Who Should I Start? George Pickens or Khalil Shakir


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
14.3 0.1 0.0 4.7 70.1 0.4

George Pickens News

George Pickens Will Officially Play on Francise Tag in 2026

Wednesday, July 15, 4:10 PM

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.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
9.8 0.5 0.0 4.0 44.6 0.2

Khalil Shakir News

Khalil Shakir a Dynasty Sell-High Candidate Ahead of 2026

Thursday, July 23, 9:37 AM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has been a steady security blanket in his team's passing game in recent years, recording back-to-back seasons with at least 95 targets, 70 catches, 700 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. The 26-year-old was Buffalo's leading target-earner in 2025 and finished the year as the WR43 by measure of per-game PPR scoring. However, Shakir's place in the Bills' offense may be altered in 2026. Buffalo traded for wide receiver DJ Moore, who now profiles as the team's clear WR1. The Bills also used a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on wideout Skyler Bell, who was an All-American in his final season in college and could push Shakir for playing time in the slot. Given his likely workload reduction and his lack of high-end upside, Shakir profiles as a potential dynasty sell-high candidate entering 2026.


George Pickens vs. Khalil Shakir

Still trying to decide between Pickens and Shakir? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that George Pickens is projected to score 14.3 points this week while Khalil Shakir is projected to score 9.8 points.