Who Should I Start? Chris Godwin or George Pickens

Wednesday, October 23, 10:12 AM

The NFL's Ian Rapoport reports that Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) will undergo surgery on Wednesday to repair his dislocated ankle. Rapoport noted that tests done leading up to surgery were "as good as they could've been," according to sources. Additionally, there is an outside shot Godwin could return in 2024, depending on how late in the winter the Bucs play. However, the likelihood of such an outcome is not very good. With fellow wideout Mike Evans (hamstring) expected to miss time through Week 11, Tampa Bay is suddenly reeling on offense. It'd not be surprising to see the team seek veteran help, but in the meantime, wide receivers Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer, and Sterling Shepherd will attempt to fill the void. Running back Rachaad White and tight end Cade Otton should also continue to see an uptick in usage.

Wednesday, November 20, 7:46 PM

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.