overturned or nullified by penalties. Fantasy managers should confidently deploy Pickens as a low-end WR1 on Thursday night.
Nov 20, 2024 7:46 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens hauled in eight of 12 targets for 89 yards in an 18-16 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Although this was far from a career-best performance for Pickens, the 23-year-old did set new single-game highs for himself in both targets and receptions. His most memorable play of the contest came on a beautiful deep ball from quarterback Russell Wilson for a 37-yard gain late in the third quarter. He was targeted in the end zone multiple times but could not score a touchdown as Pittsburgh was forced to settle for six field goals. Fantasy managers who are slightly disappointed in Pickens' output given the favorable matchup should be encouraged by the elite usage he continued to see with Wilson under center. He'll have another opportunity for a big showing against the Cleveland Browns next week.
Nov 17, 2024 5:22 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has been highly productive for fantasy recently and should continue to find success on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have been the single-best matchup for fantasy wideouts this season and were eviscerated to the tune of 11 receptions, 264 yards, and three touchdowns by Ja'Marr Chase last week. Through three games with Russell Wilson under center, Pickens has garnered a 26% team target share and found the end zone twice. Although Mike Williams should be more involved in Pittsburgh's offensive game plan this week, Pickens will undoubtedly remain the top weapon in the passing game. The third-year pro is a must-start fantasy option as a WR1 with upside in Week 11.
Nov 15, 2024 7:27 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens hauled in five of seven targets for 91 yards and a score in a 28-27 win over the Washington Commanders. Pickens made an impact early on Sunday, coming down with an incredible touchdown grab on a 16-yard deep ball from Russell Wilson in the first quarter. He continued to operate as Wilson's favorite vertical option and came down with multiple catches in crucial moments. While the addition of Mike Williams to Pittsburgh's receiver corps paid off in a big way on Sunday, the veteran does not appear to be a threat to the elite target share that Pickens has garnered this season. The third-year pro will be a borderline must-start fantasy asset next week in a divisional showdown against the Baltimore Ravens.
Nov 10, 2024 7:43 PM EST
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