Who Should I Start? Brandin Cooks or George Pickens

Sunday, March 22, 5:29 PM

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is coming off the best season of his career, and he continues to project as a mid-to-low WR1 option in fantasy football. However, his ongoing franchise tag saga complicates his outlook for fantasy managers. The Cowboys applied the franchise tag to Pickens, who expressed dismay and plans to hold out for a long-term deal. It sounds like he won't return to the Cowboys' facilities until he has a long-term deal in place, and the two sides could eventually come up against the clock, since the deadline for tagged players to sign an extension is July 15. It's tough to say what will happen if Pickens doesn't have a deal by then, but given the trend of franchise tag situations in recent years, it seems unlikely that Pickens would sit out any games. It seems most likely that he'll sign an extension, but he could also be traded or give in and play out his one-year deal. At the end of the day, Pickens will probably be catching passes from Dak Prescott in 2026, which bodes well for his fantasy outlook. However, what happens in 2027 and beyond is anybody's guess. Dynasty managers should consider selling high on Pickens' WR5 finish in PPR leagues last year, especially since changing teams next offseason could drop him outside the top 12 fantasy receivers.