George Pickens

Dallas Cowboys
Wide Receiver #14
FANTASY NEWS STATS INJURY

George Pickens News RotoBaller

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

George Pickens Won't Hold Out During Training Camp

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens confirmed that he won't hold out during training camp. Pickens didn't attend voluntary OTAs while he continues to seek a long-term extension. Pickens has ended his holdout and officially signed his $27.3 million franchise tender for the upcoming season. He will play on the franchise tag with no long-term extension in sight. Pickens could very well be headed elsewhere next season, but he's ready to help the Cowboys until then. Last season, Pickens finished with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. He's expected to get a hefty payday, whether it's in Dallas or somewhere else next season.

Jun 16, 2026 5:15 PM EST

George Pickens Won't Take Part in Team Drills at Minicamp

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said that wide receiver George Pickens won't do everything during the first day of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and will not participate in team drills, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. "Great visits with George. He's fired up to be back," Schottenheimer said on Tuesday. The 25-year-old will play under the one-year, $27.3 million franchise tag in 2026. Pickens was absent from organized team activities this spring as he seeks a long-term contract extension, and he won't do everything this week at minicamp. He should be a full-go for the start of training camp at the end of July, though, as he heads into his second year in Dallas. Pickens led the team with career highs in catches (93), targets (137), receiving yards (1,429), and touchdowns (nine) in 2025 in his first year with the Cowboys in their pass-happy offense. Even though CeeDee Lamb commands a high number of targets, Pickens will have his chances at a repeat in 2026 with Schottenheimer still running the offense. Pickens will be expensive early in fantasy drafts this fall as a legitimate WR1.

Jun 16, 2026 9:15 AM EST

George Pickens Reports to Cowboys Ahead of Minicamp

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens reported to the team's facilities on Monday to take his physical before mandatory minicamp kicks off on Tuesday, a source told Jon Machota of The Athletic. Pickens did not attend organized team activities, but he is expected to participate in minicamp from Tuesday through Thursday of this week. The 25-year-old will play on the one-year, $27.3 million franchise tag in 2026 after having a career year in 2025 in his first year with the Cowboys, when he caught 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games (15 starts). The former second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of the University of Georgia outproduced CeeDee Lamb and is one of the best big-play wideouts in the NFL. Pickens doesn't come without some diva qualities, though, and the Cowboys apparently want to see him run it back this year before seriously considering giving him a long-term contract extension. After his monstrous year as the WR5 in half-PPR scoring, Pickens is a clear top-10 fantasy target at his position going into his fifth year in the NFL.

Jun 15, 2026 9:39 AM EST

Brian Schottenheimer Expects George Pickens to Return for Mandatory Minicamp

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirms that wide receiver George Pickens hasn't been in the building this week for OTAs, but he continues to be in communication with him and expects Pickens to be present when mandatory minicamp starts on June 16, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The 25-year-old will make $27.3 million in 2026 on the franchise tag, and the Cowboys have already ruled out the two sides agreeing on a long-term contract extension before the deadline to get a deal done in July. The former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of the University of Georgia broke out for a career year after the Steelers traded him to Dallas in 2025, catching 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 starts. The Cowboys want to see him do it again, though, before getting serious about an extension beyond this year. It won't be easy to do with CeeDee Lamb demanding heavy volume, but Dallas has the pass-happy offense under Schottenheimer for Pickens to have a very high ceiling in his fifth year in the league. Fantasy managers should target him as a low-end WR1 in upcoming 2026 drafts.

Jun 4, 2026 10:34 AM EST

George Pickens Signs the Franchise Tag on Wednesday

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens signed the franchise tag on Wednesday, a source told Todd Archer of ESPN. Pickens will be guaranteed $27.3 million while playing for the Cowboys in 2026, but the organization has already said they won't sign the 25-year-old to a long-term extension before the July 15 deadline. Even though Pickens signed the franchise tag, he's expected to hold out during training camp this summer, and the Cowboys could decide to trade him for premium draft capital in 2027. If Pickens says in Dallas for the 2026 campaign, Dallas will have one of the league's top one-two punches at WR again with Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. Pickens led the Cowboys in receiving in 2025 in what was a career year, catching 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games played. He was the WR5 in half-PPR scoring, and as long as he stays in Dallas for the upcoming season, Pickens is going to be a pricey WR1 early in fantasy drafts later this year.

Apr 29, 2026 6:44 PM EST

George Pickens hasn't Signed his Franchise Tag With Dallas

Wide receiver George Pickens has not yet signed the franchise-tag tender with the Dallas Cowboys, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. Reports surfaced last week before the 2026 NFL draft that Pickens planned to sign the franchise tender, but it has not happened yet. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said last week that the team won't sign the 25-year-old pass-catcher to a long-term extension before the July 15 deadline, so Pickens is expected to play out the 2026 campaign on the franchise tag. Things could get messy, though, as Pickens is expected to be a holdout into training camp and the preseason. If he plays 2026 on the franchise tag, he'll be owed a guaranteed $27.3 million. There's also a possibility that Dallas looks to trade Pickens if a long-term deal can't be reached. The former second-rounder by Pittsburgh in 2022 out of Georgia had a career-best 93-1,429-9 line in 17 games in his first year in Dallas in 2025, which will put him firmly in the WR1 draft rankings for the upcoming season.

Apr 27, 2026 7:06 PM EST

George Pickens to Sign the Franchise Tag

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is expected to sign the franchise tag in the coming days, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Because Pickens technically is not under contract with the Cowboys, he wouldn't be fined for missing any mandatory workouts this offseason. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said earlier this week that the two sides won't work out a long-term contract extension, even though they still have until July 15 to get something done. Once the 25-year-old wideout signs the franchise tag, Dallas could look to trade Pickens, despite talk earlier this offseason that they want him around long term. The former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of Georgia had a career year in 2025 in his first season with Dallas, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns as the team's leading receiver. The Cowboys might want to see a repeat from Pickens in 2026 before giving him a long-term deal, especially since they already have CeeDee Lamb. After his big season last year, Pickens will go as a WR1 in fantasy drafts this fall.

Apr 24, 2026 7:01 AM EST